BNE to MCO in November, avoiding LAX. Which airline?

[RooFlyer]

Interestingly, there are some situations in the US where you don't have to clear customs and immigration at the first stop. I was totally confused flying Buenos Aires-Houston-Calgary on United; de-planed and into the terminal and lounge at Houston ... no immigration & customs. I think a special situation for that terminal, exclusively United ... but I have never figured out how widespread that 'privilege' is.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

@serfty Thanks for that tip! I looked into it and it looks like that new connector bridge should solve my biggest issues. I'm going to give it a go I think Thanks!

Thanks @RooFlyer I would need to clear customs regardless but looks like I can avoid the normal TSA queue to get into T4 as don't have to leave the terminal.

Qantas has some info under Transfers on their LAX page Los Angeles International Airport Guide | Qantas

So I think I should be OK?

When flying international to domestic with luggage you can't use the connector because after exiting customs you turn right and go up the ramp to drop off your bag on the transfer belt then hou have ni choice other than exiting TBIT to ho landside.

Found this out when we flew AA from Cabo to DFW via LAX. I asked staff when we dropped the bags off at the transfer area how to get to T4 without going through TSA and you can't.

HLO is a different matter altogether.

 

[chol]

Oh no @ozbeachbabe! The Qantas website makes it sound like u can?

"For flights arriving at Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) with connections out of Terminal 4

After clearing immigration and customs, the T4 Connector provides a checked baggage inspection system plus a four-lane passenger security screening checkpoint so that customers can clear security in the sterile connections area, rather than being required to exit TBIT and re-clear security at the connecting terminal. The TBIT entry to the T4 Connector is immediately to the right after Interline recheck area in TBIT."

 

[chol]

Also interesting point @RooFlyer, although I have done this route before with Qantas and had to go through customs so I just assume will still be the same. Perhaps a limited Houston/United connections thing like u said.

 

[Himeno]

Oh no @ozbeachbabe! The Qantas website makes it sound like u can?

"For flights arriving at Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) with connections out of Terminal 4

After clearing immigration and customs, the T4 Connector provides a checked baggage inspection system plus a four-lane passenger security screening checkpoint so that customers can clear security in the sterile connections area, rather than being required to exit TBIT and re-clear security at the connecting terminal. The TBIT entry to the T4 Connector is immediately to the right after Interline recheck area in TBIT."

When connecting from an International Arrival at TBIT, you clear CBP, collect baggage then exit into the arrivals land side area (TBIT Level 1). Turn right and go up the ramp. This takes you to a transfer desk. Keep heading in the same direction and follow the connections signage to a TSA checkpoint. Clear TSA here. You then go up stairs to Level 5 of the connector walkway. Turn left for T4-8 and right for TBIT.
The walkway exits next to the QF F lounge in TBIT and between the T4 TSA checkpoint and Gate 41 in T4. If going to T5+, go to the bus gate at Gate 44, and there is a passage underground to the side (this door also leads to T4 baggage claim, so make sure you make the right turn here)

The TBIT Connections checkpoint takes a very short amount of time to clear. The times I've used it, I've been through TSA and at the QF F lounge within 10 minutes of walking into TBIT. However, this checkpoint may be busier in the mornings after the QF arrivals.

 

[serfty]

But international to domestic, which is the OP's situation, is different, isn't it? You still have to clear immigration and customs at LAX on my understanding, so you are technically 'landside' as far as that is concerned) but then get to use the interconnector to T4?

Yes, I was certainly referring in that post to D to I connections - much easier. They other way, yes as you posted.

When flying international to domestic with luggage you can't use the connector because after exiting customs you turn right and go up the ramp to drop off your bag on the transfer belt then hou have ni choice other than exiting TBIT to ho landside

You still don't need to go outside!

Since Aug 2016 there has been a special transit security at TBIT - you come out mid connector ; go left for T4 and right for TBIT.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Oh no @ozbeachbabe! The Qantas website makes it sound like u can?

