Transfer LAX - Help
Sep 5, 2011, 2:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Oslo, Norway
Programs: SAS Eurobonus, BA Executive Club
Posts: 90
Transfer LAX - Help
On Wednesday, this year's summer vacation is over and I am heading to Oslo.
My flight out of USA is LX LAX - ZRH at 19:30.
I will be in Las Vegas until Wednesday and the original plan is to drive to LAX sometime between 10 and 12 am to be at the airport at 5 pm.
I am now looking at the chance to fly LAS - LAX instead, and deliver the rental car here in Las Vegas in stead.
The question is how much time should I calculate at LAX? Is it safe to US106 LAS - LAX (3:45 p.m. to 4:51 p.m.)?
My top priority is obviously minimum travel time, but I'm more keen on a longer road trip than having to sit 5 hours in transfer at LAX.
My flight out of USA is LX LAX - ZRH at 19:30.
I will be in Las Vegas until Wednesday and the original plan is to drive to LAX sometime between 10 and 12 am to be at the airport at 5 pm.
I am now looking at the chance to fly LAS - LAX instead, and deliver the rental car here in Las Vegas in stead.
The question is how much time should I calculate at LAX? Is it safe to US106 LAS - LAX (3:45 p.m. to 4:51 p.m.)?
My top priority is obviously minimum travel time, but I'm more keen on a longer road trip than having to sit 5 hours in transfer at LAX.
Sep 5, 2011, 3:05 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 2,741
On Wednesday, this year's summer vacation is over and I am heading to Oslo.
My flight out of USA is LX LAX - ZRH at 19:30.
I will be in Las Vegas until Wednesday and the original plan is to drive to LAX sometime between 10 and 12 am to be at the airport at 5 pm.
I am now looking at the chance to fly LAS - LAX instead, and deliver the rental car here in Las Vegas in stead.
The question is how much time should I calculate at LAX? Is it safe to US106 LAS - LAX (3:45 p.m. to 4:51 p.m.)?
My top priority is obviously minimum travel time, but I'm more keen on a longer road trip than having to sit 5 hours in transfer at LAX.
My flight out of USA is LX LAX - ZRH at 19:30.
I will be in Las Vegas until Wednesday and the original plan is to drive to LAX sometime between 10 and 12 am to be at the airport at 5 pm.
I am now looking at the chance to fly LAS - LAX instead, and deliver the rental car here in Las Vegas in stead.
The question is how much time should I calculate at LAX? Is it safe to US106 LAS - LAX (3:45 p.m. to 4:51 p.m.)?
My top priority is obviously minimum travel time, but I'm more keen on a longer road trip than having to sit 5 hours in transfer at LAX.
Regarding flying US106 LAS-LAX: I think it's too risky. If the flight was delayed and prevented ample enough time to check into your LX flight you'd be SOL.
Could you take an earlier flight out of LAS?
I'd personally be comfortable with a 3 or 3.5 hour duration between the expected arrival time of a separately booked LAS-LAX flight and the departure time of my international segment out of TBIT. Perhaps others here wouldn't be as cautious...
Sep 5, 2011, 3:16 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 78
Try to get in earlier if you can. I have never had a smooth connection through LAX. Their transportation between terminals is really slow.
If you arrive on US, that will put you in T1. You will then have to collect your luggage, go outside and pick up a ground shuttle (bus, there isn't any modern train/shuttle). You will pass, T2 and T3 before arriving at the Intl terminal.
I don't have any experience there, so, can't provide any help with that.
Prepare for the worst case situation and give yourself tons of time.
If you arrive on US, that will put you in T1. You will then have to collect your luggage, go outside and pick up a ground shuttle (bus, there isn't any modern train/shuttle). You will pass, T2 and T3 before arriving at the Intl terminal.
I don't have any experience there, so, can't provide any help with that.
Prepare for the worst case situation and give yourself tons of time.
Sep 5, 2011, 3:32 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,775
Problems can happen on the road as well. Last Friday, we had a fire shut down I-15 for several hours.
An earlier flight would be ideal, but if not, 2 hours is usually enough time. Are you a risk-taker?
An earlier flight would be ideal, but if not, 2 hours is usually enough time. Are you a risk-taker?
Sep 5, 2011, 4:38 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,439
I'll tell you what I would do. I live in North Los Angeles County and know, well, the road to Las Vegas and know LAX.
I would drive in from Las Vegas on Tuesday and spend a nice day in Southern California. Then, Wednesday evening, return the rental car and get the flight to Europe.
Why do I say this:
Your proposed LAS-LAX ticket is not connected to your international flight. Thus, if anything happens to the LAS-LAX flight, you will be messed up on the international flight. I understand you don't want to sit around LAX for hours, but you don't want to cut it close, either.
Last weekend, there was a big fire which closed down the I-15 freeway in the Cajon Pass. Traffic was backed up for hours. I read that it took one guy three hours to go 20 miles. Thus, if you drive in on Wednesday morning, you are still taking the small risk of something like that.
Right now, as I write, there is a small brush fire near my house in eastern Santa Clarita. That should not affect you coming in from Las Vegas to LAX, but it goes to show that in this weather and dry conditions, a fire can pop up anywhere. I drove through that very area where the fire is at 11:30 this morning and saw nothing. Now, it's 3:30 and the sky is full of smoke and helicopters.
I am a cautious person. I don't like the idea of missing an international flight by 5 minutes, nor do I like the idea of sitting in Airport World for five unnecessary hours. Thus, I would break up the trip. Drive to LAX Tuesday, get an airport hotel, do a little sightseeing, then be ready and on-time for your international flight. You might even return the rental car Tuesday afternoon, lounge around the hotel pool the next day and take the hotel shuttle to the airport.
