dm6214

Last time I flew into ORD terminal 5 we had to walk from them very end of the terminal to catch the tram. Then when we got to Terminal 1 we had to walk to the very end of the terminal.
This time we are flying from MKE-ORD-LAX-AKL. For months we were to land in LAX terminal 7 and depart from terminal 7. We would have lots of time and planned on stopping in the UC in terminal 7. All good.
Today we are supposed to depart from TBIT. As far as I can see we will have to walk all the way. That looks like a LONG way. We are in our 70's and with more than a few walking issues. I have watched several YouTube videos and none show anything other than walking. All the terminal maps that I have looked at don't have any kind of Airside trams or busses or anything. If I have to walk all the way tomorrow it will take me till next week.
Will there be anything there to help old people out?

findark

Is your LAX-AKL operated by Air New Zealand? The United flight should depart from Terminal 7. (Today's UA642 is assigned Gate 77 at the moment.)

It is about 2km via a somewhat convoluted path to walk from T7 to TBIT while remaining airside, and there is no motorized option accessible to the general public. I don't know what accessibility options might be available, although the traditional airside corridor involves multiple level changes.

The distance is significantly shorter landside, and you would have access to buses which go between all of the terminals. However, this would require clearing security again.

Kacee

There's an inter-terminal shuttle. https://www.flylax.com/inter-terminal-connections. I believe it departs from the arrivals level (downstairs, outside baggage claim). The signage at LAX is not very good, unfortunately, and traffic in the loop can be heavy, so it may take up to half an hour to make it around from T7 to TBIT.

If you choose to walk, it's about a mile and takes around 20 minutes at a normal pace.

UA_Flyer

Love the title of this thread.

I highly recommend you get wheelchair service. Have them wheel both of you from T7 to TBIT. There is a *G lounge at TBIT so there is no need to stay in T7 to use the United Club.
Sometimes there are gate changes, so keep an eye on it, in case they change the departure gate back to T7.

Good luck and have a good trip.

xliioper

Does UA have anything equivalent to DL Porsches? https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a4...11-gt3-rs-lax/
As already noted above, unless OP is on the AirNZ codeshare flight, the UA metal flight is schedule to depart from gate 77.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

GS (and very occasionally 1Ks) can be offered Jaguar service, but it’s not requestable. The wheelchair service (if TBIT is involved) is the way to go because it would stay airside (there are elevators for level changes although most don’t use them).

Kacee

Yeah, I'm not sure how wheelchair service would work given the circuitous route with multiple level changes. You couldn't do it in a golf cart. Perhaps there is another route not accessible to the public (for example a tarmac transfer).

tods27

If you go to the link that Kacee posted, then select "Pedestrian Access", it shows the complete path that you can take to get between terminals without going through security. You have to go from T7 to T6 (halfway down the terminal), then down to L1 and across to T4, then up to L5 and over to TBIT.

findark

Right - my thought was that the usual long-distance option is the carts, which can't get to TBIT airside. Would either need a non-public corridor or someone physically pushing a wheelchair that distance, which would be quite a lot.

dm6214

No it is with United Metal. I had been watching where UA 642 left from for months. It was always terminal 7. And today because it was me it changed. They hate me. I have a very bad back which they just did a epidural and 7 weeks ago they repaired a torn meniscuses. My wife had a total knee replacement several months ago. Getting old isn't for sissies.

tods27

Really strange that it shows as TBIT for tomorrow's flight. From the UA app, it says the plane comes in from MEL at 6:45AM, then leaving from TBIT to AKL at 9:00 PM. I'm wondering if this will change as I can't imagine they will leave the plane at TBIT all day, and if you are going to tow it somewhere, why not have it end up at T7.

dm6214

Who designed this place, the Flintstones? Last time I was there must have been 30 years ago maybe more. Do they honestly think that people in their 70's and 80's and more can walk that far?

findark

I agree - standard to arrive TBIT in the morning and tow away. My guess is departure gate is not assigned and it just shows planned arrival of the inbound. I don't believe UA ever departs from TBIT at LAX.

jsloan

No -- they honestly think that people in their 70s and 80s and more can take the land-side bus and re-clear security.

I agree. It would be a logistical nightmare for them, as they don't have a counter in TBIT for LAX-originating passengers.

OP: I suspect you'll find that your departure is from T7 after they tow your plane from TBIT.

HWGeeks

I thought landing at B36 or higher at T4 in JFK was bad.