LAX Transit/check-in

[simongr]

Hi all
Hopefully this thread wont be another sim spamfest - sorry about the DONE4 planning thread

OK - I am flying AKL-LAX and then LAX-JFK on Saturday 4 November. I have about 3 hours in LAX between flights - probably a shower and a couple of cold bud's (just winding you up) in the lounge between flights. I am flying QF AKL-LAX in J and LAX-JFK in J as well. I am QF SG and will be AA Plat before I fly to AKL.

Last time I went to LAX it was very confusing for me and tgtwwm as to what we had to do about checking into our domestic flight (that was AA LAX-DFW and Amreican Eagle DFW-PIT). After we had been through immigration (I am fine with that) and picked up our bags I think we then simply handed the bags over after the second immigration point as they were checked through to PIT. We then went upstairs and "queued" in the First Class queue to get new boarding passes - although I think I had a BP but tgtwwm didnt so he had to get new BP.

What I am trying to work out is whether there is an easy protocol for what I should do at LAX. It seemed to be a total free for all and if I manage to get a BP through to JFK - surely I can just go up the premium escalator, through security and into the AC?

Is there a way to make this as smooth a transition as possible?

CHeers

S

 

[Dave Noble]

Your bags will be tagged all the way to JFK and you should be issued a boarding pass. On arrival at LAX you will clear immigration, collect your bags and clear customs. After customs there will be a conveyor to drop your bags off on to.

I believe that the AKL-LAX flight arrives at T4 these days, so you will just need to head up to security. There is an escalator to security for those with AA/OneWorld status which is , ime, pretty quick to get to head of security queue. Then just head to Gate 40 where the AC is located opposite. As a QF SG member/AA PLT travelling internationally, don't forget to collect drinks vouchers at the door.

Dave

 

[NM]

I believe that the AKL-LAX flight arrives at T4 these days, so you will just need to head up to security. There is an escalator to security for those with AA/OneWorld status which is , ime, pretty quick to get to head of security queue. Then just head to Gate 40 where the AC is located opposite. As a QF SG member/AA PLT travelling internationally, don't forget to collect drinks vouchers at the door.

Dave

I believe QF25 still arrives at TBI, but depending on the availability of immigration processing facilities (i.e. the hall is not full of arriving QF11 or delayed QF107 passengers), the arriving QF passengers are ushered through the tunnel from TBI over to T4 for immigration and customs processing.

So it is most likely your aircraft will dock at TBI and you will be directed through to T4 for processing. However, it is possible hat circumstances may alter that and you may actually be processed at TBI.

Either way it really makes little difference in the end. Outside the customs hall there will be a baggage screening point and if they bag has been tagged to JFK (and it should be - be sure to check when you check it in) then leave it there and head to T4 departures and follow Dave's advice.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

There is an escalator to security for those with AA/OneWorld status which is , ime, pretty quick to get to head of security queue.

I was through there a couple of times recently and the elite escalator was closed, so have to traipse down the far end and up there. These were at quite different times of day, but both were fairly quiet (only 5 minute wait at security) so that may have had a bearing on the elite escalator being closed. The whole process at T4 (and TBIT also) was much, much, much quicker than at T2 which can take up to an hour (with a queue just to reach the security queue).

 

[simongr]

Thanks guys. The reason that we had trouble last time was tgtwwm didnt have a BP - I think it would have been much smoother otherwise. I remember that 8AM (5 pm for us) cold beer in the lounge was very welcome

Slowly but surely I will be more au fait with this - international business travel is pretty new to me and is very lumpy when it happens so its always a new experience.

 

[Dave Noble]

I believe QF25 still arrives at TBI, but depending on the availability of immigration processing facilities (i.e. the hall is not full of arriving QF11 or delayed QF107 passengers), the arriving QF passengers are ushered through the tunnel from TBI over to T4 for immigration and customs processing.

So it is most likely your aircraft will dock at TBI and you will be directed through to T4 for processing. However, it is possible hat circumstances may alter that and you may actually be processed at TBI.

According to the OW timetable, the flight is listed as arriving at T4. Whether it actually parks at T4 or parks at TBIT and then funnels through to T4 for processing is another matter. On exiting customs, passengers should be in T4 arrivals.

The most relevent thing that I have noticed about 4th November is that the flight seems to be operated with a 743.

Dave

 

[NM]

Thanks guys. The reason that we had trouble last time was tgtwwm didnt have a BP - I think it would have been much smoother otherwise. I remember that 8AM (5 pm for us) cold beer in the lounge was very welcome

Note that if you were to make QF Platinum rather than AA Plat/EXP, you would be able to use the F lounge at LAX and help yourself to a bottle of Guinness instead :!: .

 

[Dave Noble]

Note that if you were to make QF Platinum rather than AA Plat/EXP, you would be able to use the F lounge at LAX and help yourself to a bottle of Guinness instead :!: .

Im Confused. If he was AA EXP, he would be able to flounge. As a PLT , he is entitled to AC access

Dave

 

[NM]

Im Confused. If he was AA EXP, he would be able to flounge. As a PLT , he is entitled to AC access

Dave

Not when awaiting an AA domestic service. Though in this case he is arriving on a same day international flight so would I expect be entitled to Flounge and hence Guinness.

 

[simongr]

The most relevent thing that I have noticed about 4th November is that the flight seems to be operated with a 743.

Dave

Why is that relevant? Hopefully good relevant :shock: Just wish it was a three class service so I could upgrade (attempt anyway) to F.

Sadly I will only be AA Plat (if I had done the challenge in July as I should have - I would be exec plat potentially on this flight - but definitely by end of the year :evil If my QFF qualifying period was December this trip would have made me Platinum if I was still on that...