I would drive in from Las Vegas on Tuesday and spend a nice day in Southern California. Then, Wednesday evening, return the rental car and get the flight to Europe.
Why do I say this:
Your proposed LAS-LAX ticket is not connected to your international flight. Thus, if anything happens to the LAS-LAX flight, you will be messed up on the international flight. I understand you don't want to sit around LAX for hours, but you don't want to cut it close, either.
Last weekend, there was a big fire which closed down the I-15 freeway in the Cajon Pass. Traffic was backed up for hours. I read that it took one guy three hours to go 20 miles. Thus, if you drive in on Wednesday morning, you are still taking the small risk of something like that.
Right now, as I write, there is a small brush fire near my house in eastern Santa Clarita. That should not affect you coming in from Las Vegas to LAX, but it goes to show that in this weather and dry conditions, a fire can pop up anywhere. I drove through that very area where the fire is at 11:30 this morning and saw nothing. Now, it's 3:30 and the sky is full of smoke and helicopters.
I am a cautious person. I don't like the idea of missing an international flight by 5 minutes, nor do I like the idea of sitting in Airport World for five unnecessary hours. Thus, I would break up the trip. Drive to LAX Tuesday, get an airport hotel, do a little sightseeing, then be ready and on-time for your international flight. You might even return the rental car Tuesday afternoon, lounge around the hotel pool the next day and take the hotel shuttle to the airport.
Sep 5, 2011, 8:26 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 78
Sep 5, 2011, 8:42 pm
#8
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,027
Airports are covered in the appropriate geographic forum. Your thread is where it needs to be 
cblaisd
Senior Moderator
cblaisd
Senior Moderator
Sep 5, 2011, 10:41 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Oslo, Norway
Programs: SAS Eurobonus, BA Executive Club
Posts: 90
Thank you folks for all the answers. I've also got advice from another forum where people seems to be a little more optimistic about US106 to LAX.
Soon time to decide...
Sep 6, 2011, 1:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,407
2.5 hour is cutting it close but ok time to try to connect to an international flight at LAX.
Personally, I would try to get on an early morning flight to LAX, and then spend a couple of hours by the beach.
Personally, I would try to get on an early morning flight to LAX, and then spend a couple of hours by the beach.
Sep 6, 2011, 5:38 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, WN A-List, Marriot Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 376
2.5 hours is FINE
2.5 hours is PLENTY of time to make a Terminal 1 to TBIT transfer. It's at BEST, a 10 minute walk on the upper deck to TBIT.
The man is LEAVING the U.S., not entering through immigration and customs.
If we plan on everything going wrong with all flights, where do you begin? 3 hours early? 4 hours early? 5 hours early?. What if ALL flights get canceled at LAS ?
I'm just being a realist.
HP
Sep 7, 2011, 12:34 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,188
2.5 hours is PLENTY of time to make a Terminal 1 to TBIT transfer. It's at BEST, a 10 minute walk on the upper deck to TBIT.
The man is LEAVING the U.S., not entering through immigration and customs.
If we plan on everything going wrong with all flights, where do you begin? 3 hours early? 4 hours early? 5 hours early?. What if ALL flights get canceled at LAS ?
I'm just being a realist.
HP
The man is LEAVING the U.S., not entering through immigration and customs.
If we plan on everything going wrong with all flights, where do you begin? 3 hours early? 4 hours early? 5 hours early?. What if ALL flights get canceled at LAS ?
I'm just being a realist.
HP
I don't think shooting for more than 2 1/2 hours between two flights, especially with separately purchased tickets and one of the flights being international, is being alarmist. I also think 10 minutes would be a very quick walk from T1 to TBIT. Remember, with two separately-purchased tickets, you technically have to exit your flight, go to the baggage claim area, get your bags and take those to TBIT to check in. Walking with bags in 10 minutes? Take the shuttle. When you check in at LAS, you may well be able to have your bags tagged to your final destination, if you show the agent both itineraries. You may want to phone the US Airways to confirm this will be done. Then, at least, your bags would be transferred automatically. But even if your bags are checked through, you may still have to get in line at TBIT to show your passport and get your boarding pass. And check-in may close at least an hour before the flight. You don't say what other options you found flying from LAS to LAX. Is the flight you cite appreciably cheaper or just more convenient?
My recollection is that it's quicker to walk between terminals on the lower, arrival, area than the upper, but I could be wrong there.
Last edited by SoCal; Sep 7, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Sep 8, 2011, 3:34 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,407
So are we... I think 3 hours is about right for transferring at LAX to international flight with change of terminal. You have to assume the OP has to pick up his bags, which could take up to 1 hour extra wait time. And you have to account for cutoff time for luggage on international outbound flight.
2.5 hours is ok if there is no delay and everything goes smoothly.
2.5 hours is ok if there is no delay and everything goes smoothly.
Sep 8, 2011, 4:46 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, WN A-List, Marriot Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 376
I guess it's just me.
I have flown in an out of Terminal 1 for years, and especially between Las-Lax. I would expect no more then 15 minutes to wait for bags there.
As for walking, it is without a DOUBT, faster to walk up on the second deck, if wanting to transfer from Terminal 1 to TBIT.
On a side not, even if you are having to pick up your checked bags, during the busy hours, always have your personal ride meet you on the upper deck. Much less chaotic.
HP
I have flown in an out of Terminal 1 for years, and especially between Las-Lax. I would expect no more then 15 minutes to wait for bags there.
As for walking, it is without a DOUBT, faster to walk up on the second deck, if wanting to transfer from Terminal 1 to TBIT.
On a side not, even if you are having to pick up your checked bags, during the busy hours, always have your personal ride meet you on the upper deck. Much less chaotic.
HP