Airports · LAX, BUR · Checked against operators’ own pages
Los Angeles Airports to the City: LAX, BUR, from US$12.75
Find your Los Angeles experience
Which airport, when you get to choose
Almost everyone lands at LAX by default, with far more traffic than Hollywood Burbank. Burbank is real competition all the same: several major carriers fly there, and it sits much closer to Hollywood, the Valley and Downtown by road.
Good to know
- Check which airport your ticket lists before choosing a hotel neighbourhood — the airline decides this, not the other way round.
- LAX’s much larger passenger volume usually means more nonstop routes and lower fares to choose from.
- Burbank sits closer to Hollywood, the Valley and much of Downtown. LAX is the better-placed airport for the coast and the South Bay.
- Neither airport puts you on a train straight to Hollywood. LAX’s rail lines stop short of it, and Burbank’s direct train only reaches Union Station.
| 2025 passengers | Direct rail to Union Station | Best located for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAX | 73.7 million | Yes, a free shuttle to the transit center | Downtown, the coast, the South Bay |
| BUR | about 6 million | Yes, a short walk or free shuttle to the platform | Hollywood, the Valley, Downtown |
LAX: US$12.75 by FlyAway to Union Station
A free LAX Shuttle bus links every terminal to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, open since June 2025, where FlyAway and Metro’s C and K Rail Lines share one stop. For Downtown, FlyAway is the simple default: one non-stop bus, no transfers.
For Hollywood specifically, there is no good rail answer. FlyAway dropped its Hollywood route in 2020, and Metro rail alone still needs a transfer onto the B Line.
See or book a private LAX transfer
- Follow the free LAX Shuttle bus signs from any terminal to the LAX/Metro Transit Center.
- For Union Station or Downtown, buy a FlyAway ticket on the app, online or by contactless card on board.
- For a Metro-served neighbourhood elsewhere, tap in with TAP on the C or K Line instead and expect at least one transfer.
- For Hollywood, skip the rail options and take a taxi, rideshare or pre-booked transfer.
Good to know
- FlyAway buses leave every 30 minutes, from 5:40 in the morning to 1:10 after midnight — no reservation, first come, first served.
- A flat taxi fare of $51.15, plus a $4 surcharge on trips from LAX, applies only between LAX and a defined Downtown zone. Everywhere else, including Hollywood, is metered.
- Metro’s own base rail fare is $1.75 one way, with a $5 daily cap for TAP riders who stay on the system.
- Rideshares and taxis both pick up from the LAX-it lot, reached by its own short shuttle from every terminal.
| Item | US$ one way | € |
|---|---|---|
| Metro rail (TAP base fare) | US$1.75 | ≈ €2 |
| FlyAway bus (Union Station) | US$12.75 | ≈ €12 |
| Taxi from LAX, Downtown zone only (flat fare + $4 surcharge) | US$55.15 | ≈ €50 |
On your own
FlyAway bus to Downtown, Metro rail from the transit center, or a taxi or rideshare for everywhere else, Hollywood included.
Pre-booked transfer
Worth it for Hollywood, a late landing or heavy luggage; Mubboo has verified LAX transfer inventory today.
FlyAway to Union Station: US$12.75 one way; a private car from LAX starts from ≈ US$40.
Prices checked 17 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
BUR: US$6 by direct train, when it lines up
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Hollywood Burbank Airport’s own Metrolink station sits a quarter mile from the terminal — an easy walk, or a free on-demand shuttle runs daily from 5:00 in the morning to 10:00 at night. From there, the Ventura County Line reaches LA Union Station directly, with no transfer, in about half an hour.
The catch is frequency. Only eleven trains run in each direction on a weekday, bunched around peak hours, not the all-day service LAX offers.
See or book a private Hollywood Burbank Airport transfer
- Walk, or ride the free on-demand shuttle, from the terminal to the Burbank Airport-South platform.
- Buy a one-way Metrolink ticket on the mobile app or at the station machine before boarding.
- Check the Ventura County Line timetable first. With only eleven weekday trains each way, a flight time that does not line up means a different plan.
