Logistics with flight from Sydney to LA and then LA to Chicago

[TomVexille]

Really? My last entry at LAX I stayed overnight, and by chance have managed to avoid LAX on my next two trips.

Yet another reason to keep avoiding LAX if that's the case.

(Ditto) Really??? Isn’t it a common bag drop (conveyor) for luggage tagged through?

T4 check in agent said AA were no longer paying for the space in TBIT. This was back in August but I pretty much only remember seeing DL service desks post customs on the ground floor. I know there were a couple other airlines as well, but definitely no AA

 

[Oscarq]

Agree with @SYD dropped AA pre-tagged bags December'22, bag tag scanned and directed drop at numbered conveyor belt. No airline agents to offer check-in.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I check out the Flights section of another forum (a global one) and there sure seem to be many many people making separate bookings with very short transfer periods. I can only suppose that in todays world where websites just gather information, and present cheap tickets as a single itinerary its going to happen. And of course to compound the issue, when things go pear shaped the airlines will tell you to speak to the agent, as you didn't buy from them, and these online websites will become mysteriously hard to contact..

 

[Oscarq]

@eudalek would ideally allow 3hrs minimum, immigration alone at this time of day could take one hour more. Agree with the many time allowances mentioned upthread. Two hours is sweaty palm territory.

 

[SYD]

T4 check in agent said AA were no longer paying for the space in TBIT. This was back in August but I pretty much only remember seeing DL service desks post customs on the ground floor. I know there were a couple other airlines as well, but definitely no AA

A service desk is seperate to the bag transfer for those checked through.

But that’s academic for OP attempting the near on impossible. Even HLO.

 

[SeatBackForward]

@eudalek would ideally allow 3hrs minimum, immigration alone at this time of day could take one hour more. Agree with the many time allowances mentioned upthread. Two hours is sweaty palm territory.

I barely got through with 2hrs last October, and this was with the benefit of using the AA Flagship First at LAX to skip most of the check in + security lines.

 

[Brissy1]

Hijacking the thread a little, rescheduled flight, now United SYD-LAX-SAN flights.

1h55min transfer at LAX, single UA ticket.
The (virgin) call centre said bags will be checked through to SAN (an international airport) which would make it doable, but worried because LAX-SAN is of course domestic.

Anyone know if will have to wait and collect bag at LAX? Or is the call centre right?

(The following ua flight lax-san is 12h later and arrives late night, not happy about ua putting her on that and daughter arriving close to midnight)

 

[SYD]

Hijacking the thread a little, rescheduled flight, now United SYD-LAX-SAN flights.

1h55min transfer at LAX, single UA ticket.
The (virgin) call centre said bags will be checked through to SAN (an international airport) which would make it doable, but worried because LAX-SAN is of course domestic.

Anyone know if will have to wait and collect bag at LAX? Or is the call centre right?

(The following ua flight lax-san is 12h later and arrives late night, not happy about ua putting her on that and daughter arriving close to midnight)

Yep. Do immigration, collect bags, customs, dropoff bags and re-enter security.

On one ticket, UA will rebook you if there's a miss connect.

Worst case scenario, it's a 2 hr drive.

 

[Townsend]

Also AA no longer have a bag drop at the exit of TBIT, so while T4 is only next door, you do need to schlep bags over

I dropped bags at the AA check in at TBIT a month ago.

 

[SYD]

I dropped bags at the AA check in at TBIT a month ago.

I'm passing through early next week QF->AS. I'll try and make a point of checking who's doing what at TBIT.

 

[BD1959]

The (virgin) call centre said bags will be checked through to SAN (an international airport) which would make it doable, but worried because LAX-SAN is of course domestic.

Anyone know if will have to wait and collect bag at LAX? Or is the call centre right?

Both correct. Your bag will be checked through (that is it will be tagged to SAN) however that doesn't preclude the need to collect the bag at LAX and re-drop it to be forwarded through to SAN.

Regards,

BD

 

[justinbrett]

Both correct. Your bag will be checked through (that is it will be tagged to SAN) however that doesn't preclude the need to collect the bag at LAX and re-drop it to be forwarded through to SAN.

Regards,

BD

Yes, it's still through check, it's just you are part of the baggage team at LAX for a brief moment.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Whilst I agree with the general thoughts that I would not, ever book a connection this tight I also don't agree that an hour's is impossible.

On Qantas, maybe, but last October I arrived at TBIT on AY1, cleared immigration, picked up bag, walked through customs, dropped bag, visited the bathrooms, upstairs to departures, cleared security and was back airside in 50mins.

Again, MCT is 2hrs (so anything below this would be an illegal connection) and I'd be loathed to book a connection so tight as 2hrs - especially with QF - but very occasionally LAX is not so bad ... !!

Regards,

BD

I get what you mean… but even your 50 mins airside to airside wouldn’t be enough given they normally close the flight 10-15 mins before departure in the US. even if the door is still open your seat is likely given away to standbys.

 

[Brissy1]

MCT is 2hrs (so anything below this would be an illegal connection)

Well UA842 scheduled arr LAX is 06:40 and connecting UA4643 dep 08:31.

1h51min.

Booking done through virgin call centre to fix up a schedule change (original booking via sfo with 6h stopover).
Unfortunately it's not me travelling (one way Avis car is just $us100 LA-SD), it's my unlicensed daughter and girlfriend going to uni.

What do you mean by "illegal" please.

 

[justinbrett]

Well UA842 scheduled arr LAX is 06:40 and connecting UA4643 dep 08:31.

1h51min.

Booking done through virgin call centre to fix up a schedule change (original booking via sfo with 6h stopover).
Unfortunately it's not me travelling (one way Avis car is just $us100 LA-SD), it's my unlicensed daughter and girlfriend going to uni.

What do you mean by "illegal" please.

There are published times called Minimum Connecting Times (MCT) that apply to airport/airline/route combinations.

If your booking contains a transfer that is less than this time, it is called an illegal connection and should result in one of the flights getting rebooked. They aren't usually bookable, but occur when one of the flights has a schedule changed.

I will check the MCT for your exact circumstance.

Edit - the UA MCT for LAX, I-D, is 1:10, or 1:30 if arriving at TBIT.

 

[Hvr]

There are published times called Minimum Connecting Times (MCT)

And there are what @serfty refers to as SMCT, i.e. Sensible Minimum Connection Times.
The MCTs above aren't SCMTs.

 

[justinbrett]

And there are what @serfty refers to as SMCT, i.e. Sensible Minimum Connection Times.
The MCTs above aren't SCMTs.

That said, UA-UA, connecting to SAN, arriving in the morning, single PNR.... I'd do it.

You can get an Uber to SAN if desperate.

 

[SYD]

That said, UA-UA, connecting to SAN, arriving in the morning, single PNR.... I'd do it.

You can get an Uber to SAN if desperate.

Or go to any rental company and self drive. I’m doing the reverse in a few weeks. Albeit prebooked!

 

[docjames]

If it meets MCT but not SMCT, have a backup plan - knowing you are "protected" and the airline needs to get you there - but their options may be limited. In this case, a "backup plan to get an Uber" is a good one. And then hope to make it anyway.

That said, UA-UA, connecting to SAN, arriving in the morning, single PNR.... I'd do it.

You can get an Uber to SAN if desperate.

Or go to any rental company and self drive. I’m doing the reverse in a few weeks. Albeit prebooked!

Traveller is unlicensed.

 

[SYD]

Traveller is unlicensed.

Oh, must have missed that!