General questions: SFO/LAX-SYD/MEL and vv (service, food, connections, etc) {Archive}
Oct 11, 2010, 2:29 pm
#136
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: TYS
Programs: DL Diamond, Amex Plat, Priority Pass, Hertz Gl, SPG Gold Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 220
connecting in SYD to NZ ALK flight
I am connecting to an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland from SYD, coming off UA839 from LAX; I have about two hours to make the connection; is that enough? Do I change terminals and can I be treated as a through passenger or do I have to go through Australian immigration/customs?
thanks for info
thanks for info
Oct 11, 2010, 2:47 pm
#137
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: DEN
Programs: Mileage Plus 1P MM
Posts: 139
I'll be doing the same in November. If both flights are on the same ticket, you have no problems. Same terminal, no customs. If you are on separate tix (like me - paid SFO-SYD, award SYD-AKL) you are also OK. That is unless you checked bags, in which case, you will have to claim and re-check, but you should be fine either way.
Oct 11, 2010, 2:51 pm
#138
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: TYS
Programs: DL Diamond, Amex Plat, Priority Pass, Hertz Gl, SPG Gold Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 220
I'll be doing the same in November. If both flights are on the same ticket, you have no problems. Same terminal, no customs. If you are on separate tix (like me - paid SFO-SYD, award SYD-AKL) you are also OK. That is unless you checked bags, in which case, you will have to claim and re-check, but you should be fine either way.
sounds like I am in reasonable shape, thanks
Oct 11, 2010, 2:53 pm
#139
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: DEN
Programs: Mileage Plus 1P MM
Posts: 139
Yeah, you're fine - a through passenger. If you don't get your ANZ BP prior to leaving LAX, get it at the Koru club in SYD.
Oct 11, 2010, 3:01 pm
#140
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,207
I do SFO-SYD and onward to NZ 5 times a year. Go to Transfer Desk and they issue NZ BP. Takes 5 minutes. They also cfrm yr luggage tags to ensure transfer.
Oct 11, 2010, 4:05 pm
#141
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: DEN
Programs: Mileage Plus 1P MM
Posts: 139
Let me get this straight: lets say I fly into SYD on Ticket A and on to NZ on ticket B. Will the transfer desk see to it that my bags get to NZ, or do I need to claim them in SYD and recheck? My bags (on ticket A) would only be checked as far as SYD.
Oct 11, 2010, 6:18 pm
#142
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Denver & Phoenix
Programs: UA 2MM, Life UC, Global Entry (UK citizen)
Posts: 129
UA: SFO-SYD......All/None/Some flights Flat-Bed seat in Business Class?
Tried to find out if all UA planes SFO-SYD Business Class seats are Flat-bed. UA agent was uncommital..........Anyone know the true situation as of NOW? 
Oct 11, 2010, 6:20 pm
#143
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,153
They should all be new config. There's one old config plane flying, but it's primarily flying domestic and only used on other routes when there's a shortage. Thus far, is hasn't made it to SYD.
Oct 11, 2010, 7:45 pm
#144
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: MEL/LAX/JFK
Programs: UA 1K(0.7MM) Hilton Gold/La Quinta Gold
Posts: 897
Oct 11, 2010, 8:34 pm
#145
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Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
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The chance of getting the old plane is very low. Enjoy the trip!
Oct 12, 2010, 9:36 am
#146
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: ATL, GA, USA
Posts: 231
parents are flying from MEL-SYD-LAX on UA840 and the connect to US to CLT-ATL. have about 1hr connection time from LAX to CLT. parents are permanent resident so hopefully line is short, is the transit time enough? they have to recheck the luggage after custom. is UA840 on T7 or T8? US1687 is at T8 if not mistaken, so should be fine hopefully. any comments?
Oct 12, 2010, 10:22 am
#147
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
I don't think that one hour is enough to connect UA to US at LAX. US is in Terminal 1, not Terminal 8.
Oct 12, 2010, 1:59 pm
#148
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MMGold, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,263
The LAX transfer experience I had so far was landed at Tom Bradley International terminal and then bus or walk to UA domestic. I recall I was once on a UA FRA-LAX flight and landed remotely and then was bus'ed into Tom Bradley so took extra more time...
Check out this thread (may be there are more related discussions) on this topic, there are more experienced folks may offer more info:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ad-merged.html
Oct 12, 2010, 2:27 pm
#149
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Location: SFO
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Posts: 12,212
parents are flying from MEL-SYD-LAX on UA840 and the connect to US to CLT-ATL. have about 1hr connection time from LAX to CLT. parents are permanent resident so hopefully line is short, is the transit time enough? they have to recheck the luggage after custom. is UA840 on T7 or T8? US1687 is at T8 if not mistaken, so should be fine hopefully. any comments?
Oct 13, 2010, 1:29 am
#150
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chicago, Kailua-Kona, Cairns
Programs: UA 1K >2MM, IC Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 740
parents are flying from MEL-SYD-LAX on UA840 and the connect to US to CLT-ATL. have about 1hr connection time from LAX to CLT. parents are permanent resident so hopefully line is short, is the transit time enough? they have to recheck the luggage after custom. is UA840 on T7 or T8? US1687 is at T8 if not mistaken, so should be fine hopefully. any comments?
Even the continuation of UA840 to ORD is broken currently, although I'm informed UA is aware of the problem and has moved to correct it.