Almost stranded in LAX

[cxthomps]

Was the TA advised to go for the cheapest, quickest or most comfortable routing?

SYD to LAS via BNE / LAX return in J for $8k, wasn't the cheapest, quickest or most comfortable routing really. I just asked for a flight to get there on a specific day and back a week later.
BTW not being critical of all the wisdom in this thread of how much time people would leave, however having not transferred this route before and not knowing what I didn't know but still asking the time connection question I am not sure how much more I could or should have done to avoid this. At least I know better for next time, the purpose of these forums for me.

 

[clipped_wings]

At least I know better for next time, the purpose of these forums for me.

And that makes you a worthy Frequent Flyer - your experience assists everyone who goes in after you, even those who fly often. Thanks for sharing

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

It would depend on where you are going though.
Like HKG/SIN, both these are very easy countries to transit or enter, if you come from a lot of countries where a visa is not needed to enter.
The US is a hard case, not only because of Donald, but because of past presidents, and the things that has occurred there over the past years that make it a hard country to enter, or even transit.
I guess, on the uptake, even for Aust, for some nationalities, its also hard getting a visa.

 

[mannej]

I guess the take home message is to be explicit in your instructions to the TA if you don't feel comfortable with the connection time. It isn't always avoidable to avoid it though, but prevention is better than cure.

 

[dajop]

The problem for airlines and MCT is - some people will get through in minutes, barely stopping at global entry machines when arriving into the USA, and others will take hours of waiting in various long queues before gaining entry Stateside.

IMO I agree with the sentiment though, that being an Australian based airline - VA should adjust its MCT at LAX to account for what Australian passport holders arriving into LAX generally experience, and NOT the speed of processing which (for example) a DL Diamond Medallion Global Entry US passport holder experiences!

It is a difficult one . If you assume say 25-30% of the plane is made up of US passport holders, irrespective of having global entry or not, they probably go through immigration much quicker than "aliens". Also LAX performance has been variable over the years. There was a time when LAX was a major PITA, then for a few years it seemed to be better and many travellers reported vastly improved experiences, quicker etc, but over the last two years (just from reading on AFF etc,as I haven't experienced a morning arrival into LAX for years) it seems the pendulum has swung definitively back the other way on immigration processing queues.

 

[RooFlyer]

If you check the link above, you can check out the average immigration wait times for US citizens and others. But it doesn't discriminate between E passports with ESTAs and the old manual processing ones.

Personally all my own wait times have been on the shorter end of the scale, incl morning arrivals for both ESTA and Visa arrival.

 

[grubbidok]

Tough break, it sounds like you had a conspiracy of errors (where everything that could go wrong did go wrong). Most of my flights through LAX from SYD (at least 4 per year) have been at or close to MCT without an issue, and I have seen people at the gate previously (or at the luggage transfer) for people with at risk connections.

I have missed a connection once in ATL to MGA due to a tight connection time (one that was a few mins under MCT actually), where DL actually rerouted me on AA and AV through MIA to get me there on time. I've also missed a few in a few other ports and had no issue getting on the next flight on DL metal, and have sometimes even asked if I want to go on another airline.

One thing to consider is that DL does often have a dedicated desk at most airports (at least the ones where it has quite a presence) that does these re-routes. The lounge has usually sent me there rather than try to do it from where they are, as they have better access to seats. I've not used it in LAX but I've used it elsewhere.

In terms of accountability I'm not sure VA can actually do much once you're in the US (beyond assure you've had MCT), it's really up to DL from there.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry to hear the connection issues.

I don't trust MCT. e.g. the airlines think that 1 hour is a valid connection in SYD. It may work out that way most times but I want longer and I do request for linger when I book the flights.

For LAX I wouldn't be comfortable with anything less than 3 hours but the AFF experts are advising 4 hours so that is something to note in future.

 

[Saab34]

Anyone had recent arrival experiences on VA23?

It’s a 9am arrival and I’m looking at booking a 1140am JetBlue departure. 1240pm also available.

Last time I went into Lax it was pretty quick with the auto machines. That was Pre Trump , sounds like things have changed.

 

[RooFlyer]

Anyone had recent arrival experiences on VA23?

It’s a 9am arrival and I’m looking at booking a 1140am JetBlue departure. 1240pm also available.

