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Old Jan 7, 2019, 10:04 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: JDiver
For the current thread, please see here.

NOTE: AA uses Terminals 4 and 5, the remote “Eagle’s Nest” and some gates at TBIT


Link to Los Angeles World Airports' LAX Airport website

NOTE: LAX is always undergoing changes; be aware the information herein may change. See here for LAWA notices affecting passengers.

Link LAWA / LAX FAQ page.

Link to aa.com


Link to 14 Feb 2017 post with AA-AA Minimum Times Times

NOTE: The Admirals Club® lounge and Flagship Lounge in Terminal 4 at Los Angeles International (LAX) are under renovations.

Special notice

AA operate from multiple terminals at LAX. Check in at Terminal 5, east end (Gates 50-59, including Remote American Eagle terminal, gates 52A-J) or Terminal 4 (Gates 40-49, 110-159)
. (As of 31 Jan 2017)

NOTE: the 100s gates are at the Tom Bradley International Air Terminal (aka Terminal B), accessible to / from Terminal 4 by the airside connector if you are already airside and security cleared.


[AA T-6 ops moved to T-5; other airline positioning to occur 12, 14 and 16 May 2017[/B]


Check-in times as of March 2016 Link

In most locations, you must be checked in:

At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States

At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States
. Some non-US require more.

If you are checking in with baggage to check at T-4, not T-5, and flying American Eagle from the remote "Eagle's Nest" 52A-J gates (31 Jan 2017 and after), you must check in 90 minutes prior to departure.

LAYOUT: LAX is like a letter "U" on its side, open end facing right. The Tom Bradley International Terminal is the bar of the "U" facing left, on the west side. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 on the north and 4 - 8 on the south. Entering the semicircular, counter-clockwise roadway serving the terminals, you will pass terminals 1, 2, 3, TBIT, 4, 5, 6, etc. There is quite a bit of construction going on and the airport roadways can get quite congested.

MCT: Though international to International or Domestic Minimum Connect Times (MCT) are listed as 2:00, arriving at the remote western 200 pads and gates (served by busses from the terminals), connecting between T4, T6, Remote Eagle terminal and TBIT, not to mention lengthy USCBP queues and the need to proceed landslide to connecting terminals and processing security may make 2:00 unrealistic at times. MCT Domestic to Domestic or International is often 0:40, but this may be unrealistic if connecting American Eagle remote terminal 52A-J and a domestic flight at TBIT, for example.

Operating terminals and gates

Terminal 4: AA primarily uses Terminal 4, Gates 40-49 but now also uses Terminal 5 (50-59, 52A-I remote Eagle gates and TBIT (110-159). Flagship Checkin, Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge are all in T-4.


Tom Bradley International Terminal ("100") gates 110-159 for domestic and international flights, with no particular flight assignment - check your gates information.

oneworld Business and Qantas First lounges in TBIT for qualified passengers. See LOUNGE DASHBOARD for further information - link.

Occasionally, the "200 gates" remote pads (bus from T-4) may be used. Terminal 4 and TBIT are connected airside by a new connector. Qualified travelers may use the TBIT oneworld Business or Qantas First lounges. See separate thread.

Terminal 5 AS OF Tue 31 Jan 2017: Legacy US flights operate from Terminal 5, gates 50 - 59. It is best to check in for American Eagle flights at T-5. Airside connection exists, as well as shuttles. Bus port at T-5 is at gate 52. American Eagle checked baggage is delivered to Terminal 5 baggage carousels; Eagle remote gates are now numbered 52A-J.


Terminal 6: Alaska Airlines flights operate from Terminal 6.

Legacy US flights operated from Terminal 6 until 31 Jan 2017; AA no longer operates out of Terminal 6.

American Eagle Remote Terminal "Eagle's Nest": Regional flights operate at a remote terminal served frequently by airside shuttle busses from bus gates 44 and 60. The remote American Eagle terminal gate numeration has changed: "May 16 2016 the remote gates at LAX formerly 44 A-J were renumbered to 60 A-J." There is a "junior" Admirals Club here. Preferred Eagle check in and baggage carousels are in T-5?