- Outside train hours, use the airport’s rideshare pickup point or a taxi instead.
Good to know
- Burbank publishes no taxi or shuttle fares at all, only who to call, so check the meter or the app’s quote before you ride.
- Southwest, Alaska and United carry most of Burbank’s traffic, so check which airport your specific flight actually uses.
- The Metrolink platform serves Union Station only — for Hollywood or the Westside directly, it is still a taxi, rideshare or transfer from there.
- Weekend and holiday Ventura County Line service runs even less often than the weekday eleven trips. Check the timetable again before an early Sunday flight.
| Item | US$ one way | € |
|---|---|---|
| Metrolink train (Union Station) | US$6 | ≈ €5 |
| Private transfer, Mubboo reviewed option, from | US$67.36 | ≈ €61 |
On your own
A short walk or free shuttle to a direct Metrolink train when the schedule lines up, otherwise a taxi or rideshare.
Pre-booked transfer
Worth it outside Metrolink’s limited hours or for a Hollywood-bound arrival; some of the reviewed inventory genuinely names Burbank.
Metrolink to Union Station: about US$6 one way; a private car from Hollywood Burbank Airport starts from US$70.
Prices checked 17 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
Late arrivals and luggage
A late landing changes the plan at both airports. LAX’s FlyAway keeps running to 1:10 after midnight, but Burbank’s Metrolink service stops long before that and does not start again until the next morning’s first train, so a taxi, rideshare or pre-booked transfer is the honest late-night answer at Burbank.
Good to know
- Confirm your FlyAway or Metrolink departure time before counting on either for a very early or very late flight.
- Whatever you book for a late transfer, check whether meet-and-greet and tolls are already included in the price.
- LAX’s flat taxi fare covers only the Downtown zone at any hour. A late landing anywhere else, including Hollywood, is still metered.
- Burbank’s limited weekday schedule makes a rideshare or taxi the default for most arrival times, not only late ones. Check the timetable before assuming a train will be there.
LAX after midnight or off the flat-rate zone
A metered taxi or rideshare, or a pre-booked transfer priced before you land.
Burbank outside Metrolink hours
A taxi, rideshare or a pre-booked transfer; there is no train to fall back on outside its limited weekday schedule.
What it costs, and where to book
| Plan | Tickets and transport | Book |
|---|---|---|
| FlyAway bus, one way | US$12.75 | Private car from LAX from ≈ US$40 |
| Metrolink one way, Burbank Airport to Union Station | US$6 | – |
| Private transfer, Hollywood Burbank Airport to LA | about US$70 | – |
Prices checked 17 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation. Amounts over 20 are rounded up. Ticket prices are per person for the first reviewed ticket and change by date.
Explore Los Angeles Before You Book
Take a virtual drive or walk, then find tours and tickets for the places you like.
Airport transfers and day-one experiences worth booking
A pre-booked transfer earns its price at Burbank outside train hours, at either airport for a Hollywood-bound arrival, and for a late landing or heavy luggage anywhere. For a daytime run into Downtown, the FlyAway bus or Burbank’s Metrolink train is faster and cheaper.
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Questions people ask
Which Los Angeles airport will my flight use?
Whichever your airline flies into — LAX carries by far the most traffic and the widest choice of nonstop routes, while Southwest, Alaska and United are the carriers most likely to put you into Hollywood Burbank instead. Check your ticket, not your hotel.
Does LAX have a direct train to Hollywood?
No. LAX’s Metro C and K Lines reach the LAX/Metro Transit Center, but getting to Hollywood from there still means transferring onto the B Line — there is no one-seat ride.
Can I still take the FlyAway bus to Hollywood?
No. FlyAway’s Hollywood route was suspended in March 2020 and has never resumed. Union Station and Van Nuys are its only two destinations today.
Is there a flat taxi fare from Burbank Airport, like LAX has to Downtown?
No. Burbank’s own ground-transportation pages list taxis, shuttles and rideshare but publish no fares, so check the meter or the app’s quote before you ride.
