Connecting thru LAX

[dundas]

Later in the year I will be arriving at about 12 noon in LAX on Asiana, a Star Alliance carrier. I need to travel on to Tucson, the same day. My choices are United (another Star Alliance carrier), or South West.
Their discounted fares aren't that much different, but United also charges for checked luggage.

What happens if my incoming flight is late and I miss the connection? Would I lose my ticket on to Tucson, or would the airline come to my assistance? Would United, as a Star Alliance carrier, be a better bet in these circumstances than Southwest?

 

[futaris]

No matter who you fly with, you will no protection, since they are different tickets.

I would just build in a big enough buffer.

NB, according to this, the United Flight is operated by SkyWest. NB, luggage allowance is free if you have Star Alliance status.

 

[dundas]

Thanks, that's clarified it. I'll allow 5 hours and hope for the best. Checked my insurance (Covermore) and it specifically excludes this type of event.
I don't have Star Alliance status, and in any case don't particularly want to fly Skywest - very cramped planes with not much room for bringing bags on board. So Southwest, here I come.

 

[NM]

I would just build in a big enough buffer.

Other options also include:

• buy a flexible/changeable ticket
• if you miss the connection consider it a throw-away ticket and be prepared to purchase another ticket on the day (likely to cost more)

 

[dundas]

Other options also include:

• buy a flexible/changeable ticket
• if you miss the connection consider it a throw-away ticket and be prepared to purchase another ticket on the day (likely to cost more)

I think a 5 hour buffer for an 11 hour incoming flight would be sufficient. If a delay happen in Seoul, I would have time to chance the ticket from there. After that, we would have to land somewhere, I'm assuming, and I still would have enough time to make a chance.

Southwest allow cheap tickets to be upgraded on the same day. The difference in price between a cheap ticket and fully flexible is around $US90, I think I will buy the cheap ticket.

And it's possible they might just have compassion. There's not a lot of that in the airline business, but I think Southwest are more likely to be helpful than United.

 

[High Horse]

We had a similar situation a while back, and booked a flexible fare with SouthWest (still cheap) and booked the flight at the conservative later time. Then when we rolled up early to check in we just moved it to the earlier flight not a drama, without having to pay extra.

 

[Blackswan]

From what I understand, Southwest has or had whats known as a "Flat tyre policy". I.e if you missed your flight because of a flat tyre (or another factor outside of your control), they will move you onto the next flight.

As Southwest don't allow for free standby, I beleive some people in the US previously booked the earlier flight (hoping that they'd finish their meeting), but if they didn't - use the "flat tyre excuse" to get pushed onto the next one.

From a simple google search;
If you miss your original flight and present yourself to a Southwest airport agent within two hours of your original flight's takeoff time you can standby for a later flight for no charge. This is Southwest's flat tire rule.

 

[euromichael]

i also have a question about connecting via LAX with qantas though. I have a flight booked on the A380 and my connecting is to SFO. I have 2.5 hours to get through and I am not sure if they will transfer my bags or not. If they do, then that is great because I will make it easily. If they don't I could be in trouble? as the A380 takes forever to unload + immigration + customs. I could end up missing my AA connection. Does anyone know that if this does happen, whether AA will be willing to book me onto the next flight at no charge? Or will they try and charge me for it? Again, this connection is something that Qantas have calculated on their site so I imagine they will have to take responsibility.

 

[Sprucegoose]

i also have a question about connecting via LAX with qantas though. I have a flight booked on the A380 and my connecting is to SFO. I have 2.5 hours to get through and I am not sure if they will transfer my bags or not. If they do, then that is great because I will make it easily. If they don't I could be in trouble? as the A380 takes forever to unload + immigration + customs. I could end up missing my AA connection. Does anyone know that if this does happen, whether AA will be willing to book me onto the next flight at no charge? Or will they try and charge me for it? Again, this connection is something that Qantas have calculated on their site so I imagine they will have to take responsibility.

Insular, you will clear customs and imm in lax you will get your bags and recheck through, they may already be tagged interlined through to final. I take both flights are on the one booing reference? IF so, you should be fine. 2.5hrs should be ok as well. Are you departing T4 in LAX?

spruce

 

[danielc]

Insular,

I have done this connection (MEL-LAX on QF and then connecting on AA to SFO) several times, the latest being last September on A380. In Australia, QF will tag your bag all the way to SFO. When landing in LAX, you collect your bag to clear customs and then there will be a place for you to drop it off again for it to be loaded onto your AA flight. It is then a short walk outside to get to the terminal where the AA flights leave from. This last trip I cleared customs so quickly that I had time to have coffee with a mate who had landed shortly after me on the SYD-LAX QF flight and still have plenty of time to catch my AA flight.

A few years ago when doing this same connection my flight leaving MEL was delayed by a few hours so I missed my AA connection in LAX. To add to this, it also happened to be 4th of JULY so the American flights were packed. Neverthless, AA still put me on the next available flight to SFO without charge.

On a side-note, I believe AA has recently done away with their MD-80s on the LAX-SFO runs so your connecting flight should now be on a 737-800.

 

[euromichael]

sounds good, thx. good to know i'll be OK even if the big bird/whale gets delayed with no extra costs. im pretty sure its T4, i did check the map before and its the closest terminal from TB on the left (on the map). oh, and my itinerary was showing the MD80 as being the plane with AA, ive reserved my seat there too (not many good pickings left when your bronze though!). however, i now wont be surprised if thats changed and qantas are slow to update their system.

cheers.