LAX transfer from T5 international to VA7

[rtyuiop]

Hi folks,

Anyone know how international arrivals work into LAX T5, including a checked bag? I'll be coming into T5 from Costa Rica on Delta before heading back out on VA7 - can I do an airside connection to get over to TBIT, or will I have to go out and clear security again?

Hoping to figure out how important it will be to get both boarding passes and bag checked through, so I can wait out a long-ish layover in the TBIT lounge.

Cheers,

Danny

 

[jazza1971]

I think VA does a bus transfer from the secure side every 15 or 30 mins to TBIT from T5 after maybe 1830. I cant remember the gate number but it was marked when I had a look in Feb. Otherwise its out & back in though security.

 

[CaviAck]

If you haven't per-cleared US immigration in Costa Rica, you'll have to clear immigration upon landing, which will mean having to re-enter security. Not familiar with T5 so don't know if there is a bag drop for transfers or not there. If there isn't then you'll have to lug yourself to T3 where the VA check in desks are and then walk to TBIT. If your bags aren't tag through when checking-in in Costa Rica then you'll have to lug everything to T3 anyway.

 

[deepblerg]

I arrived into T5 from SFO last month on Delta. There was no airside connection so had to exit the terminal but TBIT is only a short walk away, no need for bus. Clearing security at TBIT didnt take too long either (just line up in the first class line, I was travelling Y and flashed WP boarding pass - they don't care/check).

Definitely try and get both boarding passes sorted and check bags all the way through. Apparently there is a new air side connection at LAX - not sure if it's open yet though?

 

[CaviAck]

I arrived into T5 from SFO last month on Delta. There was no airside connection so had to exit the terminal but TBIT is only a short walk away, no need for bus. Clearing security at TBIT didnt take too long either (just line up in the first class line, I was travelling Y and flashed WP boarding pass - they don't care/check).

Definitely try and get both boarding passes sorted and check bags all the way through. Apparently there is a new air side connection at LAX - not sure if it's open yet though?

Did some reading and there should be a bus from T5 to TBIT according to AusBT (New LAX terminal connector means quicker transits, more lounges - Australian Business Traveller). The new T4 to TBIT connector opened last month so you can of course walk from T5 to TBIT airside now.

That being said since it's an intl flight you'll still have to clear immigration at LAX (there's no pre-clearance in Costa Rica) which means you'll have to pick up bags and drop them off either at the transfer desk in T5 or at the check-in desks in T3 even if you manage to get BPs and through check bags in Costa Rica.

 

[rtyuiop]

Damn! OK, that's a pain. It's not having to walk or even clear security which bugs me, it's that I'm going to have 10 hours or so to kill before getting on VA7, so if I can't drop bags somewhere and pick up a boarding pass with Delta, I'm going to be waiting around for VA check in to open before I can go through TBIT security.

Thanks folks! I will focus on getting both boarding passes in Costa Rica, and getting my bags to the transfer desk.

 

[celph]

Sorry to hijack the thread but has anyone been able to get Delta to check luggage all the way through to SYD when they have been ticketed separately? Flights to LAX return have been sorted but will be taking some internal flights that haven't been booked yet and would hate to fly into LAX early and have to sit around with bags until VA check-in opens

 

[Muppet501st]

Sorry to hijack the thread but has anyone been able to get Delta to check luggage all the way through to SYD when they have been ticketed separately? Flights to LAX return have been sorted but will be taking some internal flights that haven't been booked yet and would hate to fly into LAX early and have to sit around with bags until VA check-in opens

yes they can. But you need a DL checkin agent that knows what they're doing , to do it.
Just last month, JFK-LAX, then onto BNE, on separate PNRs, the DL agent in JFK, wasn't able to tag bags all the way thru, or BPs for the LAX-BNE sector. Luckily for us, she asked a supervisor, who showed her how to do it. Certainly would've been a pain, arriving at LAX at 3pm, and having to wait for VA checking to open.

