LAS - LAX - SYD connection time

[Stanley Lambchop]

Hi all

I'm booked on a QF codeshare (AA plane) out of LAS transiting through LAX to pick up QF12 to SYD. The connection time is 2 hrs 15 mins.

It was booked through the Qantas website, so I naively assumed that QF wouldn't sell me a ticket that couldn't meet the connection time, but having read a few older threads I'm now a bit concerned. Quick questions:

Is 2 hrs 15 an achievable connection time?
It's a short trip, so I can travel HLO at a push - would that help?
I'm QF SG - is there any priority for getting through security?
What happens if the inbound flight is late? Would they hold QF12 or just put me on a later flight?

Thanks

 

[Dr Ralph]

Hi all

I'm booked on a QF codeshare (AA plane) out of LAS transiting through LAX to pick up QF12 to SYD. The connection time is 2 hrs 15 mins.

It was booked through the Qantas website, so I naively assumed that QF wouldn't sell me a ticket that couldn't meet the connection time, but having read a few older threads I'm now a bit concerned. Quick questions:

Is 2 hrs 15 an achievable connection time?
It's a short trip, so I can travel HLO at a push - would that help?
I'm QF SG - is there any priority for getting through security?
What happens if the inbound flight is late? Would they hold QF12 or just put me on a later flight?

Thanks

2hr 15 will be fine.

I'd recommend no less than 90 mins.

I'd very much doubt they'd hold the plane for you. Although QF 12 is frequently late.

 

[harvyk]

I'm assuming it's all on the one ticket (PNR)? If so (and esp as a QF codeshare) you will be fine.
If it is all on one PNR, they will interline bags, and they are likely to hold the plane for you if your arriving flight is a little late. (Within some limits)
If however it is separate PNR's, forget it.

Edit: Just make sure AA check you in for your QF flight and don't accept the answer of "pick up your boarding passed in LAX". AA have a nasty habit of not properly through checking people. It's caught me out a couple of times.

 

[Stanley Lambchop]

I'm assuming it's all on the one ticket (PNR)? If so (and esp as a QF codeshare) you will be fine.
If it is all on one PNR, they will interline bags, and they are likely to hold the plane for you if your arriving flight is a little late. (Within some limits)
If however it is separate PNR's, forget it.

Yes, all on one PNR booked as a SYD-LAS return

 

[harvyk]

Make sure you see my edit about making sure AA give you your boarding passes for QF12 in LAS.

 

[Stanley Lambchop]

Make sure you see my edit about making sure AA give you your boarding passes for QF12 in LAS.

Thanks, good point. Any idea if AA will be able to issue me with an QF exit row boarding pass? Or will I need to be sighted by a QF check-in agent to confirm I meet the physical exit row requirements?

 

[Ewing]

Thanks, good point. Any idea if AA will be able to issue me with an QF exit row boarding pass? Or will I need to be sighted by a QF check-in agent to confirm I meet the physical exit row requirements?

Yes that'll be fine. Worse case you go through the eligibility check at the QF12 boarding gate.

 

[Stanley Lambchop]

Thanks for your responses Dr Ralph, harvyk and Ewing - feel much better now.

 

[jb747]

Would they hold QF12.....?

No. Not a chance.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Thanks for your responses Dr Ralph, harvyk and Ewing - feel much better now.

Doesn't leave much time for Qantas club though

 

[harvyk]

No. Not a chance.

Slightly OT, but I've had QF planes held for me in the past due to late arrival of my first flight, and I've been on flights which have been held due to the late arrival of a pax due to their incoming flight.

The trick there was that it was all on the one PNR, and in each case there was no later flight options so the choice was put me in a hotel, or hold the flight for a few minutes.

 

[jb747]

Slightly OT, but I've had QF planes held for me in the past due to late arrival of my first flight, and I've been on flights which have been held due to the late arrival of a pax due to their incoming flight.

The trick there was that it was all on the one PNR, and in each case there was no later flight options so the choice was put me in a hotel, or hold the flight for a few minutes.

One passenger. Holding a 380. Not a chance, unless the luggage is already loaded. In which case we leave as soon as we find either the luggage or the passenger. Your hotel cost is absorbed in the first minute.

 

[SpudOz]

Doesn't leave much time for Qantas club though

I flew last Wednesday from Seattle to LAX with Alaskan, connecting to QF96. Alaskan issued my QF boarding pass.
Just over 2 hours connection time. I arrived at Terminal 6 and grabbed the bus to Terminal 4, then brisk walk airside to TBIT. I was in the QP for an hour.

