QF 93, connecting AA to SFO, different Booking?

[Travelqueen]

I think rules have changed, so checking.....

We have QF flight to LAX, and I now need to book an AA flight to San Fransisco, so it will be a different booking number.

I know we will need to collect bags and clear customs at LAX, but will I need to go landside, and recheck for boarding passes and bags again at LAX, and go thru security again ( arrhhh ) or is there a transfer desk?

This is of course will be important in what time I book the connecting flight for.


Thanks in advance,

TQ

 

[Melburnian1]

Can you have these merged on a single PNR (passenger name record?) That would make everything simpler. Many AA flights are codeshared by QF and give one the option of booking under the QF four digit flight number.

 

[Quickstatus]

Travel agents apparently have the ability to ADD to an existing booking when the original has been a travel agent booking.
Once two separate bookings have been made they cannot be MERGED. Note the difference between ADD and MERGED
Impossible for QFonline to ADD to an existing booking. I'm pretty sure QFhuman can't either.
Check with your TA if this is indeed the case.
Otherwise yes you will have to recheck bags at AA - last time I flew this was on T4 and/or T6. But now it's T4/T5 - either one is Ok. Checkin in these main terminal.
The AA Flights to SFO departs from a remote satellite terminal (so called Eagles Nest in Forums like this - used to be numbered as T4 then T6 but now T5 but same place) via a bus from T5
No transfer desk

 

[Himeno]

Since they won't be in the same PNR, the bags won't be through checked to SFO, thus you won't be able to use the bag drop desk in TBIT and the TSA checkpoint into the connector.
You'll need to walk to T4 next door (not far, about 2 minute walk) and recheck with AA there. T5 is another 2 or so min walk past T4. Then, assuming it is an eagle flight, you'll need to go through the T4-T5 connector tunnel near gate 44, then a bus from T5 to the remote 'Eagles Nest' terminal. There are buses from both T4 and T5 to the satellite, but the buses to/from T5 are more common and any baggage claim for Eagle flights is done in T5.

Not all AA flights LAX-SFO are eagle, though most are. Those operated by 737 or A320 are mainline and won't use the eagle gates. Such flights could use anywhere in T4, the AA gates in T5 or the 4 AA gates in TBIT.

 

[Travelqueen]

Ok, great. Thanks for all your answers.

I made the QF 93 booking online, but haven't booked AA flight yet.
However, they will be two seperate PNR's then.

I am familiar with eagles nest, as got a flight from there in January.

Just a thought.....if I only had hand luggage, would I need to go landside?
Would I then be able to get my AA flight boarding passes done at First Lounge?

TQ

 

[Himeno]

Just a thought.....if I only had hand luggage, would I need to go landside?
Would I then be able to get my AA flight boarding passes done at First Lounge?

Yes. You would be dumped landside after clearing CBP. You won't be able to get back airside without a boarding pass.

 

[Daver6]

I don't think you'll have to go land side. After CBP you can go to the area where you would normally just re-check your bag. There are airline counters there so I think you'd be able to just check-in and get your boarding pass there.

Regardless though, you still need to go through a security check to get into the T4 connector.

 

[Quickstatus]

If HLO just use the post immigration connector between TBIT and T4.
just check in using the AA phone app and then get paper BP in Lounge

After immigration Even with HLO you will still need to go through security to get to T4 either via street or TBIT-T4 connector.

Why not stop into QF F Lounge?.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Just a thought.....if I only had hand luggage, would I need to go landside?
Would I then be able to get my AA flight boarding passes done at First Lounge?

TQ

4

You could do OLCI for the AA flight then remain landside at TBIT after clearing customs then use the airside connector to get to T4 or T5 for the SFO flight.

 

[SYD]

Since they won't be in the same PNR, the bags won't be through checked to SFO, thus you won't be able to use the bag drop desk in TBIT and the TSA checkpoint into the connector.
You'll need to walk to T4 next door (not far, about 2 minute walk) and recheck with AA there.

Not sure that advice is totally correct. Yes, if bookings are the same PNR or QF choose to tag your luggage through anyway - you just collect your luggage and drop it off on the transfer conveyor.

If not tagged through, you *should* be able to recheck at the TBIT transfer desks and collect BPs (if you haven't done an OLCI before leaving Oz).

Using the TBIT connector is preferable to joining the masses at T5.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Not sure that advice is totally correct. Yes, if bookings are the same PNR or QF choose to tag your luggage through anyway - you just collect your luggage and drop it off on the transfer conveyor.

If not tagged through, you *should* be able to recheck at the TBIT transfer desks and collect BPs (if you haven't done an OLCI before leaving Oz).

Using the TBIT connector is preferable to joining the masses at T5.

Is that when you turn right & go up the ramp after customs at TBIT?

Turning left and go up the ramp you end up landside. I did this recently ex QF11 & heading to T5 for a DL flight on a separate ticket which was a a PITA but I had a 7 hour transit so it's not like I was cutting it fine.

 

[SYD]

Is that when you turn right & go up the ramp after customs at TBIT?

Turning left and go up the ramp you end up landside. I did this recently ex QF11 & heading to T5 for a DL flight on a separate ticket which was a a PITA but I had a 7 hour transit so it's not like I was cutting it fine.

Yes. Well that's where it was last time I passed through. Should be sign posted Transfers or Connections? It's been a while - I've been going to SFO of late. But I'm sure someone here as pretty recent experience!

 

[Daver6]

The whole thing is pretty well sign posted and plenty of customs/security staff just standing around who you can ask.

The only not obvious bit is if you're heading back into TBIT to use the QF lounges is as others have said, do not take an escalator that goes down.