lautray said:
I am planning a trip in December, which will bring me back from London to Sydney via LAX. The arrival time at LAX is ~3pm & departure at 10.30pm. In that time, will we be issued with "pass-outs" so we can meet family within the airport, or are we confined to a transit lounge???
Not sure if is actual swapping of aircraft, as we come in to LAX as BA283 & then depart LAX as QF12.
In the USA, there is no sterile immigration area of the airport as there is in Australia. Domestic and international departures share the same gate areas in the terminals.
The BA flight will arrive into TBI (Tom Bradley International terminal) and all arriving passengers will be required to pass through immigration and customs processing. Once you have done this, you are land-side and free to go anywhere. You will have to complete the green I94W Visa Waiver entry form (unless you have a USA Visa, which I assume you don't or you would be familiar with the process) for presentation at passport control on arrival at LAX TBI.
You will also be required to collect your luggage and clear customs processing at TBI upon arrival. You need to do this even if your luggage is lagged to Sydney.
Your QF12 flight to Sydney will depart from the AA Terminal 4. When you exit customs, turn right and follow the signs up the ramp to connecting flights. At the top of the ramp there is an area to deposit your luggage for connecting flights. There will be staff there to assist - just tell them the flight number and they will tell you where to leave the bags. They will be re-screened and sent to the aircraft for loading.
Then exit TBI terminal and turn right. TBI is at the apex of a horseshoe of terminals, and Terminal 4 is the next one around the horseshoe. Its about a 200m walk around the pavement. Then up the escalator to Terminal 4. You may have to collect your boarding pass there if not already issued in London by BA.
Then up the next escalate to the security screening for Terminal 4 departures level and through to either the joint AA/QF Business or First lounges (if you have access) or wait in the departure gate for the flight.
You can go anywhere between leaving TBI and passing through security at Terminal 4.