Los Angeles (LAX) Transit Questions & Tips

[SYD]

UA might have been 'trialling' something like this 10 years ago

Thread 'International transit IAH (Houston) on UA - no collection of checked bags'

May 13, 2015

Just thought I'd report an experience in transiting the US which I found unusual - info may or may not be new, but I hadn't heard it before.

I am flying Buenos Aires - xHouston - Calgary on United. On check-in at EZE, I got both boarding passes and the one IAH-YYC had a lime green 'T' sticker on it. The check-in agent said I did not need to collect bags at Houston, as I was in international transit. I thought this was wrong at the time (in light of experience in transiting to YYC via LAX), but went with the flow.

This is what happened. The Purser-type on the UA flight announced that...

• RooFlyer
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Passports, Visas, Immigration & Customs

AFAIK, other ports already have this arrangement. IAH might have been one of the front runners. I think DFW might even have some hands free under some circumstances?

 

[ayebee]

That would require an unlikely radical rethink how the US does separation between International v Domestic departures.

Agree it would be a radical rethink on their behalf, and indeed unlikely.
It reflects their world view.

 

[RooFlyer]

AFAIK, other ports already have this arrangement. IAH might have been one of the front runners. I think DFW might even have some hands free under some circumstances?

You mean international 'no bag handling' transit of the USA?

 

[SYD]

You mean international 'no bag handling' transit of the USA?

Yes. Pretty sure there’s a thread here but it might still only be DFW.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes. Pretty sure there’s a thread here but it might still only be DFW.

@milehighclub commented about auto bag transfer at post #16

 

[SYD]

@milehighclub commented about auto bag transfer at post #16

Yes, I knew DFW was doing it. I thought I read something about IAH but can’t confirm.

 

[Quickstatus]

I thought I read something about IAH but can’t confirm.

Does not appear to be:

 

[RooFlyer]

So what's so new about the AA SYD-LAX thing?

 

[Quickstatus]

So what's so new about the AA SYD-LAX thing?

maybe it's airport specific?

 

[SYD]

So what's so new about the AA SYD-LAX thing?

maybe it's airport specific?

Yes. Probably off the back of DFW (and presumably why the trial starts with AA flights ie DFW being a massive AA hub of course).

 

[justinbrett]

So what's so new about the AA SYD-LAX thing?

It’s domestic. I-I only has to care about aircraft safety. Domestic you’re now looking at customs and quarantine.

Yes, I knew DFW was doing it. I thought I read something about IAH but can’t confirm.

I believe they have used at MIA on some routes (I-I)

You get bailed up at PP control. That’s the decision point to head to departures or collect bag?

Otherwise, how would anyone know….

I imagine it would work like a pre clearance port. When going through passport control you’re shown a photo of your bag (that you checked in earlier) and have to verbally declare that it’s yours and that you have nothing to declare.

Would be nice if they just make SYD a preclearance port.

 

[Aggi]

Will be flying Alaska Air from Anchorage (via Portland) to LAX then QF to Melbourne.
Separate tickets and 4.5 hours layover so fingers crossed it’s enough time.
I believe I’m flying into terminal 6 and assume will need to collect bag and walk to terminal B.
My question is what is the quickest/easiest way to get to terminal B and how long will it take? Where do I get QF boarding pass and bag drop, a transfer desk or normal check in?

It’s been a long time since I’ve had to transfer terminals at LAX so honestly don’t remember and don’t want to wander around unnecessarily!

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Will be flying Alaska Air from Anchorage (via Portland) to LAX then QF to Melbourne.
Separate tickets and 4.5 hours layover so fingers crossed it’s enough time.
I believe I’m flying into terminal 6 and assume will need to collect bag and walk to terminal B.
My question is what is the quickest/easiest way to get to terminal B and how long will it take? Where do I get QF boarding pass and bag drop, a transfer desk or normal check in?

It’s been a long time since I’ve had to transfer terminals at LAX so honestly don’t remember and don’t want to wander around unnecessarily!

Terminal 6 and B are connected airside - it's a bit of a walk, say 10-15 minutes, without any travelators. It isn't brilliantly signposted, but plenty of staff around to help.

Someone far more knowledgeable than me will hopefully weigh in on whether Alaska Air will be able to check your bags through to MEL.

