Sep 23, 2014, 7:05 pm
Last edit by: Kmxu
Map of the current setup:
From the first post of the thread:
Security Checkpoint Setup
During this early stage of the construction, there remain four entry points for United passengers to get through security:
T6 Checkpoint: Although UA will soon cease service out of T6, T6 is connected to T7/C8 by a secured hallway, and the T6 security checkpoint remains a quiet checkpoint with full PreCheck.
T7 West Checkpoint (a/k/a T6.5 West a/k/a T6.4): This is now for general economy passengers only. There is no PreCheck and no Premier lane here now.
C8 Lower Level Checkpoint: Premier security is now at C8. No real PreCheck at this checkpoint.
T7/T8 to TBIT via tunnel, about 40 min walk with average speed (copied mostly from a blog; http://upgrd.com/blogs/doublewidesfl...-security.html ):
If you are flying through Los Angeles and are connecting airlines, just follow the signs that are located near the far southern end of each terminal to connect via underground tunnel to the other terminals.
When in TBIT, walk past the KE/one world lounge to the end of concourse - take a right handed u turn, up the escalator and the *A lounge is there.
In terminal 4, access the tunnel via the escalator that reads gate 44A-L
Continue to follow the signs to baggage claim, walk past the waiting room is for the bus to Terminal 6 or the American Eagle remote terminal.
to access the tunnels from Delta terminal in T5, the escalator leading to the tunnels is near the entrance to the Sky club near.
The access point from Terminal 6 is near Alaska Airlines' gates, across from the Alaska Airline Board Room and near the Ruby's diner. The tunnel ends at terminal 6, so you must exit the tunnel and access terminal 7 & 8 by above ground walkways which are near the terminal exit and security screening center.
From the first post of the thread:
Hi everyone,
With a lot of activity around the corner at LAX, we’d like to provide you with an update on our long-term construction plans, and what that means for your travel experience in the interim.
Our goal is to offer a world-class experience at our LAX hub, and to that end we will be investing $450 million over the next several years to modernize our facilities and enhance the experience for our customers. Some changes have already occurred, including reconfiguration of multiple gates in Terminal 8 to handle additional narrow-body mainline aircraft. We will begin further improvements later this year, and by the end of 2017 we plan to open:
To prepare for these changes, we will consolidate our operations into Terminals 7 and 8 over the next few weeks. Here’s what you need to know if you’re traveling to, from or through LAX:
Beginning September 24, 2014, the following changes will occur in the check-in lobby:
Beginning October 27, 2014, the following changes will occur in our operations:
Thanks for your patience during this transition, and we appreciate your “pardoning our dust” as we work to improve our facilities at LAX.
-UA Insider
With a lot of activity around the corner at LAX, we’d like to provide you with an update on our long-term construction plans, and what that means for your travel experience in the interim.
Our goal is to offer a world-class experience at our LAX hub, and to that end we will be investing $450 million over the next several years to modernize our facilities and enhance the experience for our customers. Some changes have already occurred, including reconfiguration of multiple gates in Terminal 8 to handle additional narrow-body mainline aircraft. We will begin further improvements later this year, and by the end of 2017 we plan to open:
- A brand-new check-in lobby and Premier check-in area
- A dedicated Global Services Reception with direct security lane access
- A reconfigured and expanded security checkpoint
- A refurbished baggage claim area
- Renovated gate-area hold rooms
- A brand-new United Club with sweeping views and new amenities
Beginning September 24, 2014, the following changes will occur in the check-in lobby:
- The Premier Lobby in Terminal 6 will close, and a temporary Premier lobby with Global Services check-in area will be available in Terminal 7
- Global Services members will be invited to enter LAX curbside through Terminal 7
- Dedicated Global Services security lanes will also remain available
- United will no longer use gates located in Terminal 6 (gates 60, 61, 62, and 63)
- The United Club in Terminal 6 will close
- The current United Club in Terminal 7 will continue to be available
- The current United Global First Lounge in Terminal 7 will convert to a United Club
- All departing flights and most arriving flights will be consolidated into Terminals 7 & 8
- Please note: Some international arrivals may use the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). These include flights from Sydney and Melbourne, and some flights from Mexico on a seasonal basis.
-UA Insider
During this early stage of the construction, there remain four entry points for United passengers to get through security:
T6 Checkpoint: Although UA will soon cease service out of T6, T6 is connected to T7/C8 by a secured hallway, and the T6 security checkpoint remains a quiet checkpoint with full PreCheck.
T7 West Checkpoint (a/k/a T6.5 West a/k/a T6.4): This is now for general economy passengers only. There is no PreCheck and no Premier lane here now.
