Why QF using T4 in LAX instead of TBIT?
 

Why is there only some of their flights using T4? Other else are going out from TBIT?

Would it be too confused to passenger? confusing passenger as well?

Flights to Brisbane and Melbourne via Auckland use T4, the rest use TBIT. Hardly seems confusing, they are very clear about which flights go where.

But what is the reason separate their operation in different terminal? It seems a bit rare.

Arrive TBIT
QF11, 15, 25, 93, 107
Depart TBIT
QF12, 94, 108
Arrive T4
QF108
Depart T4
QF16, 26

Quite simple really. They used to have more flights operating out of T4, they were shifted across the TBIT after it was refurbished and the A380 started.

The only issue with the current set up is if you're arriving on QF108 from JFK and are connecting through to SYD (QF108) or MEL (QF94).

2 gates at T4 were converted to be 744 capable a few years ago, and QF started to use these (along with an immigration/customs facility in T4). TBIT was short on gates (still is, actually) and QF disliked using the remote stands by the hangars, deplaning to the tarmac and then bus to the terminal. So move to T4 was highly desirable, also T4 was newly refurbished and QF paid millions to complete the lounge in T4 (hence a joint AC/QP). Great move. But then immigration/customs was consolidated to TBIT (connected by sterile tunnel) and no A380 capable gates possible at T4. Also AA adding more widebodies, competing for the few 744 capable gates. So QF moved back to TBIT as gates there opened up. Great tactics, but split operation is never a good thing (and consider the logistics for QF to be split between 2 terminals).

For completeness, I believe QF107 now departs TBIT (LAX-JFK); a rare domestic flight from the international terminal. QF does have some strange flights.

Arrive T4
QF108
Depart TBIT
QF108

LOL, so this "direct" flight JFK-SYD now requires both a change of plane and a change of terminal.

And sometimes QF108 departs LAX before QF108 arrives from JFK :) It's happened to me several times (on QF, AA and DL), misconnect on the "same" flight number when there was a change of plane and the continuing service leaves on-time, stranding the through pax. Most likely QF would hold the MEL flight for up to 2 hours (max crew time) if there were QF108 pax mis-connecting at LAX, loads permitting.

:p QF108 JFK-LAX (A330) turns into QF26 and goes to AKL. QF108 LAX-SYD is a 744 which spent the day at LAX.

QF107 SYD-JFK is just a plane change at LAX as the A330 operating the second leg arrived in TBIT as QF25, but going the other way... @_@

I don't see this set up changing unless TBIT is extended or QF accepts having to use remote gates and buses for some of their flights.

QF11/12 is 'isolated' from the other QF LAX flights (QF11 arrives ~3 hours after the other flights and QF12 departs ~2 hours before). The other 4 flights arrive/depart LAX in the same 40 min block as the BNE, MEL and AKL flights are timed to allow connections with the LAX-JFK-LAX tag.
If the flight is late out of JFK, and they can't hold back the other flights due to crew hours, any pax going through to SYD or connecting to MEL or BNE either have to go through to AKL or spend the night in LA.

TBIT is being extended.

Is QF allowed to carry pax JFK-LAX only? I mean are there any domestic baggage claim at the TBIT? Usually no domestic flights use that terminal at all...

The US requires that pax have an international flight on the same ticket.
In order to stop UA from complaining about it, QF has an additional restriction, requiring pax to be flying on a QF flight to/from LAX.

It can be a domestic flight, but you must have a QF flight to/from AKL, SYD, BNE or MEL on the same ticket (eg, you could fly MEL-LAX, stop in LAX for a few days, then continue on to JFK on QF107).

Same deal as the UA flights between SYD and MEL. UA can only take pax to MEL who arrived on the UA flights from SFO and LAX.

This is why QF108 JFK-LAX arrives at T4 and not TBIT ... so it is the same as the AA JFK-LAX arrivals. Domestic flights cannot arrive at TBIT as all baggage goes through customs due to shortage of baggage claim space (arriving pax can bypass immigration, but those corridors are normally locked).

Some years ago, QF107 both QF108 did arrived and departed at/from T4.

It was common for QF arriving passengers to have arrivals processing at T4 (even if arriving at TBIT), ending up landside downstairs.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qanta...ml#post9070743

Sadly the T4 arrivals processing facility is no longer used, effectively decommissioned and all arrivals processing is done in TBIT even for planes arriving at T4 (AA from NRT for example); pax walk through a sterile underground tunnel from T4 to TBIT (and then walk back to T4 if departing from there ... quaint having same terminal arrival and departure be in different terminals). QF decided to move 107 arrival over to TBIT instead of doing this nonsense. Only AA lost its arrivals facility (not enough pax), DL and UA and NZ still have theirs in T5, T6 and T2 respectively.

I don't think there are any international arrival facillities in LAX terminal 5. I think all DL international arrivals are using terminal 6 with a sterile corridor to the facillities at terminal 7. The terminal 6 at LAX honestly looks like an old Soviet style airport. Had a domestic arrival there on Delta, and seems like nothing was in shape. Bag claim for the flight still in terminal 5 though.