How does non-stoppver transit in US work (eg, SYD/LAX/Canada)

[MikeV8]

Hi to the Experts and Seasoned travellers.

Need your help/advice as to how Transit travel works using LAX as a hub in transit to Toronto Canada (YYZ). I'm planning a trip that goes something like:
CBR-SYD (transit, no stopover),
SYD-LAX (transit, no stopover),
LAX-YYZ (stopover in Toronto).

How does the Transit in LAX work ? (3 hour gap between landing/takeoff)
1) Can luggage be booked through all the way without collection/customs/etc in LAX ?
2) Will I need to go thru US Customs/Immigration in LAX ?

Thanks in advance, Mike

 

[TonyHancock]

I believe that you have to go through immigration at LAX and collect your luggage.
Then you have to recheck luggage for Canada. (If it is all on the one ticket you should be able to do a simple bag drop one you are through customs.)

Others may know more, it has been a few years since I did this.

 

[dfcatch]

Hi Mike,

I do this trip quite regularly (CNS-SYD-LAX-YYZ).

I fly QF 107 to LAX and connect to AA 1586 to YYZ.

Im assuming you're flying Qantas..??

When you checkin at CBR you can have your luggage tagged to Toronto. When you land in LAX you arrive at Tom Bradley Int. Terminal.

You go though immigration (don't freak if the line is big), pick up your bags, go through customs and then out the door and to the right following signs for "Connecting Flights". Walk up the ramp to the conveyor belt, hand your bags to the nice chaps who will throw them on the transfer belt for you.
Walk out the door, turn right and walk the short distance to Terminal 4.
If you have your boarding pass you can proceed straight up to security and enjoy Terminal 4.
If you have lounge access there is a joint Qantas Club/Admirals Club there.

If you are connecting to Air Canada or United instead :
- If your flights are on the one booking then same as above, except that you will need to go to a different terminal (T3 I believe for Air Canada, and T6/7 I believe for United).
- If your flights are on separate bookings you will need to check back in at LAX.

 

[TonyHancock]

I do this trip quite regularly (CNS-SYD-LAX-YYZ).

On the return flight do you get to clear US customs in Toronto?

 

[MikeV8]

Thanks for the reply, Tony & dfcatch.

Sounds like the same process I went through going SYD/LAX/SFO.
I thought that Canada being another country would mean staying within airside at LAX TBIT. Sounds like you move through to the Domestic side after all.
Would have preferred to wait in the QF lounge in TBIT, rather than the Admirals (pay for everything) Club in T4.

Would Duty free be the same treatment as if you were going to another US port ?
ie, retrieve checked baggage and pack Duty-Free into checked bags before re-checking at the transit corridor - else it gets confiscated ?

Does anyone know if AA (quasi-domestic, it seems) is all that different to Coach and worth the double-points for a run like LAX-YYZ ?

 

[Mal]

ing another country would mean staying within airside at LAX TBIT. Sounds like you move through to the Domestic side after all.

Nope, there is no concept of International Transfer in the U.S. You have to enter then leave the country. Even worse if you're on a plane that had a mechanical stop in the U.S!!!!

 

[dfcatch]

On the return flight do you get to clear US customs in Toronto?

Yes you go through Preclearance in Toronto. It's a 6pm'ish departure so the immigration line can be pretty busy at that time of day. As always, lots of unmanned counters

 

[dfcatch]

Thanks for the reply, Tony & dfcatch.

Sounds like the same process I went through going SYD/LAX/SFO.
I thought that Canada being another country would mean staying within airside at LAX TBIT. Sounds like you move through to the Domestic side after all.
Would have preferred to wait in the QF lounge in TBIT, rather than the Admirals (pay for everything) Club in T4.

Would Duty free be the same treatment as if you were going to another US port ?
ie, retrieve checked baggage and pack Duty-Free into checked bags before re-checking at the transit corridor - else it gets confiscated ?

Does anyone know if AA (quasi-domestic, it seems) is all that different to Coach and worth the double-points for a run like LAX-YYZ ?

Exactly the same as your previous SFO connection.

Duty free will need to go in your checked bags.
All North American flights have liquids restrictions. Plastic bag, 100ml max etc...

AA to YYZ is 2-class, Coach and Business. Business gives you a meal, free drinks, and is comparable to Qantas Domestic Business.

