Los Angeles (LAX) Transit Questions & Tips

[MEL_Traveller]

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?

Possibly… just take your bags with you to the hotel!

 

[Jenya]

l am planning LAX unprotected connection between YVR flying United, then FJ to NAN.
Separate tickets, checked in bags, 4 pax and 2,5 hours layover. 20:00 arrival and 22:35 departure Saturday 3 Jan.
UA and FJ got interline agreement but on separate PNR no chance checking bags through to Fiji.
I heavily rely on US preclearance in Canada so will be arriving to LAX as domestic pax.
I believe we are flying into terminal 7 and will need to collect bag and walk to TBIT landside.
My question is what is there a requirement to clear US departure immigration after we check in and drop bags on FJ counter? or only TSA clearance?
Would it make any difference if I go landside just on my own to hassle check in and TSA, with rest of the family stay airside and head straight to TBIT departure gate?
Thanks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

l am planning LAX unprotected connection between YVR flying United, then FJ to NAN.
Separate tickets, checked in bags, 4 pax and 2,5 hours layover. 20:00 arrival and 22:35 departure Saturday 3 Jan.
UA and FJ got interline agreement but on separate PNR no chance checking bags through to Fiji.
I heavily rely on US preclearance in Canada so will be arriving to LAX as domestic pax.
I believe we are flying into terminal 7 and will need to collect bag and walk to TBIT landside.
My question is what is there a requirement to clear US departure immigration after we check in and drop bags on FJ counter? or only TSA clearance?
Would it make any difference if I go landside just on my own to hassle check in and TSA, with rest of the family stay airside and head straight to TBIT departure gate?
Thanks.

There’s no departure control from the USA, so just the security lines.

You’d save the TSA lines if just one of you went landslide to check in, but you’d only be able to check in bags for the one passenger at the check in desk… so if you just had one or two bags (or whatever the FJ allowance is for a sing,e passenger), you’d be fine,

They won’t let you check bags on another ticket for someone else.

 

[Jenya]

if you just had one or two bags (or whatever the FJ allowance is for a sing,e passenger), you’d be fine,

Thank you.
I will only have 2 checked bags and I believe being QF Platinum permits 2 bags per person with One Word partners, even on classic reward fare.

They won’t let you check bags on another ticket for someone else.

we are all on one booking, so I hope we can just check in online with just me going landside for bags check in.
Probably would do that only if incoming flight happen to be late, otherwise 2,5 hr should be enough for all of us to stay together to remove any confusion?
UA387 has excellent record on Flightradar always arriving ahead of schedule, so that's promising.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you.
I will only have 2 checked bags and I believe being QF Platinum permits 2 bags per person with One Word partners, even on classic reward fare.

we are all on one booking, so I hope we can just check in online with just me going landside for bags check in.
Probably would do that only if incoming flight happen to be late, otherwise 2,5 hr should be enough for all of us to stay together to remove any confusion?
UA387 has excellent record on Flightradar always arriving ahead of schedule, so that's promising.

If you can check in all the bags, and you can get boarding passes for the inward flight for the rest of the party, ot sure there’s much benefit in dragging everyone out landside?

Any document checks can be done at the gate. And if you want to make doubly sure, just ask when checking in the bags… soupy your family is staying airside in transit, you all have boarding passes, anything else that needs to be done.

 

[Jenya]

Is there any way to speed up TSA clearance in TBIT? (except paid memberships and preclearance available to US passport holders only)?
In SEA I recall using some fast-track service like you can scan QR code and prebook specific time you want to turn up for security screening.

 

[RooFlyer]

Is there any way to speed up TSA clearance in TBIT? (except paid memberships and preclearance available to US passport holders only)?
In SEA I recall using some fast-track service like you can scan QR code and prebook specific time you want to turn up for security screening.

Here's an article which may help

How to avoid long TSA security lines at US airports

Even if you're not flying up front, there are still ways to speed through the airport. Here are some of our favourite security fast-tracks.

www.pointhacks.com.au

 

[rjwx]

Hey guys just throwing my scenario out here - im connecting from Seoul to Lima via LAX on Asiana and LATAM. I booked them in one ticket (I.e I can see my LATAM flight on the Asiana app and vice versa)

At Seoul they’ve weren’t able to issue my LATAM onward boarding pass and told me I need to go to the check-in counter for LATAM at LAX. However, my bags were tagged to LIM.

