US Immigration delays due Budget cuts

[farawaymum]

I have been through LAX before but always arriving on Qantas direct from SYD- last year (May) I had a horrendous experience taking almost 3 hours to get through immigration etc.

This time (next week) I am travelling on AA170 from Tokyo (Narita) to Las Vegas. Flight has a "technical stop" in LAX (T4) and obviously I will have to clear immigration etc. Although the flight number is the same there is also an aircraft change from LAX to LAS. The scheduled layover is only 1 hour 30mins. It seems like this connection is doomed?
I have read there is no real fast track connection process in LAX so in all probability will end up being put on a later AA flight.Any experiences of this scenario??

 

[chrisb]

I have read there is no real fast track connection process in LAX so in all probability will end up being put on a later AA flight.Any experiences of this scenario??

I wouldn't be overly concerned with it. If they sell it as a single flight number then the connection probably works for most people most of the time. I also have a two hour QF-QF connection at LAX coming up and I figure they wouldn't sell it if it didn't work most of the time.

Just be aware that AA will have to look after you, and there are AA direct flights to Vegas at 15:25, 17:30 and 19:45 (Looking at next Sunday) so there's plenty of options to get you there the same day.

My best tip is just leave yourself time at the destination so that a delay isn't a big deal and a cause of panic.

 

[Jo145]

I have been through LAX before but always arriving on Qantas direct from SYD- last year (May) I had a horrendous experience taking almost 3 hours to get through immigration etc.

This time (next week) I am travelling on AA170 from Tokyo (Narita) to Las Vegas. Flight has a "technical stop" in LAX (T4) and obviously I will have to clear immigration etc. Although the flight number is the same there is also an aircraft change from LAX to LAS. The scheduled layover is only 1 hour 30mins. It seems like this connection is doomed?
I have read there is no real fast track connection process in LAX so in all probability will end up being put on a later AA flight.Any experiences of this scenario??

I can only say that the time my QF flight was running late the "fast track" option worked a charm through immigration and customs. the whole thing fell apart waiting in line to get through Security in the tom bradley terminal. Not enough staff and the care factor was nil. Still, Qantas held the flight so it was all good. I have also had the nightmare 2 hours getting through but I had 4 hours between flights that time so it didn't matter again. Perhaps I am just a lucky traveller?

 

[RooFlyer]

Travelling to Toronto and then Philadelphia next week, returning PHL-YYZ-HKG the week after. Has anyone had recent experience in Toronto or Philadelphia regarding length of time needed to clear customs? From memory PHL has always been bad even in the best of days...

I haven't flown that route, but you will almost certainly clear US customs/immigration in Toronto, as with all or most Canada to USA flights. So the YYZ-PHL becomes essentially a domestic flight.

So remember to arrive at YYZ an additional hour or so early; I've had short (5 mins) and long (45 mins) queue times at YYZ for USA pre clearance.

 

[RooFlyer]

But that was before the cut backs.

 

[HKGNZL]

Arrived at YYZ ex EWR around 1700 one day late last week. The line was long as we were just behind a full EK 380 from DXB but the line moved quickly and we were directed to the Canadian citizen line that was empty so the area was well managed. I think we got to the luggage carousel before our bags so all good.

Hiw about when you exit YYZ (presumably via an US port)?

 

[mel-world]

Hiw about when you exit YYZ (presumably via an US port)?

I am leaving YVR later this week to MEL via LAX so will let you know how I go. I do not expect much of a delay at Vancouver with a simple US transfer although it is a bit of a pain having to go through the US when I could have taken AC or NZ directly from YVR to Australia. The benefit though is a VA flight directly to MEL rather than via SYD or AKL.

 

[Katie]

All anecdotes, but read a lot of tweets/FB posts from people who attended the same conference as me in ATL this week; long long lines going back to retails areas were being reported at Hartsfield Jackson. This was assorted times Weds and Thurs this past week. Mostly domestic flights.

 

[kempvet]

Take a walking stick and pretend to limp, the helpers will immediately take you to the US citizens line to be processed.

