AU to NYC via LAX Question

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

This is a qusetion for my parents as much as it is something I've been looking for an answer on. They're off to NYC in October and every other day have a freak out about the flight from LAX to NYC and what if they get delayed in customs, will they miss their flight etc.

I've seen a few mentions here and there that it's a flight from Qantas+partners more or less for ongoing passengers, so it's not going to leave without people, however I can't be sure on how old that information is.

Would alone who's done this route recently be able to advise how it works to put my parents mind at rest (and hence leave me alone about it).

 

[RichardMEL]

if it's a QF flight connecting to QF11 at LAX, they have staff to help with the connection through customs etc (so they will take pax to the head of the queue etc). if the connection is to AA, then QF/AA will rebook onto the next service if there's a delay.

If it's all on the same PNR they will handle it. I wouldn't freak out too much except obviously for potentially landing in NYC later than expected.

 

[RichardMEL]

if it's to a non QF partner, or on a separate booking, then you're at the mercy of the domestic carrier who would be well within their rights to charge a change feel/cancel as no show if the connection was missed. However I'm sure that's not the situation here.

 

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

Thanks Richard. It is indeed a Qantas flight all the way with QF11. I told them they have nothing to worry about, and will pass along your information to them.

 

[RichardMEL]

Thanks Richard. It is indeed a Qantas flight all the way with QF11. I told them they have nothing to worry about, and will pass along your information to them.

QF11 SYD-LAX-JFK is no issue since all the pax will be connecting to the same flight and QF will be sure. It's not like being concerned a QF93 (for example) might get in too late to meet 11 or anything. it's not an issue at all.

And last time I went through LAX they had a lot of staff to pick up and help out connections to NYC on 11 and even some signage at the bag drop to make it really easy.

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

As others have said it shouldn't be an issue. Your first QF11 will almost certainly be an A380 and becomes a 747 in LA. There is a small chance if the 380 is seriously delayed they may let the jfk flight go with just BNE and MEL passengers on it but that is a small chance. In the event that does happen they'll book you on an AA flight later in the day.

 

[Anna]

I entered USA through LAX 2 weeks ago and can confirm there was plenty of helpers and signage directing people to QF11's onward sector to NYC. Also, immigration did not take very long - approx 30-40 minutes at 7am.

 

[mick]

I also did the same journey 3 weeks ago on QF11 and whilst we arrived late and clearing immigration was slow (even for LAX), I made it onto the connecting flight without a problem, with much help along the way. I overheard a very concerned Aussie couple speaking with ground staff and she told them "this plane is often late and it won't leave without you"...

 

[UP4014]

Thanks Richard. It is indeed a Qantas flight all the way with QF11. I told them they have nothing to worry about, and will pass along your information to them.

It will be chaotic for them, but they will get there no problem. QF will have 3 or 4 people waiting at the end of the jetway dealing with tight connections.

 

[NoName]

My wife did this exact connection 2 weeks ago. She isn't the most confident when in a foreign environment but had no issues whatsoever. Very easy process and quite quick.

 

[SpudOz]

Thanks Richard. It is indeed a Qantas flight all the way with QF11. I told them they have nothing to worry about, and will pass along your information to them.

Your folks will have no problem. Immigration is still a nightmare though there is assistance for those with close connections. As long as the originating flight is QF11 (Sydney) it will be fine. I made the mistake of doing MEL-LAX-JFK many years ago. The Melbourne flight was late into LAX and we were shoved onto a Delta flight some 8 hours later, arriving in JFK at some ungodly hour. Never again!

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

Best LAX experience ever this morning! Can't have been more than 20 mins from gate to dropping baggage off for the connection. And it felt like someone has sent the TSA people on a good mood course. The rude, sullen misery of years past was replaced with almost all staff greetings warmly an quite a few attempting (usually unsuccessful) humour. A pleasant change!

 

[RichardMEL]

You mean TSA or CBP (Immigration & Customs)? I find customs people fine, the Immigration types (Officer Martinez) can be hit and miss. Mostly reasonably nice unless they suspect something (eg: "You're coming all this way for 3 days?") but in general no real issues.

