Help pls SYD-LAX-Canada on Qantas and WestJet

[serfty]

@serfty so for simplicity's sake - given the situation given in @sydney 's OP (in experienced traveller), would you suggest that they do the straightforward thing and plan to go out onto the curb and walk around to T2 to do security? 3.5 hrs arrival to departure, so prob 1.5-2 hrs actual transit time.

I have no experience at T2 security since they have merged T1/T2/T3.

But is make some sense anyway as the TBIT/T4 connector security is in the wrong direction and would add a couple of hundred meters - it would make more sense once landside at TBIT to head up to departure check in and walk around to T2.

 

[justinbrett]

@serfty so for simplicity's sake - given the situation given in @sydney 's OP (in experienced traveller), would you suggest that they do the straightforward thing and plan to go out onto the curb and walk around to T2 to do security? 3.5 hrs arrival to departure, so prob 1.5-2 hrs actual transit time.

Security is at T3

I have no experience at T2 security since they have merged T1/T2/T3.

There is none!

 

[SYD]

Security is at T3

There is none!

The map posted above shows 3x TSA checkpoints across T3 down to T1 but yeah, looks like a shared point between T3/2.

Personally, if I was able to drop my bag off at the transfer belt at TBIT and had my onward BP in hand, I’d assess the TSA check point there. If not busy I’d use it rather than take my chances at the other terminals. Yeah, it’s probably a bit of a meander through TBIT to get to the connector but at least you’re airside.

Post automatically merged: Apr 17, 2025

Note that often they often check boarding passes and stop anyone not flying AA or QF from using that TBIT arrival security. This is to the right (south end) of the arrivals hall.

No issue flying AS last time. You’d also expect to be able to pass through for an onward connection from TBIT.

Others have posted on other threads that you can enter TSA at any terminal with a valid BP. There’s a website with queue times apparently?

 

[justinbrett]

The map posted above shows 3x TSA checkpoints across T3 down to T1 but yeah, looks like a shared point between T3/2.

One is T3, the other two are both T1

More to do with LAX confusing concourses with terminals.

 

[Quickstatus]

I second that @RooFlyer
Simply just go out onto the street and go to T2/3

Finding the airside connector may be tricky given the size of the TBIT airside plus its unfamiliar to the traveller

The KISS principle applies

 

[sydney]

I second that @RooFlyer
Simply just go out onto the street and go to T2/3

Finding the airside connector may be tricky given the size of the TBIT airside.

Wow. Ok. So I'll change the instructions and tell my son to go out onto the road, after Transfer dropoff desk, and walk across directly to T3 for his onward Westjet flight, or to T2 if he needs to check in for his flight if Qantas does not check him through to YYC in Sydney?

I did some checking on the LAX site and it's interactive map as well as Google, and the TBIT to T3 Connector seems to start on the left on Level 5 in TBIT and finishes on L3 T3.

So I was going to tell him to go after customs up the right ramp to the Transfer Desk and try to drop off any checked bag. Then turn around and go to the TBIT-T3 Connector on the left, when facing the road.

I might just tell him to bring carry only, to save worrying about transferring the bag, so that he can just go straight to T3/T2.

 

[Quickstatus]

TBIT-T3 Connector on the left, when facing the road.

I think easiest and less confusing to just go out of the terminal after dropping off bags. Go left against the flow of traffic to T3 /T2

TBIT-T3 connector requires you to renter TBIT. It's upstairs after security. Finding it is not necessarily easy if unfamiliar.

 

[sydney]

I think easiest and less confusing to just go out of the terminal after dropping off bags. Go left against the flow of traffic to T3 /T2

TBIT-T3 connector requires you to renter TBIT. It's upstairs after security. Finding it is not necessarily easy if unfamiliar.

Ok. Will do that. Thanks!

 

[Quickstatus]

Ok. Will do that. Thanks!

I suspect your son will be Ok
MissQS did SYD-MEL-LAX-YVR then coach to Whistler with ski bag when she was 14 by herself. Canada immigration asked her if she was running away from home

 

[sydney]

Sorry, have another question related to this trip and didn't want to start a new thread.
We changed his return flight of LAX-SYD and he is now flying Classic Rewards PE from Las Vegas:
LAS-LAX AA1399 19:45-21:08
LAX-SYD AA73 22:55-7:05 (He had over 2hrs transit originally but they changed the time to fly out 20 mins earlier)

Is it the same procedure where he needs to pick up his checked through (through-checked?) luggage in LAX? Or will it be checked through? Does he need to change terminals? The ticket says LAS-LAX flight Arrival Terminal 0 and LAX-SYD flight Departure Terminal 0.

