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
#76
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,407
To amplify, the only difference the connector makes in this particular case is you can clear security at TBIT immediately after clearing Customs and then walk from TBIT to T7 airside instead of landside. Personally, I'd check the security lines at TBIT; if they're short, clear there, if not, walk past the checkpoints at T4, T5, T6, and T7 and clear at the first one with a line that looks fairly short.
But this isn't relevant to American Airlines at all.
But this isn't relevant to American Airlines at all.
Right now, if you have a connecting flight to T7, your best bet is to clear TSA at T7. Unless you can see that the line is short as you walk pass T4, T5 or T6.
#77
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: HI
Posts: 40
LAX Connecting From Terminal 2 to 7 & duty free
Hi, Newbie here. I will be arriving into LAX on Air Canada from Montreal in Terminal 2, transferring to a UA flight departing in Terminal 7. My bags will be checked all the way through to my final destination. I will be clearing customs/immigration in Montreal, but wanted to purchase some duty free liquor there. I understand that I will have to leave the secured area to transfer to Terminal 7, but does this mean that TSA will confiscate my duty free liquor?
Thanks for any help!!!
Thanks for any help!!!
#78
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,639
As of 2014, duty free alcohol is allowed in carry-on bags as long as the bottles are placed in "secure, tamper-evident bags."
For particulars, please refer to the following thread in the Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues forum:
For particulars, please refer to the following thread in the Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues forum:
#79
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 61
Is the TBIT-T4 connector fully opened now?
Landing from DEN at 1pm (UA - Terminal 7), and flying out at 10:30pm to MEL (UA-Terminal 7). Planning to hang out at the Star Alliance lounge.
Trying to figure out how much time to allot for move from TBIT back to T7.
Landing from DEN at 1pm (UA - Terminal 7), and flying out at 10:30pm to MEL (UA-Terminal 7). Planning to hang out at the Star Alliance lounge.
Trying to figure out how much time to allot for move from TBIT back to T7.
#80
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,407
T7 to TBIT should be around 20 minutes walk inside security. Or a 20~30 minute bus ride outside security depending on time of day and traffic condition, not including extra TSA time. I know which one I would choose
#81
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,911
Central building TBIT to Gate 88 can be close to a mile.
#82
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1
Flight from SYD - LAX with a connection
Hello
I'm flying into LAX on a Qantas flight at 6.30am Thursday and my connecting flight is at 9.45am (Qantas flight operated by American Airlines).
I arrive at the TBIT and will need to head over to Terminal 4.
- Will I have enough time?
- What exactly is the process that I will need to do in la? (Eg, customs, immigration, baggage collection)
- Do I recheck my bags in the TBIT or at Terminal 4?
I am a bit of a nervous flyer and have never had a connecting flight before so any info/tips/advice would be muchly appreciated!
I'm flying into LAX on a Qantas flight at 6.30am Thursday and my connecting flight is at 9.45am (Qantas flight operated by American Airlines).
I arrive at the TBIT and will need to head over to Terminal 4.
- Will I have enough time?
- What exactly is the process that I will need to do in la? (Eg, customs, immigration, baggage collection)
- Do I recheck my bags in the TBIT or at Terminal 4?
I am a bit of a nervous flyer and have never had a connecting flight before so any info/tips/advice would be muchly appreciated!
#83
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
Hello
I'm flying into LAX on a Qantas flight at 6.30am Thursday and my connecting flight is at 9.45am (Qantas flight operated by American Airlines).
I arrive at the TBIT and will need to head over to Terminal 4.
- Will I have enough time?
- What exactly is the process that I will need to do in la? (Eg, customs, immigration, baggage collection)
- Do I recheck my bags in the TBIT or at Terminal 4?
I am a bit of a nervous flyer and have never had a connecting flight before so any info/tips/advice would be muchly appreciated!
I'm flying into LAX on a Qantas flight at 6.30am Thursday and my connecting flight is at 9.45am (Qantas flight operated by American Airlines).
I arrive at the TBIT and will need to head over to Terminal 4.
- Will I have enough time?
- What exactly is the process that I will need to do in la? (Eg, customs, immigration, baggage collection)
- Do I recheck my bags in the TBIT or at Terminal 4?
I am a bit of a nervous flyer and have never had a connecting flight before so any info/tips/advice would be muchly appreciated!