 

[Jurahn]

Certainly would've been a pain, arriving at LAX at 3pm, and having to wait for VA checking to open.

Wouldn't have been too much of a wait, VA check-in opens at 3.30pm (I think they used to open at 2.30pm, but not sure whether that had something to do with it being/not being daylight saving time over there on that trip).

 

[Muppet501st]

Wouldn't have been too much of a wait, VA check-in opens at 3.30pm (I think they used to open at 2.30pm, but not sure whether that had something to do with it being/not being daylight saving time over there on that trip).

you're correct, I could've swore it was a lot later like 6ish

 

[Jurahn]

you're correct, I could've swore it was a lot later like 6ish

Thank goodness it's not - last time we came back, we were dropped off at LAX at 2pm, and just waiting the 90 minutes until check-in opened seemed an eternity, especially when you've then still got all those hours ahead of you until departure time (although the Star Alliance lounge does help a bit there )

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Definitely try and get both boarding passes sorted and check bags all the way through. Apparently there is a new air side connection at LAX - not sure if it's open yet though?

Sure is open! Just got back from transiting through LAX on Sunday, and I used it myself.

There are now two options for airside transfers from T5 to TBIT:

1. Walk through the tunnel to T4, then upstairs past enemy territory (well it is the AA terminal ) and on to the newly-opened airside connector walkway (above ground) between T4 and TBIT. It conveniently ends up at the lifts that take you right up to the Star Alliance lounge on level 6... maybe a 10 minute walk all up?

2. Shuttle from T5 gate 52B, which departs every 30 min from 18:30 for TBIT

You'd obviously need to have your luggage tagged through and already have your boarding passes for it to really be useful. Good luck, OP!

 

[serfty]

...
1. Walk through the tunnel to T4, then upstairs past enemy territory (well it is the AA terminal ) and on to the newly-opened airside connector walkway (above ground) between T4 and TBIT. It conveniently ends up at the lifts that take you right up to the Star Alliance lounge on level 6... maybe a 10 minute walk all up? ...

Here there is no 'enemy', just locations of varying opportunity. As for convenience, those QF WP/Emerald travelling oneworld have the connector 'landing' right at the entrance to the Qantas First lounge, no pesky lifts to deal with.

 

[rtyuiop]

So as it turns out, DL couldn't check me through, either in Costa Rica or the service desk immediately after customs in T5. Had to go over to T3 to check in (fortunately it opened just after 3, a few minutes after I arrived) and do bag drop, then back to TBIT and the astonishingly crowded *A lounge.

Bit of a miserable effort from DL, I have to say - all this after the oven wasn't working on the flight up from costa rica, so only had very light snacks where I was expecting breakfast, Glad the food in the lounge is decent!

 

[moa999]

So as it turns out, DL couldn't check me through, either in Costa Rica or the service desk immediately after customs in T5. Had to go over to T3 to check in (fortunately it opened just after 3, a few minutes after I arrived) and do bag drop, then back to TBIT and the astonishingly crowded *A lounge.

That's a shame, and a bit of walking at LAX (or did you take the shuttle?)
Have a great flight home.

 

[rtyuiop]

Yeah, bit of an annoying walk, mainly just because the sidewalks were overloaded with lost-looking pax. The lounge got quite a bit more pleasant after a few flights left in quick succession, so I'm now much more well disposed towards the world! I'll still think twice about booking international to international connections through LAX in future though...

 

[serfty]

The front of TBIT is often crowded with unaware/wandering PAX.

Me, when I do this, I just cut across the middle using the pedestrian crossings (past the flying saucer restaurant to your right).

 

[moa999]

The proposed transport line through the middle of the carparks will eventually provide more crossing points

 

[rtyuiop]

The proposed transport line through the middle of the carparks will eventually provide more crossing points

In the current state, is it OK to navigate with a rolling suitcase? I thought about cutting across from T5 to T3 (certainly would be shorter), but it looked like the surface might be a pain to navigate.