LAX transfer time - VA to DL

[Colrad]

I did MEL-LAX-JFK with VA and DL three times last year (and am doing it again tomorrow). Each time a 2 hour connection has been plenty. The new photo/fingerprint kiosks at passport control seem to have sped things up considerably. As one of the other posters said, the biggest risk of delay is at the DL domestic security line where, for reasons I'll never understand, people seem to start the process of removing laptops, belts, shoes, coats etc. only after they are standing at the tubs/conveyor belt, despite numerous signs and TSA staff shouting instructions. To put it mildly, its a shambles. But, again as another poster mentioned, the relationship between VA and DL is solid and DL do go out of their way to assist VA guests (especially if you have status). Enjoy the trip!

 

[Ausbt]

Well, I'm predicting a miss. Just received notification that VA9 today BNE-LAX delayed and will arrive LAX 6:50 pm. So my two hour window to make a LAX-SLC at 7:35 pm has shrunk to 45 mins. Yeah, no. Well, lucky I booked that flight the following day. Be interesting to see what happens when I turn up, I mean might they try to re-book me on the 11 am next day flight and I accept that, even though I know that I'm booked on the 6 am? I mean that's an additional layer of insurance right? Yeah, no. Anyway, I'd better fork out for a hotel in LAX I guess, I'm not sleeping in the terminal. Would Virgin pay for it? Yeah, no ...different PNR. Oh, I did get upgraded on the BNE-LAX though, for 45K points (came through earlier this week).

 

[serfty]

Well, I'm predicting a miss. Just received notification that VA9 today BNE-LAX delayed and will arrive LAX 6:50 pm. So my two hour window to make a LAX-SLC at 7:35 pm has shrunk to 45 mins. Yeah, no. Well, lucky I booked that flight the following day. Be interesting to see what happens when I turn up, I mean might they try to re-book me on the 11 am next day flight and I accept that, even though I know that I'm booked on the 6 am? I mean that's an additional layer of insurance right? Yeah, no. Anyway, I'd better fork out for a hotel in LAX I guess, I'm not sleeping in the terminal. Would Virgin pay for it? Yeah, no ...different PNR. Oh, I did get upgraded on the BNE-LAX though, for 45K points (came through earlier this week).

If you call, you'd likely be able to rebook at no charge. Of course, with the insurance flight it's sort of moot.

 

[Ausbt]

If you call, you'd likely be able to rebook at no charge

Yes, the insurance flight was a good call. I booked that 6 am flight for USD$88 in Basic and it's now USD$193. Mind you DL probably would have just put me on it or one slightly later, but I really need to arrive at SLC no later than 11 am to make a shuttle.

I also do have this AUD$60 credit with Agoda and was unsure of using it up, so there you go I can put it toward an LA hotel and mitigate some costs I suppose. Of course I'll be keeping VA informed of all of this, you never know they might throw me a few points, you can only ask!

 

[Harthagan]

Well, I'm predicting a miss. Just received notification that VA9 today BNE-LAX delayed and will arrive LAX 6:50 pm. So my two hour window to make a LAX-SLC at 7:35 pm has shrunk to 45 mins.

I didnt know any flights from here arrive in LAX in the PM. Im always used to arriving there first thing in the morning.

 

[Ausbt]

I didnt know any flights from here arrive in LAX in the PM. Im always used to arriving there first thing in the morning.

From SYD you'd arrive in the morning. Unsure about MEL. But the BNE one is an afternoon arrival. Haven't sorted out my jet lag strategy yet, but I'm hoping it might make it easier.

Anyway one other slightly annoying thing is upon turning up at BNE the assistance counter wanted to help me with a hotel in LAX. Ahhh, well acutally I already booked that earlier today and you know the Platinum helpline didn't mention anything about it, had I of known... Yeah. It's not a policy or a true benefit, apparently the client facing peeps 'have latitude' that the telephone line don't.

Then they called Delta for me (I didn't mention I already had paid for a replacement flight, just rolled with it to see what would happen). Delta was ok to waive the change fee of USD$200 (that's double the cost of the original flight) but wanted to hit me up for fare difference of $105. Ahhh, no thanks. Told the VA desk "I'll just sort it out when I get there but thanks for trying".

Then as I turn to go "oh just one more thing Mr Aus, the Singapore lounge is rather busy tonight, you need to use the Plaza Premium lounge."

"What?!"

 

[Saab34]

I feel your pain. I’ve had the joy of a 11am BNE-LAX turn into a 10pm delayed departure, seperate VX booking was then void which cost me an absolute bucketload to fix. 777 fleet is starting to age and is breaking down more often now I’ve noticed.

 

[Harthagan]

From SYD you'd arrive in the morning. Unsure about MEL. But the BNE one is an afternoon arrival. Haven't sorted out my jet lag strategy yet, but I'm hoping it might make it easier.

Anyway one other slightly annoying thing is upon turning up at BNE the assistance counter wanted to help me with a hotel in LAX. Ahhh, well acutally I already booked that earlier today and you know the Platinum helpline didn't mention anything about it, had I of known... Yeah. It's not a policy or a true benefit, apparently the client facing peeps 'have latitude' that the telephone line don't.

Then they called Delta for me (I didn't mention I already had paid for a replacement flight, just rolled with it to see what would happen). Delta was ok to waive the change fee of USD$200 (that's double the cost of the original flight) but wanted to hit me up for fare difference of $105. Ahhh, no thanks. Told the VA desk "I'll just sort it out when I get there but thanks for trying".

Then as I turn to go "oh just one more thing Mr Aus, the Singapore lounge is rather busy tonight, you need to use the Plaza Premium lounge."

"What?!"

Oh thats interesting, the BNE flight must leave a lot later at night. The sydney flight lands at 6am and the MEL flight lands at 9am.

I think delta would have put u on standby for the first flight the next day to SLC. But totally get that you didnt want to roll the dice on it. I hate the feeling of knowing things are up in the air regarding getting to a destination.

Thats a bit shocking that they are using that plaza lounge even for the transpacific flight. I havent heard anything good about it yet and im most likely gonna be there before a flight to DPS in a few months

 

[Bagpuss]

777 fleet is starting to age and is breaking down more often now I’ve noticed.

I don't think they are breaking down, they are leaving LAX. When they arrive in Australia they turn around within a few hours, so the delays are felt on the flight to LAX which is annoying due to the connections.

The BNE has the one flight which arrives in the evening which was brought in to allow the MEL flights and better aircraft utilization.

 

[serfty]

The BNE has the one flight which arrives in the evening which was brought in to allow the MEL flights and better aircraft utilization.

VA9 is a 10:15pm Sunday departure from BNE arriving at LAX 5:20pm.

VA6 is a 11:15am Saturday departure from LAX arriving BNE 7:20pm Sunday.

Otherwise, VA7 operates BNE-LAX Tue-Sat 11:55am-07:00am & VA8 operates LAX-BNE Sun-Thu 10:00pm-06:05am.

 

[Bagpuss]

777 fleet is starting to age.

I looked this up as I was wondering the age of the fleet. The oldest B777 is 10 years old. If anything that's approaching mid-life. With international always "struggling to make a profit" I would expect them to keep the fleet for at least another 5 years.