Long connection at LAX - lounge options

[Homer]

OK, so this might not really be that long, but I don’t like spending any time at LAX given the state of most of the lounges in the LOTFAP.

This is the situation: I am booked on VA2 LAX-SYD in mid August, departing at 10.20pm. I will be coming in from YVR. The closest flight I can seem to find which still makes for a legal connection is an AC flight getting me in around 6.30pm (at Terminal 2). That’s a nearly 4 hour wait. I don’t think I’ll be able to use the AC lounge as an arrivals lounge (even though I have a Priority Pass) as it’s airside and I need to move over to Terminal 3 anyway to face the awful Alaska Airlines lounge. There are earlier AA flights from YVR-LAX but then I’d be looking at a 6 hour wait.
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So do I have to just suck it up and resign myself to spending 4 hours in the Alaska Airlines lounge or is there another lounge option I haven’t considered?[/FONT]

 

[Blackadder]

There is a paid lounge option the reLAX "lounge." at TBIT

reLAX lounge - Home

Edit: Accepts the Priority Pass

 

[serfty]

TBIT is unlikely to be accessible.

Have you considered coming in through Seattle via SFO/LAS? First class is not really expensive.

Arrive on AA to T4. Day pass at A/C there?

Of course, all that does is break the 4 hours wait into different ports.

In reality, it's probably better to 'suck it up' ..

(although the LAS option [YVR-SEA-LAS-LAX] is interesting - 240 SC's for USD1085)

 

[Blackadder]

Can't see why TBIT wouldn't be accessible as the reLAX lounge is open to those travelling, but also to those meeting incoming pax etc.

 

[serfty]

Can't see why TBIT wouldn't be accessible as the reLAX lounge is open to those travelling, but also to those meeting incoming pax etc.

Oops, I assumed the reLAX lounge was airside?

 

[Blackadder]

Nope, just go up the escalators from the check in area to the food court (security screening is at the ends of the food court)

 

[xtoss]

Rather than start a new thread.

I am travelling VA to LAX and have a 4 hour layover before going to New York with Virgin America.

I arrive into Terminal 5.

First question, as VA Gold, The Delta Sky Club note says I just need to show same day boarding pass. Although the way I see it is that they only mean outgoing boarding passes?

Should I try my luck here first, they might be nice? .....:-|.....

Second. I fly out of Terminal 3 so I know Alaska is an option with Priority Pass.

I would like a place with a shower and out of the Priority Pass's only SKY TEAM KAL Lounge has shower access. But this is airside. Does security let me go through Airside for the TBIT? I assume as I'm flying out of Terminal 3 they won't let me?

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[serfty]

You are supposed to be flying out of TBIT to get airside at TBIT.

 

[Jurahn]

You don't mention when you're flying, but note that Alaska Airlines will be moving to T6 at LAX in March 2012 (confirmed by their lounge staff a few weeks ago), so I assume the T3 lounge would then close. I wonder whether Virgin will then take over that lounge area, as otherwise there will be no lounge access at all in T3.

 

[xtoss]

Looks like it could be the reLAX lounge for me then

oh and I am flying in two weeks, didn't know that though as I am flying in April as well along the similar lines so thanks for the info

 

[Jurahn]

You're welcome . We had about 5 hours to wait when we flew into LAX in November until our flight to Las Vegas. I'd allowed plenty of time between flights as I'd heard horror stories about how long it can take to get through immigration and customs at LAX, but we were through and out in about half an hour!! We also flew VA and they had just started flying into T5 that week.

We had a look at the reLAX lounge, but weren't overly impressed - despite what it says on their website about sandwiches, muffins, pastries etc being available, there was practically no food put out at all and there are also no toilets in the lounge itself. The girl at Reception said to us that, quite honestly, most people just paid to come into the lounge to use the WiFi!! (which isn't of much interest to us, we have a laptop but hardly use it). It would have cost $60 for the two of us to spend 3 hours in there, and we decided it wasn't worth it, so we got some hot chocolate and a muffin from a cafe in TBIT and spent a little while there before heading off to T1. Having no status, we're used to sitting in airports because we don't have lounge access LOL.