Jan 5, 2017, 3:29 pm
Last edit by: TWA884
2024 - 2026 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.
________________________________________
Resources
Los Angeles International Airport website.
How to enter LAX/Parking Map.
LAX Terminal Maps.
Inter-Terminal Connections.
Terminal Connectors Walking Path
All terminals at LAX are connected airside (above ground hallways between terminals 1 and T4, and T6, T7 and T8, and tunnels between terminals 4, 5 and 6). There are occasional airside shuttles elsewhere, but are subject to change (e.g. AA to American Eagle). 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.
LAX also now has an interactive map that will give detailed instructions between any two name-able points in the terminals (e.g. gates, restaurants, lounges, etc): Interactive Map
[Note: The airside tunnels between T4, T5 and T6 are currently closed due to the T5 demolition and reconstruction; airside shuttle buses provide access between Terminals 4 and 6.]
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 T1 to T2, T3, TBIT, 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, 2017 LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread and 2018 - 2023 LAX Connecting / Connection / Connections thread contain relevant information, however, to keep them from getting too long they have been archived and the 2024 - 2026 updates are in this thread.
2024 - 2026 LAX Connections and Transfers Thread
Jan 2, 2024 | 5:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 7
2024 - 2026 LAX Connections and Transfers Thread
May I ask the frequent flyers in this group who are familiar with LAX airport for their judgement 
:
We are flying VIE - LHR - LAX - HNL (Vienna – London Heathrow – Los Angeles – Honolulu) on a Saturday in April. So far, the connection time including entry into the US with an ESTA in LAX was about 3:30 hrs. Due to flight schedule changes, the time has been reduced to 02:45 hrs.
Is this realistic? We are flying British Airways Business Class with checked-in luggage all tickets are booked in one PNR. We are Austrian citizens and therefore cannot apply for Global Entry. We are both traveling to the US with a new ESTA. Previous entries were with a different ESTA and with an older passport. Arrival time is around 03:00 p.m. LAX time.
Unfortunately, we cannot simply take an earlier flight but would have to travel to London the night before and plan an overnight stay in an airport hotel.
Thanks a lot for your help !
:We are flying VIE - LHR - LAX - HNL (Vienna – London Heathrow – Los Angeles – Honolulu) on a Saturday in April. So far, the connection time including entry into the US with an ESTA in LAX was about 3:30 hrs. Due to flight schedule changes, the time has been reduced to 02:45 hrs.
Is this realistic? We are flying British Airways Business Class with checked-in luggage all tickets are booked in one PNR. We are Austrian citizens and therefore cannot apply for Global Entry. We are both traveling to the US with a new ESTA. Previous entries were with a different ESTA and with an older passport. Arrival time is around 03:00 p.m. LAX time.
Unfortunately, we cannot simply take an earlier flight but would have to travel to London the night before and plan an overnight stay in an airport hotel.
Thanks a lot for your help !
Jan 2, 2024 | 9:25 am
#2
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 24,516
May I ask the frequent flyers in this group who are familiar with LAX airport for their judgement :
We are flying VIE - LHR - LAX - HNL (Vienna – London Heathrow – Los Angeles – Honolulu) on a Saturday in April. So far, the connection time including entry into the US with an ESTA in LAX was about 3:30 hrs. Due to flight schedule changes, the time has been reduced to 02:45 hrs.
Is this realistic? We are flying British Airways Business Class with checked-in luggage all tickets are booked in one PNR. We are Austrian citizens and therefore cannot apply for Global Entry. We are both traveling to the US with a new ESTA. Previous entries were with a different ESTA and with an older passport. Arrival time is around 03:00 p.m. LAX time.
Unfortunately, we cannot simply take an earlier flight but would have to travel to London the night before and plan an overnight stay in an airport hotel.
Thanks a lot for your help !
:We are flying VIE - LHR - LAX - HNL (Vienna – London Heathrow – Los Angeles – Honolulu) on a Saturday in April. So far, the connection time including entry into the US with an ESTA in LAX was about 3:30 hrs. Due to flight schedule changes, the time has been reduced to 02:45 hrs.