You can then recheck your checked bags just after customs. They should be tagged through to your final destination and all you have to do is drop them on a baggage carousel just after exiting customs.
You will then walk out the door, turn right, walk a few feet and find yourself at T4—TBIT and T4 are right next to each other. If you already have your boarding pass, just head straight to security, no need to check in again.
Note that your return flight, assuming you do the same in the reverse, will not require you to recheck bags at LAX or reclear security. Nor does the US have exit immigration, so all you would have to do at LAX is find your gate. After deplaning in T4, just follow the signs for TBIT. You can now connect between the two using the new airside secure connector.
#84
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,018
hello, I might have an AA to UA connection coming up (different PNR's).
Looks like AA mainline (T4) to UA (T7).
1hr 20min time between flights.
Is this too risky? (I can definitely change the UA flight to a later one if I miss my original flight.)
However...if everything goes perfectly on time, can I make the connection in under 1 hour of walking, running, etc?
Not familiar with LAX.
Looks like AA mainline (T4) to UA (T7).
1hr 20min time between flights.
Is this too risky? (I can definitely change the UA flight to a later one if I miss my original flight.)
However...if everything goes perfectly on time, can I make the connection in under 1 hour of walking, running, etc?
Not familiar with LAX.
#85
hello, I might have an AA to UA connection coming up (different PNR's).
Looks like AA mainline (T4) to UA (T7).
1hr 20min time between flights.
Is this too risky? (I can definitely change the UA flight to a later one if I miss my original flight.)
However...if everything goes perfectly on time, can I make the connection in under 1 hour of walking, running, etc?
Not familiar with LAX.
Looks like AA mainline (T4) to UA (T7).
1hr 20min time between flights.
Is this too risky? (I can definitely change the UA flight to a later one if I miss my original flight.)
However...if everything goes perfectly on time, can I make the connection in under 1 hour of walking, running, etc?
Not familiar with LAX.
#86
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,639
hello, I might have an AA to UA connection coming up (different PNR's).
Looks like AA mainline (T4) to UA (T7).
1hr 20min time between flights.
Is this too risky? (I can definitely change the UA flight to a later one if I miss my original flight.)
However...if everything goes perfectly on time, can I make the connection in under 1 hour of walking, running, etc?
Not familiar with LAX.
Looks like AA mainline (T4) to UA (T7).
1hr 20min time between flights.
Is this too risky? (I can definitely change the UA flight to a later one if I miss my original flight.)
However...if everything goes perfectly on time, can I make the connection in under 1 hour of walking, running, etc?
Not familiar with LAX.
If you have only carry on luggage, I fully agree with IceTrojan.
#87
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,018
Are you checking luggage? I have yet to receive checked bags from AA at LAX sooner than 30 minutes after my flights arrived at the gate. In that case, you also need to factor in the time that it takes get to T7, 10 - 15 minutes, check the bags at UA and clear security there. That would make a 1:20 connection rather tight.
If you have only carry on luggage, I fully agree with IceTrojan.
If you have only carry on luggage, I fully agree with IceTrojan.
Now, will hope the initial flight arrives on time.
#88
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,407
With only carry on you will have plenty of time to make the connection. Just remember to walk down stairs (or take the escalator) in the middle of T4 to Gate 44 (bus gate) then make a turn to reach the T4-T5 tunnel. If you walk all the way out to the front of T4, you will be forced to exit the secured area on the departure level.
#89
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,018
With only carry on you will have plenty of time to make the connection. Just remember to walk down stairs (or take the escalator) in the middle of T4 to Gate 44 (bus gate) then make a turn to reach the T4-T5 tunnel. If you walk all the way out to the front of T4, you will be forced to exit the secured area on the departure level.
Yes will do!
#90
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 263
LAX Terminal 6 to Bradley Intl Terminal?
I believe Alaska still uses LAX's terminal 6. I'm due to fly there domestic and need to get to Bradley Intl Terminal for a connecting CX flight. Can someone tell me with assurance if there is an airside connection (tunnel?) to use, how long of a walk? I really would hate to have to exit the arriving terminal and then reenter the horrendously long security lines at Bradley at the hour I'm due to depart there. FWIW I arrive LAX at 9:30 p.m. Thank you.