While you may check in at T-4 for American Eagle, those with baggage to check must do so no less than 90 minutes prior to departure. The preferred baggage check deadline is in place at T-5 for American Eagle.

Walking Interterminal - Landside

Note: You can walk airside between Terminal 4 and TBIT as of 25 Feb 2016. See LAX Terminal 4 - Tom Bradley Intl Terminal Secure Connector), and on to T-5 via a corridor (ground floor, by bus gate 44).

One can also walk landside between terminals on upper or lower walkway sidewalks just outside the roadway. Lower walkways are protected from the weather, upper walkways are not. Distances can be short (T-4 <-> TBIT) or long (20 minutes or less in all cases, and there are crosswalks and walkways serving north and south terminals. See north - south blue corridors in Ground Transport map, above; walkways parallel them.

For access to the Tom Bradley International Terminal ("TBIT") one may also proceed landslide and walk a short distance, or take the counter clockwise landside courtesy airport shuttle bus.

Originally Posted by QueenOfCoach
Here is a graphic I made from a Google Earth Streetview screenshot that shows how close T4 is to TBIT. It's a two-minute walk. One minute if you are fast.

Link to fullsize map


Airside - Shuttle Bus or Walking

Airside shuttle busses:

NO BUS T-4 <-> T-5 (faster to walk pedestrian tunnel)
T-4 <-> Remote Eagle terminal (most efficient and frequent)
T-5 <-> Remote Eagle terminal (more frequent than from / to T-4)

Terminals 4 and 5: A courtesy shuttle bus operates airside between Terminal 4, ex-gate 44 bus gate, and Terminal 6 gate 60-62 through Mon 30 Jan 2017 - afterwards, Terminal gate 52, every fifteen minutes between 05:00 and 23:00; ongoing boarding pass required. At other times one either take the airside corridor T-5 Tue 31 Jan and after <-> T-4 or exit landslide and walk or take the counter-clockwise landslide courtesy shuttle bus.

American Eagle Remote Terminal: A courtesy shuttle bus serves the American Eagle remote terminal from Terminal 5, gate 52. Note: American Eagle checked baggage is delivered to Terminal 5 baggage carousels. Another shuttle runs from Terminal 4, gate 44 bus gate. A boarding pass to Gate 52A-I is required. This is the sole way of reaching these gates (other than Five Star Service passengers, who are shuttled via the Tarmac in Cadillac SUVs).

Terminal 4 - TBIT: The new pedestrian airside connector opened 25 Feb 2015. Qantas and AA passengers departing the TBIT can check in at Terminal 4, process airside, use Admirals or Flagship lounges T-4 <-> TBIT shuttles apparently ended when the airside connector open 25 Feb 2016[/hl].

Walk Terminals 4 and 5: One can walk airside using the Terminal 4 - 5 - 6 connector.

Walk Terminal 4 - TBIT airside connector: An airside connector leading to TBIT is open effective 25 Feb 2016. See here (FT) for more.


Getting from terminal to terminal, concourse to concourse, landside

Landside courtesy airport shuttle bus
  • "A" line buses: Transports passengers between terminals. "A" route operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and runs every 10 minutes (counter clockwise)

  • "C" line buses: Transports passengers to and from Parking Lot C. Travelers can walk to the LAX City Bus Center from Lot C. "C" route operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and runs every 10 to 15 minutes.

  • "G" line busses: Transports passengers with a valid TAP card to and from the Metro Green Line Aviation Station. Service is aligned with the rail schedule. To view, please go to www.metro.net . Click here for Green line Boarding Procedures (PDF document). TAP card is not required when taking the G Bus from LAX to the Aviation Metro Station.

  • Use this link for a real time map display of shuttle bus locations and movements.