 

[Sdtravel]

They must have shipped them to SFO.
I saw the rudest, abusive and probably even racists TSA agent on arrival a month or so back.

 

[RichWings]

I agree something must be in the water making the TSA people work faster - I think over Memorial Day there were horror stories in the press of three hour queue delays so they don't want bad press.

I connect through LAX to somewhere in the US every month. Did it yesterday and it was a breeze - 35 minutes from airbridge to bag drop off arriving off AA72.

So a couple of helpful things:

1. The Express Connection service works well to expedite queue jumping. Once you leave the inbound a/c and have a connection of 2hrs or less they have a new boarding pass and orange envelope waiting for you. The Immigration queue was 100+ people being serviced by 6 agents. Express Connection was pulled into a special queue with 2 agents - and there we six people ahead of me. Happy Days.

2. Once you drop your bag off you can head left down a corridor to get through security again in TBIT. I nearly did it yesterday but thought better. What I find works best is to exit the terminal and walk over to terminal 4 and enter the first door and head for security. With the Express Connection you are always waved through to the First Class TSA check line and then the security is also pretty fast. From that screening point you are right in AA Terminal 4 or can use the connector between Terminal 4 and TBIT which is brilliant because you can access the QF First class lounge when flying domestically. Although yesterday morning I sat at the bar for 10 minutes without service and the table waiters were all on a break. Seriously it was self service without being able to serve yourself. So I went over to T4 where I was flying from and used the Flagship lounge there which is pretty good compared to the standard Admirals Club.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

As others have said it shouldn't be an issue. Your first QF11 will almost certainly be an A380 and becomes a 747 in LA. There is a small chance if the 380 is seriously delayed they may let the jfk flight go with just BNE and MEL passengers on it but that is a small chance. In the event that does happen they'll book you on an AA flight later in the day.

Indeed as when my QF flight out of MEL was delayed too late to make the QF Connection to NY they just rebooked us on a AA flight. QF did all the work.

 

[Rourke]

Immigration is still a nightmare though there is assistance for those with close connections. As long as the originating flight is QF11 (Sydney) it will be fine. I made the mistake of doing MEL-LAX-JFK many years ago. The Melbourne flight was late into LAX and we were shoved onto a Delta flight some 8 hours later, arriving in JFK at some ungodly hour. Never again!

Immigration is not too bad, especially if your flight arrives on time. I flew MEL-LAX-JFK two days ago (6-Sep) and our flight out of MEL was delayed an hour due to two checked-in pax refusing to board. In LA the luggage is separated into two carousels: one for those continuing to JFK and one for the rest. Except that mostly the Business Class tagged bags were sent to the wrong carousel, and the staff on the ground couldn't work this out for nearly an hour impacting dozens of milling people. Seriously delayed the domestic leg as pax slowly trickled through customs & security, fortunately strong westerly meant a 4hr20 flight and only a little late into New York.

Looking at FlightRadar, QF11 ex-LAX is making a habit of being several hours late on departure recently.

 

[SpudOz]

Immigration is not too bad, especially if your flight arrives on time. I flew MEL-LAX-JFK two days ago (6-Sep) and our flight out of MEL was delayed an hour due to two checked-in pax refusing to board. In LA the luggage is separated into two carousels: one for those continuing to JFK and one for the rest. Except that mostly the Business Class tagged bags were sent to the wrong carousel, and the staff on the ground couldn't work this out for nearly an hour impacting dozens of milling people. Seriously delayed the domestic leg as pax slowly trickled through customs & security, fortunately strong westerly meant a 4hr20 flight and only a little late into New York.

Looking at FlightRadar, QF11 ex-LAX is making a habit of being several hours late on departure recently.

Two checked-in pax refusing to board. Why, no F pyjamas??

 

[Rourke]

Two checked-in pax refusing to board. Why, no F pyjamas??

All we heard was "for personal reasons". When they couldn't be convinced to change their minds, it was a long process to extract their luggage from the hold.