Last time I flew to Asia via LAX, all American Airlines flights were stuck in the claustrophobic Terminal 4. That created a problem on the return leg. Since LAX is the port of entry, what AA had to do was park the plane at Terminal 4 and force the passengers to trudge to the (very nice and very new) Tom Bradley International Terminal, clearing passport control and collecting baggage. Then, if you had an onward connection, you had to trudge BACK to Terminal 4. A lot of walking after being stuck in a metal tube for 12+ hours.
Now, NO MORE! My AA flight to PVG now leaves and arrives at the TBIT. And as befitting an international terminal, there are awesome lounges. For AA you have the Oneworld Business Lounge and the Qantas First Lounge, where they whip up a good breakfast.
If you’re still one of those UA diehards, there’s a Star Alliance lounge here too.