First Time Flyers SYD/LAX/YVR

[creeno]

Hi guys,

Very good friends are travelling on their first overseas trip on Friday, and I am just trying to arm them with some handy info.

Their flights are:

01MAY QF107 SYDLAX 1015 0640
01MAY AS703 LAXYVR 1310 1618

My questions:

1. Are they able to check their bags all the way through the YVR from SYD?
2. Any hints on the transfer process at LAX? Am assuming that they will need to change terminals, so any insights into this process would be brilliant.

Thanks heaps for your help

Cheers

 

[docjames]

There's about a million threads on LAX transfers (LAX seems to frighten everyone!). Try the seach function!

Short summary:

1. Yes, bags will be checked/tagged through
2. You need to collect bags, pass customs, then drop bags at bag drop on way out of arrivals.
3. AS terminal is a short walk (when we last used, was terminal 3 - about a 5, maybe 10 minute walk max). Dont bother with shuttles bus etc.

It sounds difficult, but is acutally easy.

 

[Evan]

There's about a million threads on LAX transfers (LAX seems to frighten everyone!). Try the seach function!
<..>

Thats just because its a big scary airport with scary TSA guys
*not*, its not any worse than any other US airport.... not that its saying much.

 

[creeno]

thanks guys - appreciate the replies

 

[SnowYeti]

I did the exact flights during October last year. Yes you pick them up, walk up this long ramp around and around then drop them again. It's weird! Then you walk out of the terminal, get annoyed by people trying to sell you cough and then you get to the terminal.

Note that the Alaskin terminal is very boring. There was a Hungry Jacks, Star Bucks, and one small alcohol/perfume shop. That was it !!!! So take a laptop, a nice book or something. I couldn't get into the lounge because I wasn't gold at the time!

When I was in YVR I didn't see any duty free shops, I went through the express immigration (as I have a visa), so I have no idea what shops there are !!

If you have any more questions, just ask

 

[NYCguy]

Thats just because its a big scary airport with scary TSA guys

No, they ARE scarier at LAX than anywhere else. Just don't be like my mother and ask the TSA officer "are you angry because you have to live in Los Angeles?".

 

[SnowYeti]

I remember a couple of them, they were so much taller I had to look right up to talk to them. They were kinda making fun of my Aussie accent, but they said it's cool to see Aussies through the airport all the time. I was like

 

[notzac]

No, they ARE scarier at LAX than anywhere else. Just don't be like my mother and ask the TSA officer "are you angry because you have to live in Los Angeles?".

Priceless what was their response?

 

[Warks]

Doing the same flights but in September. Haven't booked the LAX-YVR bit yet so am following a lot of threads on LAX to see what is the sort of gap I can allow between flights. Having separate bookings means that bags might not be checked right through (depends on airline we change to I guess).

Last went through LAX on this flight late 2005 and had to hang around for hours. Immigration is not that bad when you're just transiting (should that have two ts?) but always takes TIIIIME. I had to fly to SEA and hang around there before getting on a little Dash8 type plane to YVR.

Immigration in YVR is dead easy. Even on departure you have (or at least did have back then) a US immigration 'kiosk' for non-Canadians heading into the US of A staffed by very friendly folks - just happy not to be in LAX no doubt.

Immigration staff in HNL used to be very scary when I first travelled (late 80s) and I don't think there were direct LAX flights.

 

[rhjames]

At LAX be wary if you come out of the terminal and look around to work out where to go to change terminals. You could be approached by someone offering to help. He will give you directions, than ask for a donation to a charity. I don't know if it's legit or not, but I suggest just ignoring them. It's well signposted, and there's plenty of people to ask.

I haven't seen this for about 3 years, but haven't been there recently, so it may have been stopped - I haven't seen it on the last few trips.