"For flights arriving at Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) with connections out of Terminal 4

After clearing immigration and customs, the T4 Connector provides a checked baggage inspection system plus a four-lane passenger security screening checkpoint so that customers can clear security in the sterile connections area, rather than being required to exit TBIT and re-clear security at the connecting terminal. The TBIT entry to the T4 Connector is immediately to the right after Interline recheck area in TBIT."

That's a bit of a mystery because I'm positive there wasn't any other exit once we turned right and went up the ramp.

After initially turning right there was a lane to the left half way up that was roped off but had a sign saying "QF11 passengers to New York."

 

[serfty]

Last year I was off QF15 at 605am, it was so efficient I had to wait 10 minutes outside the Qantas First lounge door until it opened 630am.

 

[serfty]

That's a bit of a mystery because I'm positive there wasn't any other exit once we turned right and went up the ramp.

After initially turning right there was a lane to the left half way up that was roped off but had a sign saying "QF11 passengers to New York."

You still go that way, just to the right side of the rope ...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

You still don't need to go outside!

Since Aug 2016 there has been a special transit security at TBIT - you come out mid connector ; go left for T4 and right for TBIT.

Then the staff are idiots because when I asked how to get to T4 without going outside the terminal they said "you have to" - nothing like the above scenario.

Mind you AA were so unhelpful throughout the trip it doesn't surprise me they told us the wrong info. Our bags were tagged SJD/xLAX/xDFW/FLL & I wanted AA to retag them to DFW only to take to the hotel with us.

Despite having the bags with us at that moment AA LAX refused and told us it couldn't be done and we would need to ask for them in DFW!

Get to DFW & asked AA baggage services to retrieve our bags said they can't retrieve bags, only ticketing can do that and the ticketing staff had gone for the evening.

So instead of leaving our two empty checked bags (were doing a shopping expedition in HNL on the way home) at the Candlewood Suites DFW & collecting them on our 2nd stay there prior to our DFW/HNL flight we had to take them with us everywhere.

 

[serfty]

You learn more here and on FT than you'll generally ever learn from ground staff in the USA.

Of course there are exceptions, I have come across some real gems there ...

 

[Quickstatus]

@ozbeachbabe Just simply for the fact that LAX is terrible to transit through from International to Domestic. I would rather pay extra to avoid it. I have gone through it 3 times and the last time I said never again if I can help it.

Thanks all for the suggestions. After doing some looking in them, so far QF via DFW still looks to be the best option for me. It is one of the most direct, they use an A380 , and my domestic flight to MCO is only 2.5 hours. Trouble is it is the currently it is quite a bit more than via LAX, but is not on special yet, so I'll keep an eye out for specials on this route. Keen to try it

Thanks for the help!

DFW is definitely easier to transit through but comes at a premium price on QF7/8 and only easier if flying QF-AA. Even on one ticket you have to collect bags and recheck. QF-AA means the recheck area is in the same terminal even if the departing terminal to MCO may be in another terminal.

Specials for DFW is likely to be uncompetitive on price with LAX. Invariably the BNE-LAX-MCO price will be less than BNE-SYD-DFW.

You may also dislike transiting domestic to international and on return from international to domestic at SYD. If your flight from BNE is delayed you could miss your DFW flight. Typically QF often sells flights with a transit such as SYD or MEL with the minimum connection time of 1 hour which is never enough. Going Int to DOM is less of an issue as there are several later DOM flights to slot into, but going DOM-INT you have to connect to the one flight of the day QF7. If you want to do this plan for a minimum ground time of 2 hours plus contingency for inbound delays into SYD

When did you last fly into LAX. It’s improved markedly in recent times.

 

[Quickstatus]

That's a bit of a mystery because I'm positive there wasn't any other exit once we turned right and went up the ramp.

After initially turning right there was a lane to the left half way up that was roped off but had a sign saying "QF11 passengers to New York."

I also have not been able to find this elusive “platform 9.5” either. I’m not Harry Potter and don’t like walking into a wall.
So In TBIT LAX arrivals I get bags, line up to give the customs declaration to the customs person, then walk further, then turn right up the ramp. The ramps goes up and to the left to the recheck area. Once bags rechecked the only way out of there is to the street...

