MEL-LAX-NYC Questions

[Harpoon]

About to hop over to NYC for a holiday QF93 and QF11...

1. Will QF check my bags all the way to NYC or will we need to collect them in LAX?

2. QF93 lands in LAX at 7:10 and QF11 departs at 8:55. Will we clear customs in LAX or NYC? If so will this be pretty tight?

3. Assuming both flights are on time, what options are there for non-QC members in LAX? I have QC passes but I'm told we can't use them at the AA lounge in LAX, right?

4. In LAX, does QF93 use a gate near to where QF11 is likely to depart or will we have to traverse LAX to another terminal?

Thanks!

 

[Dr Ralph]

You must collect bags and clear customs at LAX.

 

[blackcat20]

About to hop over to NYC for a holiday QF93 and QF11...

1. Will QF check my bags all the way to NYC or will we need to collect them in LAX?

2. QF93 lands in LAX at 17:10 and QF11 departs at 18:55. Will we clear customs in LAX or NYC? If so will this be pretty tight?

3. Assuming both flights are on time, what options are there for non-QC members in LAX? I have QC passes but I'm told we can't use them at the AA lounge in LAX, right?

4. In LAX, does QF93 use a gate near to where QF11 is likely to depart or will we have to traverse LAX to another terminal?

Thanks!

Customs in LAX. They may issue you with an express pass to speed up the process.

Cannot use the passes in LAX.

 

[RichardMEL]

You should be able to use your QC pass at the J lounge at LAX since QF11 departs from TBIT there's no AA lounge involved.

(those times seem very late to me. QF93 normally arrives around 0700 IIRC). Are you maybe confusing the return flight times out of JFK (eg: QF18)?

 

[RichardMEL]

Cannot use the passes in LAX.

The TBIT QF J lounge is a QF operated lounge - surely they would accept QC passes?

if not that's interesting.

Either way the connection is not that long given customs dance etc so lounge time would be limited.

 

[blackcat20]

The TBIT QF J lounge is a QF operated lounge - surely they would accept QC passes?

if not that's interesting.

Either way the connection is not that long given customs dance etc so lounge time would be limited.

Operated, but not owned. They dont accept the passes last time I checked.

 

[RichardMEL]

Operated, but not owned. They dont accept the passes last time I checked.

I see the distinction. I stand corrected thank you

 

[blackcat20]

From the QF website:

Note: Complimentary invitations cannot be used in the Los Angeles oneworld lounge.

 

[Harpoon]

You should be able to use your QC pass at the J lounge at LAX since QF11 departs from TBIT there's no AA lounge involved.

(those times seem very late to me. QF93 normally arrives around 0700 IIRC). Are you maybe confusing the return flight times out of JFK (eg: QF18)?

Oops my typo.

QF93 arrives 7:10 (not 17:10) and QF11 departs 8:55 (not 18:55).

I don't think QC comp invitations allow access to J lounges right? And is QF93 likely to land at TBIT as well?

 

[blackcat20]

Oops my typo.

QF93 arrives 7:10 (not 17:10) and QF11 departs 8:55 (not 18:55).

I don't think QC comp invitations allow access to J lounges right? And is QF93 likely to land at TBIT as well?

Yes QF93 will arrive at TBIT. An no, no access on Comp passes.

 

[Harpoon]

Thanks. What's the customs experience like at TBIT? Anything like Heathrow?

 

[ellen10]

We fly SYD into LAX on QF J. However our onward flight to NYC (connection time 2.5hrs) is in Premium Economy, will they let us into the lounge?

 

[RichardMEL]

So this is more for me learning something, how about QF international J lounges at MEL/SYD/BNE? No go for comp passes?

 

[blackcat20]

So this is more for me learning something, how about QF international J lounges at MEL/SYD/BNE? No go for comp passes?

They are fine for the comp passes as they are QF owned and operated.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Thanks. What's the customs experience like at TBIT? Anything like Heathrow?

If you have used the same passport to enter the US before, then you go to the kiosk and answer some questions on screen, then get your fingerprints and photo taken.

If you haven't been through the US before, you do the same thing, but with a person. (And sometimes you have to do this anyway if the kiosk doesn't work for you).

So a bit more detailed and time-consuming than LHR.

Move quickly once you get off the aircraft - you don't want to get stuck behind a load of Chinese/Korean/Japanese tourists who will faff around and delay the whole process.

Then you collect your bag, go up the ramp and give it to the QF transfer desk (they will be waiting for you, with a list of people going on to New York) and then you have to go back through security again before going to the lounge/aircraft.

 

[Harpoon]

If you have used the same passport to enter the US before, then you go to the kiosk and answer some questions on screen, then get your fingerprints and photo taken.

If you haven't been through the US before, you do the same thing, but with a person. (And sometimes you have to do this anyway if the kiosk doesn't work for you).

So a bit more detailed and time-consuming than LHR.

Move quickly once you get off the aircraft - you don't want to get stuck behind a load of Chinese/Korean/Japanese tourists who will faff around and delay the whole process.

Then you collect your bag, go up the ramp and give it to the QF transfer desk (they will be waiting for you, with a list of people going on to New York) and then you have to go back through security again before going to the lounge/aircraft.

Thank you John!! Just what I wanted to know

Given high probability of QF93 delays, do they hold QF11 for a while if required?

 

[Himeno]

If you have used the same passport to enter the US before, then you go to the kiosk and answer some questions on screen, then get your fingerprints and photo taken.

There's a bit more to it then that.
You can use the kiosk, if you have used the same passport to enter the US since 2008, on the VWP, with an ESTA.

They are unlikely to hold the QF11 JFK flight as it has a short turnaround at JFK and any delay will cause bigger delays on the return flight.

 

[Kangol]

We fly SYD into LAX on QF J. However our onward flight to NYC (connection time 2.5hrs) is in Premium Economy, will they let us into the lounge?

According to this, yes:
Lounge access - oneworld

Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights:

• First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).
• Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
• You must be prepared to show your boarding pass or itinerary showing travel in First or Business class on the international long haul flight, in order to access the lounge before your international short haul or domestic flight.

 

[Harpoon]

I haven't been to USA since 2000 and wife has never been. So we'll need to do the works? I've done the ESTA thing online already.

 

[blackcat20]

I haven't been to USA since 2000 and wife has never been. So we'll need to do the works? I've done the ESTA thing online already.

Yep you will need to do the standard manual processing.