Travelling from Sydney to Vancouver

[XPOSE]

Hi All,

Apologies if I have posted in the wrong section!

We are flying from Sydney to Vancouver soon, and have some questions about the process... We have never been to the US/Canada before...

We are flying QANTAS from Sydney to LAX, and Alaska Airlines from LAX to Vancouver (all flights are QF)

1: What are the entry requirements? We have Australian Passports, and ESTA.
2: What is the process when we get to LAX?
3: There is 3 hours between arrival at LAX to departure - is this enough time?
4: Arrival at LAX is Terminal B - Departure from LAX is Terminal 6 - Does this mean we have to go through customs again?

Thanks for your assistance

 

[katiebell]

Have you already booked and paid? If not look at Cathay via HKG: much nicer trip.

I transit (Canada to Aus) via LAX: hopefully never again.

Vancouver is lovely: enjoy!

 

[dfcatch]

Hi All,

Apologies if I have posted in the wrong section!

We are flying from Sydney to Vancouver soon, and have some questions about the process... We have never been to the US/Canada before...

We are flying QANTAS from Sydney to LAX, and Alaska Airlines from LAX to Vancouver (all flights are QF)

1: What are the entry requirements? We have Australian Passports, and ESTA.
2: What is the process when we get to LAX?
3: There is 3 hours between arrival at LAX to departure - is this enough time?
4: Arrival at LAX is Terminal B - Departure from LAX is Terminal 6 - Does this mean we have to go through customs again?

Thanks for your assistance

1/ If you have completed and paid your ESTA application then all should be good (as long as you are staying in North America for less than 90 days).

2/ When you arrive at the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) you will meet Officer Martinez who will satisfy himself as to your entry admissability. Then you collect your bags, exit through Customs, head up the ramp to the right, following the "Connecting Flights" signage.
You will reach a turn to the left, which takes you to the "Connecting Flight Conveyor Belt". Assuming your bags have been tagged through you hand them to the friendly Southern Californian natives who place said bags on conveyor.
Exit the terminal and turn right. Walk approximately 3-5 minutes to Terminal 6, enter and proceed through Security (you may need to obtain new boarding passes first from the checkin desk).
Relax and enjoy on the off-chance that you actually have any spare time at this point (TBIT processing can take up to 2.5 hours if you're unlucky).

Hope this helps and enjoy Vancouver.

(British Columbia - the 7th Australian State).

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Have you already booked and paid? If not look at Cathay via HKG: much nicer trip.

I transit (Canada to Aus) via LAX: hopefully never again.

Vancouver is lovely: enjoy!

At least you will pre-clear US arrival customs from the Canadian side when you depart so you will arrive in LAX just as you would on a regular domestic flight before proceeding to the terminal & gate for your flight ex LAX.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Slightly OT, but consider the starlight express LAX SEA then up to YVR on a 4 hr train around Puget Sound. Magnificent scenery.

 

[irv]

When we did this trip was through US Customs in 20 minutes, every one warned us of long delays. Problem was we a had a three hour wait at LAX for connecting flights. LAX is one of the worst aiports I have been in.

Canada is a great country to visit, enjoy.

 

[Maca44]

Have you already booked and paid? If not look at Cathay via HKG: much nicer trip.

I transit (Canada to Aus) via LAX: hopefully never again.

Vancouver is lovely: enjoy!

I have been doing this lately when travelling to Chicago on CX. SYD-HKG-ORD. Few hours in HKG, but anything beats entering through LAX.

 

[justcallmeryan]

I have been doing this lately when travelling to Chicago on CX. SYD-HKG-ORD. Few hours in HKG, but anything beats entering through LAX.

I know you guys all have to do one world flights for points and SC's, but to to be honest the best way to get to YVR from SYD is definitely on the non stop Air Canada flight. No US customs and a very late night departure from YVR on the way back so you can make the most of the trip. I've done the flight a few times and it's definitely the way to go...