  • Rental car company busses: transport passengers between terminals and car rental facilities.

Ground Transportation stops / pickups at LAX

NOTE: Rental, hotel shuttle, Über, etc. stops are in front of each terminal on the arrivals / lower level at the island crossing the first lanes of traffic.


Security at LAX

Link to FlyerGuide information on LAX T-4 Security.

TSA PreCheck: Yes (Terminal 4 upstairs, east; Terminal 5?)

Priority Access line in a Terminal 4 is accessed from the escalator on the left end (looking at the counters) of the terminal (furthest from TBIT, closest to terminal 5), next to the Priority Access check-in area. Often there is an AA worker at the bottom of the escalator making sure only Priority Access passengers go up this escalator. The First, Business and Priority Access lines now have their own screening room far from the economy area. This private room has multiple screening lines and during peak periods additional lines are opened up.

Security for (TBIT) international arrivals proceeding to Terminal 4 is open as of February 2017. When exiting TBIT customs and baggage recheck area, turn right immediately after the exit and proceed down the hallway to the checkpoint. No Pre-Check.


Check-in and ticketing at LAX and check in times Link

Flagship Check-in: YES Marked exclusive T-4 Flagship check-in entrance 4:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Five Star Service: YES

Priority and Preferred Access: YES

Curbside check-in: Yes. Terminal 4 only, including for international destinations.

Minimum time for checking in and arriving at the gate at LAX

Minimum time to check baggage

To help us get your bag on the same flight with you, present your bag to an airline representative for check-in no later than the cutoff time.

For flights within and between the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands:
  • Check bags at least 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure at LAX

For flights originating in airports outside the U.S. or flights departing the U.S. for an international destination:
  • Check bags at least 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure (90’ if checking for Eagle at T-4 instead of T-5)

Time to baggage delivery: expect 0:30 or more.


Ticket counter locations

Terminal 4: upon entry, Qantas to right; First and Priority Access to left; Main Cabin straight ahead.
Self-service check-in kiosks available.
Open Daily: 04:00 - 00:30 (4 am to midnight + 30)

Terminal 5, east side: OPEN Tue 31 Jan 2017
Open Daily: 4:30 AM - 12:30 AM

Terminal 6: CLOSE Tue 31 Jan 2017
Open Daily: 4:30 AM - 12:30 AM

If departing on American Eagle, suggested check-in at T-5 Tue 31 Jan 2017 or after.


Minimum and reasonable connection and check-in times at LAX

See 20 May 2016 ExpertFlyer MCT listings here:
Originally Posted by serfty
The MCT's for AA at LAX are a mess...
Q. What are minimum check-in time requirements at LAX?

AA requires arriving a minimum of 45 minutes prior to domestic departures if departing domestically (including Hawai'i, Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands) if one has no baggage to check; 60 minutes if one must check baggage; and two hours prior to international departures.

Additionally, AA requires passengers be checked in at least 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure at LAX and "Arrive at the gate and be ready to board at least 15 minutes prior to domestic departure" and 30 minutes prior to international departure. Gates close to boarding 10 minutes prior to departure.

Q. What is the domestic to domestic or domestic to international Minimum Connection Time (MCT)?

The minimum connect time at LAX, domestic to domestic or international, is 0:40 minutes. International to domestic or international MCT is 2:00, but as mentioned previously, this may be insufficient. Note: MCT is generally not waived for international passengers arriving from USCBP pre-clearance airports.

See AA domestic to international MCT from ExpertFlyer Nov 2016 c/o Serfty here.

Q. If I am making an international to international connection, what is the process?

There is no international transit process in nearly all airports in the USA (DFW and MIA have a baggage exception for international to international). Arriving internationally, unless you have been pre-cleared, you must proceed through U. S. immigration (there are kiosks and a fast channel for Global Entry approved passengers), recover your baggage from the baggage carousel and proceed through U. S. Customs.