Is this realistic? We are flying British Airways Business Class with checked-in luggage all tickets are booked in one PNR. We are Austrian citizens and therefore cannot apply for Global Entry. We are both traveling to the US with a new ESTA. Previous entries were with a different ESTA and with an older passport. Arrival time is around 03:00 p.m. LAX time.
Unfortunately, we cannot simply take an earlier flight but would have to travel to London the night before and plan an overnight stay in an airport hotel.
Thanks a lot for your help !
Assuming that your flight to HNL is on American and your bags are checked through, you should be fine. Should your flight from LHR arrive late, you will be met at the exit from the plane by an agent who will provide you with a bright orange oneworld "Express Connection" card or ticket jacket. That will give you priority clearing immigration and customs inspections, dropping your bags off at the transfer desks at the exit from the Federal Inspection Services Facility and going through the TSA security checkpoint. AA flights to HNL generally depart from T5, approximately a 6-10 minutes walk from TBIT. Sometimes those depart from T4 (3-5 minutes walk) or TBIT.
Last edited by TWA884; Jan 2, 2024 at 10:18 am
Jan 3, 2024 | 2:59 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 7
Welcome to FlyerTalk NiHo!
Assuming that your flight to HNL is on American and your bags are checked through, you should be fine. Should your flight from LHR arrive late, you will be met at the exit from the plane by an agent who will provide you with a bright orange oneworld "Express Connection" card or ticket jacket. That will give you priority clearing immigration and customs inspections, dropping your bags off at the transfer desks at the exit from the Federal Inspection Services Facility and going through the TSA security checkpoint. AA flights to HNL generally depart from T5, approximately a 6-10 minutes walk from TBIT. Sometimes those depart from T4 (3-5 minutes walk) or TBIT.
Assuming that your flight to HNL is on American and your bags are checked through, you should be fine. Should your flight from LHR arrive late, you will be met at the exit from the plane by an agent who will provide you with a bright orange oneworld "Express Connection" card or ticket jacket. That will give you priority clearing immigration and customs inspections, dropping your bags off at the transfer desks at the exit from the Federal Inspection Services Facility and going through the TSA security checkpoint. AA flights to HNL generally depart from T5, approximately a 6-10 minutes walk from TBIT. Sometimes those depart from T4 (3-5 minutes walk) or TBIT.
Jan 3, 2024 | 12:14 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: HA, UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,787
Thanks!
Last edited by TWA884; Jan 3, 2024 at 12:19 pm Reason: Formatting
Jan 3, 2024 | 12:27 pm
#5
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 24,516
Somewhere on FlyerTalk there are photos showing the path, I'll post a link if and when I find those.
Jan 26, 2024 | 11:05 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 37
Due to several schedule changes, our transfertime at LAX has become a bit tight.. At the end of January we have a 1hr and 20m layover.
We are arriving in TBIT and departing from T3. We both have GE, Tsa Pre and Sky priority. All on 1 ticket. (KLM/Delta). What do you guys think? There is only1 flight later that day but this one leaves 5 hours later..
We are arriving in TBIT and departing from T3. We both have GE, Tsa Pre and Sky priority. All on 1 ticket. (KLM/Delta). What do you guys think? There is only1 flight later that day but this one leaves 5 hours later..
Well, we made it.
Our KLM flight had landed 5 minutes ahead of schedule. Global entry took us just 10 seconds. Had to wait 10 minutes for our checked bags. Overal it took us 45 minutes from disembarking to arriving at gate 31 in Terminal 3 for our Delta connecting flight
Feb 7, 2024 | 7:26 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 4
Hello everyone ! New on this site.
I'll be travelling on APR18th on the following route: AF76: CDG - LAX (Landing at 21h45), with connection on flight DL1897 LAX - GUA (Terminal 3), taking off at 11h59.
Overall I have 2h14min to make the entire transfer process, including luggage. Do you believe is it doable ?
Thnks
I'll be travelling on APR18th on the following route: AF76: CDG - LAX (Landing at 21h45), with connection on flight DL1897 LAX - GUA (Terminal 3), taking off at 11h59.
Overall I have 2h14min to make the entire transfer process, including luggage. Do you believe is it doable ?
