AA and LAX transfer questions

[gunzel2]

I have a booking from LAX to AKL in a few weeks time on AA83 at 23.10 hours.

Plans have changed for the earlier part of my time in America and I'll now need to fly PHX to LAX to connect to AA83.

With seperate bookings can I through check my bag from Phoenix to Auckland AA connecting to AA?

Also is AA640 arriving LAX at 2141 a safe connection to AA83 departing LAX at 2310?

I think it's T5 arrival and T4 departure.

Thanks in advance for help! DW

 

[Anna]

If it was me I would allow a longer connection time. Even if AA will check the bag through (I don't know either way if they will or not) there is not much leeway in there for flight delays.

I had to do PHX to LAX last Thursday. I had booked a 16.30 departure from PHX to arrive in LAX at 17.15 with plenty of time to get my 22.05 QF flight. With a 'Monster Storm' leading to thousands of flight cancellations that day, fog at LA allowing use of only one runway at LAX, cancellation of my original flight, 45 minutes on the tarmac at PHX before take off on my rebooked flight and a 50 minute wait for my bag at LAX meant that I got to QF checkin at 20.05 and did not arrive at the F lounge until 20.40 for 21.20 boarding. Not the leisurely time in the F lounge that I had planned!

 

[Hvr]

I'm with Anna, seems a bit tight and if anything goes wrong you're in trouble.

PHX is a hub airport and if your incoming flight is delayed anywhere down the line then the knock on effects can cause long delays.

 

[serfty]

AA has a policy (recent) of no longer checking bags through on separate tickets.

I'd allow at least four hours at LAX.

Since you are WP, the worst thing that can happen is needing to order salt and pepper squid in the TBIT Qantas first lounge which can be reached airside from T4.

 

[serfty]

Having a quick look, the 5pm'ish departure AA695, if available, arriving about quarter to seven is the latest I'd book ...even earlier if convenient.

 

[Himeno]

I think it's T5 arrival and T4 departure.

hmm...
They were in T4 and T6. It looks like AA moved their T6 ops to T5 last month. The eagle gates have gone from 44A-J to 60A-J and are now 52A-J, in the space of a year.

AA uses all of T4 and 4 gates in T5 as well as rights to 4 gates in TBIT and the Eagle's Nest Satellite.
If the LAS-LAX flight is mainline, it can arrive at any of the main gates T5, T6 or TBIT (though the TBIT AA gates are used more by AA in the mornings).
If the LAS-LAX flight is on Eagle, then it will go to the satellite and a shuttle will be needed to connect. Shuttles go from the satellite to both T4 and T5. They go to T5 more often and if baggage needs to be reclaimed, that will be sent to T5.

 

[serfty]

Its a PHX flight ... Some are RJ's though.

 

[Quickstatus]

The eagle gates are in the same remote location - just the numbers have changed.
Potential problem with eagle gates:
If CRJ aircraft you will likely need to wait for your carry on as they need to be gatechecked. Sometimes better to check the carry on at the gate but to the carousel of your destination.
The gates are quite busy - arriving aircraft often have to wait at the apron while a gated aircraft departs
Waiting for the transfer bus can take a while as queues form and wheelchair passengers take awhile (USA is renowned for having lots of wheelchair passengers)
Give minimum 20minutes to disembark aircraft to get to T4.
More than 2 hours is required because you are a WP. So you need at least 1.5 hours in the QF F lounge at LAX.

 

[serfty]

The 5pm flight I checked was an A321; an earlier 3pm'ish flight was an RJ.

 

[Gold Member]

Sorry to hijack your post gunzel2, but I have similar question I think has caused a stir among a few of us (lounge access policy and enforcement). I'm arriving QF93 with separate ticket onward to ORD with AA 3 hrs later. Am I right in assuming that after collecting luggage I can recheck luggage at TBIT (or via the transfer desk) and make my way to QF FCL as WP? I would then walk airside to my flight a little earlier than usual. Or do I need to check bags in T4 and use AA 'lounge'?

 

[serfty]

AA have a manned recheck counter at the TBIT transfer area. I would approach them, they should be able to assist.

(In the unlikely case they cannot or won't, then it's up to departures and off to T4 for you.)

 

[Quickstatus]

Sorry to hijack your post gunzel2, but I have similar question I think has caused a stir among a few of us (lounge access policy and enforcement). I'm arriving QF93 with separate ticket onward to ORD with AA 3 hrs later. Am I right in assuming that after collecting luggage I can recheck luggage at TBIT (or via the transfer desk) and make my way to QF FCL as WP? I would then walk airside to my flight a little earlier than usual. Or do I need to check bags in T4 and use AA 'lounge'?

You will need to check in and check bags at T4 (can also do it at T6) as you have separate tickets.
Once you have checked in at T4 go through security

Several ways to go through security
You can go through security at T6,T5,T4,TBIT (as these are connected post security by a tunnel and overhead walkway)
At TBIT there are 2 ways - security upstairs at TBIT as though you are departing on an international flight then use overhead walkway to T4,T5,T6. There is also a new security line just after the bagdrop at TBIT on arrival that leads to T4

You can use TBIT QF F Lounge or T4 Flagship lounge (currently called International first class lounge) at T4 plus one guest on same flight even if you are travelling in economy on QF93 and/or AA DOM flight

AA have a manned recheck counter at the TBIT transfer area. I would approach them, they should be able to assist.
(In the unlikely case they cannot or won't, then it's up to departures and off to T4 for you.)

Unluckily for me I have never seen them there.

 

[gunzel2]

Having a quick look, the 5pm'ish departure AA695, if available, arriving about quarter to seven is the latest I'd book ...even earlier if convenient.

Thanks, have taken the safer option and booked AA695! Regards, DW