Upon exiting Customs at TBIT there is a bag drop facility; drop your checked baggage, exit to the landside arrivals area. Pre-cleared passengers arriving at TBIT will bypass USCBP (but most airlines will enforce international to domestic MCT nonetheless).

ALL arrivals are forced landside (you may pass back through security at the TBIT end of the T-4 - TBIT connector) and Terminal 4 is a short walk to your right, Terminal 6 farther; one can board courtesy airport "A" busses and be dropped off very shortly at T-4 or T-5.

NOTE: Whilst most international Arrivals process immigration and customs at TBIT, some arriving at T-4 may walk a long underground passage and process formalities at TBIT. Others may process at T-4, but if you arrive with bags those will be available at TBIT.

There is no Arrivals Loinge for AA or oneworld customers at LAX.

Q. What is AA policy if I have separate tickets and my incoming flight is delayed?

Protection for oneworld world customers travelling on separate bookings:
oneworld Global Support

Your oneworld connection is generally not officially protected, but the airline may help you and put you on the next available flight, and AA does generally protect oneworld connections at this time..

If your flights are on the same PNR:

Connecting between airlines at unfamiliar airports can be a stressful experience, especially if your flight is delayed. American Airlines recognizes the impact delays and missed connections can have on your plans and on your life. That is why we partnered with the other oneworld member airlines to form teams of connection experts: oneworld Global Support.

At select airports across the oneworld alliance network, teams are proactively monitoring connecting flights and, whenever possible, they will meet and assist you if your connection is in jeopardy. The oneworld Global Support teams will do their best to allow you to use dedicated fast track lanes through immigration or security to help you catch your next flight. Our teams will also do everything possible to transfer your baggage so that it makes it on time to your final destination.

If you miss your connecting flight, the oneworld Global Support team will provide you with updated travel information, a new boarding pass and, where applicable, assistance with overnight accommodations.

oneworld Global Support is currently available at Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, London Heathrow, Los Angeles, Madrid-Barajas, Miami, New York JFK and Sydney. The service is offered at these airports whenever possible, subject to operational constraints.
See:
Q. Can I check my baggage through?

If you're connecting within the oneworld alliance or airlines with an interline agreement and your connection is under eleven hours, all segments on the same PNR, probably. If over that or with separate PNRs (even within oneworld) airlines without an interline agreements with AA or on separate tickets connecting with non-oneworld airlines, no.

See oneworld not requiring protection or interline baggage 1 Jun 2016; AA policy.

Q. Is there baggage storage at LAX?

No. Since 9/11 most USA airports have eliminated baggage storage, but you can use a baggage storage firm that will pick up, store and return your baggage. You do not have to pre-book, and they are open 24/7: http://www.laxluggagestorage.com. There are $5 pickup, $5 return and storage charges.


WiFi at LAX:

"Internet Access at Los Angeles LAX Airport. LAX Airport offers free internet access, with paid upgrades: Free Wi-Fi service for up to 44 minutes is available in most of the public areas of the Airport - provided by Advanced Wireless Group."

=================

Other resources
  • Link to AA FAQ: Will I make my connection?
Posts from 2015-2017 have been archived to ARCHIVE: 2015-2017 GUIDE: LAX / Los Angeles Int’l. Airport - MCT, Connection, etc.







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ARCHIVE: 2015-2017 GUIDE: LAX / Los Angeles Int’l. Airport - MCT, Connection, etc.

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Old Oct 6, 2017, 5:47 pm
  #781  
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
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Originally Posted by sammybk
I apologize, I have searched up and down and can't seem to find an answer. Do all international arrivals now clear customs in TBIT and exit from TBIT?

Meeting an arrival this weekend - gate shows 43, but I am fairly certain customs exit is at TBIT.
Nope. I was shocked by when I landed on Austrian air from Vienna at a remote gate, we were bussed to Terminal 7, walked, cleared immigration, picked up bags, cleared customs and exited Terminal 6.