I know I have to pick up my bags anyway at LAX, but I was wondering whether I:

A) Drop my bag off at the LAX transit counter and then go upstairs by myself to obtain the onwards boarding pass from LATAM’s checkin

B) Take myself and my checked bags to the LATAM check-in counter at LAX

Or any other route?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SYD]

Hey guys just throwing my scenario out here - im connecting from Seoul to Lima via LAX on Asiana and LATAM. I booked them in one ticket (I.e I can see my LATAM flight on the Asiana app and vice versa)

At Seoul they’ve weren’t able to issue my LATAM onward boarding pass and told me I need to go to the check-in counter for LATAM at LAX. However, my bags were tagged to LIM.

I know I have to pick up my bags anyway at LAX, but I was wondering whether I:

A) Drop my bag off at the LAX transit counter and then go upstairs by myself to obtain the onwards boarding pass from LATAM’s checkin

B) Take myself and my checked bags to the LATAM check-in counter at LAX

Or any other route?

Thanks in advance!

If your luggage is tagged thru, you ought to be able to drop them off at the transfer area.

Google suggests there’s a LA transfer desk there - hopefully you can get an onward BP, otherwise you can’t go thru the security transfer at TBIT and you’ll have to schlep onwards to the LA checkin counters landslide and then join the masses trying to get airside again,

 

[qf17]

Separately, since the reconstruction of T5 anyone had experiences trying to connect AS to TBIT or vice versa? Only possible to do land side now? What about bag through check QF to AS via that downstairs connecting flights thingy in arrivals

 

[justinbrett]

Separately, since the reconstruction of T5 anyone had experiences trying to connect AS to TBIT or vice versa? Only possible to do land side now? What about bag through check QF to AS via that downstairs connecting flights thingy in arrivals

There's an airside bus

 

[Himeno]

Separately, since the reconstruction of T5 anyone had experiences trying to connect AS to TBIT or vice versa? Only possible to do land side now? What about bag through check QF to AS via that downstairs connecting flights thingy in arrivals

There is a bus from T4 to T6 and the "T5" remote gates (eagles nest). The remote gates are still numbered as gates 52A-J. Not clear if the T6 bus also goes to TBIT. Likely need to go to T4, then use the connector building walkway near gate 41 to get to TBIT.
The bus appears to go from a departure area under gate 49 and not from where the T4 buses used to use.

None of the info/maps I can find say where in T6 the airside shuttle departs from, just that such a shuttle exists.

 

[Jenya]

Used this airside bus from T4 to T6 bypassing T5 reconstruction on the way from TBIT lounge to Alaska departure in T7 on December 6. The whole thing walking with 2 small kids took us 27 minutes. Plan ahead accordingly.

 

[Jenya]

l am planning LAX unprotected connection between YVR flying United, then FJ to NAN.
Separate tickets, checked in bags, 4 pax and 2,5 hours layover. 20:00 arrival and 22:35 departure Saturday 3 Jan.
UA and FJ got interline agreement but on separate PNR no chance checking bags through to Fiji.
I heavily rely on US preclearance in Canada so will be arriving to LAX as domestic pax.
I believe we are flying into terminal 7 and will need to collect bag and walk to TBIT landside.
My question is what is there a requirement to clear US departure immigration after we check in and drop bags on FJ counter? or only TSA clearance?
Would it make any difference if I go landside just on my own to hassle check in and TSA, with rest of the family stay airside and head straight to TBIT departure gate?

reporting back on my own LAX transit questions earlier:

• United check in agent in Vancouver was able to tag check in bags all the way to BNE (YVR-LAX on United, LAX - NAN on Fiji airways, NAN -BNE on Fiji) all separate PNR's, LAX-NAN QF classic reward. That helped us a lot during LAX transfer.
• US border preclearance in Vancouver worked well and efficient. Easy to follow with entry right next to UA check in counter (except I was taken by US CBP straight to naughty boys room for secondary interrogation, but it's not everyone's issue)
• Arrived at LAX T8 10 min ahead of schedule leaving us full 2,5 hr transfer time to TBIT satellite gate 206, did not have to collect and recheck bags, so we decided to just go landside for whole family of 4 and walk to TBIT which was easy and probably faster than waiting and sitting on terminal transfer bus.
• TSA check in TBIT took 30 minutes on Saturday 8pm. LAX current waiting time on website terminal map was suggesting 8 minutes, so it is not reliable estimation.
• We used FIJI airways online check in for all 4 of us but only get 3 boarding passes with one saying "unable to issue, check in on airport counter". Not sure why. However, FJ agent on counter said we could have just stay airside and get missing boarding pass at the gate.

Bottomline, our 2,5 hr LAX connection with going landside, Canadian US border preclearance and bags checked through was just enough as we got to departure gate just in time for boarding start. May be there was still up to 20 min buffer if incoming UA flight was a bit late....

