Freshen up at LAX?

[AndyGoodyear]

Hi everyone

I am flying with Qantas SYD - LAX this December. I then have a three hour transit time between this and a flight to SFO. As I will be coming off a very long flight, I wondered if there is anywhere I can get a shower at LAX and freshen up/change. I am only flying economy and am QF Silver (although will be gold soon after this trip).

Does anyone know of any facilities I will be able to utilise? I will be then flying to SFO and finally catching a 90 minute bus to Napa, and would like to arrive and see my good friend there, looking fresh!

I havent been through LAX before hence my question

 

[BAM1748]

Hate to say it, with 3 hours transit time at LAX likely you won't have time.

 

[serfty]

With what airline(s) are you flying on to SFO and back to Oz on? The following presumes QF and/or AA.

If these then maybe an Admirals Club thirty day membership for USD99 would be the go.

It would get you into any QP or Qantas International Business lounge before any QF/AA flight and any Admirals Club that you can access (flying AA or not).

The LAX T4 Admirals Club has showers. Moreover if you did not have time for a shower at LAX then you can use the SFO A?C for a shower on arrival - don't go landside beforehand as you can't get back.

This would also provide lounge access at SYD before your flight to LAX along with access on the way home ...

 

[i want to fly]

Hello, just want to comment the last time I went from Syd to LAX it took 4 hours to get through customs etc...

 

[jetlagger]

Hello, just want to comment the last time I went from Syd to LAX it took 4 hours to get through customs etc...

Must have been bad timing.. My last arrival from AKL/LAX @1430. I was kerbside for the shuttle with luggage @1520.

 

[Austashes]

Agree with what everyone has said - you are likely to spend around 90 minutes in Customs, by time you collect your baggage and book into your next flight, you will then have to go through domestic security in your socks. By time you're in the next terminal flight side you will be lucky if you don't have to run to catch the next flight. AA Club with a shower is only available in terminal 4, its likely that your SFO flight will be from another terminal

If your wait times changes then your best bet would be to book a local day rate hotel ~ $60 - 90 USD where you can grab a swim, shower and a stretch on a bed.

 

[NM]

Hello, just want to comment the last time I went from Syd to LAX it took 4 hours to get through customs etc...

And last two times I flew BNE-LAX (July and August), I was through immigration, collected checked bag and through customs in less than 20 mins (and 40 mins to T4 AAdmirals Club lounge). So YMMV very much applies to LAX arrivals.

 

[scheps]

My experience has been that QF15 tends to land earlier than QF 107 for some reason.

When i come in on the QF15, I think I have always been out in under 1 hr. But QF107, never had such luck.

 

[serfty]

... AA Club with a shower is only available in terminal 4, its likely that your SFO flight will be from another terminal ...

why another terminal?

If the LAX - SFO flight is on AA, it will depart from T4.

If not enough time for a shower at LAX, with an AA membership,then on arrival into SFO the OP could head strait to the AC there for a shower.

Since the OP would be SG after this trip the AC membership would no longer be required.

Another option may be a USD50 day pass which would provide access at both LAX & SFO, but just for the one day and it would not be useful for the trip back. To do that two would be needed and the $99 looks better value than 2x$50.

 

[NM]

My experience has been that QF15 tends to land earlier than QF 107 for some reason.

When i come in on the QF15, I think I have always been out in under 1 hr. But QF107, never had such luck.

Yes, my experience has been that QF15 generally get in first (not always of course) and as a result passengers get through the formalities quicker. POn a few occasions, we have been held onboard QF15 waiting until immigration staff are ready as they start work at 6:30am. So landing any earlier than 6:30 means waiting on board until they are ready, But it also means you are first flight processed. And at that time of day, 10 mins can make a huge difference to the number of people in the queues.

So it really is a case of YMMV.

 

[nonpop]

Since the OP would be SG after this trip the AC membership would no longer be required.

I very much doubt that if the SYD > LAX leg was what moves the OP from Silver to Gold it would credit in time to change status.
I find it is usually 24 - 96 hrs for my QF flights to credit - and more if there are system enhancements taking place. So I wouldn't want to be relying upon status change for lounge access.

To the OP seriously consider the USD99 month AC pass. Just buy it before you leave SYD and print out your receipt as the actual card will arrive when you get home i.e late. But the printed receipt will do the trick just fine. And your Silver / OneWorld Ruby will gain you priority benefits in the US as well (as well as your coming OWS).