 

[Himeno]

I've been trying to find photos/maps of TBIT Level 1 (which I've seen online before), but it looks like this JAL connections map is the best that I can find now.

 

[serfty]

I've been trying to find photos/maps of TBIT Level 1 (which I've seen online before), but it looks like this JAL connections map is the best that I can find now. ...

That's a good map; it works better if you have been there before and can visualise.

This bit here is where you come to after handing over your customs form at the last stage of the border process:



If you have no bags to recheck then head up the ramp that is to the left. With bags, head up the other ramp to the right. Both ramps have a 180 degree turn half way up.

The bag recheck area (after heading right) can get busy, especially with QF11 in action, hence the separate roped off queues obb mentioned - the signage is just before the switchback. So only take it if you need to recheck bags.

Anyway, once out into the arrivals hall turn right and go all the way down to the end of the hall.

 

[serfty]

Anyway, once out into the arrivals hall turn right and go all the way down to the end of the hall.

This post from Microwave on FT can assist:

Better late than never, I suppose. Here are some pictures I took.

• The first picture shows the perspective one would see immediately after turning right after baggage recheck (assuming you're clearing immigration and customs at TBIT) -or- the perspective one would see entering the terminal having been dropped off at TBIT at the arrivals level kerb and entering the building at the far end near the Shuttle Express stand and turning left.
• This picture thus faces roughly south:

• I've aded a green arrow to show where one would be arriving from (kerb or bag recheck) and where to go.
• Follow the arrow to the brightly lit corridor through the door, where you'll be taken here (this picture also faces roughly south):

• Once here, follow the green arrow left; also notice the overhead sign showing "Gates 40-159".
• In this next picture I've shot the TSA security area after I've cleared security, so now I'm facing back toward the way we came.
• This picture is thus facing north:

I've added green arrows to show the passenger flow. One would enter the security area from the corridor in the 2nd picture (you can see some of the security gear in that pic), pass along the back of the room through the tensa barriers to the ID check. From there, proceed through security and follow signs to the lift, up to level 5, where you can turn left to get to T4 and right to get to TBIT (immediately adjacent to the QF F lounge entrance). I didn't take pictures of this as by the time someone had got this far there would be signs showing where to go (and nowhere else really to get lost). Enjoy!

The last photo is a shot backwards, after the TSA there is an elevator which takes you up several floors to the TBIT/T4 connector.

 

[Himeno]

This post from Microwave on FT can assist:
The last photo is a shot backwards, after the TSA there is an elevator which takes you up several floors to the TBIT/T4 connector.

That's the photos I was looking for
Google was only giving me the last image.

 

[Himeno]

The last photo is a shot backwards, after the TSA there is an elevator which takes you up several floors to the TBIT/T4 connector.

And then from there, you can connect, all airside, to any south side LAX gate (any gate between 40 and 159 - gates are number by terminal, eg Gates 5x are in T5. 3 digit gates are in TBIT)
TBIT Connector enters T4 at Gate 41. Gate 44 heads down to a tunnel (down stairs from bus gate and U turn - straight ahead takes you to T4 baggage claim).
This tunnel links to Gate 65 in T6 with an exit at Gate 55 in T5.
Between T6 and T8, there are above ground bridges near the TSA checkpoints.
http://www.laxishappening.com/assets/pdf/LAX-CTA-South-Tunnel-Map.pdf

 

[chol]

Thanks all that helps a lot. Sounds like their signage is still lacking by the number of people who have missed the connector

So if I was unlucky and connected through United and through T8, that would be about a 20 min walk to get there? And I assume those TSA checkpoints in the LAX Tunnel Map between the terminals are only for people arriving from the street? So u go through 1 after bag recheck as per the last photo then u good?

 

[serfty]

So u go through 1 after bag recheck as per the last photo then u good?

Yes, click on the photos for greater detail.

Also, open the map link posted bu @Himeno (which is about the best I have seen regarding the tunnels and connectors): LAX: HOW DO I CONNECT FROM TERMINAL B TO TERMINAL 8? FOLLOW THE YELLOW DOTS!

You come out near the green U in "UPPER LEVEL" as per the following snip: (marked with a dot which I have added to the snip)