sstcobra

Flying into LAX on Alaska Air. Have a 2 hour layover before departing from LAX to SYD. Is that enough time? Will my bags be checked through to SYD or will I have to claim them and go through security again?
Thanks for your help.

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Do AS and QF use the same terminal at LAX? If not, you'll have to re-clear security at the QF terminal regardless of your checked-baggage situation.

Call AS and ask if they have an interline-baggage agreement with QF.

tom911

They're in different terminals. Qantas goes out either from the AA terminal (4) or Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) depending on destination/flight time. Alaska is in T6.

sstcobra

Thanks for the help. It looks like AS and Qantas have interline agreements to bags should check all the way through to SYD. Will have to go through security when changing terminals in LAX. We will assume that we have to claim bags and go through security upon return in LAX. Layover is approximately 2 hours each way. Hope its long enough.

tom911

Generally you do have to claim and recheck your bags at the first port of entry. You'll recheck your bags after clearing Customs. There are some exceptions to this, like flights where CBP screens you in Ireland before departure to the U.S. and you arrive in a domestic terminal. They don't do that with flights originating in Australia, though.

JDiver

If your flight arrives on time you will have plenty of time.

As you are arriving domestically, and AS - QF have an interline agreement, check your bag(s) through to Sydney.


On arrival at LAX, Terminal 6, walk out to the sidewalk and turn left.

AA Terminal 4 is two terminals up, not far (IMO better than taking the shuttle bus) if your QF flight departs the AA Terminal 4.

If your QF flight, as most, depart the Tom Bradley International Terminal, you will continue past AA Terminal 4, follow the curvature of the walk, and turn into the next (chaotic) terminal.

As usual, if you have your boarding pass for Sydney (btw, you do have your ETA electronic visa for Australia, right?) in either terminal case head for security with your boarding pass and passport and proceed.

Two hours should be fine - if your arriving flight is on time.

On the return, given the general chaos one can encounter at LAX immigration and customs, and even the occasional remote arrival with bus service to TBIT, two hours may, or may not, be sufficient. You will have to reclaim bags and pass them through customs on your return, and then return them before you exit the customs are, then proceed outside to Terminal 6 again. In my opinion it will be tight, but not to worry. If you have a through ticket, which you do with an award, AS will then reaccommodate you on the next available flight.

We will be merging this into the LAX Connections thread soon.

JDiver
Senior Moderator

bzcat

SYD departs from TBIT, as does MEL because of the mixed 747 and A380 operations.

The only QF flight that departs from T4 is BNE since it is all 747 operation.