P.S. Fiji airways Y experience on 11 hr flight was awesome! Nice clean A-350, generous seat gap, good meals, welcoming crew. Well used QF classic reward compared to direct BNE-YVR Air Canada RT direct family of four 15K rip off. FJ lounge in NAN was also decent with whole fam was admitted based on my QF Plat status without questions.
Except one thing - 90% of LAX flight to NAN was transferring to various connecting flights with only handfull of pax headed to arrivals.
As result 1hr lost in long transfer security RE check line, which felt completely unnecessary as we directly transfer from one plane to another staying airside with onward flight boarding passes in hand.

 

[PaulyB]

Hello. Asking for a friend

My daughter has had to reroute from Canberra to Copenhagen via LA with Qantas & BA. An extra $2,500 thankyou very much! Leaving April 13.

Anyway, with all the security hold ups in the US at the moment does anyone have any recent experience of the time taken to get bags, clear security and get to terminal 4 from Terminal B for the BA flight? She has 2,5 hrs transit. Seems like it could be a bun-fight


Thanks!

 

[SYD]

Hello. Asking for a friend

My daughter has had to reroute from Canberra to Copenhagen via LA with Qantas & BA. An extra $2,500 thankyou very much! Leaving April 13.

Anyway, with all the security hold ups in the US at the moment does anyone have any recent experience of the time taken to get bags, clear security and get to terminal 4 from Terminal B for the BA flight? She has 2,5 hrs transit. Seems like it could be a bun-fight


Thanks!

All one ticket? Should be ok. Bags tagged thru so collect, drop off at the transfer belt and go thru Transfer security.

DO NOT go landslide to get to T4 (although I’m surprised BA is flying from there and not TBIT also).

Anyway, it’s easy access back and fourth airside between TBIT and T4 once thru security.

MPC should also speed up immigration processing.

Hopefully someone else can provide an update on actual conditions at the moment.

 

[PaulyB]

All one ticket? Should be ok. Bags tagged thru so collect, drop off at the transfer belt and go thru Transfer security.

DO NOT go landslide to get to T4 (although I’m surprised BA is flying from there and not TBIT also).

Anyway, it’s easy access back and fourth airside between TBIT and T4 once thru security.

MPC should also speed up immigration processing.

Hopefully someone else can provide an update on actual conditions at the moment.

Oh this is a great start,. Yes - all one ticket. I had thought you HAD to go landside to get thought to T4 so good to know that you don't. The way I read it, you had to actually take the bags to the departure terminal but if they are belted there that will be a huge help. I will ensure she has MPC set up too.
Many thanks. That will take some time pressure off.

 

[SYD]

Oh this is a great start,. Yes - all one ticket. I had thought you HAD to go landside to get thought to T4 so good to know that you don't. The way I read it, you had to actually take the bags to the departure terminal but if they are belted there that will be a huge help. I will ensure she has MPC set up too.
Many thanks. That will take some time pressure off.

Yes, the transfer security is usually pretty quick. Once thru, you’re up and over the sea of humanity being processed at TBIT. Turn left for T4 via the connector or continue on for TBIT departures.

The only bit of detail I’m unsure about is whether BA has a transfer desk - as normally peeps would be arriving on BA and transferring to say a domestic AA or AS flight (similar to us arriving on QF).

Again, hopefully someone else can advise what the go is.

Also, my Googling suggests BA operates from TBIT / TB. So not sure why it would departing from T4?

 

[serfty]

Hello. Asking for a friend

My daughter has had to reroute from Canberra to Copenhagen via LA with Qantas & BA. An extra $2,500 thankyou very much! Leaving April 13.

Anyway, with all the security hold ups in the US at the moment does anyone have any recent experience of the time taken to get bags, clear security and get to terminal 4 from Terminal B for the BA flight? She has 2,5 hrs transit. Seems like it could be a bun-fight


Thanks!

As indicated by @SYD , bags should be tagged through. Pick up on LAX arrival - they should be able to go up the ramp (following transit signs), do bag drop then proceed down along to the right in the arrivals hall along to the end to TBIT transit security (it is landside). One caveat is this although it should be open at the time of the Qantas arrival, sometimes there a gatekeeper who wants to see a Qantas or AAmerican Boarding Pass.

 

[PaulyB]

Also, my Googling suggests BA operates from TBIT / TB. So not sure why it would departing from T4?

Don't know. Its def T4.
BA280 Los Angeles to London (Heathrow)Departs17:05 (Mon) Arrives11:35 (Tue) Duration:10h 30min

= Flight BA280 is operated by British Airways
BA280 Los Angeles to London (Heathrow)Departure
Terminal4

Also, my Google summary for "flight departure details BA280" (without quotes) has it leaving T4 so I guess that is official.