Confusion at LAX

[roadmaster]

Hi, my first post so hope I am in the right area for this.
We have a points business flight next June booked to Melb - LAX return.
Change of plans means we need a flight to Vancouver and of course this can’t be added on to this ticket. At this point there seems to be options for a “connecting” flight at 9.45am.

WestJet 5635	9.45am	$118
Compas Am Eagle
Alaska Air 6025	9.45am	$102
Compass/ A Eagle
Delta 5691	9.55am	$266
Compass

I presume the top two are the same flight, the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] has a different departure time so unsure of that.
Again would I presume this would leave from Terminal 6? Have rung all Airlines and received 3 different answers. Anyone out there with knows how this works. Seems a huge price difference if they are the same. Do flight priced vary at any time of year in USA. Bit keen to get it sorted as have a cruise booked a few days after landing at Vancouver.
How do you think the time frame will be with a 6.35am landing and getting to another terminal by 9.45am taking into account it is an international flight.
Thanks for any information (including shuttle transfers)

 

[deejo77]

Have you been to the USA on the passports you are using? if so then use Smart Gates - out on the street within 45mins in August from a VA flight from BNE to LAX.

Westjet do not code-share travel with Alaska but they do Interline travel - you do not say if these are direct flights or not so can't really comment.

https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/about-us/airline-partners

 

[BettyB]

Welcome

 

[roadmaster]

They are all direct flights.
Yes we have been to USA on these passports and familiar with the exit strategy.

 

[roadmaster]

Thank you Betty

 

[Dr Ralph]

Welcome to AFF.

 

[CaviAck]

Hi, my first post so hope I am in the right area for this.
We have a points business flight next June booked to Melb - LAX return.
Change of plans means we need a flight to Vancouver and of course this can’t be added on to this ticket. At this point there seems to be options for a “connecting” flight at 9.45am.

WestJet 5635	9.45am	$118
Compas Am Eagle
Alaska Air 6025	9.45am	$102
Compass/ A Eagle
Delta 5691	9.55am	$266
Compass

I presume the top two are the same flight, the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] has a different departure time so unsure of that.
Again would I presume this would leave from Terminal 6? Have rung all Airlines and received 3 different answers. Anyone out there with knows how this works. Seems a huge price difference if they are the same. Do flight priced vary at any time of year in USA. Bit keen to get it sorted as have a cruise booked a few days after landing at Vancouver.
How do you think the time frame will be with a 6.35am landing and getting to another terminal by 9.45am taking into account it is an international flight.
Thanks for any information (including shuttle transfers)

WS5635 and AS6025 are codeshares operated by Compass (on behalf of American Eagle). DL5691 is a completely different flight even though it is operated by Compass as well (think of Compass as being like Cobham/National Jet, Sunstate and Eastern Australian in Australia but they are contracted by rival airlines as well). The AA prime code for this flight is AA6063. Prices will vary between airlines as each airline will price their codeshare differently accordingly to their inventory levels and fare rules as different fares map differently across the codesharing airlines.

 

[Warks]

I was on the Delta flight listed just two weeks ago. I thought it was terminal 5 but it might have been 6. Plenty of time between my 0630 arrival and the flight. Was only $75 American for the flight and I upgraded to Delta Comfort Plus for about $30. The gate was 69B from memory near the Alaska lounge but not near the Delta lounge sadly.

 

[roadmaster]

Thanks for that

 

[Quickstatus]

I would not connect from QF93 or UA99 which both arrives around 0630hrs to a 0945hrs flight.
if the incoming flight is on schedule, you only have 2hr45min until a boarding time of say 0915hrs
With the new LAX electronic passport kiosks immigration is a lot quicker but even then such a connection time would be considered by mamy to be the minimum.

The problem arises if your flight is late. As your connecting flight is not on the same ticket as your incoming you are not protected in the event of a delayed or cancelled incoming flight.

Personally I leave a minimum of 6 hours from arrival to boarding (not departure) at LAX for a 2 PNR . You might even consider staying overnight in LAX . Its good practice to use boarding time rather than departure time.

QF93 is not exactly a very punctual flight. The aircraft that operates it would have just come in from LAX as QF94 and immediately turns around as QF93. Therefore minimal time for fixing issues during a timetabled ground time of just over 2hrs.

