Min Transfer time MEL-LAX-JFK

[mjt57]

We're flying to New York in July.

Before booking our tickets we're trying to find out what the minimum time should be allowed between arrival and departure in LA.

My wife is a US citizen so she will get through customs and immigration faster than I, who will be flying on my Australian passport.

When we entered the US via JFK (from LHR) last year, I spent nearly 3hrs in the line waiting to be processed. My wife was through in under 20 minutes. So, she had to twiddle her thumbs while she waited for me.

I don't know if such times will be expected in LA, but we'll need to consider which connecting flights (either UAL or QF) that we can book in order to avoid missing our flight.

I'd love to hear from anyone here who's done this recently and their experiences.

Thanks

Martin

 

[blackcat20]

If you are booked all the way through on one ticket, you won't need to worry quite so much about a missed connection, as the airline will have to sort you out. I would allow at least three hours, as you've experienced previously, however it probably depends on which airline you intend to fly.

 

[TomVexille]

My experience with UA is that they will put you in an expedited Immigration queue if you have a tight connection. Also AA will protect your connection to/from any OW carrier if you choose QF. So you should be protected either way.

That being said, 3 hours would be a minimum "safe" transit time.

 

[QF029]

If you fly on Qantas then presumably you'll transfer from QF93 to QF107 which is about ~ 2 hours. Anyone else I'd do a minimum of 3 because even though you're protected on a single PNR or alliance booking it can still be annoying to shift flights and lose your pre-allocated seating.

 

[mjt57]

Thanks folks.

So, even though we may be "protected" from missing our connecting flights we still have to allow for it happening. In other words and to all practicalities, there is no "protection" by the sounds of it.

I can see it now. Us discussing our options with the UAL domestic staff and finding out that we have to pay to catch a flight, any flight from LAX to JFK...

Hopefully it won't be that way.

I've been told in another forum that I should be able to clear customs with my wife in the US line as she's a citizen. But when we landed at JFK from LHR in June, she was directed to the US citizens line, whilst I had to languish in the foreigners line (a 3hr wait).

Anyway, come July we'll see what happens.

Thanks, guys.

 

[blackcat20]

Thanks folks.

So, even though we may be "protected" from missing our connecting flights we still have to allow for it happening. In other words and to all practicalities, there is no "protection" by the sounds of it.

There is protection; if your flights are on a single ticket, then the airline is responsible for reaccommodating you. But they won't hold a plane up for you.

 

[TomVexille]

There is protection; if your flights are on a single ticket, then the airline is responsible for reaccommodating you. But they won't hold a plane up for you.

Correct. But also note that you will be standby if you do miss the original flight. That is to say they will put you on the next available flight, which might not be for several hours.

 

[mjt57]

Just an update.

We've flying Virgin Australian (VA7) out of BNE. Arrive at the Tom Bradley Int'l Terminal at 0630.

Our connecting flight is VA6511 operated by Delta departing from T5 at 0830.

What are our chances of missing it?

Ps. If we had the dough I would've chosen QF all the way through, but we don't.

 

[mjt57]

No-one? I'd like to hear from those who may have flown VA to LA then partner airline domestically.

Thanks.

We leave in 3 weeks' time.

 

[Atleastonce]

We did BNE LAX with VA then LAX MCO with Delta in November last year. From memory the LAX MCO flight was about 10:30 and we had plenty of time. We were through customs in under 1/2 hour. In May this year we did the same BNE LAX flight and it took about 1 1/2 hours through LAX but we have plenty if time until our next flight. Keep in mind the arrival time into LAX. Both recent trips we were held back in BNE because of early arrival into LAX and both times sat just before the gate until right on 6:30am before the airport "openned" for arrivals. We noted plenty of more flights at 6:30am this last May arriving at the same time including an A380 which increased the wait time at customs. I would be pushing to get through with your wife in the US citizen queue.

 

[mjt57]

I would be pushing to get through with your wife in the US citizen queue.

That would be my prefered option. However, when we entered the US via JFK last year (LHR-JFK), we tried this, but she was directed to the US citizens line, me to the other one. She was through in ten minutes, me, well over two hours.

The guy, when I finally got to the bit where they fingerprint you, take photos, etc., asked who I was entering the US with. When I said my wife, he asked where she was. "Out there somewhere" I replied, pointing towards the baggage claim area. I said that she was a US citizen but I wasn't allowed to be processed with her.

I'll give it another shot when we get to LA, otherwise, I'll just have to line up with the rest. I'll get my wife to collect our luggage and have it processed for the connecting flight, if I'm held up.

 

[Maggs]

Just an update.

We've flying Virgin Australian (VA7) out of BNE. Arrive at the Tom Bradley Int'l Terminal at 0630.

Our connecting flight is VA6511 operated by Delta departing from T5 at 0830.

What are our chances of missing it?

Ps. If we had the dough I would've chosen QF all the way through, but we don't.

I have flown the last three times with QANTAS, the problem being my flight from Melbourne never left on time. Always a missed connection, so don't feel too sad about not going Q. Least I was ticketed so Q had to ind me a connection flight which was good.

 

[mjt57]

I have flown the last three times with QANTAS, the problem being my flight from Melbourne never left on time. Always a missed connection, so don't feel too sad about not going Q. Least I was ticketed so Q had to ind me a connection flight which was good.

I understand that if because ICE holds us up and forces a missed connection that Delta/VA will get us onto another flight. But when this happened to Number 1 daughter last year (UAL that time), she didn't get into JFK til 2am, and out to her final destination on Long Island til 4 in the morning. Not good when she had a 6 yo and a 4yo in tow...

Whilst we won't have any kids, we've got rides booked and don't like the idea of forcing the kids to stay up for us.

So, hopefully it'll be a quick process thru' customs there.

 

[mjt57]

Just a followup.

Our VA flights all were on time. The queues through Customs and Immigration at LAX were fairly quick. Again, I was directed to the "Visitors" line whilst my wife went through the US citizens line.

When she was being processed she said that her husband (me) was down there somewhere when asked if she was travelling with anyone. She was told that yes, I could've come through with her...

These people have no idea, really. Training seems to be something that's incidental, rather than necessary.

But we made our connecting Delta flight with about half an hour to spare.