Originally Posted by
Bowgie
The previous suggestions are all good.
If the OP can't change to an earlier connecting flight in advance, he might find which earlier flights from his originating city work, arrive early, and ask an agent to "same day confirm" or "same day standby" onto an earlier flight.
By Delta's published rules, this is not allowed if the trip includes international segments, but I've done this at LAX on a LAX-JFK-IST when I felt uneasy about a 36-minutes connection at JFK.
I have seen a gate agent process a rebooking to an earlier same day flight, and waive the fee for a Silver. Normally, you have to be Plat for this to be free.
The OP should also have the schedule for VA''s departures from LAX to SYD or BNE in hand, in case a late connection causes him to miss the Delta flight. Ask Delta to accommodate on VA instead of waiting for a next-day flight.
Also, don't check a bag. Fly light.
The VA flight leaves earlier, about 20.40. They usually hold DL17 if connecting passengers are late. I was once held for 90 minutes due to a late arriving connection. We waited for 5 passengers.