bzcat

Self-connect to Southwest at LAX from international flights landing at TBIT require 3 hours minimum.

• Foreign passport holders should budget at least 45 minutes to clear immigration at TBIT, longer at peak arrival time.
• Custom time at TBIT is highly unpredictable due checked luggage arrival. It could take up to an hour for the first bag to show up after arrival. And the inspection/exit queues may be quite long depending on what other flights arrived around the same time. You should assume you need 30 minutes to claim bags and clear custom if you have checked luggage.
• After existing custom, you could re-check luggage tagged to final destination. Except Southwest doesn't interline so there is no re-check. You must take your luggage with you.
• Once landside, TBIT to T1 happens to be one of the longest transfer. The counter-clockwise terminal bus will stop at T4, T5, T6, and T7, and then circle back to T1. This could take up to 30 minutes in heavy traffic.Walking in the clockwise direction (towards T3, T2, and T1) is generally faster it is still a long walk... about 20 minutes if you walk fast.
• Southwest T1 check in line is often out to the curb during peak departure hour. And then you have to clear TSA without precheck and get to the gate before last boarding call. I would budget 60 minutes to do this.

Add it all up, you need 3 hours to barely make it.