LAX connection - any tips to mimimise wasted time

[sometimeflyer]

Re: Check in luggage by QF for connecting AA flight under two separate tickets

If you have Priority AAccess rights, continue past most T4 to the premium check-in area and head up to TSA security. If no premium rights, take the first entry.

How does one acquire "priority AAccess rights"?

 

[legroom]

Re: Check in luggage by QF for connecting AA flight under two separate tickets

No!

After exiting immigration customs you are "landside" and need to submit to TSA before taking any flight from within the USA.

From TBIT, after redepositing your bags head outside - you will be at the arrivals roadway kerb.

Look to the right for an escalator or stairs up to the departures roadway level.

Once up there, continue heading right and the road curves to the left to T4.

If you have Priority AAccess rights, continue past most T4 to the premium check-in area and head up to TSA security. If no premium rights, take the first entry.

Thanks for the factual explanation.

Hypothetically, if I were asked to streamline the workflow at LAX, that is one of my items on the agenda.

It is futile, time wasting and simply inefficient to walk through TSA again when you were airborne minutes before and have no intention of smog inhalation on the way to T4 on the outside.

By providing an "internal" diversion immediately after Customs but before exposure to "non sterile" areas, LAX would have saved hours of labour for its TSA staff and reduces stresses for every passengers (incl. the unscreened ones who now have a shorter queue).

Yes, it is pie in the sky stuff but who knows, it may happen.

My 2c worth of thought !

Thanks

 

[serfty]

Re: Check in luggage by QF for connecting AA flight under two separate tickets

How does one acquire "priority AAccess rights"?

Amongst the more common methods for Antipodean residents is to be either oneworld Ruby (QF PS), Sapphire (QF SG) or Emerald (QF WP).

 

[Tassie]

Re: Check in luggage by QF for connecting AA flight under two separate tickets

You should be fine, but it assumes the QF agent can find your AA booking to link them.

I only have a 50/50 strike rate on this when booking not on same ticket.

Luckily this has only been T3 at LHR where clear customs and turn a corner/go upstairs makes it a bit easier.......

If you are concerned about whether they will find your AA booking on check in, call before and ask Qantas to link the flights. I've done that before and it works fine.

 

[POG]

Friends / Experts

Many , many posts had been done on this topic.

A quick search would reveal many (sometimes) reassuring answers.

It seems a minimum of 2 hours is required for any inbound transfer from what I gathered from reading the posts so far.

So, instead of asking how many hours is required for a successful transfer at LAX, my question for your help is this: what would be your tips to minimize wasted time and maximize your on-time check-in with your connecting flight?

1) At carousel

2) Immigration....

3) Terminal Transfer

4) Re-check your baggage

5) Security screening

Personally, I have 3 1/2 hours between my arrival and my departure but who knows what will happen.

Best tips for getting to Terminal 4 (AA) after exiting QF11 from SYD ?

Best regards

I went through this airport in April. We had 3 hrs to connect which gave us about 35min at the gate after completing Customs and security formalities. Remember nothing much happens quick at LAX. Once we arrived and disembarked the aircraft we had to wait almost 30min for the doors to be opened which lead to Customs. This was to minimise congestion. Once out of the Customs area, we dropped our bags at the connection counter (which for Delta only took 2 min ) then straight onto security. Los Angeles Airport was not what I expected, it is like a run down bunker. We waited almost an hour just to get through security. There were only 2 lines and the service is very slow. By the time you have completed security and entered the terminal, found your departure gate, been to the toilet etc , I would allow around 3 hours for the connection. If you manage to have a fast transition often your carrier will "bump" you or transfer you to an earlier flight.
Hope this helps you a bit, 3 hours seems a long time, certainly if I was to go there again I would allow 3hrs. Just for your information about if you have a domestic flight to catch on your trip, allow 2 hours. Thats what the Americans told me.

 

[legroom]

Re: Check in luggage by QF for connecting AA flight under two separate tickets

If you are concerned about whether they will find your AA booking on check in, call before and ask Qantas to link the flights. I've done that before and it works fine.

Friends

I had no issue, as it turned out, to tag the checked luggage to its final destination (LAX, ORD and CMH).

All I did is showing my onward AA bookings to the QF check-in agent.

You guys' advice was spot on.

It would be a nightmare otherwise.