The passageway to T7 remains open (guarded from the T7 side by very mean redcoats) and is now clogged with general economy passengers who check in in T7 and must schlep through the hallway to the West-facing checkpoint.
T7 East Checkpoint (a/k/a T6.5 East a/k/a T6.6): This is PreCheck only, with a single line feeding to two TSOs, two x-ray machines, and two WTMDs. This is a probable significant improvement over the prior T6.4 Checkpoint PreCheck setup.C8 Lower Level Checkpoint: Premier security is now at C8. No real PreCheck at this checkpoint.
T7/T8 to TBIT via tunnel, about 40 min walk with average speed (copied mostly from a blog; http://upgrd.com/blogs/doublewidesfl...-security.html ):
If you are flying through Los Angeles and are connecting airlines, just follow the signs that are located near the far southern end of each terminal to connect via underground tunnel to the other terminals.
When in TBIT, walk past the KE/one world lounge to the end of concourse - take a right handed u turn, up the escalator and the *A lounge is there.
In terminal 4, access the tunnel via the escalator that reads gate 44A-L
Continue to follow the signs to baggage claim, walk past the waiting room is for the bus to Terminal 6 or the American Eagle remote terminal.
to access the tunnels from Delta terminal in T5, the escalator leading to the tunnels is near the entrance to the Sky club near.
The access point from Terminal 6 is near Alaska Airlines' gates, across from the Alaska Airline Board Room and near the Ruby's diner. The tunnel ends at terminal 6, so you must exit the tunnel and access terminal 7 & 8 by above ground walkways which are near the terminal exit and security screening center.
PSA: Upcoming LAX Facility Changes
Sep 14, 2014, 12:07 pm
#76
Join Date: May 2007
Location: variously: PVG, SFO, LHR
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UA primarily caters to O&D pax out of LAX. It is not a good use of resources to try to run it as a low-yield connecting hub when gate space is limited and the O&D market is so strong. Most of the UA flights are timed for travelers based in LA to reach destinations, not the reverse.
Finally, everyone that has spoken to F lounge staff and also Bruce have reported that there will be a wing of the new UA club that will be for GF/GS pax. I don't know why everyone is getting so worked up about this.
Sep 14, 2014, 12:25 pm
#77
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Because this thread, perhaps more than any other in recent memory, has been chosen by the FT Illuminati as an opportunity to remind everyone that nothing UA does is good, and even a thread announcing a multi-multi-million-dollar investment must turn into page after page of moaning about an unconfirmed negative aspect of an undeniably positive change.
Sep 14, 2014, 12:32 pm
#78
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There has been no meaningful schedule drawdown at LAX. Pax numbers and mainline flight counts are at all time highs for UA. There has been a small drawdown in the EMB-120 fleet, but most of the flights axed were to places like IYK and OXR.
UA primarily caters to O&D pax out of LAX. It is not a good use of resources to try to run it as a low-yield connecting hub when gate space is limited and the O&D market is so strong. Most of the UA flights are timed for travelers based in LA to reach destinations, not the reverse.
Finally, everyone that has spoken to F lounge staff and also Bruce have reported that there will be a wing of the new UA club that will be for GF/GS pax. I don't know why everyone is getting so worked up about this.
UA primarily caters to O&D pax out of LAX. It is not a good use of resources to try to run it as a low-yield connecting hub when gate space is limited and the O&D market is so strong. Most of the UA flights are timed for travelers based in LA to reach destinations, not the reverse.
Finally, everyone that has spoken to F lounge staff and also Bruce have reported that there will be a wing of the new UA club that will be for GF/GS pax. I don't know why everyone is getting so worked up about this.
When you cut your international departures to the bone, that's a draw-down.
When you reduce the number of available mainline gates, that's a draw-down.
And when you basically tell your high revenue F and C passengers that their business is no longer a priority, that is the biggest draw-down of all.
Because this thread, perhaps more than any other in recent memory, has been chosen by the FT Illuminati as an opportunity to remind everyone that nothing UA does is good, and even a thread announcing a multi-multi-million-dollar investment must turn into page after page of moaning about an unconfirmed negative aspect of an undeniably positive change.
Sep 14, 2014, 12:38 pm
#79
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Join Date: Aug 2003
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By the way, since I haven't used United to get to SYD in a few years now, can someone explain this part of the "big announcement":
So does this mean they aren't or won't be using the T6 Immigration and Customs arrivals any more? The flights from SYD arrive in the morning, not too early usually. So are UA international arrivals now ALL going to the TBIT?