However, as Gate 43 is one of the gates closest to TBIT, you might walk back to TBIT to clear.
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Old Oct 6, 2017, 7:11 pm
  #782  
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by sammybk
I apologize, I have searched up and down and can't seem to find an answer. Do all international arrivals now clear customs in TBIT and exit from TBIT?

Meeting an arrival this weekend - gate shows 43, but I am fairly certain customs exit is at TBIT.
It took me a while to locate thess posts.

It seems to depend on citizenship and whether they have Global Entry, can use the APC and/or have checked bags:
Originally Posted by Oakshadow
Am a US citizen. Last week I arrived from LHR to Gate 43. In the sterile walkways I was directed down an escalator (I think it was an escalator) and then we were presented with a "fork" or sorts. US and Canadian citizens and Global Entry people could turn right and use the Global Entry and APC (Automated Passport Control) kiosks still in the T4 building while just about everyone else was directed to turn left and presumably had a long walk to TBIT to the large CBP arrivals area.

When you stay in T4, while there seems to be an adequate amount of Global Entry and APC kiosks, after you're issued the receipt from the kiosk, you need to have a sort-of final approval by a CBP agent to proceed, either to the street or to the baggage claim (which I also presume is in TBIT but I'm not sure) depending on if you checked bags.

Problem is, there is only one CBP agent for the APC line and one for the Global Entry line and the CBP agent spends at least a couple of minutes with each person to ask some questions. The Global Entry line seems to move a little quicker, but only a little. I'm not Global Entry, so while I quickly got my APC receipt, I had to wait 15 minutes for the "final" interview. I was in MCE so I was relatively early to arrive in the hall. I can't imagine how long the line took for those way in the back in Y.

It was a small room and there were no other empty desks for CBP agents. It looked like it was set up for just the 2-agent total arrangement.

After the final interview and you didn't check bags, you're directed through a door which is in fact the T4 building exit onto the World Way sidewalk located on the far northwest corner of the building on the arrivals level. No "meet and greet" area to speak of. I had friends meeting me and had to walk to the AA arrivals hall and re-enter the building to sneak up to my friends from behind who were waiting for me to emerge from the usual T4 arrivals tunnel.

It's all confusing.

Is this T4 one-CBP agent per APC and Global Entry line permanent?
Originally Posted by bzcat
<snip>

So to recap - these are the 4 possible outcome for AA int'l arrival at LAX as of April 2017:

1. T4 gate 41 or 43 arrival - sterile walkway to T4 FIS (or TBIT FIS if arrived at late night or early morning).
1a. If no checked bags, you can exit FIS directly to the T4/TBIT connector and re-clear TSA.
1b. If you have checked bags, you have to proceed to TBIT custom. Before leaving the secured area, there is a luggage re-check station to drop off bags if it is tagged to the final destinaiton. Exit TBIT to landside and turn right to clear TSA to T4 connector, or walk to another terminal.

2. TBIT arrival - sterile walkway to TBIT FIS, then TBIT custom. No way to bypass TBIT custom. Before leaving the secured area, there is a luggage re-check station to drop off bags if it is tagged to the final destinaiton. Exit TBIT to landside and turn right to clear TSA to T4 connector, or walk to another terminal.

3. T4 non-41 or 43 gates arrival - Bus to TBIT FIS, then TBIT custom.

4. Remote hard stand arrival - Bus to TBIT FIS, then TBIT custom.

Last edited by TWA884; Oct 6, 2017 at 7:18 pm
TWA884 is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2017, 2:03 am
  #783  
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: MUC
Programs: BA Executive Club Silver
Posts: 108
I tried to make any sense of the MCT table for LAX, but it´s kinda hard to guess, what MCT I have to use. I´m on the following flights and yesterday had the following changes:
23rd Jan AA144 HNL-LAX 23:35p - 07:05a => 23:35p - 07:13a
24th Jan AA034 LAX-JFK 08:10a - 04:32p = > 08:00a - 04:32p
Am I still inside the MCT of LAX for D-D? Because the general MCT is 1.10 and the MCT for ALL - JFK is suppressed and none else seems to fit if I read that table correct.
Edit: AA told me that the MCT is 1.10 for my flights, but they sold me a flight below the MCT from the start? Is that correct?

