Help pls SYD-LAX-YYC Qantas/WestJet

[sydney]

Hi and help please..
Our 18 yr old son is travelling alone for the first time to meet up with us in Calgary, via LAX. He and we are nervous. I need some guidance please so that he does not miss his flight to Calgary.

His 3 flights are on the same booking reference and was booked as a Qantas Classic multi-city award as below.

• SYD-LAX QF11 • 17:45 - 14:25
• LAX-YYC WS1515 • 18:05 - 22:09
• LAX-SYD • 3 weeks later

We'll all fly on a separate ticket from Calgary to US, before he flies home alone again from LAX.

1. Is SYD-LAX/LAX-YYC considered a transit flight or 2 separate flights and does he need to check himself in again in LAX for his WestJet flight?
   I know he needs to collect any checked bag at LAX and go through customs, but if he has carry on only, will Qantas be able to check him into the Westjet flight as well or does he need to check in to Westjet separately after LAX customs? Am wondering if he'll have enough time to check in for his WestJet flight, if Qantas can't check him into both flights.
   Our family usually checks in at least 3 hours in advance for international flights, so this will be shorter since he has to clear customs first. He already has an ESTA.
2. Also, should I rebook his return ticket on a separate one way booking, so that it is not automatically cancelled in the event that he misses his Westjet flight?
   
   Thank you.

 

[BrianQQ]

If all segments are under one ticket, your Calgary boarding pass should be issued and your bags will be tagged to Calgary.

Upon clearing customs, your son will need to collect their bags (if they have checked bags), and then drop them off at the "Connecting Flights" area.

Once done, your son will pass through TSA and then be at departures level at TBIT where he can proceed to walk to Terminal 3 (where WestJet leaves) via the TBIT-T4 connector (near the AMEX Centurion lounge entrance)

 

[Quickstatus]

Welcome @sydney

1. Whether transiting or not in LAX, he will need to go through immigration and collect bags, then recheck the bags at WestJet

2. As all sectors are on the single ticket, QF will tag the bags through to YYC and provide a boarding pass for both flights.

3. Upon picking up bags in LAX, proceed through Customs check and go up the ramp on the right. There is a Transfer area where onward tagged bags can be dropped off.

4. Son will then be land side. Just walk to terminal 3.

5. At T3, just go through security

6. If for some reason QF does not check the bags through and does not provide a boarding pass, just take the bags and do a normal check in at WestJet at T3. Then go through security.

7. The remaining flights won't automatically get cancelled if he misses the flights. So it is not necessary to split off the return flights.

@BrianQQ
You don't access the TBiT-T4 connector to go to T3

 

[Thibault]

I would also add that it might be a good idea to use the CBP MPC app to go through immigration quickly. (Mobile Passport Control (MPC))

It is a very easy process and can save minutes to hours (and stress) passing through the US.

Data access is required, could use wifi at the airport or mobile data.