Minimum Connection Times at LAX

[Foreigner]

My kids arrive into LAX at 6:55 am on VA. I'm hoping to book their onward travel to SFO, likely on AA or Virgin America. What is recommended minimum transfer time?

 

[Boris spatsky]

I never booked it in less than 3 hours - and still got caught twice. Customs is just too random in LAX for my liking.

 

[bigjobs]

I land this week on QF 15 from BNE at 0600 or thereabouts if it's on time. I have then booked onto an AA flight to ABQ that leaves at 0845. it was a legal connection that the QF website threw up when I booked.

now, i'm yet to find out if that's enough time, but obviously Qantas seem to think it is.

HTH.

cheers
BJ

 

[TomVexille]

On separate unprotected tickets, 3 hours would probably be my minimum.

 

[cjd600]

Need to factor in +45mins for In N Out.

 

[Dr Ralph]

You may be OK at 2 hrs. But I'd allow at least 3.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

My kids arrive into LAX at 6:55 am on VA. I'm hoping to book their onward travel to SFO, likely on AA or Virgin America. What is recommended minimum transfer time?

I'd book them on VX LAX/SFO as sometimes VA will be able to add in the oncarriage flight on VX. It's not guaranteed as there are reports of not always being successful however VA definitely won't check through to AA.

 

[Foreigner]

I'd book them on VX LAX/SFO as sometimes VA will be able to add in the oncarriage flight on VX. It's not guaranteed as there are reports of not always being successful however VA definitely won't check through to AA.

Thank you. There are frequent VX flights between those cities and so far prices seem ok. Hope to book tonight.

My own trip would be LAX-SAN-LAX so likely AA or UA. Will keep upto 4 hrs for connections.

 

[Mick1969]

Thank you. There are frequent VX flights between those cities and so far prices seem ok. Hope to book tonight.

My own trip would be LAX-SAN-LAX so likely AA or UA. Will keep upto 4 hrs for connections.

For or a previous trip from LAX-SAN I found it cheaper (for two pax) and a lot more convenient to book a Town Car from LAX which dropped us off at our hotel. In the end I think it saved us a couple of hours waiting at LAX. The cost was around USD170 plus tip.

 

[Denali]

Ive arrived at LAX on a VA flight and was sitting on a Delta flight within 60mins BUT I don't recommend it (we were bumped to an earlier flight because we were curbside in 20mins).

You can ask at checkin if you can be moved to an earlier flight, which we did but I was expecting to be moved to the flight that was departing in 2hrs, not 40mins. That's an Amazing Race I wouldn't want to do again.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Ive arrived at LAX on a VA flight and was sitting on a Delta flight within 60mins BUT I don't recommend it (we were bumped to an earlier flight because we were curbside in 20mins).

You can ask at checkin if you can be moved to an earlier flight, which we did but I was expecting to be moved to the flight that was departing in 2hrs, not 40mins. That's an Amazing Race I wouldn't want to do again.

Did VA only tag your bags to LAX and you therefore had them with you when you checked in with DL at T5?

 

[Denali]

Did VA only tag your bags to LAX and you therefore had them with you when you checked in with DL at T5?

Yes, different bookings. We picked up bags and cleared curbside to recheck at Delta. Apparently I can run, I just need motivation.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Yes, different bookings. We picked up bags and cleared curbside to recheck at Delta. Apparently I can run, I just need motivation.

Did you ask VA id they could through check to DL? Some people have had luck when holding separate VA & DL pnrs.

 

[serfty]

Did you ask VA id they could through check to DL? Some people have had luck when holding separate VA & DL pnrs.

One can always ask - policy is not to.

As for separate ticekts, if not *O with AA, I'd allow at least 3 hours - even then I have not selected less than 6 in the last three years.

At least with DL, having VA status it's easy enough for a standby at no charge.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

VX are having a sale with fares starting at USD39.00 ow for LAX/LAS and USD59.00 LAX/SFO.

Sale ends 2359 17 Mar 2016 Centrsl Time so you've got about 7 hours left to purchase from the time of this post.

 

[jb747]

Did VA only tag your bags to LAX and you therefore had them with you when you checked in with DL at T5?

I wouldn't have thought it was ever possible to check bags through in the USA. They have to be removed at the first point of landing for customs, and after that you are a domestic passenger.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I wouldn't have thought it was ever possible to check bags through in the USA. They have to be removed at the first point of landing for customs, and after that you are a domestic passenger.

I meant in the sense that bags can be tagged through to final destination however they still come off the carousel at LAX or whatever first entry point is to the US as you clear customs with your luggage.

The benefit is two fold as you can drop off the bags after customs on the transfer belt before exiting TBIT when they are tagged beyond LAX.

The other benefit is you don't have to pay for checked baggage like you would if checking in from scratch with the next airline. In some cases you may also get your onward boarding pass in AU if both airlines have an IATCI agreement.

 

[Denali]

I meant in the sense that bags can be tagged through to final destination however they still come off the carousel at LAX or whatever first entry point is to the US as you clear customs with your luggage.
The benefit is two fold as you can drop off the bags after customs on the transfer belt before exiting TBIT when they are tagged beyond LAX.
The other benefit is you don't have to pay for checked baggage like you would if checking in from scratch with the next airline. In some cases you may also get your onward boarding pass in AU if both airlines have an IATCI agreement.

I didn't ask in Sydney if I could check them through as my plan was to always check in at Delta and try to be moved to an earlier flight, I padded the layover just in case there was a Syd departure delay.

And we are WP/SG and flying J (their "first") so no bag check in fee.