LAX Transfer
Since the flight arrives at a time when no other international arrivals are due at Terminal 4, we had to use the underground walkways to use immigration and customs at the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). It was an interesting walk through a combination of underground hallways with multiple moving walkways to a short outside passageway between the two buildings that is fenced in to remain sterile. For someone with limited mobility, I would highly recommend using a wheelchair.

Entering TBIT, I reached the moment I was most concerned about – re-entering the US after an international turnaround mileage run. Honestly, it was one of the simplest immigration experiences I’ve had. The ICE agent scanned my passport, stamped it and I was done!

Customs was a bit more interesting as there are two lines which lead to the exit. One was quite backed up with passengers from a Singapore Airlines flight but a quick walk around the baggage carousels led me to the other lane which had virtually no line at all.

From there, it was out the door and around the walkway back to Terminal 4. Security lines weren’t bad and I was back in the Flagship Lounge in a matter of minutes. It seemed like I had been here only yesterday… Oh yeah, I was! 

By now, I had found out my LAX-SFO flight had already been delayed an hour past it’s 9:05pm departure. Apparently weather in SFO had backed up flights significantly that evening. With the earlier flight delayed as well, I was asked to be put on the standby list for that flight. I was told it was quite full but with EXP status, I should get on.

At the same time, I asked the very friendly agent if she would be able to print our boarding passes for my SJC-SNA-ORD-STL flight the following morning. I was worried that with a busy morning ahead of me that a late arrival to SJC would result in not being able to check-in. She wasn’t able to check me in, but once I did so online she was able to reprint my boarding passed.