Does anyone know if it's possible to go from T4 to T3, or vice-versa, behind the security "firewall?" I'm flying TW but would like to use the AC lounge prior to departure for internet access. The Ambassadors Club, if it's still open at LAX, doesn't have this access I don't believe. Thanx.

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

You can only move between terminals 4-8 without going through security. (There's a tunnel connecting terminals 4, 5, and 6, and a walkway from 6 to 7 and 8.) Terminals 1-3, and the International terminal, require that you go through security to exit/enter.

"Does anyone know if it's possible to go from T4 to T3, or vice-versa, behind the security "firewall?" I'm flying TW but would like to use the AC lounge prior to departure for internet access. The Ambassadors Club, if it's still open at LAX, doesn't have this access I don't believe. Thanx. "

Yes, contrary to what someone else wrote.

Since American took over T3, they have established a bus service, not sure if it goes nonstop???, but you can take it to the American Eagle Terminal and then T4(the main AA terminal), and v.v. I am not sure if T3 has internet access at the former Ambassadors Club, now taken over by AA. I will miss that TWA club.

Yes, they have the underground walkways between the terminals(4-8), but they are long.
They should have something like that for all terminals what they have done between 6 and 7/8, nice walkway.

I didn't used to care about going through security, would do it 5X in a day, run in and out, I didn't care. I used to(and still do, probably more so now) hate security in England, kind of like what we have now. Now, I am trying to avoid the (b****) as much as possible.

------------------
MD
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
Hilton Gold
Sheraton Gold

Worldtraveler36,

Thanks for answering the question. I had tried getting answers from AA and the LAX Airport and nobody seemed to know about this T3 to T4 shuttle, which appears to run on the tarmac around the International Terminal. An AA Timetable from Sept. 2001 shows a shuttle traveling from Gate 30 at T3 to Gate 44 at T4. The legend on the map (incorrectly, I believe) called this the LAX shuttle, whereas they describe the shuttle that runs around the airport at the lower level islands as the AA Shuttle. I think they reversed the shuttle labels by mistake.

When I travel between the two terminals in February, I'm going to be looking hard for this elusive shuttle so as to avoid going through security again during my 1 hour layover.

Since I live in the Los Angeles area I have not tried what Worldtraveler36 suggested (although I have used the shuttle to get to the American Eagle gates), but I do believe it is doable. We speculated about the viability of this plan a few months ago in a previous topic; maybe there is a follow up post there if you can find the topic.

In any case, remember that this is provided as the American Eagle shuttle. You'll need to follow the signs in T3 for the Eagle shuttle, wait for the bus to arrive then wait what seems forever while the driver waits for passengers to arrive. Pleas that you have a tight Eagle connection (even though that's not your case) seem to fall on deaf ears. Once the bus departs the drive to the Eagle terminal also seems to take forever.

At the Eagle terminal you'll have to disembark, walk a ways down the corridor then turn around in the other line for the T4 shuttle (since the T3 and T4 buses and routes are separate). You'll then wait for the T4 bus to arrive, then endure the wait for passengers. Then the long drive to T4.

Connecting to or from an Eagle flight is always a time consuming and painful process. If you've only got an hour connection time I will suggest that you'll be rushed having to take two bus trips.

The walk from T3 to T4 is only five minutes. I personally have not experienced any delays at T4 security since 9/11, five minutes maximum in line once. And, if you're an AAdvantage elite or traveling premium cabin I've never seen any line in the recently-opened premium security line. This will probably be faster.

Just my two cents worth.

LAX/EXP,

Thanks for sharing your knowledge about the shuttle. It now sounds like the shuttle will be too cumbersome to work for us. We will be arriving on Alaska Airlines at T3 and then will be connecting to a Hawaii-bound American flight at T4. If security is only a 5 minute experience at T4, then walking from T3 to T4 should be the easiest approach.

I'm glad I found out about this now, rather than learning about it the hard way. Thanks again.

Hey guys, just came back in town.

First, as to the AA connection shuttle, I have not yet used it so I am reluctant to comment on it. Thanks to everyone for the helpful details.

After 9/11, the security has gone bonkers, so you have to ask yourself, what is worse, the security check ?? or the transfer time with the shuttles?

I just flew UA LAX via SFO to SLC. LAX and SLC security was fine, but SFO I hated! My first time for the shoes, they literally tore my carry on bag to pieces, going through the engagement ring for my fiance, and needless to say it put me into a fowl mood when finally over. I would probably travel less if all security checks were like that.

So, you have to ask where is the bad security? I think LAX is more mellow, whereas for some reason, SFO is nasty! SLC was a breeze and they were very friendly.
I couldn't even understand the people at SFO, hence, the requirement to speak English will be very nice. Coming back I took an earlier connection out of SFO and stayed airside, as I didn't want to go through that again. I have seldom, if ever, maybe save in Europe, gone out of my way to avoid a security check.

One of these days I will try out the shuttle on AA, have wanted to check out the Eagle terminal, when time permits.

Take care.

------------------
MD
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
Hilton Gold
Sheraton Gold

I reserved SAN-LAX-SJC last night. Arrival into LAX is at 8:17PM and SJC departs at 8:55. With a family of 4 in tow, would I have any problems making our connection via the AA shuttle assuming all flights are on schedules.

"I reserved SAN-LAX-SJC last night. Arrival into LAX is at 8:17PM and SJC departs at 8:55. With a family of 4 in tow, would I have any problems making our connection via the AA shuttle assuming all flights are on schedules. "

That is a very close connection. I am amazed that the airline allowed it. You may make it, as you would only have to go from the commuter terminal to T3, if you had to go to from T4 to T3, you'd have problems. In the future, allow atleast an hour and a half... with the bag matching and new security, you really need to be at the gate 30 minutes before. It would be a pain if they took your bags off but you got on. Anyway, there are many flights to San Jose, so guess not so bad.

For those who haven't flown yet under the new security rules, AA is taking them seriously. I would, unfortunately, allow more time before and in between flights.

At JFK, did skycap, they put all the bags in the big X-ray, then hand checked one. It took a while longer, so the days of running up to the curb and go are long gone. Sorry, but we are safer, you've gotta http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/smile.gif take that into account.

------------------
MD
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
Hilton Gold
Sheraton Gold