 

[pythonisman]

Agree re: a single PNR giving you through checked bags. I had no issues getting AA to issue me international QF boarding passes, as well as Australian domestic boarding passes at MIA last year.
If you're transiting LAX now, from AA->QF, the airside terminal connector means you shouldn't have to deal with bag pickup, re-check, TSA, or any other kinds of queues, just walk from gate to gate (albeit between terminals).

Just hope your first flight is on time and you might still have time for a drink or two at the QF Lounge in TBIT, where they'll likely be able to sort any issues with seat assignment (assuming the seats are still available).

 

[comforttravel]

Is 2 hrs 15 an achievable connection time?
It's a short trip, so I can travel HLO at a push - would that help?
I'm QF SG - is there any priority for getting through security?
What happens if the inbound flight is late?

From my experience last year I was informed the MCT for QF at LAX was 2 hours for an allowable booking. My AA flight connecting to QF94 was late and left me with 75 minutes connect time. AA flights arrive at T4 at LAX. I caught the QF bus from T4 (adjacent to gate 44) direct to TBIT and had ample time in the QF lounge. By using the bus, I remained within the LAX security area from T4 to TBIT so there's no need for any further security checks. My checked luggage made it too. This year LAX opened a walkway between T4 (adjacent to gate 44) and TBIT which also remains within the security area. It's a 10 minute walk to TBIT and the first area you come to within TBIT are the QF lounges. Adjacent to gate 44 there was a QF counter which could print your LAX-AUS boarding pass (which got me on the bus) as well as AUS domestic boarding pass. Not sure if this counter is still there now that the walkway is open. Luggage checked from LAS through to AUS should be ok, hand luggage only shouldn't be necessary.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I would change it if I were you.
On the 13 June, I was on a flight from QF BNE - SYD, turns out the left engine had some problem, dep was supposed to be 10.35am to get to SYD by noon.
Problem was then in the end solved, valve light or something.
There were several pax on the BNE flight, the flight eventually left BNE at 11.15 or so, got to SYD at 12.30pm.
People were pleading for pax to give them a way to get out of the 737 front door, they were told (pax with connection to DFW and LAX), that something would be done for them re the QFi flights.
Quickstatus on here said that one of the QFi flights to the US left on time on the 13 June, meaning that some of those pax on my late into SYD flight, probably missed the US bound QFi flight.
I don't know what happened to them in the end, what QF did for them.
Leaving the US for Au via LAX might be different to leaving Au for US, re secondary security checks etc, but 2.15 is very short a time to do the transfer, even if linked PNR.
See if a change in date is possible.
The LAS - LAX flight is with AA I presume. Will AA in LAS issue you a BP for the flight LAX - SYD?

 

[TomVexille]

With the T4-TBIT airside connector, that's heaps of time.

Pooch, AA will check the OP through, so no worries.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I agree with the others - you should have no trouble, as long as AA isn't running really late. I have never had any problem getting AA to issue boarding passes and through check the luggage, even when on separate PNRs. If AA is running really late, well even having a bigger connection time doesn't solve the problem (which is why Mr FM won't let me book connections anymore), so I would just relax and fingers crossed you should be OK.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Is 2 hrs 15 an achievable connection time?

Yes it's both legal and achieveable. I try and have several hours however given that you're already booked I wouldn't bother changing to an earlier flight.

It's a short trip, so I can travel HLO at a push - would that help?

IMHO there's no advantage travelling HLO as your bag would be through checked in LAS by AA.

I'm QF SG - is there any priority for getting through security?

Not so much anymore as it's generally a case of TSA Pre-check who get a priority lane then everybody else (incl elite pax & those in premium cabins) queue up in the general lane.

The good news is you won't need to go through any TSA security at LAX if you use the airside connector from T4 to TBIT and there is no US Customs when you depart the country.

What happens if the inbound flight is late? Would they hold QF12 or just put me on a later flight?

No they won't delay a flight when there are ample alternatives to get you home. It the QF16 checkin is still open it's likely they would transfer you to that flight availability permitting.

If your AA flight was that late that QF checkin had shut up shop for the night it's AA's responsibility to book you on a new flight and accommodate you but they may need to be gently reminded of that.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Yes it's both legal and achieveable.

Why would it have been against the law/illegal?