Transfer time limit

[trieu_thai]

Hi all,

I booked a flight from SYD-SFO for a friend in 2 separated bookings, the SYD/LAX with Expedia, flying Virgin and the LAX/SFO with Delta. The SYD/LAX arrive at 10:30AM and the LAX/SFO depart at 12PM, a 1 hour 30 mins tranfer time.

The LAX/SFO flight has recently been re-scheduled to depart 5 mins early, at 11:55AM and I was told by our corporate travel agent that I'll have to change his flight to a later one as this fall short of the minimum 1.5 hours required for transit. Can anyone clarify this? When he check-in at SYD airport, will they be able to check his luggage straight to SFO now that the minimum transit time is not met? If we leave it as is, is 1 hour 25 mins sufficient for him to clear custom and go to the domestic Delta terminal?

If the trip was booked in one transaction from SYD/SFO, Delta will have to change his flight to a later one at no cost. Unfortunately it was booked separately so as far as Delta is concern, his LAX/SFO is a domestic booking and would not change the flight without penalty.

Thanks

TT

 

[drewbles]

As they are on two separate tickets, the MCT (or Minimum Connection Time) is not applicable. That does not mean it's recommended of course.

Arriving into LAX on VX from SFO your friend will arrive at T3. VA flights from the USA also depart T3, so you're good there. 90 minutes is tight (considering SFO can be the 'the delay by the bay' for arrivals and departures when fog is around), but if it's on time, he should be fine.

Unfortunately being on separate tickets means that if he misses his flight that he's connecting to, the airlines are not under any obligation to protect them onto another flight. VX and VA operate very separately, only similar in name.

When departing SYD I'm not sure. I have only ever flown on a single ticket MEL-SYD-LAX-BOS with VA/VX, but I had an overnight in LAX so had my luggage with me. Being on separate tickets, i'm not sure, but i'm sure someone else here can be of assistance.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Hi all,

I booked a flight from SYD-SFO for a friend in 2 separated bookings, the SYD/LAX with Expedia, flying Virgin and the LAX/SFO with Delta. The SYD/LAX arrive at 10:30AM and the LAX/SFO depart at 12PM, a 1 hour 30 mins tranfer time.

The LAX/SFO flight has recently been re-scheduled to depart 5 mins early, at 11:55AM and I was told by our corporate travel agent that I'll have to change his flight to a later one as this fall short of the minimum 1.5 hours required for transit. Can anyone clarify this? When he check-in at SYD airport, will they be able to check his luggage straight to SFO now that the minimum transit time is not met? If we leave it as is, is 1 hour 25 mins sufficient for him to clear custom and go to the domestic Delta terminal?

The minimum time is 1.5hrs, but LAX is notorious for taking longer than that. In my opinion that is really cutting it fine. If he has a US passport it may be ok, but they generally trully do treat everyone else as "aliens"..

As for checking bags, they are seperate tickets so the airlines don't directly know that you're travelling onwards, you *might* be able to let them know at check in and they may be abel to do it. But it wont save you much time at LAX anyhow, as you have to collect your bags at first point of entry into the USA.

If the trip was booked in one transaction from SYD/SFO, Delta will have to change his flight to a later one at no cost. Unfortunately it was booked separately so as far as Delta is concern, his LAX/SFO is a domestic booking and would not change the flight without penalty.

Thanks

TT

Unfortunately thats the risk in seperating tickets.

Don't forget to fill out the ETSA at least 48hrs before arrival into the USA. and don't fall for the sites that will scam you more than the USD$14 you should be charged.

 

[trieu_thai]

Thanks all for the info.

I am going to leave his flight as is and hopefully it won't take him too long to clear custom at LAX. I've been there a few times and agreed with SeatBackForward that LAX is notorious for taking longer to clear custom.

If they can check is luggage all the way to SFO from SYD airport that'd help. He still need to check it out but can just drop it off at the transfer desk and go straight to the gate rather than having to queue up at Delta to check in again.

Thanks again

 

[drewbles]

My last arrival in T5 (DL terminal) LAX I took over 2 hours to get out of the immigration hall. That was just getting through the final checkpoint (where you hand in your customs declaration). Passport control was a breeze as an 'alien' (around 5 minutes to clear that). I would be re-scheduling as VX depart from T3 (It's walkable, but it'll be a 10 minute walk between terminals alone). Sorry I mis-read the original post about airlines (for some reason saw it as VX and VA not DL).

I would not cut it as fine as 90 minutes on separate tickets. Can your friend change their LAX-SFO flight to a later one? Would be the safest option. The options really are do that and pay a change fee, or if he misses his flight, risk having to buy a last-minute expensive fare.

 

[JohnK]

If they can check is luggage all the way to SFO from SYD airport that'd help. He still need to check it out but can just drop it off at the transfer desk and go straight to the gate rather than having to queue up at Delta to check in again.

Even if luggage is checked through SYD-LAX-SFO your friend will still need to collect luggage in LAX and then take luggage to transfer desk.

So 1h 25m to clear customs/immigration, collect luggage, take luggage to transfer desk and go back through security is possible but is too tight and that is assuming everything is on time. I would leave 3 hours to be safe.

 

[trieu_thai]

Just called Delta in the US directly (their Aussie 1800 is hopeless) and they advised that it is best to keep the existing flight and if my friend failed to make it there on time, he can just grab another flight for $50 under their "Same day reservation" policy...or something rather.

Thank you all for the info

 

[serfty]

As they are on two separate tickets, the MCT (or Minimum Connection Time) is not applicable. That does not mean it's recommended of course.

Arriving into LAX on VX from SFO your friend will arrive at T3. VA flights from the USA also depart T3, so you're good there. 90 minutes is tight (considering SFO can be the 'the delay by the bay' for arrivals and departures when fog is around), but if it's on time, he should be fine.

Unfortunately being on separate tickets means that if he misses his flight that he's connecting to, the airlines are not under any obligation to protect them onto another flight. VX and VA operate very separately, only similar in name.

When departing SYD I'm not sure. I have only ever flown on a single ticket MEL-SYD-LAX-BOS with VA/VX, but I had an overnight in LAX so had my luggage with me. Being on separate tickets, i'm not sure, but i'm sure someone else here can be of assistance.

I believe the routing is SYD-(VA)-LAX,LAX-(DL)-SFO, so all but the last is irrelevant:

Hi all,

I booked a flight from SYD-SFO for a friend in 2 separated bookings, the SYD/LAX with Expedia, flying Virgin and the LAX/SFO with Delta. The SYD/LAX arrive at 10:30AM and the LAX/SFO depart at 12PM, a 1 hour 30 mins tranfer time....

The VA flight arrives into T5 where USA immigration and customs need to be completed before the OP's friend will end up landside. The DL flight departs from T5, to they will need to head up a level and re-clear security and head to the gate for their flight.

85 Minutes is borderline - if the inbound is on time.

How much is the DL ticket? I see fares LAX-SFO for as low as $60 - it may be worth booking a later flight as insurance and throwing the ticket away if the friend makes the earlier flight.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Just called Delta in the US directly (their Aussie 1800 is hopeless) and they advised that it is best to keep the existing flight and if my friend failed to make it there on time, he can just grab another flight for $50 under their "Same day reservation" policy...or something rather.

Thank you all for the info

I suppose the only other tip would be for your friend to try to travel with carry-on only? that way no issues around checking bags all the way through, collecting bags, or delays if a flight is missed.

 

[MadFairlane]

I had a 1hr 50 min connection, VA to DL in LAX earlier this year, and only just made it...