Transfers in Sydney and LA - Help

[mark299]

Have an upcoming trip Perth - Sydney - LA - Washington DC and return

I want to know if my checked luggage will go all the way through to Washington DC.

I was told by one of the qantas telephone rep, that i have to collect my luggage in LA, go through immigration and do a transfer to domestic terminal and then re-check in all my luggage to go to Washington DC on AA. Is this correct? I am travelling with a young baby so i prefer my luggage to go straight to IAD.

Another thing they mentioned was, any additional baggage allowance i will be eligible (being a WP); it will only apply on the Qantas flights, and i will have to simply drop my extra luggage on the trip from LA to IAD; or pay for it. Is this correct?

If the AA flights appear as code shares, don't they provide the same privileges / benefits?

 

[Katie]

If it's a single ticket, your luggage should be abe to be tagged through to IAD, but you will have to collect it in LAX, as you must clear immigration and customs in LAX. Immigration is first, then you collect bags from the conveyors. You then go through customs, take a right (assuming you arrive at TBIT), walk up the hallway, and around to the left are conveyors with luggage handlers where you can deposit your checked in luggage, if it is tagged through to IAD.
You will have to do much the same thing in SYD on your return, clear immigration, collect your luggage, clear customs & re-check it for your domestic flight.
I've jot had an issues in the past with QF luggage priveliges being recognised on AA codeshares, but it has been a few years since I've needed them and I can't say for sure that things have changed. You could check the AA website for reference to Oneworld Emerald luggage allowances.

 

[SYD]

Not entirely correct.

At TBIT, you clear Immigration first, then collect you bags and pass through customs. Immediately after customs, there are baggage transfer desks. In Perth, they should check ("tag") your bags all the way through to IAD (Dulles). So you just drop your bags off at the conveyor belt and walk to the AA terminal. Which is out the door and turn right. If for some reason Perth didn't tag your bags to IAD, they will do it at TBIT.

If you're travelling in Y, make sure your WP status is on the boarding pass as "Priority". They can reprint it at the bag drop off if necessary. Depending on the day of the week, the security lines at LAX can be hell and the "priority" queue jumper pass does work.

As for luggage, the US carriers normally work on pieces of luggage. Although most are charging now. What does your ticket say for baggage allowance? If booked through QANTAS, it should say.

Finally, the AA First Lounge (Flagship Lounge) at LAX aint bad (showers etc), so make sure you go there and not the regular Admirals Club next door.

For your return flights, look at the threads for airside transfer from the AA terminal to TBIT. It can save the hassle of going through security.

 

[mark299]

Not entirely correct.

At TBIT, you clear Immigration first, then collect you bags and pass through customs. Immediately after customs, there are baggage transfer desks. In Perth, they should check ("tag") your bags all the way through to IAD (Dulles). So you just drop your bags off at the conveyor belt and walk to the AA terminal. Which is out the door and turn right. If for some reason Perth didn't tag your bags to IAD, they will do it at TBIT.

If you're travelling in Y, make sure your WP status is on the boarding pass as "Priority". They can reprint it at the bag drop off if necessary. Depending on the day of the week, the security lines at LAX can be hell and the "priority" queue jumper pass does work.

As for luggage, the US carriers normally work on pieces of luggage. Although most are charging now. What does your ticket say for baggage allowance? If booked through QANTAS, it should say.

Finally, the AA First Lounge (Flagship Lounge) at LAX aint bad (showers etc), so make sure you go there and not the regular Admirals Club next door.

For your return flights, look at the threads for airside transfer from the AA terminal to TBIT. It can save the hassle of going through security.

Syd, thanks for the information.

How do i ask for the boarding pass to say priority? Do i ask when i check in at perth and should i look for the word "Priority" in the boarding pass? I am travelling with my wife and kid, i am the only WP; will they also get a boarding pass with priority?

Thanks

 

[JohnM]

Note that access to the AA F lounge is from WITHIN the Admiral's Club/Qantas Club. You need to get a key card at the entry desk (the staff are always in the know for WPs in my experience, but ask if they don't give it to you) and go upstairs to the translucent sliding door on your left which is the entry to the inner sanctum. You'll get your wife and child in no problems.

It's all very straightforward.

 

[SYD]

How do i ask for the boarding pass to say priority? Do i ask when i check in at perth and should i look for the word "Priority" in the boarding pass? I am travelling with my wife and kid, i am the only WP; will they also get a boarding pass with priority?
Thanks

I can't speak with authority on "Priority Access" on a Y fare. I must admit that I'm usually in F and Priority Access goes with the territory. Hopefully somene else can confirm the process.

Anything Perth is able to give you probably won't have the "Priority Access" on it. You can do an OLCI through AA.com - which should confirm lounge/priority access on your BPs - but OLCI can mess up the ability for QF to check your bags all the way through...

