Los Angeles (LAX) Transit Questions & Tips

[Lynda2475]

Although DFW used to be horrendous also.

Never in my experience, always quick and ive been flying the route since SYD-DFW was launched.

 

[SYD]

Never in my experience, always quick and ive been flying the route since SYD-DFW was launched.

Pre QF flying into DFW we misconnected after a 2+ hrs immigration line…. The AA staff member said it’s always like this and to order a wheelchair transfer if in a hurry .

Significantly better on subsequent arrivals but I’m still hesitant to arrive there if there are better options.

 

[tomster204]

Hi thank you for all the information. Im in a similar situation where i have a return flight from MEL to LAX (which i got on sale with QF very cheap) then need I get a second ticket LAX to CUN return. There is an AA ticket with a 2.5hr layover in LAX which QF offers in as single ticket (MEL-CUN return) but i was wondering if I were to purchase the AA ticket separately, would 2.5hr be enough time? Am I able to do online check in in melb so that i dont need to pass security in LAX? I know most of the post say to wait 6hr to over night, however I dont have a check in (only carry on) and have a canadian passport.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Silvia]

Can you get your bags checked all the way through interline agreement? I wouldn't recommend less than 3 hours for separate bookings unless you like to run over terminals. Back in the day, I used to do 4-5 hours and that was even stressful. I had to rely on my first flight to go as planned which it doesn't always happen.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Can you get your bags checked all the way through interline agreement? I wouldn't recommend less than 3 hours for separate bookings unless you like to run over terminals. Back in the day, I used to do 4-5 hours and that was even stressful. I had to rely on my first flight to go as planned which it doesn't always happen.

Almost a moot point when travelling to the USA as you have to collect your bags and either drop-off or re-check in regardless. If you do have your connecting boarding pass already, there are counters at most of the collection points that can provide you with the necessary baggage tags for your onward flights, and I've NEVER seen these busy, so it's unlikely to add much time.

The biggest pain is moving through immigration and then security to re-enter the terminals.

 

[Vince Alfonzetti]

We are going to USA from Melbourne with Qantas in September 2025. We land in LA in terminal b at 10.25am and then have to catch our next flight with Horizon Air ( Alaska Air?) to Vegas at 1.25pm from terminal 6. Will we make it ?

 

[flyguy77]

Probably - but you won't really know an exact answer until the day.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We are going to USA from Melbourne with Qantas in September 2025. We land in LA in terminal M at 10.25am and then have to catch our next flight with WestJet to Vegas at 1.25pm from terminal 3. Will we make it ?

Terminal 3 is right next door to the main international terminal. So distance wise not really a problem.

The issue will be whether your flight is on time, and how long it takes you to get processed by border control, and how long the security queues are for re-entry to departures.

In theory three hours should be ok. Make sure you move as quick as you can on arrival and try and be one of the first in the arrivals hall to get through border control.

If your connection to Las Vegas is on the one ticket, no need to overly stress. If your inbound is late, or you simply don’t have enough time to make the connection, you’ll be protected on the next available flight.

 

[DC3]

We are going to USA from Melbourne with Qantas in September 2025. We land in LA in terminal M at 10.25am and then have to catch our next flight with WestJet to Vegas at 1.25pm from terminal 3. Will we make it ?

There’s a few posts on AFF about the procedure for arriving at TBIT and then getting to other terminals at LAX, and how long it may take (number of flights arriving at that time, CBP, etc, etc). Some have experienced a smooth transfer while others have experienced delays. I plan on 4 hours, but it can be much less.

Although, there’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of not knowing if the doors will have already closed as you arrive at the gate for the connecting flight. Doors will often close 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Maybe a good idea to be wearing running shoes just in case.

If both flights are on the same PNR, then at least you are “protected”, so you will get the next ‘available’ flight (i.e., where seats are available), although I’m not sure of the frequency of WS flights LAX-LAS.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Actually that’s a good point… there are no Westjet flights between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. I’m guessing the OP is on AA?