I have skypriority, but I'll be travelling in Y
Thnks
Feb 7, 2024 | 10:19 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB PLT again afater a decade as plebian
Posts: 22,880
Keep in mind you'll be clearing U.S. entry with the whole AF flight even if a good number are continuing on to PPT. If you don;t have GE but are eligible to use MPC, use that for faster US clearance (looks like it takes an average of 20+ minutes for non-US citizens to clear, with a maximum of just over an hour). Where you sit in the a/c and disembark will probably have some bearing on your wait. No Sky Priority on arrival other than priority baggage delivery (hopefully). Check-in cutoff for the next flight is 1 hr prior so 22:59 though it isn't too far of a walk to T3. If you can get out of TBIT by 2245-2250, you should be o.k.
Feb 7, 2024 | 10:43 am
#9
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 24,516
I'll be travelling on APR18th on the following route: AF76: CDG - LAX (Landing at 21h45), with connection on flight DL1897 LAX - GUA (Terminal 3), taking off at 11h59.
Overall I have 2h14min to make the entire transfer process, including luggage. Do you believe is it doable ?s
Overall I have 2h14min to make the entire transfer process, including luggage. Do you believe is it doable ?s
Feb 7, 2024 | 10:52 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 4
Keep in mind you'll be clearing U.S. entry with the whole AF flight even if a good number are continuing on to PPT. If you don;t have GE but are eligible to use MPC, use that for faster US clearance (looks like it takes an average of 20+ minutes for non-US citizens to clear, with a maximum of just over an hour). Where you sit in the a/c and disembark will probably have some bearing on your wait. No Sky Priority on arrival other than priority baggage delivery (hopefully). Check-in cutoff for the next flight is 1 hr prior so 22:59 though it isn't too far of a walk to T3. If you can get out of TBIT by 2245-2250, you should be o.k.
What do you mean by check-in cutoff ?
I didn't say it on my first post (my bad) but both flights are under the same reservation, sold my Delta.
Feb 7, 2024 | 11:41 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB PLT again afater a decade as plebian
Posts: 22,880
One ticket gives you more time (as well as protection though you may have to wait a whole day for the next flight). Should be bag drop off after clearance, and then heading to the DL gate (walk, don't take the shuttle bus as it pretty much has to go full circle around the terminal complex).
Feb 7, 2024 | 2:51 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,587
Just make sure AF tag your checked luggage properly to GUA when you check in at CDG. After you clear immigrations at LAX, you will pick up your luggage and exit custom. After passing thru custom, to the right of the exit is luggage re-check station. Just hand over your luggage and then exit to the curb. Turn left and start walking until you reach the next terminal (T3) and you can go thru security there. The walk should take about 5 minutes once you exit custom.
Feb 7, 2024 | 8:02 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: HA, UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,787
Hello everyone ! New on this site.
I'll be travelling on APR18th on the following route: AF76: CDG - LAX (Landing at 21h45), with connection on flight DL1897 LAX - GUA (Terminal 3), taking off at 11h59.
Overall I have 2h14min to make the entire transfer process, including luggage. Do you believe is it doable ?
Thnks
I'll be travelling on APR18th on the following route: AF76: CDG - LAX (Landing at 21h45), with connection on flight DL1897 LAX - GUA (Terminal 3), taking off at 11h59.
Overall I have 2h14min to make the entire transfer process, including luggage. Do you believe is it doable ?
I have skypriority, but I'll be travelling in Y
Thnks
Welcome to Flyertalk!
You might want to study/post in this thread (and look at the top "Wiki": Minimum Connection Transfer Time at Los Angeles (LAX): The Definitive Thread
Looks like you meet the minimum connect time threshold. Hopefully your flight is on time. Good luck!
Feb 26, 2024 | 12:10 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: BA Exec, LH M&M
Posts: 200
I'll be traveling from London Heathrow to San Diego, and one of the flight options is United via LAX (United, and then SkyWest-United Express). The connection time is 2hr15min. It will be all one booking. I have an ESTA and will be checking bags. Is this enough time to make the connection? If I don't, what are my options? It seems there is only one flight per day with United to San Diego. Thanks!