 

[newmarket]

American uses terminals 4 and 6. Delta uses 5 and 6. I doubt that they would make gate assignments until the day.

 

[Warks]

I would not connect from QF93 or UA99 which both arrives around 0630hrs to a 0945hrs flight.
if the incoming flight is on schedule, you only have 2hr45min until a boarding time of say 0915hrs
With the new LAX electronic passport kiosks immigration is a lot quicker but even then such a connection time would be considered by mamy to be the minimum.

The problem arises if your flight is late. As your connecting flight is not on the same ticket as your incoming you are not protected in the event of a delayed or cancelled incoming flight.

Personally I leave a minimum of 6 hours from arrival to boarding (not departure) at LAX for a 2 PNR . You might even consider staying overnight in LAX . Its good practice to use boarding time rather than departure time.

QF93 is not exactly a very punctual flight. The aircraft that operates it would have just come in from LAX as QF94 and immediately turns around as QF93. Therefore minimal time for fixing issues during a timetabled ground time of just over 2hrs.

I used to allow 6 hours or so for the change of planes but am glad I cut it back to about four last time. The day didn't drag as much and VA1 has been on time or early each time I've used it in the past few years.

The electronic scanning of passports worked better than my last visit with the finger scanning seeming to work first go - took half a dozen goes with help from staff last time. I still don't get why you've still got to be interviewed after doing all that. Queue for a machine, queue for an officer. No fun when so many flights arrive around the same time.

 

[Sparkies]

Welcome
The first two flights are codeshare. The terminal will not be allocated until closer to departure. In saying that on our recent inbound to LAX we had a terminal change one hour prior to departure, then a number of flight changes. Luckily as a platinum flyer our delay wasn't as long as others.
Getting to another terminal may be tight, as you are on a separate ticket and need to check in and clear security you may be pushing to get to the gate on time - you will need to weigh up the risk.
I personally only leave minimum times between flights and have only had to be escorted to my flight a couple of times

 

[serfty]

Welcome
The first two flights are codeshare. The terminal will not be allocated until closer to departure. In saying that on our recent inbound to LAX we had a terminal change one hour prior to departure, then a number of flight changes. Luckily as a platinum flyer our delay wasn't as long as others.
Getting to another terminal may be tight, as you are on a separate ticket and need to check in and clear security you may be pushing to get to the gate on time - you will need to weigh up the risk.
I personally only leave minimum times between flights and have only had to be escorted to my flight a couple of times 

Welcome to AFF

Such escorts may be unlikely given separate tickets.

Also note that by next June the DL flight will likely depart from T3 or T2.

 

[roadmaster]

Ok, you've scared me enough, we will opt for an 11.45am flight. Thanks

 

[Denali]

Glad you went with the longer time allowed.

Our next LAX transit has a 2.5hr layover from TBIT to Delta.

Last time we did this in approx 40min but that was stressful and I had to run (we were bumped to earlier flight on request but I didnt mean that early!), the only reason Im ok with trying 2.5hrs is because its on the same PRN and its to Atlanta so lots of flights to Atlanta if I miss it.

 

[Quickstatus]

Such escorts may be unlikely given separate tickets.

Ive been escorted at SIN for a QF MEL-SIN // MH SIN-KUL when transit time was less than 1 hour . 2 PNR

 

[wandering_fred]

Maybe I allow too much time on my connections as the last escort I remember was in 2003 when transiting CTU on a HKG-CTU-LHW ticket (KA->MU). I suspect they didn't believe three pale faces could make a international-domestic connection. Escort through immigration and a free bus ride to the domestic terminal... Traveling was so much easier then :shock::mrgreen:

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Justinf]

I'm glad I read this thread.
I arrive at LAX on QF93 at 6.35am and then have an AA flight 6005 to Denver at 9.40am.
I thought I was leaving heaps of time, but it seems like I might be struggling?

 

[CaviAck]

I'm glad I read this thread.
I arrive at LAX on QF93 at 6.35am and then have an AA flight 6005 to Denver at 9.40am.
I thought I was leaving heaps of time, but it seems like I might be struggling?

You have heaps of time, you'll be fine.