looking to fly BNE to Montreal

[ozfflyer]

Best connection, BNE/LAX direct & onto Air Canada at LAX is 2 hours, but that seems too tight to me.

Next is BNE/SYD/LAX, then Air Canada, but still only 2 hours 10 mins & want to avoid Sydney at all costs.

Can do BNE/LAX direct then 4 hours 45 min at LAX connecting with Air Canada.

My question is

1) do the 2 hour connect & if miss it, hope they'll get me on later flight (might have to go standby)

or

2) do the 4 hour 45 min connect & just take my time. Many years ago, you could ask to be put on an earlier flight at LAX easily, but now that would probably mean collecting bags, as tagged for later flight, go outside & then back into terminal to Air Canada check in, which would be so time consuming, that it wouldn't work anyway.

I presume at LAX, I'd arrive at Tom Bradley Int terminal & have to get to terminal 6.

 

[Mattg]

I think 2 hours should be OK. If the inbound flight was late and/or there were other issues causing you to miss the connection then they would put you on another flight (probably the next one) at no charge as long as you've booked on one ticket.

I wouldn't expect them to rebook you on the earlier flight if you book the 4 hour connection then arrive early.

Keep in mind that you don't get any Velocity benefits (other than earning points and status credits) for the Air Canada flight.

 

[jase05]

Keep in mind that you don't get any Velocity benefits (other than earning points and status credits) for the Air Canada flight.

I don’t think you get SC’s with AC flights

 

[Mattg]

I don’t think you get SC’s with AC flights

You do if it's booked with a VA flight number. This changed at the end of last year.

 

[jase05]

You do if it's booked with a VA flight number. This changed at the end of last year.

Cheers, makes it hard to keep track of when the VA website is so far behind

 

[clipped_wings]

I think the question I ask myself when we book connecting flights from LAX after a long haul arrival - is am I going to angst over the tight connection time in the months leading up to my trip? Or, should I take the alternative option and enjoy the slower paced itinerary?

I regretted not booking earlier flights to BNE for our upcoming long haul connection for this very reason. But I have been assured that my 2.25 hours layover is ample time, so you too, should be ok.

I hope you can relax and look forward to your impending holiday.

 

[ozfflyer]

I think 2 hours should be OK. If the inbound flight was late and/or there were other issues causing you to miss the connection then they would put you on another flight (probably the next one) at no charge as long as you've booked on one ticket.

I wouldn't expect them to rebook you on the earlier flight if you book the 4 hour connection then arrive early.

Keep in mind that you don't get any Velocity benefits (other than earning points and status credits) for the Air Canada flight.

lot of assumptions here ... you're assuming there is another flight & it has seats available

 

[ozfflyer]

I think the question I ask myself when we book connecting flights from LAX after a long haul arrival - is am I going to angst over the tight connection time in the months leading up to my trip? Or, should I take the alternative option and enjoy the slower paced itinerary?

I regretted not booking earlier flights to BNE for our upcoming long haul connection for this very reason. But I have been assured that my 2.25 hours layover is ample time, so you too, should be ok.

I hope you can relax and look forward to your impending holiday.

much easier & faster departing USA from a domestic USA flight or flight from Canada, than doing it in the opposite direction.

After talking to a few people, don't think I need the stress of a tight connection & will allow 3-4 hours. (although we travel to USA often, we usually spend night or 4 at entry port in USA & don't usually connect same day)

 

[ozfflyer]

Best connection, BNE/LAX direct & onto Air Canada at LAX is 2 hours, but that seems too tight to me.

Next is BNE/SYD/LAX, then Air Canada, but still only 2 hours 10 mins & want to avoid Sydney at all costs.

Can do BNE/LAX direct then 4 hours 45 min at LAX connecting with Air Canada.