He'll be flying by himself again.

 

[Quickstatus]

The luggage will be checked through all the way from LAS to SYD

No need to pick up luggage at LAX when doing a Domestic-domestic- international

He needs to make sure he stays airside and not go out of the terminal. The arrival terminal usually will be T4 or T5. Occasionally TBIT. If T4 or T5 he should find the airside walkways between T5-T4-TBIT

If you see terminal B - it means TBIT

 

[sydney]

Thanks so much Quickstatus!

 

[sydney]

Am unclear after reading a site, so just wanted to check brainstrust here.

How To Get Between Terminals at Los Angeles Int'l Airport [LAX]

In this in-depth guide, we'll show you how to get between all of the terminals at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

upgradedpoints.com

"Passengers who don’t need to collect luggage between flights may remain inside the secure area for easier flight connections. This means that it’s now possible to walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 8 (if necessary) while remaining inside the secure area."

If he has carry on only from Sydney to LAX to Calgary, can he stay airside upon arrival at TBIT from Sydney, and continue to make his way airside to T3 directly for his Westjet flight to Calgary? Or does he still need to clear customs and security. Am asking as his luggage will actually be carry on size.

 

[RooFlyer]

If he has carry on only from Sydney to LAX to Calgary, can he stay airside upon arrival at TBIT from Sydney, and continue to make his way airside to T3 directly for his Westjet flight to Calgary? Or does he still need to clear customs. Am asking as his luggage will actually be carry on size.

That para refers to domestic passenger transfers. If you arrive international you must clear immigration and then customs (with just carry-on in your son's case) and go landside. Then its a choice of either walking out of TBIT onto the footpath (which most people will be doing), turning left and walking to T2 for security to re-enter airside or using one of the security points within the TBIT building, close to where he will leave customs, clear security there and then walk airside to T2. But he should only be doing the latter if he already has his onwards boarding pass, which I think will be the case. If not, he needs to take the outside route to be able to check-in.

As suggested above, it would be easier for his orientation if he walked out to the outside footpath.

 

[RooFlyer]

Sorry, have another question related to this trip and didn't want to start a new thread.
We changed his return flight of LAX-SYD and he is now flying Classic Rewards PE from Las Vegas:
LAS-LAX AA1399 19:45-21:08
LAX-SYD AA73 22:55-7:05 (He had over 2hrs transit originally but they changed the time to fly out 20 mins earlier)

Be aware that there is no immigration control when you leave the USA on an international flight. Its just like a domestic process, so the maps and process in the article you looked at will apply. This is why the international AA flight back home could depart from a terminal other than TBIT.

The ticket says LAS-LAX flight Arrival Terminal 0 and LAX-SYD flight Departure Terminal 0.

The '0' here may just be a placeholder if the actual terminal is unknown. They will probably tell him when he checks in in LAS. Two hours isn't a big transit time, so make sure he has the maps handy when arriving LAX and listens to the arrival announcement as to where they are arriving into, and checks a board when inside the terminal to see the departure terminal and gate, and head straight there.

 

[sydney]

OK. Thanks heaps Rooflyer! Very helpful.
Sorry for confusion.

 

[Quickstatus]

Passengers who don’t need to collect luggage between flights may remain inside the secure area for easier flight connections.

This only applies to passengers connecting from domestic to domestic such as HNL-LAX-LAS OR passengers connecting from domestic to international such as LAS-LAX-SYD .

Regardless of type of luggage or even if no luggage ALL passengers arriving from an international port and terminating their travel , or transiting to domestic, or transiting to international MUST go through the rigmarole of passport control/immigration, pick up luggage/Customs.

 

[sydney]

This only applies to passengers connecting from domestic to domestic such as HNL-LAX-LAS OR passengers connecting from domestic to international such as LAS-LAX-SYD .

Regardless of type of luggage or even if no luggage ALL passengers arriving from an international port and terminating their travel , or transiting to domestic, or transiting to international MUST go through the rigmarole of passport control/immigration, pick up luggage/Customs.

Gotcha! Thanks!!