Advice for a Tight transfer at LAX

[pn1]

Some time ago, I asked about a tight connection at LAX - from UA 99 arriving at 0640 to UA 824 departing at 0825.

Well yesterday (22 August 2019) it worked.

Immediately after entering LAX from UA 99, a United employee was issuing orange “express” cards to those who had boarding passes for UA flights depositing at 0830 or earlier.

There was a dedicated line at immigration for those holding orange cards and, although busy, the process went smoothly. Both my partner and I took several attempts to get the fingerprint part of the electronic process to work but no big deal.

The wait for agents to check the printout from the immigration machine wasn’t long and the process only took a minute or so. There was no officious double handling like we experienced at SFO in June.

There was a further express line at the end of which the immigration printout was collected. Again no big deal.

Luggage collection was straightforward and consigning it on to our connecting flight took only a minute or so.

We chose to walk briskly between Tom Bradley and Terminal 7. That took about 15 minutes.

Security at terminal 7 was thorough. My partner got directed to the pre TSA line and I was asked to submit to a full body check in the regular line. I closed my eyes and thought of England as my genitalia was frisked. No happy endings! The experience was only a few seconds.

A brisk walk to gate 72A had us boarding the connecting flight 75 minutes after touchdown on UA99!

Departure on UA 824 to Boston was one hour late but I will submit a separate item on that.

 

[serfty]

Thanks for that.

Did you consider using the TBIT transit security which is to the right of where you enter into the TBIT arrivals hall?

 

[Himeno]

I'm assuming you dropped your bags off in TBIT at the connections counter?
Should have gone through the transit checkpoint near that counter, then use the airside tunnels to get from TBIT, through T4, 5 and 6 to T7.

 

[pn1]

There was no indication of that facility. It also escaped my “researches”. Any website links?

 

[Himeno]

There was no indication of that facility. It also escaped my “researches”. Any website links?

https://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/airport/lax/info/Y15/img/e_nyukoku.gif (JAL LAX arrivals map. Best map of TBIT arrivals I can find)

After coming out of the arrivals CBP area, turn right and up the ramp. There is a baggage drop off counter. After dropping bags, continue up ramp and follow path into general public area. Turn right again and head to the end of the building. There is a TSA checkpoint here. Passing through this checkpoint and upstairs puts you midway between T4 and TBIT. Turn right for TBIT (which enters TBIT airside next to the QF F lounge), turn left for T4. Enters T4 next to gate 41.

Downstairs by gate 44 (where the AA shuttle buses to the remote terminal depart from) is a tunnel entrance. There are 2 paths here, 1 goes to T4 baggage claim, the other goes to T5. This tunnel continues to T6. From T6, there are above ground passages near the TSA checkpoints to T7 and 8. LAX Official Site | Inter-Terminal Connections

Connecting to T1, 2 or 3 require going outside.

 

[serfty]

There was no indication of that facility. It also escaped my “researches”. Any website links?

Yep, right here on this very forum: LAX Connection Questions