My question is

1) do the 2 hour connect & if miss it, hope they'll get me on later flight (might have to go standby)

or

2) do the 4 hour 45 min connect & just take my time. Many years ago, you could ask to be put on an earlier flight at LAX easily, but now that would probably mean collecting bags, as tagged for later flight, go outside & then back into terminal to Air Canada check in, which would be so time consuming, that it wouldn't work anyway.

I presume at LAX, I'd arrive at Tom Bradley Int terminal & have to get to terminal 6.

getting from Tom Bradly to terminal 6 ?

Know you can got from terminal 4 to Tom Bradley, without having to go outside & they through security again. Can you do this in other direction ?

If so, there seems to be an underground tunnel between terminal 4 & 5 & also between 5 & 6 see map
LAX

so the big question is can you therefore go from Tom Bradley to terminal 6 quickly via the tunnels ? Otherwise getting from Tom Bradley to terminal 6 & going through security again, good easily take hour or more, depending on queues.

 

[CPMaverick]

While immigration can be slow, I find the biggest bottlenecks are luggage delivery and re-entering security. It doesn't sound like you realize luggage collection is mandatory on LAX arrival, even if you are connecting onwards internationally. There is no I->I transfer area at LAX. You essentially start from scratch after clearing security, although you can turn right and go to an area to re-check your bags easily (if they are already tagged through).

Not much you can do about the luggage delivery, it is a coughshoot. But there is a special security entrance from the TBIT luggage transfer area to T4. It generally moves pretty quickly IME, although I've only used it 3 times. Then you can take the tunnel from T4-T5-T6.

If I had to guess this transfer time would be 40-60 minutes.

If you miss the flight, there is another direct flight and also AC has heaps of ways to get to Montreal with 1 connection. You'd get there same day, somehow. You won't be allowed to standby for an earlier international flight, so if you pick the later flight, that's it.

Personally I would go for the 2 hour connection, that's my minimum at LAX, but it's manageable. It sounds like you don't have a high risk tolerance, so go with what makes you comfortable.

 

[ozfflyer]

While immigration can be slow, I find the biggest bottlenecks are luggage delivery and re-entering security. It doesn't sound like you realize luggage collection is mandatory on LAX arrival, even if you are connecting onwards internationally. There is no I->I transfer area at LAX. You essentially start from scratch after clearing security, although you can turn right and go to an area to re-check your bags easily (if they are already tagged through).

Not much you can do about the luggage delivery, it is a coughshoot. But there is a special security entrance from the TBIT luggage transfer area to T4. It generally moves pretty quickly IME, although I've only used it 3 times. Then you can take the tunnel from T4-T5-T6.

If I had to guess this transfer time would be 40-60 minutes.

If you miss the flight, there is another direct flight and also AC has heaps of ways to get to Montreal with 1 connection. You'd get there same day, somehow. You won't be allowed to standby for an earlier international flight, so if you pick the later flight, that's it.

Personally I would go for the 2 hour connection, that's my minimum at LAX, but it's manageable. It sounds like you don't have a high risk tolerance, so go with what makes you comfortable.

yep fully understand you have to collect luggage & dump it again (unless on separate tickets) BUT at busy times like Christmas holidays There might not be a later flight with any seats. Have seen massive "queue" of people on standby for later flight, as they missed their connection. Also considered flying on Sunday VA 9, 2215/1720, but that doesn't leave many/any options for good connections to Montreal.

 

[Mattg]

yep fully understand you have to collect luggage & dump it again (unless on separate tickets) BUT at busy times like Christmas holidays There might not be a later flight with any seats. Have seen massive "queue" of people on standby for later flight, as they missed their connection. Also considered flying on Sunday VA 9, 2215/1720, but that doesn't leave many/any options for good connections to Montreal.

Just book the later flight, then.

 

[ozfflyer]

a

Just book the later flight, then.

actually as of yesterday, there's a $750 return on Fiji Airways BNE/LAX/BNE. Looking at doing that now, with separate tickets from LAX to YUL