All departing flights and most arriving flights will be consolidated into Terminals 7 & 8
Please note: Some international arrivals may use the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). These include flights from Sydney and Melbourne, and some flights from Mexico on a seasonal basis.
Please note: Some international arrivals may use the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). These include flights from Sydney and Melbourne, and some flights from Mexico on a seasonal basis.
Sep 14, 2014, 12:41 pm
#80
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
You seem overly impressed by the "multi-million dollar" part of this announcement. You don't seem to get that most of that money is going to pay for the infrastructure necessary to REDUCE services, not improve them. Please point out where any improvement is in this "multi-million dollar" adventure.
The dedication to finding bad in good is utterly remarkable. This will vastly improve the experience for general users of the terminal and for UC members. At worst, things will be worse for the fewer than 100 folks a day with GFL access. How could you possibly construe that as a overall downgrade? I can't even with this silliness.
Sep 14, 2014, 12:46 pm
#81
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They are building a brand new, huge UC with awesome views. Have you even looked at the plans at all?
The dedication to finding bad in good is utterly remarkable. This will vastly improve the experience for general users of the terminal and for UC members. At worst, things will be worse for the fewer than 100 folks a day with GFL access. How could you possibly construe that as a downgrade?
The dedication to finding bad in good is utterly remarkable. This will vastly improve the experience for general users of the terminal and for UC members. At worst, things will be worse for the fewer than 100 folks a day with GFL access. How could you possibly construe that as a downgrade?
So I still ask. WHERE is an improvement for customers in all this?
Sep 14, 2014, 12:49 pm
#82
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
And WHY do they build these clubs? How does one get in? PAY UNITED MONEY. There is revenue to get from people like yourself who fall for the ads. They do not build clubs out of the goodness of their hearts. In addition, a club is CLOSING in T6, so they MUST add club space, or people will stop paying for membership.
So I still ask. WHERE is an improvement for customers in all this?
So I still ask. WHERE is an improvement for customers in all this?
You don't like that there will maybe not be a GFL. Is that not something that makes UA money? Is that somehow charitable, and that's why UA is evilly maybe getting rid of it?
What dedication to finding evil! This is bonkers.
If you don't understand that there will be general improvement even for non-club-members, you simply haven't read the plans.
Sep 14, 2014, 1:15 pm
#83
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Net, net, this is a cost-saving move. In addition to shuddering the GFL, the consolidation of the United Clubs will save them operating costs on a daily basis. Sure, there will be capital costs to build the large club needed to handle the number of customers that will be visiting (because they closed the other clubs, they need more space to accommodate the customers).
While club members may end up with nicer views to enjoy whilst they eat their stale cookies and drink their frat party liquor, this is a cost-saving move, spin or not. GF customers will lose the additional amenities in their nicer club, if there is no IFL (which appears to be the case). And many will have longer walks to their gates as a result of the T6 gate elimination. It is nice to visit the T6 club and walk < 100 feet to the gate. With mainline moving to T8, that's a potential haul between club and gate.
And let's not forget the club staff who may have to transfer or lose their jobs over this.
But yes, we'll have fantastic views of a tarmac full of CO retrojets, err, I mean UA planes in the current livery.
Sep 14, 2014, 1:20 pm
#84
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
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People who have experienced the new facilities: 0
People who have ultimately passed final & ultimate judgement:
People who have ultimately passed final & ultimate judgement:
Sep 14, 2014, 1:24 pm
#85
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
They are consolidating (3) clubs (ultimately) into one (1). They are also ceding their gates in T6, meaning there is no near-term meaningful expansion for UA at the airport.
Net, net, this is a cost-saving move. In addition to shuddering the GFL, the consolidation of the United Clubs will save them operating costs on a daily basis. Sure, there will be capital costs to build the large club needed to handle the number of customers that will be visiting (because they closed the other clubs, they need more space to accommodate the customers).
While club members may end up with nicer views to enjoy whilst they eat their stale cookies and drink their frat party liquor, this is a cost-saving move, spin or not. GF customers will lose the additional amenities in their nicer club, if there is no IFL (which appears to be the case). And many will have longer walks to their gates as a result of the T6 gate elimination. It is nice to visit the T6 club and walk < 100 feet to the gate. With mainline moving to T8, that's a potential haul between club and gate.
And let's not forget the club staff who may have to transfer or lose their jobs over this.
But yes, we'll have fantastic views of a tarmac full of CO retrojets, err, I mean UA planes in the current livery.
