Last fall LAX banned taxis and ridesharing services from picking up passengers curbside. Passengers were bused to an off airport lot where they’d meet their ride. (The lot is actually an easy walk from the Southwest terminal 1.)

Initially after banning curbside pickups chaos ensued but after enlarging the lot and getting better signage the process wound up being merely inconvenient.

LAX is incredibly congested and the move was designed to reduce congestion around the terminal before eventually flipping the switch on a new intermodal transportation center connected to the airport by rail.

Cab drivers lobbied the city to be allowed to return, and they’re being allowed to return. That gives them a big advantage over Uber and Lyft at LAX – at least for passengers arriving at terminals near the two pickup spots where taxis will be permitted.

Parking Structure 3: This location will serve guests of Tom Bradley International Terminal and Terminal 3. The pickup location will be the lane closest to Tom Bradley International Terminal on the ground floor of Parking Structure 3. Passenger queuing will occur on the curb nearest the taxi lanes. Terminal 7/8: A taxi stand will be brought back to the previous location on the Lower/Arrivals level of the Central Terminal Area (CTA), past the last entrance to T7/8. This location will serve guests arriving at Terminals 7 and 8, and queueing will be on the curb by the taxi stand. This location is past where buses and shuttles exit the inner lanes and provides a separate entrance for vehicles.

This will begin ‘later this month’ but LAX has not provided a specific date yet. It will be especially helpful to United and Delta passengers and those arriving at the Bradley terminal.

Pre-arranged car services have been more popular at LAX since the change, since they’ve continued to be allowed to pick up passengers (including parking and meeting passengers at baggage claim). I don’t remember the last time I took a taxi from an airport, but that will change at least for LAX.