Transfer at LAX

[jackc4321]

Hi,

I'm thinking of booking V-Australia flight MEL-LAX via BNE on 1Jan2010 arriving at LAX at 7.15am in the morning.

I'm then hoping to catch the 10am AA flight to Toronto.

Is 2 hours 45 mins enough time to do this transfer at this time of day? Or should I book a later flight? I think the V Australia flight arrives in TBIT and the AA flight leaves from T4.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks

 

[SnowYeti]

Personally I think this is enough time. Last flight I did SYD-LAX-YVR, only had 2 hours between connection time. However, if the flight is delayed, then you'll run into problems. However, I was protected as the whole journey was on one PNR...

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Plenty of time... if it is less than ~2.5 hours on a non-flexi fare then I worry
(3 hours if I have lounge access... time for a refresher after a loooong flight)

 

[serfty]

jackc4321, welcome to AFF

At least 9 times out of 10 this would be enough time.

However, it's a pretty expensive risk if you miss the connecting separately booked flight.

Personally, I would allow at least 4 hours.

DO you have lounge access via status or QP membership?

 

[chrizzz14]

i very much agree with Serfty - expensive risk to take if they're are not on the same booking. All you need is for your VA flight to be 90 mins late and you would be screwed.
Remember you have to Passport control, baggage collection - recheck bags, get through security ( where in LA it seems easier to get into the Bank of Englands vault than to the terminals.) and then on to your plane, but then saying that with the way that AA go - 9 times out of 10 they're always delayed too!

I would follow sertys advice and leave more time!

 

[Travel Guru]

Having just done that very connection the VA BNE flight last month i'd definately leave 3 hrs min.

If everything runs smoothly you'd be fine with 2.5hrs, but as we know, things go wrong and its worth having some time up your sleeve as security in the AA T4 is a nightmare, especially early in the morning with massive queues.

Also make sure when you check in for AA that you stipulate that you're coming off an international connection as they then waive the baggage fee for max. 2 bags (currently they charge US$20 for first and US$30 for second from memory).

TG

 

[NM]

2.5 hours should be sufficient providing your inbound flight arrives on time. Nobody here can tell you if your flight is going to arrive on time or if it will be 2 hours late. With separate tickets, you accept the risk if the inbound flight is delayed.

 

[notzac]

2.5 hours is fine *if* they're booked on the one ticket. If not - 4-6 hours is much safer.

 

[UP4014]

Because it isn't a connecting flight in the true sense of the word, travel insurance many not pay out if you make a claim for an extra airfare for the missed leg.

 

[simongr]

Because it isn't a connecting flight in the true sense of the word, travel insurance many not pay out if you make a claim for an extra airfare for the missed leg.

Surely that would only be correct on flights not on the same itin? On the same itin the airlines will protect you I thought.

 

[clifford]

2.5 hours is fine *if* they're booked on the one ticket. If not - 4-6 hours is much safer.

I'm sorry, but when were you last at LAX?

Last Thursday I arrived at the TBIT on a LH flight from FRA, and was out of there within 10 mins. Connecting to a UA flight was a breeze.

Admittedly if a couple of jumbos from China have just landed before your plane it will be a little longer, but 2 hours should be quite sufficient.

 

[serfty]

...

Last Thursday I arrived at the TBIT on a LH flight from FRA, and was out of there within 10 mins. Connecting to a UA flight was a breeze. ...

Was that at 7am?

 

[straitman]

I'm sorry, but when were you last at LAX?

Last Thursday I arrived at the TBIT on a LH flight from FRA, and was out of there within 10 mins. Connecting to a UA flight was a breeze.

Admittedly if a couple of jumbos from China have just landed before your plane it will be a little longer, but 2 hours should be quite sufficient.

clifford,

Looking back at post #1 it seems that the OP will be on two separate tickets and so his issue is if the first flight is late. If the first flight is on time then all should be OK.

 

[liamg]

Hypothetically, if the OP's two flights were on the same PNR, even though AA & VA have no relationship, would they liable if he did miss the flight?

I don't understand travel agency stuff at all, but surely wouldn't that mean that any travel agent could put any two flights together and blame the airline if the passenger missed the flight?

 

[Maca44]

Hypothetically, if the OP's two flights were on the same PNR, even though AA & VA have no relationship, would they liable if he did miss the flight?

I don't understand travel agency stuff at all, but surely wouldn't that mean that any travel agent could put any two flights together and blame the airline if the passenger missed the flight?

I am often wrong and stand corrected if so, but it is my understanding that although the two flights might be on the same intinerary issued by the TA they would still be different PNR's as they are different carriers and as you mentioned have no affiliation with any other airline/group such as Star Alliance or Oneworld etc.

 

[serfty]

I am often wrong and stand corrected if so, but it is my understanding that although the two flights might be on the same intinerary issued by the TA they would still be different PNR's as they are different carriers and as you mentioned have no affiliation with any other airline/group such as Star Alliance or Oneworld etc.

Actually no.

Flights from different carriers can indeed be on the one PNR.

E.g. For a LONE4 I puchased last year from AA with flights on QF, BA, AA and CX, there were three different booking references for different carriers' systems and following applied.

• All flights were shown on AA's sabre reference - this is the key PNR.
• BA and QF flights were shown on the Amadeus reference, along with connecting CX and AA flights.
• CX flights had there own CUPID PNR and these and connecting QF flights.

When flights are on the one PNR they by definition must meet minimum connection time (MCT) standards and the passenger is protected should the flights misconnect.

 

[liamg]

Awesome, that's the answer I wanted

Now I can get my QF flight to FRA then an LY to TLV, on the same PNR, and be protected (even though the gap between flights is hours more than the MCT). I'm a pretty nervous traveller in that regard

 

[Maca44]

Actually no.

Flights from different carriers can indeed be on the one PNR.

E.g. For a LONE4 I puchased last year from AA with flights on QF, BA, AA and CX, there were three different booking references for different carriers' systems and following applied.

• All flights were shown on AA's sabre reference - this is the key PNR.
• BA and QF flights were shown on the Amadeus reference, along with connecting CX and AA flights.
• CX flights had there own CUPID PNR and these and connecting QF flights.

When flights are on the one PNR they by definition must meet minimum connection time (MCT) standards and the passenger is protected should the flights misconnect.

As I said, I am often wrong..

 

[jackc4321]

Thanks for your help guys. Decided to give myself a little more time.

Another problem I have is that I want to book a return flight with V Australia one way Premium Flexi for $1679 and the return leg just normal Economy, but I can't do this on their website and when I call the guest contact centre the prices they have in their computers are a lot more expensive than the ones on the net.

Does anyone know of a search engine where I can select different classes for each leg, or any way at all I can get around this problem?

Thanks

 

[NM]

Awesome, that's the answer I wanted

Now I can get my QF flight to FRA then an LY to TLV, on the same PNR, and be protected (even though the gap between flights is hours more than the MCT). I'm a pretty nervous traveller in that regard

Its not just a matter of "putting" the flights on a single PNR. The PNR generally refers to the sale of a fare. So if you purchase a through fare for Origin-FRA-TLV then it can be issued as a single ticket. But if you purchase it as two separate fares, it depends on the fare rules and if they permit "Add-Ons" or "End-On-End" combinations. If not, then it has to be two separate tickets.

The fare rules will show a permitted routing and any restrictions with combinations. These need to be understood. If you are not used to reading and understanding fare rules, then its best to speak with a travel agent and explain exactly what you want to do.