Net, net, this is a cost-saving move. In addition to shuddering the GFL, the consolidation of the United Clubs will save them operating costs on a daily basis. Sure, there will be capital costs to build the large club needed to handle the number of customers that will be visiting (because they closed the other clubs, they need more space to accommodate the customers).
While club members may end up with nicer views to enjoy whilst they eat their stale cookies and drink their frat party liquor, this is a cost-saving move, spin or not. GF customers will lose the additional amenities in their nicer club, if there is no IFL (which appears to be the case). And many will have longer walks to their gates as a result of the T6 gate elimination. It is nice to visit the T6 club and walk < 100 feet to the gate. With mainline moving to T8, that's a potential haul between club and gate.
And let's not forget the club staff who may have to transfer or lose their jobs over this.
But yes, we'll have fantastic views of a tarmac full of CO retrojets, err, I mean UA planes in the current livery.
But see, here's the thing: unlike others, your pessimism and cynicism, as irksome as it can be, is often (as here) solidly rooted in reality, with perhaps a touch of spin. And so I can't really disagree with you here, other than to say that I think the new experience will be net better.
Sep 14, 2014, 2:23 pm
#86
Join Date: May 2007
Location: variously: PVG, SFO, LHR
Programs: AA ExPlat, UA 1MM Gold, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 1,678
When you reduce the number of available mainline gates, that's a draw-down.
And when you basically tell your high revenue F and C passengers that their business is no longer a priority, that is the biggest draw-down of all.
You seem overly impressed by the "multi-million dollar" part of this announcement. You don't seem to get that most of that money is going to pay for the infrastructure necessary to REDUCE services, not improve them. Please point out where any improvement is in this "multi-million dollar" adventure.
While club members may end up with nicer views to enjoy whilst they eat their stale cookies and drink their frat party liquor, this is a cost-saving move, spin or not. GF customers will lose the additional amenities in their nicer club, if there is no IFL (which appears to be the case). And many will have longer walks to their gates as a result of the T6 gate elimination. It is nice to visit the T6 club and walk < 100 feet to the gate. With mainline moving to T8, that's a potential haul between club and gate.
And let's not forget the club staff who may have to transfer or lose their jobs over this.
But yes, we'll have fantastic views of a tarmac full of CO retrojets, err, I mean UA planes in the current livery.
Additionally, it has not been confirmed that UA is eliminating IFL. In fact, many sources have confirmed that they are keeping it.
So yes, I would like a nice new lounge in LAX as a UC member. I would like an actual view and something other than ratty old furniture and a semi-working bathroom situation, which is what we put up with for a long number of years at LAX.
All of these investments indicate that UA is serious about building facilities in LAX to compete for HVF.
I would like to see your review of the new UC in London. "This lounge is too nice and makes me wish AA had something better, which made me angry so I hate the place"
Last edited by andrewwm; Sep 14, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Sep 14, 2014, 2:42 pm
#87
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SEA, WAS, PEK
Programs: UA 3K UGS 3MM
Posts: 2,176
Yet, these are your 100 most valuable customers of any given day. A domestic UC (no matter how big) is not a sufficient experience from some one on a GF ticket or someone on their 10th full fare BF ticket of the year (GS).
Sep 14, 2014, 2:48 pm
#88
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Sep 14, 2014, 2:55 pm
#89
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
International destinations and seat count is up, not down. What are you talking about? UA added both MEL and PVG recently. The only other international destination UA used to serve from LAX was a couple of brief tries at Hong Kong.
False. UA is converting 4 regional gates in Terminal 8 to handle mainline jets. These spots are available due to the slow drawdown in EMB-120 flying.
You mean not a priority by building a special GS check in that will shoot GS/F pax to their own private security channel and building a nice new lounge for them?
Right, so a brand-new club with a very nice view that is well over double the current space, new, streamlined security and a nice new GS and Premier checkin location is a total slap in the face to UA pax and a sign of a drawdown.
What a bunch of sour grapes nonsense. The capital spending directly from UA's budget is going to be well over 30 million. At best UA might be able to get away with 1-2 less agents in the club. You can employ a lot of people for a long time for 30 million before you start "saving money."
Additionally, it has not been confirmed that UA is eliminating IFL. In fact, many sources have confirmed that they are keeping it.
So yes, I would like a nice new lounge in LAX as a UC member. I would like an actual view and something other than ratty old furniture and a semi-working bathroom situation, which is what we put up with for a long number of years at LAX.
All of these investments indicate that UA is serious about building facilities in LAX to compete for HVF.
I would like to see your review of the new UC in London. "This lounge is too nice and makes me wish AA had something better, which made me angry so I hate the place"
False. UA is converting 4 regional gates in Terminal 8 to handle mainline jets. These spots are available due to the slow drawdown in EMB-120 flying.
