Tight Qantas connection in Brisbane

[stevenaive]

An update on this if anyone is interested…..

 

[stevenaive]

I phoned 131313 the day before my flight and asked again if there was any chance they could move me to the SYD LAX direct flight. This time they said yes and I even got a $15 refund!
The explanation was that when I asked a month prior they couldn’t predict % booking but the day before they could see that the flight BRI LAX was full but the SYD LAX was not. And they were right - plenty of spare seats
So if you have a booking that you’d like to change, never give up. Even at the last minute you might get lucky

And I’m now in transit in LAX. Didn’t even ask to see my ESTA but I did have to present it checking in at SYD
But on the flip side I had to go through customs and pick up my bag, even though I’m just transiting on to LHR

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I phoned 131313 the day before my flight and asked again if there was any chance they could move me to the SYD LAX direct flight. This time they said yes and I even got a $15 refund!
The explanation was that when I asked a month prior they couldn’t predict % booking but the day before they could see that the flight BRI LAX was full but the SYD LAX was not. And they were right - plenty of spare seats
So if you have a booking that you’d like to change, never give up. Even at the last minute you might get lucky

And I’m now in transit in LAX. Didn’t even ask to see my ESTA but I did have to present it checking in at SYD
But on the flip side I had to go through customs and pick up my bag, even though I’m just transiting on to LHR

Yes, United is known for releasing last-minute award inventory, even in the business cabin. Quite often to see plenty of open seats in the few days prior to departure.

That was another option that i haven’t thought about!

Yeah, customs and immigration is the downside of transit via the US. You have to do it everywhere, except a couple of airports where they are trialling through-bag transfers.

Don’t worry… they knew you had an ESTA, ortherwise you wouldn’t be in your way to London