I do like to upgrade this leg if I have the points, it's a long flight after a loong transpacific

 

[somebol]

Nope, there is no concept of International Transfer in the U.S. You have to enter then leave the country. Even worse if you're on a plane that had a mechanical stop in the U.S!!!!

Interesting... so what happens if one doesn't have a US visa?

 

[simongr]

Would have preferred to wait in the QF lounge in TBIT, rather than the Admirals (pay for everything) Club in T4.

Note that you no longer have to pay for drinks at the Admirals Club.

 

[serfty]

Note that you no longer have to pay for drinks at the Admirals Club.

I guess the term 'drinks' may or may not be applicable to the beverages they provide to all on a complimentary basis. "Bud light"? Uggh!

A Qantas FF member admitted to an A/C get given 1 or 2 drink vouchers on entry where they can choose from a 'Premium" selection (you can go back and get more).

 

[TheInsider]

Remember to apply for an ESTA if you haven't already!

 

[trooper]

If you don't have a visa?

I doubt the airline would board you for the flight TO the US...

ESTA status is always checked departing OZ for the States IME...

 

[somebol]

If you don't have a visa?

I doubt the airline would board you for the flight TO the US...

ESTA status is always checked departing OZ for the States IME...

yeah... but technically you are flying to canada and transiting the US.
Similar to flying to LHR transiting SIN, you don't need a SIN visa as you are only transiting.

 

[oz_mark]

yeah... but technically you are flying to canada and transiting the US.
Similar to flying to LHR transiting SIN, you don't need a SIN visa as you are only transiting.

Oh no its not like SIN at all.

If you are transitting the US - then you go through immigration there, and will need the appropriate visa etc. Doesn't matter that you are just passing through.

As mentioned, even if you are just doing a transit, you have to enter the US.

 

[plrarm]

Just been thru LAX and yes, its an easy process to pick up bags and then re-direct them.

As a general rule I don't like checking luggage thru several flight changes. Too much opportunity for bags to go missing. I'd rather collect bags at the end of each flight and then check them onwards myself.

I avoided the BA disaster last year with their baggage problems by checking bags to Heathrow and then collecting them and checking again - rather than having them lost in transit

 

[themaiz]

I guess the term 'drinks' may or may not be applicable to the beverages they provide to all on a complimentary basis. "Bud light"? Uggh!

A Qantas FF member admitted to an A/C gets drink vouchers where they can choose from a 'Premium" selection (you can get more).

They usually give two vouchers per member. But I was once told by a lovely receptionist (at the downstairs screening entry to LA Term 4 A/C) that as an international traveller and QF member, I could go back for more vouchers if I ran out. Nice thought; generally hard to achieve in the time left after a typical international transfer out of TBIT. Useful to know if there's a massive flight delay.

BTW, the TBIT and Terminal 4 OW/AC lounges have excellent showers.

 

[dfcatch]

yeah... but technically you are flying to canada and transiting the US.
Similar to flying to LHR transiting SIN, you don't need a SIN visa as you are only transiting.

In LAX you must change terminals, which means you must go landside - no 2 ways about it.

Your final destination is irrelevant.

 

[sacolman]

Last time when booked to Guatemala via LAX and Mexico City from Sydney, I had to collect my luggage in LAX enter USA and exit within a few minutes. Same circus in Mexico. It seems that US airlines have never heard of transhipping luggage from one to another airline.
As regards transit passengers, the US has a special visa but all passengers must obtain it even if they are staying in the airport for only an hour. In fact my 5 weeks old great-grandson has to have a passport and an entry visa into USA while spending a few hours in one of the most difficult to enter countries in the World while boarding a Qantas flight to SYD..
I am old enough to have travelled in Europe before WWII when every country required a visa and emigration officers and customs people were lording over us, yet Europe has actually profited from not having borders and restrictions for travellers. At this time the US is allowing some people from some countries to come in without a visa, even 'though one need to apply and pay for a visa waiver license, (what is the difference between this and a visa?) and that enables you to arrive to USA and rely on the emigration officer and his judgment whether you will be allowed into their 'wonderful' country

 

[TheInsider]

There is no such thing as International Transit in the USA. If you are heading to another international destination 'via' the US. You must have a Visa for it.