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2018 -2022 LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread

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Old Jan 1, 2020, 6:10 pm
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Last edit by: TWA884
2018 - 2022 LAX Connections and Transfers Thread
Connecting passengers who are arriving at LAX on international flights will also find useful information in the following thread:


FAQ:

Does LAX have Automated Passport Control available for tourist visa holders?

Yes.


Does the US have international transfer desks?

No.


How can I obtain a boarding pass at Tom Bradley International Terminal?
  • The first way is the most obvious: check in online via your phone.
  • The second way is to use the automated kiosk. There are several located airside throughout TBIT and in the T4 - TBIT connector.
  • The third way is to show up at the gate or the check-in counters and get a paper boarding pass (this is not suggested for those with time constraints)

Do you have to go through security when going from one terminal to another?

Terminals 4 through 8 and Tom Bradley International Terminal are connected airside. There are Delta Air Lines shuttle buses connecting T2, T3 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal. To go to or from T1, you will need to exit and re-enter security. Please consult this link for more information.


How long will security take at Tom Bradley International Terminal?

Plan on at least 30 minutes.



"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, 4 and 6. View recent postings in this thread for more information.

________________________________________


2019 INFO

Los Angeles International Airport website.

How to enter LAX/Parking Map.

LAX Terminal Maps.

Inter-Terminal Connections.

How Do I Connect from Terminal B through Terminal 8? Follow the Yellow Dots.
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 an 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 and Delta's shuttles between their gates in T2, T3, and TBIT). Airport policy allows you to access any LAX terminal, even if your flight departs from another, with a same day boarding pass for a flight departing from LAX.


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. It is now possible to connect from TBIT to T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 through the secured airside area - link to map above - after clearing TSA security on the arrival level of TBIT at the exit from the Federal Inspections Services facility. Alternatively, 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.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, 2015 Consolidated LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread, 2016 LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread and 2017 LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread contain relevant information, however, to keep them from getting too long they have been archived and the 2018 - 2019 updates are in this thread.


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2018 -2022 LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread

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Old Mar 15, 2019, 6:55 am
  #226  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 559
Thanks very much. Is there any service available to help her move terminal that you're aware of (akin to a Skycap or Poter) she'll have a car seat, two suitcases, two hand luggage, a push chair and a baby! Final Dest is RNO from LAX
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Old Mar 15, 2019, 9:13 am
  #227  
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by mediamonkey
Thanks very much. Is there any service available to help her move terminal that you're aware of (akin to a Skycap or Poter) she'll have a car seat, two suitcases, two hand luggage, a push chair and a baby! Final Dest is RNO from LAX
I thought that you've already found such a service.:
Airport Concierge Services (Luggage / Connections / Transferring Terminals)

Originally Posted by mediamonkey
In case anyone is interested I've found this service https://pass.blacklane.com/services
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Old Mar 15, 2019, 9:49 am
  #228  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 559
I have, but was hoping there might be something available which costs less than $300 to help move someone from one terminal to another.
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Old Mar 15, 2019, 11:08 am
  #229  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,405
RNO is out of the remote terminal not T4 so add another :30 to the required transit time.

It is a lot for a single parent traveling with infant to have to manage 2 checked bags, 2 hand luggage, car seat, and stroller. You may want to look into AA's 5-star service if you are that concerned: https://www.aa.com/i18n/plan-travel/extras/five-star-service.jsp

Five Star Service™

If you have a ticket in any of our premium cabins you can buy Five Star Service™.
  • Access to Flagship® First Check-In and the Admirals Club® lounge throughout your trip
  • Personal escort through all airports
  • Priority boarding and reaccomodation status
  • Car service coordination
Five Star Service™ is available at 12 U.S. and 4 international airports for $350 for the first person; $100 per additional adult; $50 per child (age 17 and under).
Of course it means you have to buy LAX-RNO in domestic first class, and then pay $450 on top for the service. They can meet her just outside TBIT custom and take her to the remote terminal.

Last edited by bzcat; Mar 15, 2019 at 11:15 am
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Old Mar 16, 2019, 2:47 am
  #230  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 559
Uh oh. They're flying First on those American flights to RNO so maybe I'll have to organise the first service for them. Seems like that remote terminal is a bit of a nightmare
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Old Mar 24, 2019, 9:07 am
  #231  
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 1
Connect from international to domestic via T6/T7 with checked bag

Hi, we should arrive from an international flight into LAX T6 or T7 and will connect to a domestic flight out of T6. We have a checked bag. Yesterday’s flight claims to have arrived at gate 69.

Will we need to go through security again if our flight arrives from abroad to T6 or T7, if the connecting flight leaves from T6? We have a 1 hour 45 minute window if all goes to plan.

