Originally Posted by lyrad89

It depends on if your check-in agent at your origin airport is able to tag your bags all the way through to SFO--it's worth asking, even if they're on separate tickets. If SFO is the last destination on your tag, then you can collect your luggage, clear immigration and customs, and drop off your bags at the connecting bag drop area at Tom Bradley. If not, then you would need to carry your bags landside as you already described, to T7. The A (Airline Connections) shuttle is available to you at the pink-marked poles at the inner curb of the arrivals level. Though, it would only take about 10-15 minutes to walk it.