Didnt I say something about me not turning this into another spam thread?

Edit

@NM But I dont like guiness Mind you a proper Champagne would be delightful...

 

[Dave Noble]

Not when awaiting an AA domestic service. Though in this case he is arriving on a same day international flight so would I expect be entitled to Flounge and hence Guinness.

Indeed. Since he is connecting from the QF flight to the AA one, there would be flounging rights with EXP status.

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

Why is that relevant? Hopefully good relevant :shock: Just wish it was a three class service so I could upgrade (attempt anyway) to F.

Not good relevent.

Since it is a 743 rather than a 744 , the aeroplane will not have Skybeds but Dreamtime seats

Dave

 

[NM]

According to the OW timetable, the flight is listed as arriving at T4. Whether it actually parks at T4 or parks at TBIT and then funnels through to T4 for processing is another matter. On exiting customs, passengers should be in T4 arrivals.

You are correct that is does not make much difference. I was just pointing it out as some people may get confused and not undertsand why the Qantas passengers are bbeing singled out and routed through the tunnel.

The most relevent thing that I have noticed about 4th November is that the flight seems to be operated with a 743.

D'oh. That's not gonna be much fun.

Then again, we all suffered the Dreamtime seats trans-Pacific for many years.

 

[simongr]

Frack :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

My intinerary says 744 on QF43/AA7315 and the same on Experflyer...

The dream time seats are the leather ones - not the millenium seat I will have SYD-AKL?

RE AC acces - Dont forget that I am QF SG still so will still have AC access until Sep 2007 - when I lose QF SG status.

 

[NM]

Frack :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

My intinerary says 744 on QF43/AA7315 and the same on Experflyer...

QF43 operates SYD-AKL only and is showing as a 763 for 4th November.

Its QF25 that operates AKL-LAX that is showing as a 743. Ask at check-in if row 15 is available (the upper deck exit row). Or 5E/5F would be my next choice.

The dream time seats are the leather ones - not the millenium seat I will have SYD-AKL?

The Dreamtime seat is not leather. Its fabric covered. They were in the 744s before the Skybed was installed. They are ok, but just don't lie flat like the skybed. And the IFE screen is small and dull and low resolution.

 

[simongr]

Hmm - I wonder why then the AA7315 is showing as 744?

Apologies re QF43 - that's my flight to AKL - I am starting to think that this trip is going to be less than enjoyable to JFK - I might need that upgrade to First LAX-JFK

Row 15 is fully allocated (and as my AA number is being used I have no status) as is row 5 per the seat map on expertflyer

Just as an aside to this - the meal for that flight is indicated as DR DR DR on the flight details - I am guessing with a 19:40 departure I will get dinner (probably lunch on QF43/AA7377) and breakfast - betting that I wont be able to ask for the pannini's that we got on the flights to LAX last time ....

 

[NM]

Hmm - I wonder why then the AA7315 is showing as 744?

Probably because AA don't keep their codeshare aircraft types up to date as they change.

Apologies re QF43 - that's my flight to AKL - I am starting to think that this trip is going to be less than enjoyable to JFK - I might need that upgrade to First LAX-JFK

Certainly not as nice as it would been on QF107 straight through. But you do get to sample the AKL Qantas Club lounge as well .

Row 15 is fully allocated (and as my AA number is being used I have no status) as is row 5 per the seat map on expertflyer

I would still be asking at Check-in. The row 15 seats may show in EF as allocated, but that is the way Qantas always show J seats reserved for elite FF allocation. Its worth asking, especially as you will be checking in early at SYD. And ask again at AKL Qantas Club since people to make last minute changes.

Just as an aside to this - the meal for that flight is indicated as DR DR DR on the flight details - I am guessing with a 19:40 departure I will get dinner (probably lunch on QF43/AA7377) and breakfast - betting that I wont be able to ask for the pannini's that we got on the flights to LAX last time ....

You will get dinner on departure from AKL. Usually includes Sea Bass for the fish meal and a good lamb dish ex-AKL. You will then get breakfast about 2 hours out from LAX. Yers you should also have the option for pannini or sandwich at any time during the flight.

 

[serfty]

... Its QF25 that operates AKL-LAX that is showing as a 743. Ask at check-in if row 15 is available (the upper deck exit row). Or 5E/5F would be my next choice.

The Dreamtime seat is not leather. Its fabric covered. They were in the 744s before the Skybed was installed. They are ok, but just don't lie flat like the skybed. And the IFE screen is small and dull and low resolution.

Airliners.net Photos: Qantas Boeing 747-338
Airliners.net Photos: Qantas Boeing 747-338
The video screens are stored within the armrests. The screen for 5F is extended and you can see the top RH corner of this on the bottom LH corner of the second image.

 

[simongr]

I think for IFE I shall be reliant on my laptop (subject to getting a spare battery due to lack of power) and some TV shows I have on disc.

 

[alect]

I was through there a couple of times recently and the elite escalator was closed, so have to traipse down the far end and up there. These were at quite different times of day, but both were fairly quiet (only 5 minute wait at security) so that may have had a bearing on the elite escalator being closed. The whole process at T4 (and TBIT also) was much, much, much quicker than at T2 which can take up to an hour (with a queue just to reach the security queue).

That usually occurs after 6 or 7 pm (depending on season) when they also close the western end check in gates as premium desks (and sometimes open them as El Salvador check in desks only). The also sometimes close the main security queues we have all learned to love and have security through another (smaller) room on the western side of the terminal which feeds back into the central terminal corridor. I think this is due to lower volume of pax.

In the morning the elite check in desks and escalator will be open.