Is Anyone Familiar with LAX?

LAX is surprisingly user-friendly. If your Dad has a cell phone you could arrange to meet him on the sidewalk outside baggage claim you could time your arrival for 20 minutes or so after the flight lands and just pull up to the curb. you won't be able to wait for him there though, so he needs to be on the sidewalk when you arrive.

My favorite method -
Each terminal has its own parking lot. So check the terminal and then just park in that particular lot and walk across to baggage claim and wait for him there. Easy.

Your previous post on LAX was good. I never park, but we always have
a land mark that we wait by so its easier for the driver. Have the person picking you up tell you what they will be standing under. For example I pick up every Fri night at LAX at Terminal 7 and we wait under the Small Dispatch sign. Its big, everyone can find it and so can I. It works charms and its a lot easier than searching and searching while you are driving. LAX is very easy to get around, its just very busy.

It can be a little bit crazy so take your time. Find out what terminal and google so you know where you are going. I think it's better to NOT park and pick people up curbside

Very easy to do... it is well marked.... just follow the signs to "arrivals"... the airlines are grouped into numbered terminals. These terminal listings are on the left side of the road. When you figure out which terminal you are shooting for pull over to the right lane (but not yet into the "inner lane"). The specific airline signs are underneath the overhang on the far right.... When you see your desired airline signs pull into the inner lane and stop at the curb. The police do patrol and they don't let you get out of the car or linger too long. It is best to have your dad call you when he is on the ground and be sure that he knows what car to look for. If your timing is not exactly right.... you can easily drive around for another loop which takes about 5-8 minutes. You might be able to google for a listing of which airlines are in which terminals... such a list may exist somewhere. Good luck!

one-hour parking at LAX is $3. If you are unfamiliar with the airport and not used to vans, buses, cars weaving in and out - best to park and pick up at baggage claim. Good luck.

My vote is with Diane's, when I pick up people I have them call me when the plane lands, we live about 1/2 hour away at the most, so by the time I get there, they have their bags, I don't have to park and wait, and they don't wait long.

Try to get him in the loading zone after he retrieves his bags. I used to do that with my parents and they didn't mind waiting for me until I got there. If you get there before they are out you can go around and come back as many times as you need to. There are signs that read airport return, just follow that road and it will lead you back to arrivals again.

I'm familiar with the airport. If you look on-line you can find a map of the airport. Basically, the road is a big U-shape and the terminals (1-7 + international) are all around it. The lower level is where to pick up arriving passengers. When I pick up my folks, I usually park in short-term parking nearest the terminal they are landing at (usually you know this by airline). You can then meet folks at the bottom of the escalators/elevators that lead to baggage claim. Or, if you don't want to park (which does cost some money), you can simply drive around the terminal until they get their bags and you can pick them up out front.
Be aware, however, that the drivers are crazy - lots of busses and vans pulling in and out. Drive slowly and keep your eyes open. For that reason alone, it is better to park in the lot, rather than drive around.
Best of luck -

Assuming your dad is not checking a zillion bags my advice is to pick him up upstairs, at departures. Arrivals gets super crazy. So when he gets off hte plane just have him stay upstairs and meet you (if he has no bags) or grab his bag from baggage claim and go up to ticketing and walk outside to meet you. It will save you time and headaches.