Last edit by: TWA884
2016 LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread
The prior threads on this topic, 2012 - "Consolidated Questions About Connecting at LAX" thread, 2013 Consolidated LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread, 2014 Consolidated LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread and 2015 Consolidated LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread contain relevant information, however, to keep them from getting too long, 2016 updates are below.
NOTES:
"Published" Minimum Connect Time (MCT) international to domestic at LAX is 2 hours. Numerous LAX regulars advise that 3 hours is much safer. Wait times for incoming immigration and customs services are very inconsistent. While the vast majority of international flights arrive at the newly remodeled Tom Bradley Terminal, some airlines use older customs facilities in Terminal 2 or 6. View recent postings in this thread for more information.
T4 to T5 tunnel and a secure airside walkway between T4 and TBIT are now open. It is possible now to connect from T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 to TBIT without exiting security.
In T-4, the access to the tunnel via an escalator and an elevator at the center of the terminal under the Terminal Transfer sign (it was formerly designated Gate 44). Take the escalator down to the transfer bus gate, then turn left and take the escalator down towards baggage claim. At the bottom of the escalator make a U turn to the right and enter through the double doors. Please consult the terminals maps for the location of the tunnel in terminals 5 and 6.
A secure airside walkway, which is on the top level of a airside connector between T4 and TBIT opened in February 2016; it is accessed by Gate 41 in T4 and near the Qantas Lounge in TBIT. The complete project, including a TSA checkpoint, a bus port and a checked baggage inspection area, was expected to finished by the end of May 2016 (but it is yet to open as of early June). More details here: LAX Terminal 4 Connector
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2016 INFO
Los Angeles International Airport website
PDF Map of LAX airport and vicinity parking and cell phone lot
Airline Location Map
Links to individual terminals maps
Only terminals 4 through 8 and Tom Bradley International Terminal are connected airside (through tunnels between terminals 4, 5 and 6, above ground hallways between terminals 6, 7 and 8, and a newly-opened above-ground connector between terminal 4 and TBIT). There are occasional airside shuttles elsewhere, but are subject to change (e.g. AA to American eagle, afternoon AA to TBIT Qantas). Airport policy allows you to gain admission airside to a terminal you are not departing from with an ID and a same day boarding pass, but anecdotal reports indicate that sometimes this is not honored by security personnel.
Tom Bradley International Terminal serves most, but not all, foreign airlines.
In most instances, international arrivals require processing USDHS-CBP (immigration, recovering baggage and processing customs); if you are going on in your travels, there is a baggage recheck counter as you exit customs. This can be fairly rapid if you have Global Entry or are arriving at a slack period, but it can take 60-90 minutes if you are arriving during a busy arrivals period.
After clearing customs and immigration, you must exit to landside and proceed to your next terminal. You may take the free shuttle busses, which only proceed anti / counter clockwise direction (In Order: 1-2-3-TBIT-4-5-6-7-8), or you can walk. At ground level you will be sheltered by the overhead departures-serving roadway, but be exposed to vehicle fumes and cigarette smoke; on the departures level, you will be exposed to the weather. It should take no more than 5 minutes to walk from one adjacent terminal to another, but it can take significantly longer to walk between distant terminals - as long as 15 - 20 minutes.
Last updated 2 June 2016 by TWA884
2016 LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread
#211
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Ok, thanks for the replies. Sounding a bit scary so will consider options.
Have to say we don't love LA so really don't need a day there but.....
We were a bit concerned that if we didn't book a SEA-LAX flight we may miss out but if other airlines are still coming up with schedules that's ok.
Cheers and thanks again.
Have to say we don't love LA so really don't need a day there but.....
We were a bit concerned that if we didn't book a SEA-LAX flight we may miss out but if other airlines are still coming up with schedules that's ok.
Cheers and thanks again.
So you'll get seats. It's just a matter of what you plan to do that day and how tolerant you are of the rather small risk things get canceled.
#212
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OP mentioned AS410 (lv SEA 1535 ar LAX 1759), which gives 4.5 hours at LAX before the QF flight departs ... currently the AS schedule for 5 Aug 2017 shows earlier SEA-LAX departures at 0950, 1100, 1200, and 1350; all have a block time of around 2+40
even if I had to claim luggage, schlep from T6 to TBIT, re-check bags, and re-clear security, I'd be perfectly comfortable with AS410, but booking on the 1350 flight would certainly reduce risk
even if I had to claim luggage, schlep from T6 to TBIT, re-check bags, and re-clear security, I'd be perfectly comfortable with AS410, but booking on the 1350 flight would certainly reduce risk
#213
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Seat availability won't be your issue. Saturday morning or midday will have plenty of seats at affordable prices. Every U.S. legacy flies the route, as does our lovely () ULCC Spirit, and even Southwest (an airline you could consider if you have luggage but no elite status on a legacy) flies it one-stop with no plane change.
So you'll get seats. It's just a matter of what you plan to do that day and how tolerant you are of the rather small risk things get canceled.
So you'll get seats. It's just a matter of what you plan to do that day and how tolerant you are of the rather small risk things get canceled.
Saturdays in August are "cruise days" at Seatac; the airport is flooded by thousands of people disembarking from Alaska cruises in the early morning, many trying to get to Midwest or east coast destinations before the clock gets them. (Due to the time difference between Pacific and Eastern time zones, most eastbound flights have to leave before noon in order not to make connections impossible in the central or eastern US.) For all we know maybe the OP is coming off a cruise themselves.
I would book an earlier afternoon flight even if it means having to hang out at LAX for some extra hours. If you're there by mid-afternoon, hop a taxi to Manhattan Beach and walk out the pier or along the Strand, have an early meal and be back at the airport in time to check in.
One other thing comes to mind: By August Alaska Airlines' merger with Virgin America will be well underway, with the potential of really scrambling AS' schedules between Seattle and California. It may be easier or it may be harder. I'm expecting a full-blown fare war between AS and Delta this coming summer.
#214
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Moderator note: There are ongoing and consolidated threads in Los Angeles forum about connection times.
Please follow the thread over to the LA forum for additional ideas and suggestions.
Please follow the thread over to the LA forum for additional ideas and suggestions.
#215
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Since TBIT is located between T3 and T4, there was no easy way to assign it a number as this would have required renumbering T4 - T8 (the latter is now a concourse of T7).
#216
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TWA884
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#217
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I've got separate tickets for a 16:04 Sinapore Air to ICN on a Friday. I'm coming in from PHX. Am i being overly cautious arriving on AA at 9:00 rather than 11:50? I've got lounge access so at least i could hang out...or run to a nice lunch...
#218
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If you don't have checked luggage, you can even stay air side and get from T6 to TBIT without getting thru TSA again.
#219
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You're being ovely cautious unless that later flight runs four hours late or is cancelled, which doesn't happen often but still happens with regularity, in which case you're going to be kicking yourself for not being on the earlier flight.
#221
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While this thread remains an excellent source of information, it has gotten long and cumbersome.
Below is a link to the new thread:
Links to the 2013, 2014, and 2015 threads can be found in the Wikipost of the 2017 thread.
TWA884
Moderator
Below is a link to the new thread:
Links to the 2013, 2014, and 2015 threads can be found in the Wikipost of the 2017 thread.
TWA884
Moderator