Any other words of wisdom? It is a single booking on Alaska.

Thanks very much,
Washirv is offline  
Old Mar 24, 2019, 9:21 am
  #232  
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Originally Posted by Washirv
Will we need to go through security again if our flight arrives from abroad to T6 or T7, if the connecting flight leaves from T6? We have a 1 hour 45 minute window if all goes to plan.
Every passenger arriving in the US on an international flight must pass through TSA security after clearing immigration and customs.
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Old Apr 2, 2019, 9:10 pm
  #233  
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 3
United Connection from TBIT to T7.

Hey,

So I’m travelling to the US East Coast via LAX as the Port of Entry and I’m not sure if this should be asked in the customs and immigrations thread or not.

But essentially, I’ll be arriving at TBIT I believe on UA99 at about 6:40 am local.
My connecting flight is at 8:35 am on UA2293 in T7 I think.

On the other side of my trip, my return flight into LAX is UA1842 arriving at 9:50pm with the connection at 10:35pm UA98 international departure.

On my incoming flight to LAX would I have enough time to meet my 1hr 55min connection given I am a NON-US Passport Holder,

And on my outgoing flight from LAX International, would I be able to make the connection of 45 minutes?


No checked luggage, and I would be very hard pressed to pay for change fees + fare differential
If I could get some advice on this, that would be great as this would be my first time travelling to the states.

Cheers.
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Old Apr 3, 2019, 6:14 pm
  #234  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
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Inbound will be very tight... but your odds improve considerably because no checked luggage. If this is on the same itinerary, I would stick with it assuming UA will wait for you to show up at T7. If you are self-connecting with two separate tickets, I would change.

Outbound should be no problem. You just change gate and won't have to clear security. 45 min is adequate assuming no unusual flight delays.
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Old Apr 3, 2019, 7:09 pm
  #235  
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 3
Originally Posted by bzcat
Inbound will be very tight... but your odds improve considerably because no checked luggage. If this is on the same itinerary, I would stick with it assuming UA will wait for you to show up at T7. If you are self-connecting with two separate tickets, I would change.

Outbound should be no problem. You just change gate and won't have to clear security. 45 min is adequate assuming no unusual flight delays.
Thanks for the reply, It’s all on the same itinerary so I’m going to pin hope on United holding my flight for me to get to T7 from TBIT after clearing international immigration/passport control & TSA.
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Old Apr 11, 2019, 3:19 am
  #236  
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 22
Arriving LAX internationally at 12:15 pm with an *A carrirer and are looking to book a flight to SFO on a separate booking, most likely UA as I am a *A gold.

How much time do I need/when should I book my separate connection flight?

UA has flights leaving at 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm - will 3:30 be to short? 5:00 will be a long layover even though I have lounge access.

I will be travelling with checked baggage.

Any input?
Lars Johansen is offline  
Old Apr 11, 2019, 8:46 am
  #237  
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by Lars Johansen
Arriving LAX internationally at 12:15 pm with an *A carrirer and are looking to book a flight to SFO on a separate booking, most likely UA as I am a *A gold.

How much time do I need/when should I book my separate connection flight?

UA has flights leaving at 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm - will 3:30 be to short? 5:00 will be a long layover even though I have lounge access.

I will be travelling with checked baggage.

Any input?
With checked baggage that can take up to an hour to get to the baggage carousel and must be checked in with United a minimum of 45 minutes before your next flight - if your original carrier will not check it through to your final destination on separate tickets - the 5:00 pm flight would be my choice.

Even without checked bags, 3:15 is cutting it close if you don't have Global Entry. Noon is the beginning of the peak arrival time from Europe and immigration lines can be long.
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Old Apr 11, 2019, 11:35 am
  #238  
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,544
it’s not tight at all.
UA will have an agent at Bradley south connections exit for quick baggage recheck.
then clear security at Bradley north lower and walk airside to T7.
you’ll be killing a lot of time til 3pm boarding.
Colin is offline  
Old Apr 11, 2019, 11:36 am
  #239  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,405
Star/TBIT to UA domestic connection is always difficult and I would not attempt with separate tickets with checked luggage under 3 hours. Especially without GE and Precheck.

Without checked luggage on separate tickets, you can probably do it under 3 hours but still a risk.

On single ticket... yes, you can roll the dice because UA will protect your connection.
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Old Apr 11, 2019, 11:46 am
  #240  
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,544
separate tickets means nothing.
everyone claims and rechecks at Bradley.
one ticket or separate tickets.
a UA agent will take you bag at Bradley, tag it, send it on its way, and even hand you a boarding pass.
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