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
#31
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by @flyLAXairport
Enjoy every terminal amenity even if you’re not flying from that terminal! Have boarding pass for same-day travel & enjoy!
Originally Posted by @flyLAXairport
@kiat77 Now they do & why we're sharing this information with all of our travelers...
Originally Posted by @flyLAXairport
@hs247 as long as you have a valid boarding pass with same-day departure & a valid government issued ID, you're good...
#32
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: CGK SIN PER ORD
Programs: UA 1K MM, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 2,813
Hi all,
I have not entered US through LAX for a LONG time and so do not know the situation. Any advice would be appreciated.
Situation as follows:
Arriving from NRT on AA170 at noon this summer.
Departing LAX to LAS on AA, trying to decide on the connection flight of 15.25 or 16.58 or 19.51 to LAS.
Party of 3. I am US citizen with GE, not that it matters since we will have checked bags.
Wife and MIL on tourist visas, though they may be able to follow me using the US citizen line?
Would the 15.25 flight be too much of a risk? On one ticket.
Thanks!
I have not entered US through LAX for a LONG time and so do not know the situation. Any advice would be appreciated.
Situation as follows:
Arriving from NRT on AA170 at noon this summer.
Departing LAX to LAS on AA, trying to decide on the connection flight of 15.25 or 16.58 or 19.51 to LAS.
Party of 3. I am US citizen with GE, not that it matters since we will have checked bags.
Wife and MIL on tourist visas, though they may be able to follow me using the US citizen line?
Would the 15.25 flight be too much of a risk? On one ticket.
Thanks!
#33
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,652
American Airlines' international to domestic Minimum Connect Time (MCT) at LAX is two hours, so your 3:25 pm flight to LAS is a legal connection. In the unlikely event that you miss it, American will protect you and book you on a later flight.
Check the AA Guide: LAX / Los Angeles Int Airport, MCT / Connection, etc. (Master thread) in the American Airlines forum for additional AA specific information.
Check the AA Guide: LAX / Los Angeles Int Airport, MCT / Connection, etc. (Master thread) in the American Airlines forum for additional AA specific information.
#34
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: CGK SIN PER ORD
Programs: UA 1K MM, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 2,813
Thanks TWA884!
Another question. Is LAX TBIT like ORD where after customs and before leaving secured area, you can re-check your bags to your final destination (LAS) or do I have to bring 3 checked bags to T4?
My MIL is 78 years old, flying in from CGK-NRT (heading to city)-LAX-LAS. Hats off to her!
Another question. Is LAX TBIT like ORD where after customs and before leaving secured area, you can re-check your bags to your final destination (LAS) or do I have to bring 3 checked bags to T4?
My MIL is 78 years old, flying in from CGK-NRT (heading to city)-LAX-LAS. Hats off to her!
#35
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,407
Thanks TWA884!
Another question. Is LAX TBIT like ORD where after customs and before leaving secured area, you can re-check your bags to your final destination (LAS) or do I have to bring 3 checked bags to T4?
My MIL is 78 years old, flying in from CGK-NRT (heading to city)-LAX-LAS. Hats off to her!
Another question. Is LAX TBIT like ORD where after customs and before leaving secured area, you can re-check your bags to your final destination (LAS) or do I have to bring 3 checked bags to T4?
My MIL is 78 years old, flying in from CGK-NRT (heading to city)-LAX-LAS. Hats off to her!
The air side connector (useful when you depart LAS-LAX-NRT-CGK) is scheduled to open in February 2016.
The land side connector (useful when you arrive CGK-NRT-LAX-[immigration & custom]-LAS) is scheduled to open by summer 2016.
#36
As others have said, it's actually not too bad, especially now that the new TBIT building is open. No worries booking the 15:35 flight, and if you miss it AA should be able to easily accommodate you. The key is definitely confirming that your bags are checked all the way to LAS.
And don't any bananas or other fresh fruit in your bags... even if you eat them on the plane before arrival, those CBP beagles will stiff you out and delay your transfer further.
#37
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: CGK SIN PER ORD
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There is re-check station right outside customs so you don't need to bring your bags to T4 as long as they are tagged properly to LAS. And depending on when you make this trip, the land side TBIT-T4 connector maybe open so you can re-clear TSA without ever leaving TBIT.
The air side connector (useful when you depart LAS-LAX-NRT-CGK) is scheduled to open in February 2016.
