Lags rule,Oz domestic>transfer USA multiple cities ?

[MrsCD]

Hi all,This is my first post after doing my intro as a Newbie here.

Doing a slightly different entry & trip into USA & Canada this time.I would truly appreciated some advice re LAGS rule & buying duty free alcohol.

I sorta have an idea of what I should do but naturally do not want to have anything we buy to be confiscated or to do the wrong thing.

We are flying with Qantas from Adelaide > Melbourne & then continue with Qantas across to LA (no doubt refuelling) & then onto New YORK & in via JFK = all on the same booking with Qantas.

I am confident that our luggage is officially/technically checked through the whole way to New York but realise that we will need to disembark in LA & have to proceed through USA customs & immigration with our collected luggage.

I have read about a transfer trolley that we have to place our luggage on after we have gone through customs & immigration. Can anyone please share any info on this & where exactly it is or IF their is a service desk or signs to direct us after we claer customs & immigration?

I have never paid attention to any of this before when arriving in LA as we have previously only ever flown in via LA or SFO & always stayed there for at least a few days,so have never immediately transferred onto another flight.

We have decided to spend 1 night in a nearby JFK airport before we get a domestic flight the next day to Toronto. I did originally think about getting the train the next day up to Toronto but it seems that re $ & the time needed for a train trip that we are far better to just get a flight.

I realise any alcohol that we purchase prior to a flight to Canada will need to be placed into a checked luggage BUT with all these connecting flights & no LAGS rules for domestic flights in Australia I am trying to work out where on earth do we buy a bottle or 2 between us & not have it taken off us ? I seem to think that we arrive at Terminal 4 but have also seen mention of Qantas being at Terminal 5.

IF we buy only able to buy duty free alcohol as we enter USA at Tom Bradley airport at LA do Terminal 4 & Terminal 5 arrivals or departures have duty free shops where we can make a purchase ?

Also one more question - since we arrive at LAX at 4.40pm & don't fly out until New York until 6.10pm do you think with the usual long time to get through customs & immigration & collecting luggage at LAX that we will be able to have any down time in a Business lounge?

From past experience LAX airport is really darn slow to get through the processes.We are flying business class the whole way through to JFK,New York.We have Qantas Club membership & also have access to any AMEX lounges through platinium credit cards.Which lounge would you suggest,depending on if we fly into terminal 4 or 5? BTW - any ideas of IF we fly into terminal 4 or 5 from Melbourne & IF we fly out of terminal 4 or 5 from LAX to JFK,New York ?

I truly hope that this post in not too long winded or complicated as I am just trying to learn the ropes here & get very much valued & much needed input from experienced members here = so I hope I am not too much out of line & being too overly painful !

Thanks in advance & Happy Holidays,

MrsCD

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Any duty free alcohol will not be allowed in the cabin on USA domestic flights. But can go in your hold luggage. If you are allowed to buy duty free in SYD before boarding the flight to the USA, you would have the chance to put it into your checked bag before giving it back for the continuation of the flight to JFK.

Alcohol is pretty cheap in the USA. So it depends what you want to take with you. If it is a specialty wine (for a gift), try Dan Murphy or another large wine store which may be cheaper than the airport duty free anyway. And you can pack it straight into your hold luggage before leaving australia. If it's just a bottle of vodka/gin etc, I think the USA is going to be just as cheap.

 

[MrsCD]

Any duty free alcohol will not be allowed in the cabin on USA domestic flights. But can go in your hold luggage. If you are allowed to buy duty free in SYD before boarding the flight to the USA, you would have the chance to put it into your checked bag before giving it back for the continuation of the flight to JFK.

Alcohol is pretty cheap in the USA. So it depends what you want to take with you. If it is a specialty wine (for a gift), try Dan Murphy or another large wine store which may be cheaper than the airport duty free anyway. And you can pack it straight into your hold luggage before leaving australia. If it's just a bottle of vodka/gin etc, I think the USA is going to be just as cheap.

Thanks for your reply BUT my last airport when leaving Australia is Melbourne so that is sorta irrelevant re Sydney.I expected that I could ONLY carry any booze/spirits aka gin or brandy etc after arrival in LAX. as long as I placed it in my checked in luggage.( but NOT in a duty free bag ) - even though I had to go through transfer. It is NOT Sydney that we leave Australia from BUT it is from Melbourne.When we leave Melbourne we WILL no doubt be under LAGS rule as it is an International flight.I suspect that when we arrive in LAX that any booze may be confiscated as we are flying onto New York on Qantas = be it considered either a domestic or an International connection ? I still think I will be stuffed IF I buy any duty free alcohol before LA & don't transfer to checked in luggage at the transfer point in LA for continuing luggage that goes through to New York on our Qantas flight..Long & short of it is IF I am flying Qantas from Adelaide > Melbourne > LA > JFK New York - exactly where do I buy my duty free ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

SOrry - for some reason I thought it was SYD not MEL.

Regardless, the rules would be the same.

As far as I know, you can purchase your duty free in MEL and take it on board with you*. The duty free shop will advise you of this.

On landing in the USA and collecting your bags, you'll then need to place the alcohol into your checked bag before depositing it for your onward flight to JFK.

*I'm not 100% sure on this because I've never bought alcohol duty free leaving Australia. But looking at the official website it seems to be ok: Taking duty free items on board

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We have decided to spend 1 night in a nearby JFK airport before we get a domestic flight the next day to Toronto.

It doesn't really make much difference, but USA to Canadia is an international flight! You will clear immigration and customs. You'll also need your electronic travel authority - a separate one to the USA - to visit.

 

[serfty]

Hi all,This is my first post after doing my intro as a Newbie here.

Welcome to AFF.

LAX at 4.40pm & don't fly out until New York until 6.10pm

What flights are you on - that is an unusual time for QF flight to arrive at LAX. Also, the only Qantas operated flight to New York, QF12, is scheduled to depart in the morning.

Other than that, 90 minutes is a short transit.

As far as Duty Free goes, @MEL_Traveller is correct. You will be able to purchase your bottles after security at MEL and carry on. After collecting your bags you MUST place these bottles in your luggage before redepositing them.

As for transit/redeposit, once you have cleared customs you follow the signs for transfer along the ramp that leads up to the right, this doglegs and you come out at the baggage redeposit area.

You will see special signs to a Queue for the Qantas Flight to New York.

You place the bags on a convener before heading out land side.

At this point, turn right and head down the end of the corridor for TBIT transit security.

 

[serfty]

The transit is very short and if flights are on time and if you are not delayed, you may a brief opportunity for Lounge time at the oneworld business lounge. 6:10pm departure means 5:30pm boarding. I see from your other thread you are travelling business class .

To get to the Qantas lounge, once you clear TBIT transit security you head up the elevator or escalators and come out at the "airside connector" wich is part way between T4 and TBIT. You turn right for TBIT and follow the corridors; don't go down any escalators as the lounge is at the same level.

However, I have doubts about your flights and who is operating them given the timings.

American Airlines use T4/T5 and TBIT at LAX and T8 at JFK. Qantas use TBIT at LAX and T8 at JFK.