Hi, this may be a slightly unusual problem, and I haven't quite found the answer on AA threads. I'm arriving at T4 on AA around noon, and then have a midnight departure on CX from TBIT. I can't check in for CX until around 7 p.m., I think.
I'm wondering (I will have checked baggage) if I can collect my bag in T4 and go up to the departures area and use the AA Flagship lounge, without going through TSA security, using my pre-printed CX boarding pass to get in? I'll have piles of stuff in my checked bag, so it'll never make it through security, but I'm wondering if there is a way to bypass that, then leave the AA lounge in the evening and walk over to TBIT and check in there?
I'd like to avoid it if at all possible. 12 hours in LAX baggage hold. The last time I did something similar, it didn't get on the CX flight because the TSA tore through it and decided to put it on a later flight.
Hi, this may be a slightly unusual problem, and I haven't quite found the answer on AA threads. I'm arriving at T4 on AA around noon, and then have a midnight departure on CX from TBIT. I can't check in for CX until around 7 p.m., I think.
I'm wondering (I will have checked baggage) if I can collect my bag in T4 and go up to the departures area and use the AA Flagship lounge, without going through TSA security, using my pre-printed CX boarding pass to get in? I'll have piles of stuff in my checked bag, so it'll never make it through security, but I'm wondering if there is a way to bypass that, then leave the AA lounge in the evening and walk over to TBIT and check in there?
Many thanks for any advice!
Is your inbound to LAX an international flight? If not, then you should not have a problem checking it all the way through. If it is, then you will collect your luggage at T4 go through customs and re-check it at T4.
and what do you mean it will not make it through security? you mean TSA? you should never have to take your checked luggage through TSA
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If you can not check your bag through and have to collect your luggage, then you will be outside security. Your onward flight is from TBIT and I dont think you can get back into T4. Best bet is to get your luggage all the way thru to your final destination and just go to the FL.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chanp
If you can not check your bag through and have to collect your luggage, then you will be outside security. Your onward flight is from TBIT and I dont think you can get back into T4. Best bet is to get your luggage all the way thru to your final destination and just go to the FL.
I agree this is this only option.
If it was me though I would go to thye BA First Class Lounge. I think its a step up from the AA Flagship lounge.
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Similar predicament a couple of years back for me, but instead of CX it was QF.
Arrived in T4 during the early afternoon and had 11 or so hours to kill, so headed over to the FL upon arrival. Had lunch, then snoozed by the Bose "lounge" area, and took a shower to feel refreshed before the 15 hour flight.
If I remember right, they were offering a shuttle from T4 to TBIT (not sure if this service is still around), so used that and found my way to the One World Lounge. Disappointing stay for about half an hour since it was packed to the gills and went down to the gate area as it was close to boarding time.
Definitely check your bags all the way to your final destination.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Platinum Cub
If I remember right, they were offering a shuttle from T4 to TBIT (not sure if this service is still around), so used that and found my way to the One World Lounge. Disappointing stay for about half an hour since it was packed to the gills and went down to the gate area as it was close to boarding time.
The shuttle is still there. Sadly, it is still only for QF passengers. CX and other passengers must make a landside transfer and endure an unnecessary extra "security" check, or book a fully-refundable QF ticket to use the shuttle.
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With a 12 hr connection, i would at least consider taking a cab and going into LA for a nice lunch. You can certainly get better food than you will ever find in a lounge. 12 hrs is just too long for even the best lounges - and I wouldnt consider any one world lounge at LAX as 'the best lounges'.
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With a long connection (12 hours) I would get a hotel at LAX and rest there for the day before a long overnight flight.
Going to Australia on a 14+ hour flight - I like to arrive at LAX in the morning before noon, then get a hotel and try to sleep most of the day. Then stay up the first half of the flight (and eat dinner at 2am LAX time), then sleep the second half of the flight. That way when you arrive at 7am - you have adjusted to the time change.
The shuttle is still there. Sadly, it is still only for QF passengers. CX and other passengers must make a landside transfer and endure an unnecessary extra "security" check, or book a fully-refundable QF ticket to use the shuttle.
Does anyone have experience doing the fully refundable ticket at LAX on QF like BA for ORD?
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If it was me though I would go to thye BA First Class Lounge. I think its a step up from the AA Flagship lounge.
Not necessarily - the oneworld lounge gets horrendously busy in the evenings.
I always try to employ the T4 Flagship until as late as comfortably possible before heading over to TBIT.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spiff
The shuttle is still there. Sadly, it is still only for QF passengers. CX and other passengers must make a landside transfer and endure an unnecessary extra "security" check, or book a fully-refundable QF ticket to use the shuttle.
Even though I can generally use the QF bus - I don't!
With the TBIT West development temporary Bus bays at the NW of the building, the bus ride can easily take 20 - 30 minutes.
It is quicker generally to walk out of T4 and head landside around to TBIT, the OP may even need to check in with CX there anyway.
(FWIW, the bus leaves every 30 minutes at the top and bottom of the hour and operates from 4pm.)
If it was me though I would go to thye BA First Class Lounge. I think its a step up from the AA Flagship lounge.
There is no BA lounge, only the OneWorld F lounge at TBIT. There's some debate over which is better, as they both have their strong points. But for a longer stay, I greatly prefer the AA Flagship lounge, especially in the evening when the TBIT lounge is crowded.
To the OP, even if you could get airside in T4 after claiming your bag, there's really nowhere to store it. I would recommend checking through to the CX flight. I know that there's a risk keeping it on the ground in LAX for so long, but you're already chancing things checking a bag at LAX to begin with. The risk of it getting delayed on a through-check is still pretty low.