 

[DC3]

And AA would depart from LAX T4 (or T5), not T3? OP mentioned T3 departure.

 

[justinbrett]

I think it must be Alaska, SkyWest operate some of their Vegas flights (and carry QF codes) - so it will be T6.

I’m made that connection heaps. Don’t worry, and if you’ve booked with QF they can rebook you on either AA or AS if you miss it. Plenty of time unless QF is significantly late.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think it must be Alaska, SkyWest operate some of their Vegas flights (and carry QF codes) - so it will be T6.

I’m made that connection heaps. Don’t worry, and if you’ve booked with QF they can rebook you on either AA or AS if you miss it. Plenty of time unless QF is significantly late.

 

[justinbrett]

And AA would depart from LAX T4 (or T5), not T3? OP mentioned T3 departure.

Also mentioned Terminal M arrival, which doesn’t exist, so assuming there’s been a few things confused.

 

[Vince Alfonzetti]

Terminal 3 is right next door to the main international terminal. So distance wise not really a problem.

The issue will be whether your flight is on time, and how long it takes you to get processed by border control, and how long the security queues are for re-entry to departures.

In theory three hours should be ok. Make sure you move as quick as you can on arrival and try and be one of the first in the arrivals hall to get through border control.

If your connection to Las Vegas is on the one ticket, no need to overly stress. If your inbound is late, or you simply don’t have enough time to make the connection, you’ll be protected on the next available flight.

Thank you Mel, great advice and really appreciated

Post automatically merged: Apr 19, 2025

There’s a few posts on AFF about the procedure for arriving at TBIT and then getting to other terminals at LAX, and how long it may take (number of flights arriving at that time, CBP, etc, etc). Some have experienced a smooth transfer while others have experienced delays. I plan on 4 hours, but it can be much less.

Although, there’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of not knowing if the doors will have already closed as you arrive at the gate for the connecting flight. Doors will often close 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Maybe a good idea to be wearing running shoes just in case.

If both flights are on the same PNR, then at least you are “protected”, so you will get the next ‘available’ flight (i.e., where seats are available), although I’m not sure of the frequency of WS flights LAX-LAS.

Thank you ,I’ll start trying for the running part soon lol

 

[DC3]

Also mentioned Terminal M arrival, which doesn’t exist, so assuming there’s been a few things confused.

Although, WestJet uses Terminal M in Vancouver. (e.g., LAX-YVR-LAS). But maybe let that one rest.

 

[Vince Alfonzetti]

Actually that’s a good point… there are no Westjet flights between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. I’m guessing the OP

I think it must be Alaska, SkyWest operate some of their Vegas flights (and carry QF codes) - so it will be T6.

I’m made that connection heaps. Don’t worry, and if you’ve booked with QF they can rebook you on either AA or AS if you miss it. Plenty of time unless QF is significantly late.

Cheers

 

[Vince Alfonzetti]

Also mentioned Terminal M arrival, which doesn’t exist, so assuming there’s been a few things confused.

You are correct it Terminal B... apologies, looking at too many flights

 

[Mwenenzi]

We are going to USA from Melbourne with Qantas in September 2025. We land in LA in terminal b at 10.25am and then have to catch our next flight with Horizon Air ( Alaska Air?) to Vegas at 1.25pm from terminal 6. Will we make it ?

Are both flights on the same PNR/ticket? Or separate?
Can make a big difference if a problem

Note OP has edited post 1 "Horizon Air ( Alaska Air?)"

 

[Himeno]

Horizon Air is part of Alaska. They are a QantasLink like regional subsidiary.

That's more then enough time.
I had a SYD-LAX-PDX trip some years ago. QF into LAX, then Alaska up to PDX.
My bags were checked through (with collect/redrop at LAX), but had to collect boarding pass for LAX-PDX when I got to the AS terminal (I think this was when they were still in T3).
I was early enough that they moved me to an earlier flight, but since my bag had been dropped at the TBIT bag drop, my bag still went on the later flight (I had to go back to PDX from downtown Portland later to collect it).