Enough time to collect baggage and recheck (AA to AS) at LAX?
May 12, 2021, 9:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Enough time to collect baggage and recheck (AA to AS) at LAX?
AA's DCA-LAX non-stop moved by about 85 minutes from 7:20 to 8:45 am. We booked separate tickets from LAX-SFO on AS (booked first class). The connection time went from about 2.5 hours to 1:20. Any thoughts on if this will be sufficient to collect baggage and recheck baggage with AS (going from T4/T5 to T6). We are precheck as well.
May 12, 2021, 11:05 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
AA's DCA-LAX non-stop moved by about 85 minutes from 7:20 to 8:45 am. We booked separate tickets from LAX-SFO on AS (booked first class). The connection time went from about 2.5 hours to 1:20. Any thoughts on if this will be sufficient to collect baggage and recheck baggage with AS (going from T4/T5 to T6). We are precheck as well.
James
AS Moderator
Last edited by Flying for Fun; May 12, 2021 at 11:14 pm
May 12, 2021, 11:08 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: NYC/LAX/ATL
Programs: JAL Diamond, BAEC Gold, AS 75K, VS Gold, AC 50K, WoH Globalist, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 237
It is possible but is a VERY VERY tight connection. AS requires all baggage to be checked 45min prior to departure, so you have ~30min to deplane, reclaim checked bag, walk to T6, and check-in at AS. Personally, I could walk from T4 to T6 in 5 mins without a checked bag, but it certainly can take longer. IMO the most uncertain part, aside from delays, is how long it would take to reclaim the bags at LAX.
May 13, 2021, 7:33 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
May 13, 2021, 8:07 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: Some more than others
Posts: 775
It's tight but doable. The AS checked luggage cutoff is T-40, which means it must be tagged and in the agents hands then rather than just be in line. This means you have 40 minutes from the time your flight is scheduled to arrive to claim your bag, walk over to T6 (5-10 mins) and complete checkin.
My experience (albeit pre-covid) is that AA luggage at LAX is slow.
The good news is that AS has about 7 flights a day from LAX-SFO, so if you miss that one worst case scenario is that they put you on the next one and you hang around a couple hours in the Alaska Lounge.
My experience (albeit pre-covid) is that AA luggage at LAX is slow.
The good news is that AS has about 7 flights a day from LAX-SFO, so if you miss that one worst case scenario is that they put you on the next one and you hang around a couple hours in the Alaska Lounge.
May 13, 2021, 8:50 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Yeah, the next flight is 2.5 hours later which isn't terrible. I guess the alternate is that we have to drag along three roll alongs. Could have worse issues befall us,
May 13, 2021, 9:26 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2015
Location: WAS, SZX, HKG
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, CX Green
Posts: 735
Why isn't DCA-SFO direct on AS not an option? It appears that AA DCA-LAX doesn't get any premium products anyway - the detour probably isn't worth it?
As for the connection, AS also offers an option to print a bag tag at home. Maybe an agent will be more willing to accept a bag that has already been tagged even it might be a few mins late?
As for the connection, AS also offers an option to print a bag tag at home. Maybe an agent will be more willing to accept a bag that has already been tagged even it might be a few mins late?
May 13, 2021, 9:30 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Why isn't DCA-SFO direct on AS not an option? It appears that AA DCA-LAX doesn't get any premium products anyway - the detour probably isn't worth it?
As for the connection, AS also offers an option to print a bag tag at home. Maybe an agent will be more willing to accept a bag that has already been tagged even it might be a few mins late?
As for the connection, AS also offers an option to print a bag tag at home. Maybe an agent will be more willing to accept a bag that has already been tagged even it might be a few mins late?