You mean not a priority by building a special GS check in that will shoot GS/F pax to their own private security channel and building a nice new lounge for them?
Right, so a brand-new club with a very nice view that is well over double the current space, new, streamlined security and a nice new GS and Premier checkin location is a total slap in the face to UA pax and a sign of a drawdown.
What a bunch of sour grapes nonsense. The capital spending directly from UA's budget is going to be well over 30 million. At best UA might be able to get away with 1-2 less agents in the club. You can employ a lot of people for a long time for 30 million before you start "saving money."
Additionally, it has not been confirmed that UA is eliminating IFL. In fact, many sources have confirmed that they are keeping it.
So yes, I would like a nice new lounge in LAX as a UC member. I would like an actual view and something other than ratty old furniture and a semi-working bathroom situation, which is what we put up with for a long number of years at LAX.
All of these investments indicate that UA is serious about building facilities in LAX to compete for HVF.
I would like to see your review of the new UC in London. "This lounge is too nice and makes me wish AA had something better, which made me angry so I hate the place"
None of this is responsive to my point, which was that construing a maybe-downgrade affecting fewer than 100 people daily as an overall downgrade to the customer experience is totally insane.
Sep 14, 2014, 4:11 pm
#90
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
So the stats from the plan are that the new club will be 29,000 square feet.
The main one downstairs is 13,000 square feet.
T6 was about half the size of the T7 club, so call it 7,000 square feet.
Global First lounge even smaller, call it 5,000 square feet. Total 22,000 square feet before.
We're getting about 30% more space in a central location! And new UA has shown it's capable of building a club within a club (see LHR).
This all feels like a step up to me and much better than Delta's over-crowded setup in T5.
A lounge is useless if you have to fight for seats, regardless of the cheap soup on offer.
You spend all your time in the Alaska lounge anyway right No change for you!
The main one downstairs is 13,000 square feet.
T6 was about half the size of the T7 club, so call it 7,000 square feet.
Global First lounge even smaller, call it 5,000 square feet. Total 22,000 square feet before.
We're getting about 30% more space in a central location! And new UA has shown it's capable of building a club within a club (see LHR).
This all feels like a step up to me and much better than Delta's over-crowded setup in T5.
A lounge is useless if you have to fight for seats, regardless of the cheap soup on offer.
You spend all your time in the Alaska lounge anyway right
No change for you!Very well put.
They are consolidating (3) clubs (ultimately) into one (1). They are also ceding their gates in T6, meaning there is no near-term meaningful expansion for UA at the airport.
Net, net, this is a cost-saving move. In addition to shuddering the GFL, the consolidation of the United Clubs will save them operating costs on a daily basis. Sure, there will be capital costs to build the large club needed to handle the number of customers that will be visiting (because they closed the other clubs, they need more space to accommodate the customers).
While club members may end up with nicer views to enjoy whilst they eat their stale cookies and drink their frat party liquor, this is a cost-saving move, spin or not. GF customers will lose the additional amenities in their nicer club, if there is no IFL (which appears to be the case). And many will have longer walks to their gates as a result of the T6 gate elimination. It is nice to visit the T6 club and walk < 100 feet to the gate. With mainline moving to T8, that's a potential haul between club and gate.
And let's not forget the club staff who may have to transfer or lose their jobs over this.
But yes, we'll have fantastic views of a tarmac full of CO retrojets, err, I mean UA planes in the current livery.
They are consolidating (3) clubs (ultimately) into one (1). They are also ceding their gates in T6, meaning there is no near-term meaningful expansion for UA at the airport.
Net, net, this is a cost-saving move. In addition to shuddering the GFL, the consolidation of the United Clubs will save them operating costs on a daily basis. Sure, there will be capital costs to build the large club needed to handle the number of customers that will be visiting (because they closed the other clubs, they need more space to accommodate the customers).
While club members may end up with nicer views to enjoy whilst they eat their stale cookies and drink their frat party liquor, this is a cost-saving move, spin or not. GF customers will lose the additional amenities in their nicer club, if there is no IFL (which appears to be the case). And many will have longer walks to their gates as a result of the T6 gate elimination. It is nice to visit the T6 club and walk < 100 feet to the gate. With mainline moving to T8, that's a potential haul between club and gate.
And let's not forget the club staff who may have to transfer or lose their jobs over this.
But yes, we'll have fantastic views of a tarmac full of CO retrojets, err, I mean UA planes in the current livery.
Last edited by cerealmarketer; Sep 14, 2014 at 4:22 pm