Sorry I don't know the BA-AA MCT off the top of my head.

Last November, I flew from LHR to LAX on BA269. We arrived at 6:54 pm and I was on the FlyAway bus on my way to the San Fernando Valley by 7:10 pm.

No doubt. Problem is they probably won't let me try and cancel that last flight. I am currently working with my TA to change the routing.

What would you do?
Currently flying LHR to LAX in J on Virgin. Arrival 16.40
Want to fly on to LAS - currently see AA at 19.30 or Delta at 21.30 (Sept 26)

Similarly return from LAX to LHR leaves LAX at 21.35
What time would you be looking to arrive at LAX?

Here is what you need to know. VS uses TBIT for arrival and T2 for departure check in (but operates from TIBT) at LAX.

On inbound, if you don't plan to check luggage, the AA flight with 3 hours should be plenty of time. If you have global entry and no checked luggage, you will be landside in about 15 minutes after the plane park at the gate. If you don't have global entry, you should still be able to beat the crowd since you are in J... budget maybe 30 min to clear immigration. So definitely take the earlier AA flight if you don't plan to check luggage. Once you are landside, I suggest you do online check in with AA and use the TBIT ground floor TSA which offers air side passage to T4. Or you can exit the building and walk to T4 which is to your right about 30 meters and do in-person check in with AA.

If you have checked luggage, I would consider booking the later DL flight. VS and DL codeshare so VS should be able to issue boarding passes and tag your luggage to LAS. Same timeline as before but I would add 30-40 mins to collect luggage before custom. Once you clear customs (simple walk-through if nothing to declare), you can re-check luggage at TBIT (to the right once you go past the custom checkpoint, but before you exit to landside). This is where booking DL will make it easier with checked luggage because you can just drop off your bag and then walk to T3 TSA directly, bypassing the DL check in. T3 TSA is to your left about 70 or 80 meters walk.

On outbound, I would book at Delta flight. DL will check you in at LAS and issue boarding pass for LAX-LHR and tag your luggage all the way thru to LHR so no need to pick it up at LAX. You will arrive at T2 or T3 and proceed directly to Delta One lounge, or VS lounge in TBIT, or to the gate if you prefer. There is secure air side passage from T2/3 to TBIT where VS will depart physically. You probably want to give yourself at least 1 hour to connect at LAX outbound but you can do it in less time if staying airside the whole time.

How bad is the walk airside from TBIT to T7 for a 6 AM international arrival these days?

It's not doable nowadays. The tunnels between T4 and T6 are closed due the the demolition and reconstruction of T5. You'll need to take an airside bus between T4 and T6. It's going to be quicker to walk landside and clear TSA security at T6 or T7.

And don't bother waiting for a landside inter-terminal bus. I've not made that walk in a while, but have several times, and suggest the lower (arrivals) level and go upstairs when you get to T6 or T7.

I walked from Sepulveda to TBIT on the Sunday after thanksgiving when the horseshoe was gridlocked. Took 9 minutes but I walk kind of fast.

TBIT to T7 is reverse direction and slightly shorter distance than Sepulveda to TBIT so most people can do it in 10 minutes at moderately fast pace.

Agree it's not worth waiting for the land side bus... unless you catch it right when you exit TBIT.

Looks like the thread wiki is out of date due to the T5 construction.

Where does one pickup the T4-T6 airside bus and does it operate on a fairly frequent schedule? Trying to determine if I have enough time to enjoy a TBIT lounge during a 2hr UA connection while remaining airside.

-FlyerBeek

I edited the wiki to reflect the tunnels closure.

I have only flown out of TBIT and arrived at T4 (Gate 42B) since the tunnels closed, so I have no personal knowledge as to where the airside bus stops are located in T4 and T6. I can't find that information on the LAX website. According to a post on Reddit, the airside bus operates between Gate 47A and 64C. T4 is also under construction, the center of the terminal is being rebuilt, so getting between Gate 47A and the TBIT connector involves walking through a tunnel between the high and low numbered gates.

There is a report in the "LAX Terminal Construction and Landside Access Modernization Program" thread of getting to the United Club from the Star Alliance Lounge. It took him 40 minutes.

Great. Thanks for the detailed response. I'll give it a try tonight. Worst case, I can always return to T7 landside.

-FlyerBeek

Just wanted to provide a quick datapoint of my excursion to TBIT tonight from T7 tonight.

The signage is great, but that's about where the accolades of this current shuttle setup stop. After waiting 15 mins at 64C for the shuttle to T4, everyone was informed it would be another 30+ min wait for the shuttle due to an aircraft arrival at 64. I ended up walking (5 mins) to T4, where there was no wait to clear security. Should have just done that from the start.

Returning from TBIT, the steps required to backtrack to the T4 shuttle stop exceeded the steps of just walking curbside to T6. I was fortunate that there was a shuttle waiting, but it stayed at T4 for about 10 mins before departing. Total time from TBIT (AMEX Centurion Lounge, specifically) to T6 arrival was 35 mins - and that was with a very brisk walk and a shuttle already waiting. Walking landside and re-clearing security would have certainly been quicker.

Overall under the current setup, if going from T6/7/8 to T4/TBIT I strongly recommend just going landside, walking, and clearing security again. An hour shuttle wait to go from T6->T4 is insane.

As always, YMMV.

-FlyerBeek

Definitely agree with this advice - getting to T4 shuttle stop from Bradley was like navigating a corn maze packed with people - there were also a couple self driving wheelchairs in the tunnel (one occupied one empty) as well that were barely moving due to constant flow of pax stepping in front and then timing of T6 bus is a big ymmv.
Just walk outside especially if you have precheck.

Hello LAX frequent flyers, I'm wondering which flight to choose to help my family get home from a holiday from Cancun.
Will arrive at LAX from an AA flight at 7:35PM at TBIT, would you choose a connecting flight with WN (T1) at 9:15PM or DL(T2) flight at 10PM?

They have GE and with airside walkway, I'm hoping they can make it to T1 in time, but obviously the DL flight is probably safer...Any thoughts? Thanks!