Thanks for any advice.

Cheers
EDDMflyer is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2017, 6:38 am
  #784  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: KCGX
Posts: 144
Originally Posted by EDDMflyer
I tried to make any sense of the MCT table for LAX, but it´s kinda hard to guess, what MCT I have to use. I´m on the following flights and yesterday had the following changes:
23rd Jan AA144 HNL-LAX 23:35p - 07:05a => 23:35p - 07:13a
24th Jan AA034 LAX-JFK 08:10a - 04:32p = > 08:00a - 04:32p
Am I still inside the MCT of LAX for D-D? Because the general MCT is 1.10 and the MCT for ALL - JFK is suppressed and none else seems to fit if I read that table correct.
Edit: AA told me that the MCT is 1.10 for my flights, but they sold me a flight below the MCT from the start? Is that correct?

Thanks for any advice.

Cheers
AA mainline D-D looks like 35 minutes which you are within.
ElCaminoReal is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2017, 12:29 pm
  #785  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,407
HNL-LAX-JFK transfer will be all inside secured area so 50 min is more than enough.

And if your inbound flight is late (however unlikely... redeye Hawaii flight is almost never late), AA has 16 other daily LAX-JFK so you will get there one flight or another.
bzcat is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2017, 4:24 pm
  #786  
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
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Originally Posted by ElCaminoReal
AA mainline D-D looks like 35 minutes which you are within.
Originally Posted by bzcat
HNL-LAX-JFK transfer will be all inside secured area so 50 min is more than enough.

And if your inbound flight is late (however unlikely... redeye Hawaii flight is almost never late), AA has 16 other daily LAX-JFK so you will get there one flight or another.
Thanks for all the Info. Yeah, they have plenty of flights. My problem is, that I´m connecting to BA174 JFK-LHR at 6:45p. And 1 hour is not enough in JFK to transfer from T8 to T7 D-I IIRC. But let´s hope it doesn´t come to this
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Old Oct 16, 2017, 4:43 pm
  #787  
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Originally Posted by EDDMflyer
Thanks for all the Info. Yeah, they have plenty of flights. My problem is, that I´m connecting to BA174 JFK-LHR at 6:45p. And 1 hour is not enough in JFK to transfer from T8 to T7 D-I IIRC. But let´s hope it doesn´t come to this
Is your travel on a single PNR / itinerary? (On a single PNR if you're too late arriving at LAX to make your JFK connection, AA can easily rerouted you to LHR via AA or BA directly from LAX if there's availability. If you're booked separately it gets trickier, IMO.)
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Old Oct 29, 2017, 1:21 pm
  #788  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,334
Originally Posted by ElCaminoReal
AA mainline D-D looks like 35 minutes which you are within.
AA seems perfectly happy to sell me a ticket with a 37-minute connection Eagle's Nest->mainline. Isn't this an almost certain misconnect? (SJC-LAX-ATL)
spongenotbob is online now  
Old Oct 29, 2017, 6:40 pm
  #789  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 480
Originally Posted by orvando
I've heard rumblings that AA has just re-opened what was the DeltaOne check-in room in T5, but that it's now open to anyone with the "Priority" stamp on their AA boarding pass (all elites and all first/biz passengers - a much wider audience than Delta allowed). Can anyone confirm this? And/or provide details regarding hours, food/drink offerings, etc? Thanks!
Is this still the case? I’ve got a flight out Tuesday afternoon.
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Old Oct 29, 2017, 7:13 pm
  #790  
 
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Originally Posted by spongenotbob
AA seems perfectly happy to sell me a ticket with a 37-minute connection Eagle's Nest->mainline. Isn't this an almost certain misconnect? (SJC-LAX-ATL)
No, i have made it twice this year with 39 minutes, and 38 minutes. Both times i had enough time to hit the restroom between flights. That shuttle is quick.

