Last minute work trip to SLC - help!

[MatF]

Hello all,

I may have a last minute work trip to SLC next week - probably flying:

SYD-LAX on QF11
LAX-SLC on AA3036

then back on

SLC-LAX on AA3062
LAX-SYD on QF12

I haven't been to the US at all before, so I'm hoping I might be able to get some tips about:

• lounges
• transiting through LAX
• anything else that's worth mentioning about those flights/connections/going to the US in general

Would be flying J, and I'm a WP.


Cheers,
Mat.

 

[cove]

Go Delta from LAX to Salt Lake as American Eagle Embraer jet is cough.Stay at Little America or Grand America.I love the tower room in Little America and the Grand America is grander!

 

[cove]

Allow 3 hours to get to your flight in America as the customs and baggage can be slow.There is a bus to get you to Delta terminal. Delta has their hub in Salt Lake.Now if you go American Eagle you go almost to the end of the American terminal past many gates before taking a left turn to make your way to the AE bus that then takes you to some prefab buildings quite a way (adjacent to the jet runways).By then you will be thinking "I hope this was really cheap". There is definitely no J class nor is there any real luggage space inside that Brazilian built Embraer jet cabin. I rated that flight as my worst one in a decade.Those two hotels are on the Internet. Do your Visa on line (ESTA) and make sure your passport has more than 6 months left on it.

 

[tuapekastar]

While I wasn't able to use it (had flown my WP qual flights but they hadn't credited, so was in T4 AC), some people do recommend the AA Flagship lounge at T4 LAX over the oneworld F lounge at TBIT, where QF12 seems to depart from (I was on QF26). There is an airside transfer bus (near Gate 44, T4) and people (paging serfty ) report using the AA FL in T4 for a while, then catching the bus to TBIT at a certain time in order to connect to the flight you want from TBIT.

I'm sure someone who knows what they're talking about will chime in.

 

[serfty]

I'm thinking DL may not be an option.

What travel class on AA3036 and AA3062?

 

[Mal]

While I wasn't able to use it (had flown my WP qual flights but they hadn't credited, so was in T4 AC), some people do recommend the AA Flagship lounge at T4 LAX over the oneworld F lounge at TBIT, where QF12 seems to depart from (I was on QF26). There is an airside transfer bus (near Gate 44, T4) and people (paging serfty ) report using the AA FL in T4 for a while, then catching the bus to TBIT at a certain time in order to connect to the flight you want from TBIT.

Been there, done that (recently). Even managed to get into the T4 lounge with no onward boarding pass (used my previous sector BP). The T4 lounge is much better overall. TBIT has huge wireless issues, the food is ok, the champers nice, but it's not a lounge to spend a long time in.

 

[cove]

Serfty the only class on that Embraer jet is economy and it is squeezy. Yes I think the left turn was near gate 44 in the American terminal to get down to the bus to get to American Eagle. That flight number is the one I took going to SLC.

 

[serfty]

Serfty the only class on that Embraer jet is economy and it is squeezy....

I am looking for the booking class, be it A, D, Y or Q!

Seriously I don't mind the AeAgle jets ... only ever travelled front row.

OK, time for some research - AA3063 gets in to LAX at 16:25, so you'll have plenty of time.

You'll have a bus trip to T4. No matter what else you are told, get off at T4 - you should be there by 5pm. Do not go to TBIT yet!

Head to the AC/FL nr gate 42 - make sure you have your QFF card with you. As a WP tell them you prefer to wait a few hours at T4 in the Flagship Lounge (you hear it's nicer the the TBIT First Class lounge) and you will be heading over in plenty of time.

Other than that you can choose a 20+ minute bus trip to the northern end of TBIT with a 10 minute walk to the oneworld lounge or a 5 minute stroll from T4 to TBIT tempered by the need to resubmit to security and the time and activity that entails.

 

[cove]

Well the American Flagship lounge is lovely so you will get to see that!We did fly near some thunderstorms which will be unlikely for you at this time of year. Get us a third opinion on this flight on American Eagle as I had only ever gone Delta and had never thought about it. They do give you QF points when Delta doesn't.