The land side connector (useful when you arrive CGK-NRT-LAX-[immigration & custom]-LAS) is scheduled to open by summer 2016.
The air side connector (useful when you depart LAS-LAX-NRT-CGK) is scheduled to open in February 2016.
The land side connector (useful when you arrive CGK-NRT-LAX-[immigration & custom]-LAS) is scheduled to open by summer 2016.
Nice... I can't even get my MIL who's 65 to fly SEA-LAX
As others have said, it's actually not too bad, especially now that the new TBIT building is open. No worries booking the 15:35 flight, and if you miss it AA should be able to easily accommodate you. The key is definitely confirming that your bags are checked all the way to LAS.
And don't any bananas or other fresh fruit in your bags... even if you eat them on the plane before arrival, those CBP beagles will stiff you out and delay your transfer further.
As others have said, it's actually not too bad, especially now that the new TBIT building is open. No worries booking the 15:35 flight, and if you miss it AA should be able to easily accommodate you. The key is definitely confirming that your bags are checked all the way to LAS.
And don't any bananas or other fresh fruit in your bags... even if you eat them on the plane before arrival, those CBP beagles will stiff you out and delay your transfer further.
With regards to fruits, oh they are Australian residents so trust me, we know all about customs
#38
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#39
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 1
lax international connection
I depart mexico city on American and connect through LAX to Sydney on Quantis. How are my checked bags handled at LAX. I am probably arriving at Anmerican terminal 4 and will depart LAX international terminal. and how long to clear customs in LAX
#40
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
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Welcome to Flyertalk, Say6966
I am moving your thread to the LAX Forum for continuing discussion....
Obscure2k
Travelbuzz Moderator
I am moving your thread to the LAX Forum for continuing discussion....
Obscure2k
Travelbuzz Moderator
Last edited by obscure2k; Feb 5, 2016 at 9:13 pm Reason: moving thread
#41
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,407
US passport holder should clear immigration in a few minutes via the self service kiosk. Foreign passport holders should expect at least 60 minutes in line. When you get off the plane, pay attention to see if there are AA agents passing out transit pass that will allow you to use the shorter line at immigration.
Custom could take 10 minutes or 2 hours depending on how fast your bags come out and how long is the line.
Last edited by bzcat; Feb 5, 2016 at 10:52 pm
#42
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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You will use TBIT immigration and custom. Once you clear custom and are land side you can recheck your luggage (if tagged to SYD) at the recheck station; or you can just take it upstairs with you to QF check in counter.
US passport holder should clear immigration in a few minutes via the self service kiosk. Foreign passport holders should expect at least 60 minutes in line. When you get off the plane, pay attention to see if there are AA agents passing out transit pass that will allow you to use the shorter line at immigration.
Custom could take 10 minutes or 2 hours depending on how fast your bags come out and how long is the line.
US passport holder should clear immigration in a few minutes via the self service kiosk. Foreign passport holders should expect at least 60 minutes in line. When you get off the plane, pay attention to see if there are AA agents passing out transit pass that will allow you to use the shorter line at immigration.
Custom could take 10 minutes or 2 hours depending on how fast your bags come out and how long is the line.
#43
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
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NZ 1/2 had to get a special waiver from Homeland Security so you don't need to pick up the luggage on LHR-LAX-AKL, only if the passengers are continuing on the same flight (i.e. NZ1 to NZ1 no need to clear custom but NZ1 to NZ5 have to clear custom). Don't think any waiver exists for other airlines, especially since the itinerary we are talking about involves 2 airlines.
#44
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I'm pretty sure you do.
NZ 1/2 had to get a special waiver from Homeland Security so you don't need to pick up the luggage on LHR-LAX-AKL, only if the passengers are continuing on the same flight (i.e. NZ1 to NZ1 no need to clear custom but NZ1 to NZ5 have to clear custom). Don't think any waiver exists for other airlines, especially since the itinerary we are talking about involves 2 airlines.
NZ 1/2 had to get a special waiver from Homeland Security so you don't need to pick up the luggage on LHR-LAX-AKL, only if the passengers are continuing on the same flight (i.e. NZ1 to NZ1 no need to clear custom but NZ1 to NZ5 have to clear custom). Don't think any waiver exists for other airlines, especially since the itinerary we are talking about involves 2 airlines.
#45
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HH Gold, Marriott Gold, PC Plat, Emirates Silver
Posts: 2,679
How long should it take to go from T8 to T4? I have TSA precheck if I need to go outside security.