It's worth showing your incoming boarding pass at the AA/QF lounge in T4. They might just comp you. If they don't and you still want to get in you can buy a 'One Day' Pass for $50US. Pricey, but if you can't get a shower elsewhere before your onward flight, it can seem like a bargain.

If you have priority pass...the closest appears to be Terminal 5 (probably the Delta lounge which *also* has nice shower rooms but is otherwise unremarkable).

Does anyone know if the underground tunnel between T4 and T5 at LAX is still open?

I'd wager you would have to go through security at T4 (since your boarding pass shows a flight leaving from there). If the tunnel is open, you take that to T5 (you remain in a 'secure' area the whole time then) and then try the lounge there. The Delta lounge is in the middle of the terminal near some shops (right hand side, small elevator or stairs to 2nd floor lounge...very small Crown Room Club sign).

NO it was used to shower and rest after clearing INS and before heading to the gate (a more than just a few occassions) to catch the plane to South Florida. Just keep the HKG-LAX C/J boarding pass and you will be allowed access. It never hurts to have your FF card aswell. The lounge is also used and staffed by Quatas personel so they are used to seeing many OW travellers.

Are you reading my posts? Your friends were connecting to a OW J or F flight, that's probably the ONLY reason they got in. Coming off a J or F OW flight, connecting to a Y OW flight, without status will get you = Sorry!

Is it possible to get a sympathetic gate keeper? sure it is, but access policy is still access policy.

Closed. There is no way to go airside between any of the terminals at LAX. This is by design (after several security breaches caused multiple terminals to have to be evacuated and hours of delays, TSA has decided to treat each terminal as a separate secured area.

The alternative "lounge" at LAX is a very good bar/restaurant called Endeavour at the center of the airport, in the spider-shaped building (that used to be the control tower and was often seen in movies about LA). The nicest bar at any airport in the world, but it is outside security (about 5-10 minute walk from T4 depending upon how sober you are) and has typical high-end bar prices but a very nice view and great decor (lava lamps meet Jetsons, as befits the shape of the building).

^

http://www.encounterrestaurant.com/

Yes I have been reading your posts and well, my friends were connect off a CX J/C flight to an AA J flight and were allowed to use the lounge. So was my exwife and son on a half dozen occassions. None of them had any any FF status with either CX or AA. You are right that the gate keeper can be the judge but most after seeing someone come in from HGK and going on will be more than happy to allow access. Remember that QA has a major role in the use of this lounge as a number of flights depart T4 for downunder.

For what it's worth, maybe I should add again there is no J service between LAX and FLL, and using a CX award would not permit me to book in F. So, I have been downgraded to Y for that sector. On the other hand, I was initially checking another itinerary, by going HKG-LAX-JFK. Since LAX-JFK DOES have J service, I could indeed book in J. So, I guess it might be a question of whether the Lounge will follow strict policy (since I'm in Y, therefore no access), or whether they will see (if I show them my itinerary) that I should be booked in J for the entire trip, and it's only AA's "fault" they did not have J service on the LAX-FLL sector (otherwise, if they did, I would have received lounge access). I'm not trying to stir up another debate here, though!

Anyway, thanks to everyone for their insights into my 8 hour layover at LAX. Many good suggestions were given and are appreciated!

Hi, again. Sorry for bringing up this topic again. I was just talking with CX to reconfirm all my flights, and now I'm a bit worried about what they said. I was originally booked on the CX 882 ETA 2:30pm into LAX, and then on the AA 262 to FLL departing that same evening at 10:50pm. Now, CX was able to confirm 2 award J seats for me ont he CX 884 ETA LAX at 11:35am. This will give me almost half a day to do something in LAX. I casually mentioned this to the CX rep, and he said that I was not allowed to go out of the airport because my ticket was issued as ONE TICKET, with LAX marked as TRANSIT, and NO AIRPORT TAX WAS COLLECTED. So, will I indeed be stuck at the airport? If so, then I'd rather take the CX 882 instead of CX 884 because that will give me a shorter transit time, if I have to spend it at LAX Airport. CX was kind enough to hold the two confirmed bookings for me, but I must decide at the end of today what flight I want. Therefore, anyone who sees this post...PLEASE REPLY! Thanks!

At LAX there isn't an airside transit facility for international arrivals, you have no choice but to go landside -- effectively leaving the airport. So you are in the clear, and there is no problem with this "transit" giving you a half-day tour of LA. If they ask, you can always say you got lost going from TBIT to T4 and it took you a while to find the check-in. I'm certain you won't have any problems.

Thanks for your assurance. I'm glad about this. CX went ahead to cancel the later of my two flights, so now I'm "stuck" taking the earlier flight anyway (but, which is what I wanted).

Well, after all the advice from fellow FlyerTalkers above on the transit in LAX, it is time for my flight tomorrow HKG-LAX. And, CX has just advised me CX 884 is cancelled, CX 882 is full, and they have protected my seat on CX 880, which gets into LAX with only a one-hour connection time to catch my AA flight to FLL. Actually, when I originally went to book this award ticket, I had wanted this late-night departure ex-HKG, but CX advised that the connection time in LAX was not enough for the FLL flight. However, they now say that it IS possible. Is this just CX's excuse to get me to take the CX 880 flight?

Anyone made this connection with only one hour time? Personally, I think it's pushing it quite thin.

It's definitely pushing it. I don't think it's possible.

If the FLL is the last one for the day, you may be able to standby for MIA.

Good luck!

One hour is cutting is VERY close... I flew into LAX on Monday on CX 884, so I'll share these bits : Firstly, we did not arrive directly into the terminal, but rather at a remote site where we had to take a bus to the terminal in order to clear immigration and customs formalities. It took about 10 minutes to disembark (I was among the first people out), and another 10-15 minutes to actually get to the terminal. Immigration was cleared in under 10 minutes, and I had my bag and cleared customs 2 minutes after that. You can walk from TBIT to Terminal 4 in under 3 minutes at a regular pace, but you still have to go through security which took me about 20 minutes (and that was on the supposed "faster side") .

Just my experience, for what it's worth.

Cheers.

Thanks for the feedback. I got MPO to put me on the CX 882, so the connection is no longer a problem. It took a lot of wrangling to talk with supervisors, etc., though, but in the end, they also agreed that the 1-hour connection time was not enough.

The published MCT is 90 minutes. I've made transfers in 20 minutes TBIT to T4 including clearing immigration and security, but that is unusual and it really does take an hour, making 90 minutes the minimum realistic amount -- and even that hinges on no abnormally long lines or other delays. I'm really surprised that CX had to be convinced of this, they must have been desperately oversold and knew accomodating you would cost CX a few hundred dollars.