Arriving from Tokyo on ANA into YVR then AA to LAX (separate tickets)
is 2 hours 10 minutes enough time or the next flight is 4.5 hours?

Tight, but do-able. Do you have -

- Nexus card for entry into Canada + faster lane at security before US CBP?
- Global Entry for entry into the USA
- Checked bags to pick up / drop off?
- Status with AA

...?

All of those will speed things up.

When you arrive at the YVR international arrivals greeting hall, go up the escalators and turn right. You'll be at US Departures:

http://vancouver.citybytrain.com/wp-...-door-igns.jpg

-no
-no
-yes
aa credit card

I land at 3pm on a Wednesday

If I don't make it will they put me on another flight or am I screwed?

Up to the mercy of AA. Might be wiser to book on the later flight and see if you can go standby on the earlier one if you're there in time than to try the opposite.

I just applied for Global Entry. If I get that do you think I will be fine?

I wasn't aware AA had any flights to other than the primary hubs (namely DFW and ORD). Could the flight be operated by WS?

Great point - It's possible the OP is on a code share, either WestJet or Alaska.

However, American Eagle does operate the route as well so it's entirely possible he's on American metal.

If you are American or Canadian, definitely, two hours is enough.

Otherwise read on.

If you have a checked bag, then you will want NH to check your bag through to the USA. Then you can avoid Canada CBSA and head straight to US CBP. See http://www.yvr.ca/en/navigating-yvr/...rough-yvr.aspx
If not, then it makes a difference if you are American/Canadian. I think you would claim your bag after clearing CBSA, ideally by using the passport kiosks that YVR CBSA lets Americans and Canadians use.

I recently did NRT/YVR/YYC on separate tix/alliances. I had to of course clear CBSA, and of course claim my bag, and re-check it. While there is slight optimization for arriving international pax to connect to Canadian domestic flights, it is still a long walk. Nonetheless, I budgeted a 2 hour layover, the JL flight arrived 15 mins early, and I had 30 minutes in the MLL before boarding my AC flight to YYC. Clearing CBSA via the kiosk (I don't have NEXUS or CanPass) made a difference. Despite a 20 minute line, bags from the JL flight still had not reached baggage claim.

If you have to claim your bag and clear CBSA to claim your bag, and you aren't Canadian / American, then two hours won't be enough; Global Entry won't make a difference.

If your bag is checked through to LAX and you don't have to touch your bag (which I think would be the case if your bag is checked through to LAX, because the set up for pre clearance pax originating in YVR is that they clear security first then pre-clearance [the reverse of YYC], then as in DUB, you check your bag before seeing US CBP.) then Global Entry won't make a difference, unless the NH flight is late.

There are two daily American Eagle flights operated by Compass.

And what is a "primary hub" any way? LAX is an AA hub.