 

[serfty]

Will be flying Alaska Air from Anchorage (via Portland) to LAX then QF to Melbourne.
Separate tickets and 4.5 hours layover so fingers crossed it’s enough time.
I believe I’m flying into terminal 6 and assume will need to collect bag and walk to terminal B.
My question is what is the quickest/easiest way to get to terminal B and how long will it take? Where do I get QF boarding pass and bag drop, a transfer desk or normal check in?

It’s been a long time since I’ve had to transfer terminals at LAX so honestly don’t remember and don’t want to wander around unnecessarily!

Once you collect bags at the arrivals level you will then be landside. It's nicer to then use an elevator/escalator to head up to the departures level walkway, head left once outside and around the road to TBIT.

If it’s raining you can stay down at the arrivals level and use the transfer bus (A?) which goes past T7 then T1, T2, T3 before stopping near TBIT.

Getting To, From, and Around LAX | LAX

www.flylax.com

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Will be flying Alaska Air from Anchorage (via Portland) to LAX then QF to Melbourne.
Separate tickets and 4.5 hours layover so fingers crossed it’s enough time.
I believe I’m flying into terminal 6 and assume will need to collect bag and walk to terminal B.
My question is what is the quickest/easiest way to get to terminal B and how long will it take? Where do I get QF boarding pass and bag drop, a transfer desk or normal check in?

It’s been a long time since I’ve had to transfer terminals at LAX so honestly don’t remember and don’t want to wander around unnecessarily!

As Serfty says, if you have to collect bags, you’ll need to go landside. Once you do that, make your way to the international terminal and find the regular Qantas check in.

If Alaska does somehow check your bags all the way through… no harm in asking… you can stay airside.

 

[Himeno]

Will be flying Alaska Air from Anchorage (via Portland) to LAX then QF to Melbourne.
Separate tickets and 4.5 hours layover so fingers crossed it’s enough time.
I believe I’m flying into terminal 6 and assume will need to collect bag and walk to terminal B.
My question is what is the quickest/easiest way to get to terminal B and how long will it take? Where do I get QF boarding pass and bag drop, a transfer desk or normal check in?

It’s been a long time since I’ve had to transfer terminals at LAX so honestly don’t remember and don’t want to wander around unnecessarily!

Ask at ANC for AS to check through to QF. They aren't required to if they are on separate tickets, but the agent might do so anyway if asked.
If they won't check through, you'll need to collect bags in T6 then go to TBIT and check in again with QF.
You can either walk on the footpath along World Way in the direction the road traffic is coming from (around 600m), or take the LAX terminal shuttle (which will go the long way around the loop).

If they do check you through, you can use the airside tunnels from T6, through T5 and into T4, then up to the connector passage near gate 41. This connector enters TBIT near the QF lounges.

 

[1A Please]

This is a QFF Business reward flight - so posting in here - transiting through LAX on AA72 in a couple of weeks. Anyone know if this pilot program is still running (or mainstream now for AA) and you dont need to walk your luggage at LAX anymore? Any help appreciated

American Airlines changes intl baggage rules at LAX airport

Travellers departing Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport with a connection at Los Angeles International Airport will no longer have to collect and re-check their bags when flying with American Airlines.

www.vacationstravel.com

 

[Princess Pia]

We have an 8.5 hr stopover at LAX coming up on Saturday. We have booked a day room nearby to freshen up etc. The departing flight is at 9.30pm…what time should we be looking at to leave the hotel to get back to the airport? The flight is departing from TBIT and bags will have been dropped off after we collect them on arrival in LAX, so will only need to go through security.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We have an 8.5 hr stopover at LAX coming up on Saturday. We have booked a day room nearby to freshen up etc. The departing flight is at 9.30pm…what time should we be looking at to leave the hotel to get back to the airport? The flight is departing from TBIT and bags will have been dropped off after we collect them on arrival in LAX, so will only need to go through security.

If you are being conservative, boarding will be at 9, so aim to arrive at the airport at 8 to allow for any longer than expected security queues. (You’ll probably be through in 5 minutes!)

So depending which airport hotel you’re at, look to leave around 730 or 745.

 

[Princess Pia]

Just arrived in LAX. Have a connecting flight with LATAM in 7hours. Bags are tagged all the way through but we haven’t been checked in for those flights. thought there would be somewhere we can drop our bags but apparently not…we need to wait for latam to open in 3hours…can anyone confirm?