BOS-LAX-NAN (AA/FJ) LAX Connection Question
May 4, 2019, 9:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Don't know....
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BOS-LAX-NAN (AA/FJ) LAX Connection Question
I'm looking to fly BOS-LAX on AA and then connect LAX-NAN on FJ.
Can I check through from BOS to NAN? Or do I need to recheck my bags in LAX? It is only a 1 hour 40 minute connection so a little concerned.
I also see I can go from LAX T4 directly to TBIT without going land side so that should save me time if I can check through all the way to NAN.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
Can I check through from BOS to NAN? Or do I need to recheck my bags in LAX? It is only a 1 hour 40 minute connection so a little concerned.
I also see I can go from LAX T4 directly to TBIT without going land side so that should save me time if I can check through all the way to NAN.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
May 4, 2019, 10:11 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
I'm looking to fly BOS-LAX on AA and then connect LAX-NAN on FJ.
Can I check through from BOS to NAN? Or do I need to recheck my bags in LAX? It is only a 1 hour 40 minute connection so a little concerned.
I also see I can go from LAX T4 directly to TBIT without going land side so that should save me time if I can check through all the way to NAN.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
Can I check through from BOS to NAN? Or do I need to recheck my bags in LAX? It is only a 1 hour 40 minute connection so a little concerned.
I also see I can go from LAX T4 directly to TBIT without going land side so that should save me time if I can check through all the way to NAN.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.
May 4, 2019, 10:30 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
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Since you asked, my thought it is too tight a connection - it's not a hard transfer but if the Fiji flight is once a day, being late on your first flight will risk misconnection (and loss of a day) and likely guarantee anxiety while you are on the transcon.
May 4, 2019, 2:08 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: LAX
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Posts: 2,339
Assuming you're talking about the 1h40m connection on the BOS-LAX-NAN segment, know that the arrival time of the evening BOS-LAX flights (between 8-10pm) is generally one of the BUSIEST times of day at LAX. That can lead to sitting on the ground in LAX for 10-20-30 minutes waiting for a gate to open. If your trip is in winter there's also the chance of strong winter headwinds. Still, with 1h40m you've got an OK cushion, if slightly less than ideal. If you missed the connection it would be all but certain to be a 24-hour delay for you.
On one ticket your bags will go all the way through to NAN on your outbound, and the AA and FJ (Bradley) terminals are connected airside in LAX.
1h40m going the other direction (NAN-LAX-BOS) should be easily doable if you have Global Entry, probably with enough time for a stop in for a shower at the lounge.
If your only other option is spending hours extra in LA I'd opt for the 1h40m choice.
On one ticket your bags will go all the way through to NAN on your outbound, and the AA and FJ (Bradley) terminals are connected airside in LAX.
1h40m going the other direction (NAN-LAX-BOS) should be easily doable if you have Global Entry, probably with enough time for a stop in for a shower at the lounge.
If your only other option is spending hours extra in LA I'd opt for the 1h40m choice.
May 4, 2019, 9:34 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Don't know....
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Assuming you're talking about the 1h40m connection on the BOS-LAX-NAN segment, know that the arrival time of the evening BOS-LAX flights (between 8-10pm) is generally one of the BUSIEST times of day at LAX. That can lead to sitting on the ground in LAX for 10-20-30 minutes waiting for a gate to open. If your trip is in winter there's also the chance of strong winter headwinds. Still, with 1h40m you've got an OK cushion, if slightly less than ideal. If you missed the connection it would be all but certain to be a 24-hour delay for you.
On one ticket your bags will go all the way through to NAN on your outbound, and the AA and FJ (Bradley) terminals are connected airside in LAX.
1h40m going the other direction (NAN-LAX-BOS) should be easily doable if you have Global Entry, probably with enough time for a stop in for a shower at the lounge.
If your only other option is spending hours extra in LA I'd opt for the 1h40m choice.
On one ticket your bags will go all the way through to NAN on your outbound, and the AA and FJ (Bradley) terminals are connected airside in LAX.
1h40m going the other direction (NAN-LAX-BOS) should be easily doable if you have Global Entry, probably with enough time for a stop in for a shower at the lounge.
If your only other option is spending hours extra in LA I'd opt for the 1h40m choice.
Since I have meetings in Boston I can only take the BOS-LAX flight with the 1 hour 40 min connection as you said. And it will be in January time frame. The rest of the family are flying from Asia to NAN so it is just me.
I MAY be on 2 separate tickets. BOS-LAX on 2 ticket and LAX-NAN on another ticket. If it is separate tickets then I cannot check through? Will cost me more to buy 1 ticket as I already have a BOS-LAX ticket. So trying to decide what to do.
Will 5 star service definitely save me time? Never used it before.
