LAX Transit question

[willymaykett]

Hi all,

Been 12 months since my last LAX experience, which, BTW - was good.

Friends of ours booked a Delta flight (VA metal) to LAX, then an Air Canada flight onto Toronto.
Arrival at LAX is 06:30, with the Toronto flight at 08:30.

I thought this was way too tight, since we had to exit via TSA, Customs etc, then walk to AC terminal, check back in etc. Only difference is we had 2 separate bookings, not on the same booking like our friends.

Will being on the same booking make life easier for them? What happens if the Delta flight get delayed, do they have it any easier getting to the AC flight compared to what we had to do? Do they still need to go via customs. TSA etc, or can they go direct to the AC terminal?

Interested to hear what the process is.

Will

 

[CaviAck]

Hi all,

Been 12 months since my last LAX experience, which, BTW - was good.

Friends of ours booked a Delta flight (VA metal) to LAX, then an Air Canada flight onto Toronto.
Arrival at LAX is 06:30, with the Toronto flight at 08:30.

I thought this was way too tight, since we had to exit via TSA, Customs etc, then walk to AC terminal, check back in etc. Only difference is we had 2 separate bookings, not on the same booking like our friends.

Will being on the same booking make life easier for them? What happens if the Delta flight get delayed, do they have it any easier getting to the AC flight compared to what we had to do? Do they still need to go via customs. TSA etc, or can they go direct to the AC terminal?

Interested to hear what the process is.

Will

Two hours is pretty tight if things get busy at customs and TSA. Not completely undoable but pretty tight. Best I've done at TBIT is off flight to curb side in about 45mins with nothing to declare and going through the APC machines.

Being on the one ticket means they'll be protected and DL or AC will accommodate them if there's a misconnect. Being on two tickets however means you're up a creek without a paddle if something goes pear shaped. Because this is the land of the free and paranoid, you have to clear immigration and customs everytime you land into America from an intl flight and then re-checking your bags at the dedicated connections area which means leaving the terminal and going through security again.

 

[willymaykett]

Two hours is pretty tight if things get busy at customs and TSA. Not completely undoable but pretty tight. Best I've done at TBIT is off flight to curb side in about 45mins with nothing to declare and going through the APC machines.

Being on the one ticket means they'll be protected and DL or AC will accommodate them if there's a misconnect. Being on two tickets however means you're up a creek without a paddle if something goes pear shaped. Because this is the land of the free and paranoid, you have to clear immigration and customs everytime you land into America from an intl flight and then re-checking your bags at the dedicated connections area which means leaving the terminal and going through security again.

We arrived at 10:30 am and got through everything in 45 minutes. Our friends arrive at 6:30 am, so it might be tighter for them. Will be interesting to see how they go.

Was wondering if the process was still the same, ie, need to go via TSA, customs etc or can just be "in transit" to skip it all.

 

[BAM1748]

While doable it won't be a comfortable couple of hours.

When i go through LAX I always allow 4 hours and twice (in the last 6 trips) that wasn't enough.

Matt

 

[CaviAck]

We arrived at 10:30 am and got through everything in 45 minutes. Our friends arrive at 6:30 am, so it might be tighter for them. Will be interesting to see how they go.

Was wondering if the process was still the same, ie, need to go via TSA, customs etc or can just be "in transit" to skip it all.

Process will be the same, you can't skip any of it in America. They process all inbound pax through immigration and customs before having them pass through TSA and back into the terminal.

 

[johnsluk]

Despite all the horror stories I've always been lucky getting through LAX fairly quickly, within 45mins...but I've always arrived on the first flight in with QF or VA. Waiting for luggage has always taken the longest. They'll be pushing the 2 hours though.

 

[dfcatch]

My best time was the other day - aircraft to curb in 8 mins with bags.

However - my worst was 2hr45min.

On separate tickets I would definitely allow 3 hours.

2 hours with no protection is doable, but highly risky.

 

[Boca68]

I think my best time to get out was about 30 minutes, surprisingly on a Thanksgiving Weekend. Albeit on the Saturday.

Longest, was about 2 and 1/2 hours. And not surpisingly, probably on my tightest connection. I think the connection time I allowed was about 3 hours. Thankfully the QF flight out was delayed approx an hour and 15 mins. But it was on the same ticket, so as others have suggested , I felt like it would be ok. Also knowing there was options on QF later in the night.

 

[flying_duck]

I've actually done this flight, albeit UA MEL-LAX then Air Canada onwards, and also with UA LAX-DEN-YYZ and in the reverse a few times. Each time I only ever have 2-2 1/2 hours and don't seem to have an issue. They are always the one ticket, so I do have protection, but don't find I need it. I think check in luggage would be different (I'm HLO).

I've got a similar connection Air NZ to Delta and only 2 1/2 hours to do it on (in about a weeks time) and I'm not concerned at all even though they are seperate tickets. Come to think of it, for a completely inexperienced passenger (with my well written instructions) never been to LAX before, just did this transit in under 3 hours by himself with plenty of time to spare (45 mins from memory). It CAN be bad but it will PROBABLY be ok.

Ps if you have status with the airline you can often change your flights same day as long as your origin and destination stay the same. I.e on UA I can ring up when I land in LAX, and ask to be moved to a later flight via DEN or IAD (or in fact any flight that day that has availability). If it all goes really badly pear shaped, find the cheapest ticket on any airline to EWR and Porter it to Billy Bishops.

 

[Kangarucci]

Not long arrived, 2:15pm,in LAX on QF95 from MEL. We were bussed to the arrivals (first time ). Our luggage arrived about 45 mins after arrival. Two other flights in but not much of a wait at immigration. Security check maybe 10 mins. Reached Admirals Club by 3:50pm and in shower by 4pm.

Just showed the Admirals Club 30 day membership receipt. Didn't want to see boarding passes and 3 of us in.

 

[ashleyf]

Last two times at LAX, en route to Denver , we were given fast track passes. We were on time but the connection was 1 hour and 45 minutes.
WAS on the single ticket with QF / AA so they had visibility.
Would suggest keeping an eye out for the helpers with the orange fast track passes and talking to them if queue looks long.