Last time I went into Lax it was pretty quick with the auto machines. That was Pre Trump , sounds like things have changed.

Again, check the link in post #14. You can set it for the particular arrival terminal, and time of arrival etc.

Contrary to popular belief, Mr Trump tells me he doesn't lie awake at night (or day) manipulating immigration queues at LAX. He's too busy tweeting to do that.

When I went through in April, it took me 10 mins to get through immigration, another 20 mins to get bags and customs.

 

[Robert K]

This isn't helpful for this situation, but if anyone finds themselves departing from Terminal 4 (or even 5) on an AA flight, and has OWE, you can use the flagship check-in. (the entrance is a door from the curb to the left of the priority entrance at Terminal 4)

After checking in, someone escorts you to the front of the security check queue.

 

[Kris4355]

I flew Melbourne to LAX 5 times in the last 9 months and each time it was at least 2 hours minimum, sometimes up to 4 hours. I am now seriously thinking of flying Melbourne to San Francisco, it has to be quicker.
Previously I had been flying Melbourne/Sydney/Dallas, which was so much easier and quicker. I was out of the airport an hour after landing. My last trip I flew home from Panama City Beach, Florida with Delta to LAX via Atlanta. Unfortunately there was a hurricane in the way, stopping the plane from leaving ECP. I only had a 40 minute window between arriving in Atlanta at B31 gate and getting to A38 , which involved catching the train from Terminal B to Terminal A.
It was obvious leaving ECP 30 minutes late that I was going to miss my connection. I drew the Delta staff attention to this and was told, not to worry I would have no problem catching it!!! They are just not interested in helping in any way.
I had 5 minutes to get from B to A, knowing that the door was to be closed on the out going flight 10 minutes before take off. I have never run so fast in my life. My problem was that I was catching the Qantas flight home from LAX to Melbourne that night.
As luck would have it, I made the gate at just after 3pm when there was a family of 5, holding up the flight as they had arrived on another late flight. My seat had been sold, as it was not anticipated that I would catch the plane. Anyway they squeezed me in a seat up the back, which at that stage I did not care where it was, as long as I was on it and I made it it to LAX in time.

 

[docjames]

Whilst if you fluke it at LAX it can be done in under 90mins (have done <75mins from TBIT gate arrival to T4 Lounge) , the reality is i'd never leave < 3hrs on a connected ticket, or <4hrs on a non-connected. Too often 2-2.5hrs is the standard amount. And that's usually heading from rows 1-20 on an A380. The problem usually is, there's about 5 other A380s landing at the same time or typically just before yours...........

 

[bcworld]

I flew Melbourne to LAX 5 times in the last 9 months and each time it was at least 2 hours minimum, sometimes up to 4 hours. I am now seriously thinking of flying Melbourne to San Francisco, it has to be quicker.

I am taking the new QF MEL-SFO flight in September...when I looked at the processing times from the link upthread earlier this year it didn't seem that SFO was any better. The other issue with the QF flight (at least at the time of year I'm travelling) is the arrival time of 7PM...it doesn't leave many connection options say after 9PM...it also seemed to coincide with a busy time at immigration. I did book a UA flight onwards to LAS at 1030PM however they scheduled changed it to close to 9PM. The very last option to LAS is now 925PM on Southwest so not feeling confident I'm overnighting near SFO instead.

QF does sell an MEL-SFO-LAS (AS) flight I think 1h50m connection but if you miss it, again no options.

 

[serfty]

Whilst if you fluke it at LAX it can be done in under 90mins (have done <75mins from TBIT gate arrival to T4 Lounge)

My best was last year when I found the QF First lounge at TBIT does not open until 6:30am - I had to wait 15 minutes outside the door after getting off QF15 6:05am.

I still would not allow less than 4 hours.

 

[UP4014]

I've never made a connection at LAX in less that two hours, so now like 4 hours min.

If I'm going to somewhere like Vegas, I rent a car a drive from LAX and I'm still there the same night as if I flew. (From Sydney)

 

[p--and--t]

Only been through LAX a handful of times and haven't been through LAX for 2 years now and usually it is an international exit point for me for return to AU (rather than entry to US).

My experiences lead me to believe that LAX is one of the worst airports in the western world I have transited both from a procedural delay and staff attitude basis.

Have I just been unlucky; too harsh in my assessment?