Connections through LAX - how does it all work

[mikewsmith]

OK, tried a few searches but didn't get anything too current and it's all a bit confusing.

First time heading to the states
VA1 Syd-LAX
then
LAX-Salt Lake City on Delta
Going to have a lot of luggage as it's business and a bike trip
Do you get bags before immigration?
Any idea how long it takes/are there any priority lanes in there? Should be Velocity WP by then
Guessing it's the same as Oz and my bags will need rechecked once I've cleared customs.

On the way back it's even more up in the air, Virgin appear to fly out of Terminal 3 instead of the Tom Bradly, the lounge access is declared as the *A one in Tom Bradly so I assume thats worth heading to
Any idea how long the process is for leaving the US? Can take an age in Sydney at the wrong time of day (Again flying in from Salt Lake) - do the bags go through to Sydney?

Cheers in advance

 

[ozbeachbabe]

OK, tried a few searches but didn't get anything too current and it's all a bit confusing.

First time heading to the states VA1 Syd-LAX then LAX-Salt Lake City on Delta

Are the VA and DL flights all in the same booking? Are you flying in business or economy?

Going to have a lot of luggage as it's business and a bike trip Do you get bags before immigration?

With the "lot of luggage" how many pieces of checked luggage will you have besides the bike?

Excess luggage is charged by the piece to the USA so you should get a minimum of two free pieces possibly a third if you're currently Velocity Gold (others who have flown VA maybe able to confirm this).

Any idea how long it takes/are there any priority lanes in there? Should be Velocity WP by then. Guessing it's the same as Oz and my bags will need rechecked once I've cleared customs.

If all your flights are in the same booking VA in SYD should be able to through check your bags to SLC however you will still need to collect them in LAX and clear customs then drop them off at the bag drop after customs prior to exiting TBIT.

Note that with the bike being an oversized item you may need to take that with you to T5 and give it to DL directly. TBIT is between T3 & T4 so on exiting TBIT you need to turn right to get to T5.

On the way back it's even more up in the air, Virgin appear to fly out of Terminal 3 instead of the Tom Bradly, the lounge access is declared as the *A one in Tom Bradly so I assume thats worth heading to

DL in SLC should be able to tag your bags through to SYD but not sure whether you will get your VA boarding pass then. If not on arrival into LAX from SLC at T5 make your way to T3 where the VA checkin is to get your boarding pass before proceeding next door to TBIT where the VA flight departs from.

Any idea how long the process is for leaving the US? Can take an age in Sydney at the wrong time of day (Again flying in from Salt Lake) - do the bags go through to Sydney?

Cheers in advance

There is no outwards customs from the USA so it's easy as you just proceed through the TSA screening point at TBIT to the gate.

If you get your LAX/SYD boarding pass in SLC just make your way from T5 to the TBIT. If you need to get your VA boarding pass at LAX make your way from T5 to T3 to VA checkin and get it issued there before making your way to the TBIT.

Not sure if VA SG gets access to the Star Alliance lounge if you're travelling economy however if you do, the lounge is inside TBIT terminal.

 

[mikewsmith]

Cheers, all flights are on the same booking, currently economy with what should be Velocity Platinum then (or at least by the time I come home) considering points upgrade to Prem Ec for the Syd-LA legs just due to the length of the flights and they arrive in the morning.
Luggage will be 3 bags 60-90kg total (in the allowance) just gets bulky at that point so hopefully plenty of trollies around.

 

[blackcat20]

Not sure if VA SG gets access to the Star Alliance lounge if you're travelling economy however if you do, the lounge is inside TBIT terminal.

Yes it gets you access.

Also, VA flights depart from TBIT but check in is in T3.

 

[RooFlyer]

Couple of extra things:

5 mins walk T3 to TBIT and about 10 mins TBIT to T5 and all vice versa; all on the outside of the buildings.

LAX arrivals much better than it was 18 months ago and prior, especially if you have a recent ESTA. Might be able to use electronic immigration kiosks, but might be manual; keep your eyes peeled.

Then pick up bags, go through customs and drop bags at drop-off belt. As OBB says, they should be checked all the way through, if not, see the agent at the bag recheck area. Easy.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Couple of extra things:

5 mins walk T3 to TBIT and about 10 mins TBIT to T5 and all vice versa; all on the outside of the buildings.

LAX arrivals much better than it was 18 months ago and prior, especially if you have a recent ESTA. Might be able to use electronic immigration kiosks, but might be manual; keep your eyes peeled.

Then pick up bags, go through customs and drop bags at drop-off belt. As OBB says, they should be checked all the way through, if not, see the agent at the bag recheck area. Easy.

What hours are the checkin counters staffed at the bag drop off area? Every time I've arrived in LAX (prior to 0700 on QF15 or QF93) the shop is shut.

 

[mikewsmith]

Well there are enough uses of the word easy to make me feel better in there. The bike bag is normally the only complication but I can usually deal with that.

 

[RooFlyer]

What hours are the checkin counters staffed at the bag drop off area? Every time I've arrived in LAX (prior to 0700 on QF15 or QF93) the shop is shut.

We've had this discussion before . Usually people there when I go through (all sorts of times including early), but not for you . Can't explain.