How often does the train run from Burbank Airport to Union Station?
Only eleven times in each direction on a weekday, bunched around peak commuting hours — check the timetable before counting on it for your flight time.
Plan deeper in Los Angeles
Sources (20)
Every figure above was checked on the dates shown.
- Mubboo reviewed ticket options for Los Angeles (the booking platform destination 645); per-booking price read when the page is built — mubboo.flights/los-angeles/tours (checked 2026-09-27)
- Los Angeles World Airports — 10-Year Summary of Passengers (LAX) — www.lawa.org/lawa-investor-relations/statistics-for-lax/10-year-summary/passengers (checked 2026-09-17)
- LA Metro — Now Boarding: LAX/Metro Transit Center Station Officially Opens — www.metro.net/about/media-relations/now-boarding-metros-lax-metro-transit-center-station-officially-opens-connecting-communities-bringing-faster-easier-travel-for-angelenos-visitors/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- The Source (LA Metro’s own newsroom) — How to use the LAX/Metro Transit Center with new bus and rail connections — thesource.metro.net/how-to-use-the-lax-metro-transit-center-with-new-bus-and-rail-connections/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- Wikipedia, K Line (Los Angeles Metro) (documented fallback for the route-map fact that neither C nor K Line reaches Hollywood without a transfer) — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Line_(Los_Angeles_Metro) (checked 2026-09-17)
- LAX FlyAway — Fares & Tickets — www.flylax.com/flyaway-bus/fares-tickets (checked 2026-09-17)
- LAX FlyAway — Union Station route and everyday schedule — www.flylax.com/flyaway-bus/union-station (checked 2026-09-17)
- Wikipedia, FlyAway (bus) (documented fallback for the Hollywood/Long Beach route-suspension date) — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FlyAway_(bus) (checked 2026-09-17)
- LA Metro — Fares (base fare and TAP fare capping) — www.metro.net/fares/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- Los Angeles Department of Transportation — Taxicab Rates (LAX–Downtown flat fare $51.15 plus $4.00 surcharge on trips from LAX) — ladot.lacity.gov/sites/default/files/documents/taxicab-rates-2023.pdf (checked 2026-09-28)
- LA Yellow Cab — Rates and Services (LADOT-regulated LAX flat fare, $55.15 from LAX) — www.layellowcab.com/rates.html (checked 2026-09-28)
- Wikipedia, Hollywood Burbank Airport (documented fallback for the 2025 annual passenger total) — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Burbank_Airport (checked 2026-09-17)
- Hollywood Burbank Airport — November 2025 Passenger Statistics press release (top carriers) — www.hollywoodburbankairport.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/November-2025-Passenger-Stats-Press-Release.pdf (checked 2026-09-17)
- Metrolink — Burbank Airport - South (VC Line) Train Station page — metrolinktrains.com/rider-info/general-info/stations/burbankairportsouth/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- Wikipedia, Burbank Airport-South station (documented fallback for weekday train-count) — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burbank_Airport%E2%80%93South_station (checked 2026-09-17)
- Metrolink — New Simplified Fares (effective 1 July 2025) — metrolinktrains.com/ticketsOverview/new-fares/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- Aggregated fare listing for the Burbank Airport-South to Union Station one-way ticket under Metrolink’s July 2025 fare structure (documented fallback for the specific dollar figure) — metrolinktrains.com/ticketsOverview/ticket-info/ticket-types/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- Hollywood Burbank Airport — Ground Transportation (Buses & Trains, Shuttles & Taxis) — www.hollywoodburbankairport.com/to-from-the-airport/ground-transportation/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- Mubboo Tours inventory for Los Angeles (the booking platform destination 645), "LAX airport transfer" search, checked 17 September 2026 — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=645&term=LAX+airport+transfer¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-17)
- Mubboo Tours inventory for Los Angeles (the booking platform destination 645), "Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) transfer" search, checked 17 September 2026 — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=645&term=Hollywood+Burbank+Airport+%28BUR%29+transfer¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-17)