When was the last time you went through LAX T4?
The small side checkpoint at T4 (up the escalators from the premium check in) is both precheck and Priority AAccess. There are 2 lines, the precheck line heads back towards the escalator, while the Priority line goes along the wall heading towards the main checkpoint.
We last went through LAX four months ago on Mon 21 Mar 2016 when we flew AA189 in F LAX/MIA at 0800. Had a look at my trip notes and we left the Westin LAX Airport 0536, arrived at AA F checkin T4 0546, completed checkin 0556 then didn't come exit the TSA screening point until 0636 and arrived at the AA Flagship Lounge 0640 which barely gave us 20 minutes so each breakfast before we headed off for the gate. SO gets a bit twitchy if we don't leave the lounge at T-60 as they often start boarding a flight even earlier than T-45.
In the past I'm sure eligible Priority AAccess pax could just go straight ahead as I don't remember ever having to turn right and we've flown out of LAX several times.
Above pic is at the top of the escalator at the AA F checkin end of T4. The only pax who could go straight ahead were TSA Pre-check whereas previously we'd gone through here when there was a Priority AAccess queue.
The queue stretches to the right around the corner and this queue was for everyone else other than TSA precheck.
A TSA person was holding people back from a taking the escalator as the queue was too long upstairs. Once it had subsided a bit she let people through again.
Are you sure? This article appears to state that even with an interline agreement, you are on your own with two seperate tickets.
How interlining & codeshares matter to your flights - Australian Business Traveller
"Many low-cost carriers say they're "point to point only" airlines and you book connections on them at your own risk: if they're late and you miss your onwards flight, you'll be socked with change fees or the requirement to buy an entirely new ticket on that connecting flight.It's the same even on full-service airlines. If you buy two separate tickets for your connecting flight (which can in some cases be cheaper), the airline is under no obligation to sort you out with an onward flight if you miss the second leg of your journey."
The Montreal Convention states that if carrier one through checks the pax even on separate tickets to their final destination that the journey is treated as being through ticketed and as such the first airline is responsible from getting the pax to their final destination in the event of a delay or disruption. Some airlines may not be fully aware of this or are but turn a blind eye to it. Unless the pax is fully cognizant of those rules and regulation then they wouldn't be aware of their rights.
I think it's better that AusBT's article errs on the side of caution and is written the way it is otherwise it may give pax a false sense of security thinking they're protected in the event of a misconnection when they're not. There's just too many variables and the goal posts are constantly changing.
Everything I can find says the policy changed on June 1st. Is it published anywhere that it isn't changing until the 31st of August? Just basing it on my luck I would prefer to take something in writing with me if I can. Thanks again for all your help, I do sincerely appreciate it.
I couldn't find it on the QF website either however the 01 Jun date was when OW made the directive that OW carriers needn't follow the interlining rule from that date. QF has a grace period up until 31 Aug whereas BA and some other carriers have already introduced it while others have made no changes.
Interesting to note that QF's FAQ has not been updated.
https://qantas.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/507
https://qantas.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/6638
https://qantas.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8168
Still hoping for adequate definition (preferably in writing) I contacted Customer service to enquire whether bookings made before the policy change were subject to the new policy. Had a phone response from them this morning, repeating the current policy. The employee was not aware of any impending change!!
From readers comments by others on various threads it seems as though staff either don't know about the changes or think that the QF policy has already taken effect ie no interlining.