May 4, 2019, 9:39 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
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Correct. AA will not check your bags through on separate tickets. Nor are you protected if your AA flight gets in too late to make your FJ flight. Your reservation could be cancelled. Separate tickets would be pretty risky in this case.
Last edited by SJOGuy; May 4, 2019 at 9:50 pm
May 4, 2019, 9:57 pm
#8
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Thanks... I'm just going one way BOS-LAX-NAN. From NAN I go to MEL & SIN later.
Since I have meetings in Boston I can only take the BOS-LAX flight with the 1 hour 40 min connection as you said. And it will be in January time frame. The rest of the family are flying from Asia to NAN so it is just me.
I MAY be on 2 separate tickets. BOS-LAX on 2 ticket and LAX-NAN on another ticket. If it is separate tickets then I cannot check through? Will cost me more to buy 1 ticket as I already have a BOS-LAX ticket. So trying to decide what to do.
Will 5 star service definitely save me time? Never used it before.
Since I have meetings in Boston I can only take the BOS-LAX flight with the 1 hour 40 min connection as you said. And it will be in January time frame. The rest of the family are flying from Asia to NAN so it is just me.
I MAY be on 2 separate tickets. BOS-LAX on 2 ticket and LAX-NAN on another ticket. If it is separate tickets then I cannot check through? Will cost me more to buy 1 ticket as I already have a BOS-LAX ticket. So trying to decide what to do.
Will 5 star service definitely save me time? Never used it before.
If you’re in separate ticketing 1:40 will be very tight, as you MUST recover checked baggage landside, schlep baggage to TBIT, check in, pricess security, etc. There’s a good chance you won’t make it; there’s a possibility if that occurs FJ won’t honor your ticket and make you buy a walk-up ticket for the next available flight.
Five Star won’t save you much, if any, time because of your need to recover and recheck baggage.
IMO, you increase your chances of making your flight to Nadi by taking carry-on baggage and being fleet of foot. You might be able to check in online with FJ, but I doubt it because if the need to prove necessary documents are in your possession.
May 5, 2019, 6:54 am
#9
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How will paying for five star service help? AA (even their five star service) can't make another airline hold a flight for you if the connection is delayed, and you risk having to wait to connect up with the five stat agents for your escort to the gate. With two separate tickets a9and another airline) I suspect that five star would just escort you landside to the curb when the OP needs to stay airside and run to the gate.
IMO doing this on separate tickets is a really bad idea. With one ticket, it's a legal connection, although there is a risk of being delayed a day, especially in winter. If flights are full, the delay could be worse. Is there a Plan B?
Also, what does the OP plan to do with separate tickets if there's a schedule change between now and the day of departure? Since the OP seems concerned about price, I suspect that the ticket into NAN is nonrefundable and a credit on a strange airline isn't very useful.
IMO doing this on separate tickets is a really bad idea. With one ticket, it's a legal connection, although there is a risk of being delayed a day, especially in winter. If flights are full, the delay could be worse. Is there a Plan B?
Also, what does the OP plan to do with separate tickets if there's a schedule change between now and the day of departure? Since the OP seems concerned about price, I suspect that the ticket into NAN is nonrefundable and a credit on a strange airline isn't very useful.
May 5, 2019, 8:45 am
#10
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Thanks... I haven't bought a ticket on FJ yet... so trying to see what I should do... pay more to get it on 1 ticket or risk 2 separate tickets.
Think the consensus is to buy 1 ticket for both segments.... will look into it now.
And then get the 5 star service in case flight is late so I can transfer quickly?
Think the consensus is to buy 1 ticket for both segments.... will look into it now.
And then get the 5 star service in case flight is late so I can transfer quickly?
May 5, 2019, 9:12 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,107
How will paying for five star service help? AA (even their five star service) can't make another airline hold a flight for you if the connection is delayed, and you risk having to wait to connect up with the five stat agents for your escort to the gate. With two separate tickets a9and another airline) I suspect that five star would just escort you landside to the curb when the OP needs to stay airside and run to the gate.
Now see, this is where reading comprehension and patience would help. At the time of my suggestion it was unknown that it would be multiple tickets. Thus, the suggestion (on a single ticket) was relevant. Also it was noted in my comment, and I quote, “unless you completely miss it.”
On separate tickets, absolutely not. On a single ticket, it would be an option. Whether or not that money spent would be worth it or not to the OP is another matter, but it is an option nonetheless.
May 5, 2019, 8:35 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
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I hear people use the term "connection" when they're flying on separate tickets. There is no connection in such cases. Neither airline has any responsibility for or interest in what the other does.
May 12, 2019, 12:29 pm
#13
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I've now bought a single ticket and will arrange 5 star service. Thank you for all your comments which helped me decide what to do!
May 12, 2019, 6:02 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
Just curious how much more was it to buy one ticket vs two? This definitely seems like it would be worth it to pay for a single ticket in this case. Good decision.