 

[serfty]

I very much doubt that if the SYD > LAX leg was what moves the OP from Silver to Gold it would credit in time to change status.
I find it is usually 24 - 96 hrs for my QF flights to credit - and more if there are system enhancements taking place. So I wouldn't want to be relying upon status change for lounge access. ...

Given this quote "... (although will be gold soon after this trip) ..." the OP likely won't have enough SC's for SG - I concur a $99 membership would be good value giving access at least 6 time though the jouney. (Assuming all on QF/AA and return via same routing - SYD, LAX T4, SFO, SFO, LAX T4, LAX TBIT.)

 

[DC3]

Andy, This is pretty much what happens for your LAX transit. Just replace JFK with SFO:

"Originally Posted by Modification of serfty's transit procedure The process for QF107 to New York if all goes to plan (when does that ever happen)?

• Check bags through to JFK
• Fly to LAX
• Queue up
• Disembark Aircraft
• Walk through the dungeon like corridors to TBIT immigration
• Queue up
• Be processed by Immigration
• Queue up
• Collect bags
• Queue up
• Proceed through customs processing
• Head up ramp, look for signs for baggage "re-deposit"
• Queue up
• Re-deposit bags
• Look for transfer security
• Queue up
• Head through back airside
• Await ongoing flight ...
• Queue up
• Board flight
• Aircraft queues up awaiting departure
• Aircraft queues up awaiting landing clearance at JFK "

Anyway, it all takes some time, and you can't tell exactly how long it will take. Also factor in getting to the departure gate on time for the LAX-SFO flight in T4 (i.e., say 30-40 minutes prior to departure).

 

[AndyGoodyear]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for all of the feedback and sorry for not replying until now - I have been away on business and very busy.

So from what it sounds like the AA 30 day Admirals Club membership is the way to go (thanks Serfty). As I will be away for 28 days, I presume I can purchase this on the day that I leave so it will extend right up until the end of my trip. My flight from LAX - SFO is indeed with AA (booked separate from Qantas) and then SFO - JFK and JFK to LAX are also with AA. Using lounges on arrival at SFO and then before departing LAX would be great.

Just one quick question - if I decide to enter the SFO lounge on arrival (not landside) to take a shower - what will happen to my bag? I presume it will be going round and round on a carousel somewhere?

 

[sammm]

My mother had 7 hours in LAX and i found on the interent the ReLAX lounge. but when she got there the people told her it was for certain card holders . eventhough you had to pay for it.

 

[smarty11]

Slightly off topic.. last week after arriving at LAX was greeted to the renovated building with brand new border control processing desk.. the Queues seemed longer than usual though. The staff commented that it was their first day and some IT systems still not fully operational hence long delays.. from touch down to kerbside was approx 110 minutes (almost two hours) and that is coming through express lane as had a child with us. They do seem to have a fair few stations but as usual not all were operational.

Also, on the back way (this week) the Departure area is very nice.. however many shops were still not opened and some areas still under construction. Qantas Lounge is still in the old part of the building and my suggestion to everyone is not to follow the signs as they are confusing and airport staff also had no clue due to it being a brand new building.

 

[serfty]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for all of the feedback and sorry for not replying until now - I have been away on business and very busy.

So from what it sounds like the AA 30 day Admirals Club membership is the way to go (thanks Serfty). As I will be away for 28 days, I presume I can purchase this on the day that I leave so it will extend right up until the end of my trip. ...

You can purchase your 30 membership online and since early this year can even specifiy a future date for it to be active.

Doing so would mean you can use it in Oz before departure.

More here (especially the more recent posts): http://www.australianfrequentflyer....aadvantage/ac-30-day-membership-qf-37926.html

 

[AndyGoodyear]

So just wondering - if I arrive in SFO and visit the lounge there (airside), what will happen to my bag? That will be on the carousel and I presume I cannot just leave it going round and round.

 

[Hvr]

So just wondering - if I arrive in SFO and visit the lounge there (airside), what will happen to my bag? That will be on the carousel and I presume I cannot just leave it going round and round.

Correct, there have been reports of bags being taken off the carousel and the owner being berated by security. There is also the risk of it being stolen or mistakenly taken by someone else.