 

[MatF]

Thanks guys,

Many thanks for the info re: lounges.

Looks like I'm booked on QF11 and QF3117 on the way over, but am unfortunately waitlisted at the moment on AA3062 on the way back (which is odd, as the QF website is still showing seats available, will check tomorrow) - then confirmed on QF12.

The only alternative to AA3062 is QF3126 later in the day, but it doesn't allow enough time for a transfer (1hr 05m), though surprisingly QF have booked me on it while waitlisted on AA3062.

Looks like I've been booked into Y class on the LAX-SLC-LAX flights.

One other question - I'll be taking a work laptop, and probably a personal laptop as well (thanks to our restrictive SOE). Am I OK to put the work laptop in my checked luggage, or does that make it more likely to be opened and searched? If I do, should I take the battery out?



Cheers,
Mat.

 

[serfty]

Laptop? Checked Luggage?

Does not compute!:shock:

 

[Princess Fiona]

Laptop? Checked Luggage?

Does not compute!:shock:

I think he wants a new work laptop

 

[MatF]

Hehe, bingo It's a 2006 model Dell Precision M70.

Well, not really. It's being replaced in the next month anyway - just don't really want to lug it's gigantic useless carcass around unless I have to.

 

[JohnM]

I agree with all that has been said here. But, if you are partial to champagne (ie. the real thing), as I am, the coughpy QF F lounge at TBIT is, regrettably, the way to go.

How they manage to endlessly maintain the slowest internet connection speed in the known universe, I do not know. Get your emailing done elsewhere and just slurp the champagne.

Maybe I've spent too many hours in the AA Flagship lounge in T4 - it is kind of nice but in a dreary sort of way to my way of thinking. ORD and JFK Flagships feel more the part (OK, ORD is small but it's cosy).

 

[cove]

When you drink champagne in the QF lounge at LAX you should not worry about the lousy internet speed! Have another glass full!

 

[MatF]

OK, waitlisted AA3062 has come through, so it looks like I'm all sorted.

A380 J on the way over and back (QF11 on 1/8 and QF12 on 9/8), which will be nice!
Might even put in an F upgrade request, though I don't like my chances after a quick look on EF (couldn't do it till tomorrow though, as the flights haven't been ticketed yet ... a bit last minute).


One last question if possible - can anyone give me a bit of a rundown of what to expect going through LAX customs/immigraton? I've heard a few horror stories ....



Cheers,
Mat.

 

[Blackadder]

LAX can be bad customs/immigration wise, but at that time of the morning on my last trip there was through Customs/Immigration in abt 35-40mins coming from J, so beating the masses from whY.
LAX should have more counters open at that time, compared to the earlier QF 107 arrival.

 

[cove]

It is generally no major issue in Los Angeles to get processed and fingerprinted. Good is 30 minutes for those in J and First.
They shoot at Bambi around Salt Lake region but it would be safer if you go to a shooting range after work if you want to think Clint Eastwood.
Dinner would be a better choice and be aware the liquor rules there are State controlled.
There is a fantastic family tree tracing computer system that is impressive in the city.

 

[Mal]

LAX can be bad customs/immigration wise, but at that time of the morning on my last trip there was through Customs/Immigration in abt 35-40mins coming from J, so beating the masses from whY.
LAX should have more counters open at that time, compared to the earlier QF 107 arrival.

On my recent trip I absolutely bolted from my A380 PE seat while respecting J priority (and I think peeved off the FAs in PE) for a very short connection. While bolting through the airport I was stopped by a staffer and told not to bolt! She then asked why, I said "Short connection", she asked for proof and I was able to show a BP.

End result, I got a priority immigration pass, and was out within 5 mins. (carryon only). The normal queue was pretty empty, but that type of access would be beneficial at times.

My mate who arrived in LAX a bit earlier said it was a zoo, and he managed to get an express pass too (not sure how). It did take him quite a while to clear immigration though. I presume his checked bag also affected his arrival.

 

[notzac]

My best ever effort at LAX was a touch under 20 minutes from airplane (bus gate and all) to landside. Doubt it'd ever happen again..!