2016 LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread
 

Would love some advice please.

Flying into LA in October, 2016 on QF15 from Brisbane at 0600.
Australian passport, 4th trip to the USA in 6 years (2nd trip on my current passport).
Have used ESTA all 4 trips.

The Qantas website is giving the following options for connecting flights to Seattle (on the one ticket)

0800 - VX781 (Virgin America T3)
0840 - AS455 (Alaska Airlines T6)
0950 - UA5608 (United Airlines T8)
1040 - AS449 (Alaska Airlines T6)

Will have checked bags and would like to have enough time to quickly grab some food in between flights.

What would be the most appropriate connecting flight?

While the international to domestic minimum connect time at LAX is 2 hours, if I were you, I'd go for the 8:40 AS flight. The reason being that AS has the most flights from LAX to SEA - as many as 16 a day - so there are numerous backup options in case of a misconnect.

you will not have any problem making it to AS455, IMO. VX781 might be a little bit close for comfort, however T3 is closer than T6 so a shorter walk, thus saving some time (5-10 mins).

UA5608 is an express flight on a CR700. probably to be avoided for that reason alone given that VX and AS fly the big planes.

Since you have checked luggage, I wouldn't do any connection with less than 2:30. The Alaska one at 8:40 AM is the earliest I would attempt. Also gives you some time to eat breakfast :)

Regarding walking distance... by the time kcupp95 makes this trip (in October 2016), the TBIT-T4 connector should be open. That means potentially, kcupp95 can recheck the luggage and then clear security right in TBIT and then board the transfer bus to T6 - the TBIT/T4 bus depot will be right past TSA checkpoint in the connector building, and I'm assuming LAWA will be operating some type of shuttle. This info will need to be verified once TBIT-T4 connector opens.

Thanks guys - I was hoping that flight would be a good option :)

There's also an elevated route that avoids waiting for the pedestrian signals at the crosswalks (there are three road crossings on the route):

From T1, you can take the stairs or elevator up from directly under the skyway to the P1 lot. When you get across, you're on level 4 of P1, and have to go down one level (stairs or elevator right there) to level 3 of P1, and you can walk straight across the road bridge between P1 and P7, saving you having to get across the center road if there's traffic. At the far side of P7 there's a structure with stairs and elevators that takes you up one level to get to the bridge across to T7, so the bridges to the terminals are on level 4, even though P7 only has 3 parking levels. If you're fast on stairs it's likely faster than the ground level route-- I'll try timing it on the next few trips.

2016 Consolidated LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread
 

Hi,

I have a connecting flight from T2 to TBIT with a 2hr 30min connection. Do you recommend walking or taking the shuttle? If walking, how long is the walk. Also, I'm assuming I have to clear security again. Do you think I'll have enough time to visit the Star Alliance lounge?

Does anyone know how many showers if any are located at the Star Alliance First Class Lounge?

Presumably it's a Domestic to International connection.

Plenty of time if flights are on schedule.

It's a five minute walk at most from T2 to TBIT - the Bus will generally take more time (moreover its TBIT stop is really between T3 and TBIT).

There are no showers specifically for the *A first lounge; that 'lounge' is really a relatively small separate room abutting the main lounge with some better f&b as well as a short menu of snacks to order). Not sure about atcual count, but there's at least 6 showers - they'll give you a beeper if busy.

I've got a Virgin America flight from LAS-LAX, then a Virgin Australia flight back to Australia. I have about 2 1/2 hours between flights. I believe I have to pick my baggage up and check back in, but are they in the same terminal? I thought they were, but I just read somewhere on here that Virgin Australia actually flies out of TBIT?

Virgin Am and Virgin Aus both operate out of T3 according to the LAX website, only Virgin Aus arrivals are at TBIT then departures are at T3. i'm not sure how up to date that info is.

if your travel is on a single ticket you probably will not need to recheck your bag at LAX, you should be able to check it all the way to your final destination at LAS. if you have separate tickets you can ask about interlining your baggage at LAS, but if they refuse, you will have to reclaim and recheck at LAX.

Virgin Australia departs from TBIT. Only check in is at T3.

If you do not need to check in (e.g. already have boarding pass and your e-visa already checked and verified by airline), you can proceed directly to TBIT and clear TSA/go to gate.

If you need to get boarding pass or re-check luggage, you need to go to T3 landside first to get those things squared away. Then you walk next door to TBIT and clear TSA and go to gate.

If LAS-LAX-SYD (or BNE) is on the same ticket, I'm pretty sure VX will interlined the baggage and there is no need to pick up and re-check. Just confirm with the agent at LAS to be sure. Even if you have to re-check, it is not the end of the world because you have to leave T3 anyway to get to TBIT.

I have the following connection. Anyone think I will have issue for catch the connection?

AA 5971 SFO-> LAX arrive at LAX at 9:42AM
AA 183 LAX->PVG(Shanghai) depart at 11:30

Thanks.

Easy peasy; plenty of time, same terminal, you'll probably be bored with how much time you have ;).

I would check the previous day in case of weather issues... SFO and sometimes LAX are prone to fog this time of year, that early in the morning.

Any update on T4 Connector Project?
 

Hi,
Anyone know the latest status of this project? When can we expect to get to Tom Bradley International Terminal from T4 without going through the security check again?


Thanks.

This is the latest from the AA T-4 - LAX TBIT Int'l. terminal & airside connector coming o/a early 2016 thread in the American Airlines | AAdvantage forum: