LAX transfer time - VA to DL

[Velocity777]

In May, my partner and I have booked a J class flight from SYD to SFO. This has all been booked on a single VA ticket transferring in LAX onto a DL flight.

The VA flight arrives at 06:05am at TBIT and the DL flight departs at 08:17am from Terminal 3. I’m a Velocity Platinum so will also receive Sky Priority benefits with DL, however am concerned that with only just over 2 hours between the flights that this won’t be enough clear customs etc, particularly if VA is running late. We’ll also have checked baggage which I understand will need to be collected and rechecked at the transfer desk.

Assuming that the current government shutdown is finished soon and security screening etc is back to its ‘normal’ processing times by the time we fly, what would our chances be of actually making this connecting flight?

I realise that if we were to miss the first flight, VA would be required to arrange for us to go onto this next available flight anyway, but if these are full it could turn into a very long day and we may not get our preferred seats.

There’s another DL flight to SFO that departs at 09:50am, so am thinking of calling VA and requesting to be changed into this one instead to take some of the stress out.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Harthagan]

Unfortunately theres no way of knowing. Ive gotten through customs at TBIT in as little as 20 minutes but its also taken me upwards of 2 hours on occasions.

As you say, you are guaranteed a connection either way but it might pay to give yourself a little breathing space. In my experience delta are very easy to deal with but they do quite often oversell flights in which case u could be waiting around for a while

 

[serfty]

That time is out side my comfort zone*. Since it has been booked, if you cannot change at no cost, it may be best to let it be.



(*MST: Minimum Sensible Time)

 

[Denali]

It can be a cough shoot. Ive been curbside in 20mins and last time it took almost 3hrs.

I would ask to change to a later flight and hopefully you have spare time for a shower.

good luck!

 

[Ausbt]

In a couple of weeks I'm due to arrive at LAX at 5:20 pm with VA and planning on making a DL at 7:35 pm. And that's a separate booking, last flight of the night to the intended destination. Yep.

 

[Muppet501st]

Have you been thru The states before ? If you haven't then the 2hrs will be cutting it very fine. The extra time it takes to get thru into the states on your first visit can take up to 1.5 hrs to get thru. If you've been thru before then the 2 hours will be plenty.

 

[Ausbt]

Have you been thru The states before ?

I have, however I certainly know this is cutting it fine. I guess if I do miss it I'll hope they can fly me on the next day (there are six flights that would be practical with maybe another two impracticable). I imagine, given the separate ticketing, the cost is going to hurt a bit.

 

[clipped_wings]

We travel to the USA every year. Change your connection booking to at least 10am local and enjoy the anticipation of your trip, rather than leaving it be and dreading the implications

 

[grubbidok]

I transit through the US 4-5 times a year. Almost all of my connecting flights through LAX are tight (usually 2 hours or close to) and I haven't had an issue yet - this includes less than hour between them due to late landing (that being said I am WP so do have priority lane access through the gates). One thing to factor in is that boarding in the US is usually right before departure time, as opposed to a full half hour as it is here. In my experience people tend to overestimate the time it takes to get through.

I think in this case it is about personal preference. In my case I usually don't stress because I know they'll get me to the end point sooner rather than later, and I would personally prefer to get to destination earlier if possible rather than hang at LAX, but hanging around doesn't bother me that much if it needed to happen. But if the tight connection itself is causing you stress, I would ring them to see if they can change it.

One thing you do have working in your favour is that DL and VA are tight. DL IMO treats VA WPs better than any other airline (*including VA*) does and will likley treat as one of their own elite. I've only had one missed connection on DL (due to a 40min ticketed layover and a 30min delay in landing in ATL on the way to MGA). DL even re-routed me on another airline to get me to MGA on time (well a few hours later as it was via MIA). LAX-SFO has many more options on DL metal though - and TBH the flight is so short most people probably won't have booked business (IME most of these short hops are people being bumped up due to status. not ticketed as J)

 

[Ausbt]

Great advice from both clipped and grubbi - merit in both approaches. Seems like a USD$200 change fee on this one though, so I'm throwing the dice I guess and if it all falls in a heap, hopefully will get one the next day.

 

[Ausbt]

I've decided to take a little insurance out on this one. Hopefully I'll transit LAX in that two hour window, but given I just also booked the 6am flight the next day for USD$88, I guess I'm covered if I don't make it. While I was completing the booking, I got a call from a market research company offering me AUD$100 to attend a group tomorrow - I'll take that as a sign that this is relatively cheap insurance, although I won't be looking forward to bunking down in LAX for the night. Delta Lounge closes at 1 am and re-opens at 4:30 am.

Also the change fee on the original flight was USD$200, so simply changing the original flight wasn't really an option here.

 

[Harthagan]

Im confused why u booked the following day.

---

Oh just realised you werent the OP lol
/edit

 

[docjames]

This sort of question gets asked a lot.