Once i got to board with my group (3) the other time i just got at the back of the group 6 line, but still plenty of time to spare.
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Old Oct 30, 2017, 7:37 am
  #791  
 
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Terrible

Arrived yesterday LHR to LAX in terminal 4.

Its a circus.

Customs is packed in T4. Lines crossing lines. Chaos. Not many people to help.

The. You walk a long, long way to baggage in Intl, but what’s funny is along the way they stop you 5+ times to check your customs documents.

Give yourself at least 1 hour with baggage.
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Old Nov 5, 2017, 10:10 pm
  #792  
 
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Hey everyone, I've never actually flown AA metal international before (BA and JL previously) so I'm not sure where I am likely to land when inbound from Tokyo. I see the post above about LHR landing in T4 but walking to TBIT for luggage. Does the NRT flight land already at TBIT (saving time on the walk)?


Based on that, arriving on AA from NRT at 11:35am, would I be able to catch the 1:00pm LAX-PHX flight on a separate ticket? The "official" MCT is 2 hours, which is 'no', but we are in business class, have GE and TSAPre, and reports are that separate OW tickets are protected. But we will have bags to reclaim and recheck. And then muddying the water is being unsure if the LAX-PHX flight is an American Eagle flight or T4 as I'd expect.

The alternatives are not as great; 2:30 DL or 4:20 AA.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 12:38 pm
  #793  
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Originally Posted by Gig103
Based on that, arriving on AA from NRT at 11:35am, would I be able to catch the 1:00pm LAX-PHX flight on a separate ticket? The "official" MCT is 2 hours, which is 'no', but we are in business class, have GE and TSAPre, and reports are that separate OW tickets are protected. But we will have bags to reclaim and recheck. And then muddying the water is being unsure if the LAX-PHX flight is an American Eagle flight or T4 as I'd expect.
It's not unusual for checked bags to take up to a hour to start showing up on the baggage carousels at TBIT.

Currently, the 12:57 AA LAX-PHX flight (429) is mainline. Eagle flight numbers normally are 3300 and up.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 2:45 pm
  #794  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Originally Posted by Gig103
Hey everyone, I've never actually flown AA metal international before (BA and JL previously) so I'm not sure where I am likely to land when inbound from Tokyo. I see the post above about LHR landing in T4 but walking to TBIT for luggage. Does the NRT flight land already at TBIT (saving time on the walk)?


Based on that, arriving on AA from NRT at 11:35am, would I be able to catch the 1:00pm LAX-PHX flight on a separate ticket? The "official" MCT is 2 hours, which is 'no', but we are in business class, have GE and TSAPre, and reports are that separate OW tickets are protected. But we will have bags to reclaim and recheck. And then muddying the water is being unsure if the LAX-PHX flight is an American Eagle flight or T4 as I'd expect.

The alternatives are not as great; 2:30 DL or 4:20 AA.
AA170 usually arrives at Gate 41 or 43, which is ideal because the walk from 41 or 43 to TBIT immigration and custom is actually shorter than most TBIT gates.

2 hours is a gamble with checked luggage. Without checked luggage you can make a 90 minute connection with GE and Precheck.

To ensure you make the connection, just make sure to book the LAX-PHX flight that is operated by mainline AA. You can tell by the equipment - A320, A321 or 737-800. If you see CR7, that's the Eagle flight.
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Old Nov 7, 2017, 9:49 pm
  #795  
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Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,642
Originally Posted by bzcat
Without checked luggage you can make a 90 minute connection with GE and Precheck.
Earlier this week, my AA flight arrived at TBIT. I did not have checked luggage and I was not connecting. I made it from the plane - through immigration and customs - to the curb in 10 minutes flat. GE rocks!
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