MEL-LAX-NYC Questions

[RooFlyer]

Yep you will need to do the standard manual processing.

in which case, as JohnPhelan suggested, don't dawdle off the plane - every 10 people you can overtake en route to the immigration hall is potentially 5 minutes you might save. If you hurry, and manage to beat another plane's feed of people into immigration, your time saving may be significant.

Don't join the first queue you see, or are directed to. Often the more distant queues are shorter. Try not to get behind the nationalities JP mentioned, to which I would add Mexicans (everyone's passports are usually handily in their hands!); they inevitably take longer to process than, say Aussies and Brits.

Collect bags, then join the customs queue; watch signs for any 'ESTA' queue.

After that, welcome ... you are now in the USA. As JP suggests, up the ramp and hand over your bag (it will have been checked through when you checked in).

Then go back through security to your NYC flight.

 

[ellen10]

According to this, yes:
Lounge access - oneworld

Thanks for that information. I wasn't sure and assumed that we may not get in.
But will now look forward to the lounge

 

[sydstar]

Speaking from recent experience (the past month) - I arrived into LAX on QF11 (ex SYD). We were delayed 1.5hrs out of Sydney due to a medical issue. Upon landing in LAX, the CSM made a PA detailing the process for pax connecting onto QF11 to JFK (note this will be the 747 arriving from as QF15 from BNE). A call was also made for a range of AA connections that were now tight. Upon exiting the aircraft, QF ground crew were present, and one was even holding a sign that said 'QF 11 New York JFK'. I was stopping over in LA, bit I did notice that all the JFK pax were offered orange express cards by QF ground crew.

I wouldn't worry too much about the connection. QF seem to have a process in place to deal with delays. If there are a large number of connecting pax from MEL (or SYD), it will likely be in QFs interest to still run QF11 to JFK delayed, as the alternative would require mass rebookings onto AA.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

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!

Note that the bags will still be tagged to JFK even though they will come off the carousel in LAX.

I wouldn't worry too much about the connection. QF seem to have a process in place to deal with delays. If there are a large number of connecting pax from MEL (or SYD), it will likely be in QFs interest to still run QF11 to JFK delayed, as the alternative would require mass rebookings onto AA.

It wouldn't be in QF's interest to delay QF11 to JFK due to the knock on effect of delaying the return flight ex JFK as it would inconvenience far more people flying ex LAX to Australia on the aircraft operating LAX/JFK/LAX.

 

[blackcat20]

It wouldn't be in QF's interest to delay QF11 to JFK due to the knock on effect of delaying the return flight ex JFK as it would inconvenience far more people flying ex LAX to Australia on the aircraft operating LAX/JFK/LAX.

It does happen though, and they usually hold one Aus-bound flight and rebook all pax onto that (or that is what has happened in my experience).

 

[sydstar]

It wouldn't be in QF's interest to delay QF11 to JFK due to the knock on effect of delaying the return flight ex JFK as it would inconvenience far more people flying ex LAX to Australia on the aircraft operating LAX/JFK/LAX.

It's an interesting situation. We took the LAX-JFK leg after a few days in LA. On that morning the flight was delayed out of LAX by about 90 minutes, and upon landing at JFK I noticed there was going to be a 60 minute delay for the return leg back to LAX, which surely would have made the connections back to Australia tough.

My understanding is the aircraft rotates BNE-LAX-JFK-LAX-SYD currently, but this will likely have to change with the retiming of QF12 and the reduction in frequency of QF18 (so I presume it will be BNE at both ends?)

 

[Himeno]

My understanding is the aircraft rotates BNE-LAX-JFK-LAX-SYD currently, but this will likely have to change with the retiming of QF12 and the reduction in frequency of QF18 (so I presume it will be BNE at both ends?)

Could be anything depending on the timetable and which 747 flights ex-LAX are running (16, 18, 96).

I wouldn't worry too much about the connection. QF seem to have a process in place to deal with delays. If there are a large number of connecting pax from MEL (or SYD), it will likely be in QFs interest to still run QF11 to JFK delayed, as the alternative would require mass rebookings onto AA.

It is far easier to rebook pax onto AA operated QF codeshares to JFK then to deal with the knock on effects of delaying the aircraft running the transcon tag. The only time they are likely to delay it is if there are major problems/delays at CBP/TSA and most pax continuing to JFK are stuck.

The 'process' for delayed flights becoming short/impossible connections is a oneworld program in place at most oneworld hubs. There is a team of of staff from oneworld members operating at that airport in a back room which monitor incoming oneworld flights for possible connection problems. If such problems are flagged, they rebook, print new boarding passes and/or provide express cards/escorts as required.

 

[The Mountain]

Also, one thing I will mention, once you pass through ESTA immigration (which is usually very quick at the time QF93 arrives) and drop your bags off with the QF staff, you still need to clear security. This is normally the most stressful part for me as it's a single to two line queue that moves very slowly. I would rush as fast as possible to this security section, as once you're through it, you're done. My best advice would be to drop the bags off and as you leave the baggage drop off room turn immediately right to the elevators and go up to level 3. Rush toward the escalators up the back of TBIT (first left once you exit the elevators - usually a QF11 staff member holding a sign directing you where to go) which will take you up to the security line.

Then you can relax .

Ps. From experience, I would say 9/10 times the connecting flight to JFK is all good. Qantas are great at handling any delays and they have a ton of staff on ground to direct people.