Schedule on the onward flight comes into it too - with "connected" tickets booking the minimum connection with the published mct is ok, however the "risk" is full onward flights / significant delay reaching destination, versus allowing more time and "ensuring " (within whats possible) a more certain arrival at final destination.

If travelling eg. LAX-SFO i'd book pretty close to the minimum connection as a miss will inevitably be covered onto a new flight, but if travelling onward from LAX to midwest or east cost to somewhere with only 2-4 flights per day, i'd allow a better buffer than right on minimum (accepting i might get through in 20m and end up watching the earlier flight leave). The other way to play that if traveling hand luggage only, is to head asap to the gate where the earlier departure is doing and ask for a waitlist seat (again success will be fare and capacity dependent).

So in the OPs case i'd book the minimum connector as there's a ton of LAX-SFO flights later in the day to ensure end result is ok (assuming they have no fixed/critical commitments that require reasonable certainty of arrival time).

 

[Ausbt]

but if travelling onward from LAX to midwest or east cost to somewhere with only 2-4 flights per day, i'd allow a better buffer

Yes the OP has disappeared for now so I've taken over the thread (not going to use the 'hi-word' in an AFF forum!) Unlike the OP, who was in early and had that day to make another flight, I'm last flight of the day and it's LAX-SLC. So with a first flight morning after option as well albeit in 'basic' class, just gives me another shot at it for not much money. I reckon if I tried re-booking on the day it would be 3x the price and with different PNRs for VA & DL, I don't think DL would come to the party.

I could be really cheap about this and cancel the SLC airport hotel as well on antic of not making it, but if I did make it I'd be rocking up and accepting rack rate no doubt.

 

[Harthagan]

I reckon if I tried re-booking on the day it would be 3x the price and with different PNRs for VA & DL, I don't think DL would come to the party.

I missed a delta connection last year in LAX which was on a seperate ticket to my virgin SYD to LAX flight and delta put me on standby for the next available flight.

Not only was the next flight 3x more expensive (at the time i booked the flights) but i ended up getting a comfort plus seat. I was very pleasantly surprised as i had been expecting to have to cough up an exorbitant amount.

 

[cssaus]

Last year for my SYD-LAX-JFK itinerary, my VA flight into LAX was arriving at 6.05am and the onwards flight to JFK on DL was departing at 7.55am. Given that I was traveling with only carry-on I thought there wouldn't be an issue.

Well for a start, the VA SYD-LAX flight was delayed and I was starting to stress out that I wouldn't make the LAX-JFK connection. Fortunately on landing at LAX I saw that the LAX-JFK flight was delayed as well.

I've got a another SYD-LAX-JFK flight coming up later this year and I deliberately booked a later LAX-JFK flight thereby giving me a 2 hour connection just to be on the safe side.

Just be aware, if connecting to a DL flight at LAX early in the morning the security lines at the DL terminal can be very busy which need to be factored into your connection times.

 

[CPMaverick]

I do this transfer a lot. Normally I'd say you'll be fine, it usually takes me between 45-90 minutes (the latter being rare) to make this transfer with baggage. But the shutdown adds an extra wrinkle. If you can switch to a later flight for free, definitely do it.

On the flip side there are plenty of flights LAX-SFO, lots of capacity. Mid-morning to early afternoon flights are the lowest demand. So if you do miss your connection it won't be that bad. Booked in J they will get you there for sure.

 

[theblank]

its the airlines problem if you dont make the connecting flight. They will reschedule you at their cost. Dont even worry about it.
If the delay is over a few hours, then also the benefits of your travel insurance will kick in, free money.

DL is a full service airline, but I expect that it will help if you can call them before checkin closes on that next flight once know you are not going to make it.

 

[Velocity777]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will call up tomorrow and have decided that if I can change to the later connecting flight for free I’ll do that just to be safe and take away some of the stress. If we’re there early, more time to spend in the lounge... If not, will take my chances and hopefully make the earlier flight.

 

[leadman]

It really is a "hit and miss". I came through LAX from TPE on EVA and onto Reno yesterday. Choice was arrive 6:40 and book the 8:20 to RNO, but with the shutdown in mind, coming off SA to OW, early morning, a previous stuff-up etc,. i opted for the 9:56 via PHX. What happened was close to record time through customs. Would you believe just under 22 minutes from plane to out on the street! For the first time my luggage was at the carousel, the line moved rapidly for passport stamp, officer took your card on-the-spot so there was no final checking as you left. No queues anywhere! Even SIN might not be able to match it.

I was at the AA check in at 7:10 but unfortunately the 8:20 flight was sold. But that was a rarity and would not even gamble that would happen again. Would still opt for the 9:56. The other one is LAX is not the most passenger friendly when you have to sprint between terminals.

One noticeable mention was that all the staff with the current shutdown seemed to have lost their motivation. The guy stamping the passport couldn't give a rat's bum, but i understand why with the craziness going on there. There was also the lack of "shouting" from all the TSA officers telling people what to do. the five terminals i visited yesterday were very subdued.