We are on a single ticket and there are 4 of us. That is great to hear that that they might wait a few minutes for connecting traffic just in case. We are willing to run to make it but it will be frustrating if we have to wait in a long line for the shuttle.

I saw the nonstop flight but the cheapest flight was AA SAN-KOA connecting through LAX. We actually live in the LA area but the tickets SAN to KOA were over 100 dollars cheaper per ticket one way (so $400 for the 4 of us) if we drove to San Diego. What does "endorse" the ticket mean?

Noob Question here

I am looking to fly from YYZ to Australia via LAX.

The layover time is 1 hour 30 mins in LAX.

Both legs of the flight are being purchased together, and are both through American Airlines.

Will they transfer my bags forward for me?
Will 1.5 hours be enough to make my next flight, and for them to get my luggage on?

I am assuming so or figure they would not offer such a flight, but still nervous about it.

Welcome to FlyerTalk.

No worries. You'll pre-clear immigration and customs in YYZ, and as your sectors are on the same PNR your bag(s) will be checked through.

Thank you!!!

I assume in that case that 1.5 hours should be plenty

One more question if you know the answer.

On the way home I will be flying from New Zealand to Toronto, with a stop in LAX again for the same amount of time.
I am a Canadian citizen....not sure if I will again clear US Customs in advance in New Zealand, or if I will have to do it at LAX?

If anyone knows the answer it would be greatly appreciated.

You will need to clear immigration, collect bags and then clear customs after arrival at LAX.

Once through follow the signs for connections and head up the ramp.

At the top you will find the place where you can redeposit your bags before ending up landside.

From there, don't go outside, just turn right and head to the far end of the hall where you will find transit security.

Yes; your flight to Australia will start boarding about 45 minutes after you land, which is ample time unless your flight from Canada is late. Your flight to Australia will likely depart from either T4 or TBIT, which are connected airside. It might add another ten minutes if you have to walk from T4 to TBIT.

Your outbound flight clears US Immigration and Customs in Canada because your departure airport is a U.S. pre-clearance facility. There are no pre-clearance facilities in New Zealand (or Australia, for that matter) so on your inbound flights you will have to clear at LAX. An international to international flight connection at LAX requires a minimum connect time of two hours, so if you only have 1.5 hours, that doesn't sound like a legal connection to me; assuming this is also booked on the same ticket, you should contact the airline and have a lnger connection.

Thanks...both legs of that flight are on a single ticket from American Airlines. I'll call them. 1.5 hrs did seem short if I need to clear security.

Just off the phone with AA

Apparently they said that 2 hours is the minimum, but because both my legs are on American Airlines, I "Should" be okay. So definitely no guarantees....then if I miss my flight I have to sit on standby. Not sure what to do....don't really want to book another flight that has 2 stops.

I'm very surprised that AA ticketed it with a connection that doesn't meet the minimum connect time (MCT). Normally, if a reservations agents books such a connection, the reservation system displays an error, and if they persist, the ticketing department refused to issue the ticket. The MCT takes into account needing to clear immigration and customs, and reclear security, as well as the need to walk from TBIT to T4. Being on AA both legs doesn't help much (it avoids the possibility of needing to get from a terminal on the other side of LAX).

If you have Global Entry (or NEXUS, which includes Global Entry) and have carry-on baggage only, you can realistically make a 90 minute connection, provided the incoming flight from AKL isn't late. If you don't have Global Entry or NEXUS, even two hours might not be enough if immigration or customs is backed up with huge lines. Having checked bags adds the delay of needing to wait for the bags to be unloaded.

At any rate, since you are holding a ticket that doesn't meet the minimum connect time, I believe AA has an obligation to switch your flights at no cost to you, although they may want the same inventory to be available on the new flights; I think this can be waived. If the reservations agent isn't helpful, you can politely ask for a resolutions agent.

I'm not sure which date you're flying or on which flights. Here are the AA prime flights I see for a date picked at random:

Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.comWhich is a 2:20 connection; 20 minutes more than the minimum connect time.

When is this trip happening? Historically, QF, NZ, and UA change the departure times from Australia and NZ to North America when the Southern Hemisphere switches from daylight saving time to standard time and vice versa. Has to do with curfew hours in SYD and MEL or something like that and the cascading effect on other airports like AKL and BNE due to various connections. I assume AA may do that as well.

So the connection may appear to be illegal now but may be ok once AA updates the fall schedule.

But either way, I would call AA and sort it out.

First of all, I very much appreciate both of you taking the time to give such detailed replies.

The flight in question is from AKL to YYZ (connecting in LAX) on March 15, 2018. AA82 and AA1845.

I did call American Airlines and they basically said that if I book it and miss my second leg, I will end up being on standby for another AA flight (all of which have additional connections and are much longer as they are not direct + another layover)

I am thinking of changing my travel plans for the route home because of this. Would prefer to avoid ending up in a standby mess.

I don't know what kind of fare you're on so I don't know your restrictions or your preferences. If it was me, I'd want to schedule a long connection (e.g., 18-23 hours) at SYD or LAX, get a hotel, go out for dinner and a walk, get a good night's sleep in a real bed.

Nah...just want to get home ASAP to my own bed.

If you are indeed on a brisk connection time via one ticket for the entire booking upon arrival, do look for the neon quick connection booth after you exit the plane in LAX from Oceania before heading to immigration. They will have a special envelope with your boarding passes and the neon folder gets you into special lines at every location. Keep it visible and always ask where to go before getting in any line that looks more than 5 minutes.

It will not be a leisure connection, but you just have to do the best that you can.

Rasheed

Customs at terminal 5 at LAX??
 

Hi. Can't seem to find the answer. I'll be flying in to LAX from Mexico and connecting to a domestic flight. For the past few days, it appears the inbound flight from Mexico arrives at terminal 5 and the domestic departs from terminal 5. All mainline flights. Is there a customs facility in terminal 5? Just curious. Many thanks.