Best bet is to ask at the re-check desk at TBIT (where you drop you bags off) for new BPs. Flash your WP card.

BTW, I just did a dummy booking PER-SYD-LAX-IAD on QF website for QF/AA flight combo and it said luggage was "2 pieces". So if you have done it as one booking, there shouldn't be an issue.

I hope you have plenty of time to enjoy the First Lounge in Sydney!!!

 

[mark299]

Thanks JohnM.

How do i make sure the boarding pass say "Priority" and will this give us any advantage with AA, and while we get through immigration and customs in LAX?

 

[JohnM]

Thanks JohnM.

How do i make sure the boarding pass say "Priority" and will this give us any advantage with AA, and while we get through immigration and customs in LAX?

Can't help with that Mark299. I can't recall ever having a priority card at LAX and I can't recall there being a priority lane. Maybe QF in SYD stuffed up and didn't give me my entitlements! Usually just being early off (from J or F) means it's not too bad getting through. But, that said, it's hard to predict.

I think that last statement will come back to haunt me on Saturday morning when I hit LAX. I'm in J (hopefully the UPG to F will come through!) but PartnerJohnM and PartnerJohnM's daughter are in whY, although I've pre-selected them into 80A&B, respectively, on QF11 (A380) so the ride will be tolerable. Downside is that they'll take forever to get off the bird. Also, being Saturday, there may be only a couple of border security desks open. I'm resigned to a long wait but we're not transiting so that takes the stress away.

 

[mark299]

I can't speak with authority on "Priority Access" on a Y fare. I must admit that I'm usually in F and Priority Access goes with the territory. Hopefully somene else can confirm the process.

Anything Perth is able to give you probably won't have the "Priority Access" on it. You can do an OLCI through AA.com - which should confirm lounge/priority access on your BPs - but OLCI can mess up the ability for QF to check your bags all the way through...

Best bet is to ask at the re-check desk at TBIT (where you drop you bags off) for new BPs. Flash your WP card.

BTW, I just did a dummy booking PER-SYD-LAX-IAD on QF website for QF/AA flight combo and it said luggage was "2 pieces". So if you have done it as one booking, there shouldn't be an issue.

I hope you have plenty of time to enjoy the First Lounge in Sydney!!!

Thanks mate.

I should say, i need to go to the acronym page to make full sense of what you have said.

 

[JohnM]

Mark299, I assume you are PER-based.

I totally agree with SYD - make the most of the SYD F lounge.

My advice is don't do the red-eye PER-SYD to connect SYD-LAX. Go the afternoon before. Even if you stay at the Formule 1 at SYD for about $100, it's far better than killing yourself on the red-eye. You can then cruise over to the international terminal in the morning and partake of the breakfast in the F lounge, which is particularly good (mmmm, those sunny-side up eggs have me drooling for this Saturday morning already!).

Followed, of course, by Sir and Madam's choice of pre-flight champagne... Usually about three on offer.

If you're going to be in whY on QF11 at 1305, I'd take an early luncheon in the F lounge and skip the gruel on the bird... The food in the lounge is superb. A wine-tasting is, of course, a necessity with that. Usually 3 or so whites and same number of reds on offer. I always like asking the staff to pour me a taste-sized serve of all three simultaneously with each course of a meal (they readily oblige). Nice!

 

[juddles]

Note that access to the AA F lounge is from WITHIN the Admiral's Club/Qantas Club....the translucent sliding door on your left ....

The "other" left perhaps?

 

[Heleigh]

Hi Mark299.

If you do decide to stay overnight (as suggest) in SYD you will have to collect baggage and re check in next day, also will have to find out what is the earliest you can check in (if you want early breckie in Flounge) with the concierge (Flounge) I have been given 4hr may have gotten longer if wanted.

Flounge is great.

TBIT - LAX immigration hall - I suggest walking down a little farther than the first couple which are usually clogged, collect baggage (F/J baggage and Y are on separate carousels), trolley up to drop area (if tagged to end destination). If all your flights are on 1 tkt there should be no problem with amount of baggage.

Most Dom flights are from another terminal. I usually leave from T4 and if the same for you, when you leave TBIT turn right and T4 is the first building (very short walk) you can use lift or escalators from street. Once thru security the lounge is opposite gate 40, inside staff will check BP and usually re issue new one with 'PRIORITY ACCESS' (for you) just in case have WP card handy they sometimes need to see it. As said before if they don't give you assess card to Flagship ask for it.
Lift or stairs to next level from lift corridor make a right pass staff and to left is the entry to Flagship lounge (much nicer than AC lounge). Will have to speak to staff on entry and if you want showers or grab wifi card for internet.

Priority boarding for next flight.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[Skyring]

Enjoy your trip.

What they said, with special emphasis on brekkie in the Flounge.

And make sure you write up a TR on return, or better yet, during.

Pete, who hasn't progressed past the first day of a five week trip report from April. I've been busy, OK?