 

[quick_dry]

does anyone have any feedback on T7 times since the budget cuts? I'm flying J on UA840 SYD-LAX scheduled to get in at 10:20am

I don't have any flight connections to make, just wondering what I'm in for.

 

[kempvet]

does anyone have any feedback on T7 times since the budget cuts? I'm flying J on UA840 SYD-LAX scheduled to get in at 10:20am

I don't have any flight connections to make, just wondering what I'm in for.

check the flights arriving within 30 minutes either side of 10.20am, if there are a few international flights, then expect delays, the main problem with the non US lines is that foreigners usually have no idea about the fingerprint reader which considerably slows down the non US line.

 

[HKGNZL]

Did Toronto to Philadelphia, clearing US Customs at Canadian side. Long queues even at midday ie not at prime time (early morning). Waiting time one hour. Has many 'queue managers' employed. They are instructed to keep the waiting time for US citizen queue shorter than alien ESDA queue, even though 90% travellers were US/Canadians. Some pax who did not know of recent changes and were angry with long wait. 'Queue managers' won't let pax jump queue just for tight connections. 'There will be another flight later in the day if you miss this one.' Felt very sorry for parent(s) with young kid(s). Officers threaten to throw anyone using cell phone to end of queue - so bring a book to read!

 

[zig]

I have been keeping an eye on this thread since it started and am feeling some disquiet about the bookings I have made and would appreciate some advice.

In September I have an FASA on QF93 arriving LAX at 0635. I then connect to Alaska Airlines departing at 0945 to YVR. Separate PNRs, so have to collect luggage, change terminals, check in etc...

When I made the bookings I was feeling reasonably confident that 3 hours 10 mins would be sufficient and was within the MCT at LAX, however my confidence is fading.

I would be interested in hearing from those who travel through LAX more frequently than I do as to whether they think my time frame is do-able given the current delays. If it isn't feasible, rather than book a later flight, I think I would stay overnight in LA and go through to YVR the following day. I suppose in my favour is that fact that I will be flying F and I can move fairly quickly (travelling alone).

 

[Arrow29]

I'll let more experienced people than I answer your question, but from the research I have done most recommend 3hrs to be safe, so hopefully that should be enough time.

I'm arriving LAX in September on SQ38 (17:50) and have booked my onward domestic flight (also separate PNR etc) for 21:45pm. I was told that this would be enough time (hopefully)!

 

[RooFlyer]

I went through LAX immigration at about 6:45am last Tuesday and zoomed through; 15 mins from getting off the plane to on the curb outside the terminal!

Mind you, I had a F head-start, but a QF 747 had landed before us; in the immigration hall I didn't notice any longer queues (from earlier arrivals) or fewer immigration or customs agents.

 

[ShaneN]

I went through LAX immigration at about 6:45am last Tuesday and zoomed through; 15 mins from getting off the plane to on the curb outside the terminal!

Mind you, I had a F head-start, but a QF 747 had landed before us; in the immigration hall I didn't notice any longer queues (from earlier arrivals) or fewer immigration or customs agents.

You have better luck than me. I am currently at LAX in the lounge at T4. Arrived on QF107 at 6:30 and did not get out of Customs until almost 8:00, I picked the wrong queue, then they kept sending later arrivals to the shorter queues ahead of me.

 

[zig]

I went through LAX immigration at about 6:45am last Tuesday and zoomed through; 15 mins from getting off the plane to on the curb outside the terminal!

Mind you, I had a F head-start, but a QF 747 had landed before us; in the immigration hall I didn't notice any longer queues (from earlier arrivals) or fewer immigration or customs agents.

I'm hoping the F head-start will be an advantage to me as well.

Arrived on QF107 at 6:30 and did not get out of Customs until almost 8:00, I picked the wrong queue, then they kept sending later arrivals to the shorter queues ahead of me.

This is probably more the time-frame I am anticipating. If I cleared TBIT at 0800, do you think I would have enough time to get to Terminal 6, check-in, clear security etc to make a 0945 departure. I have heard about long delays getting through security screening. I am flying F with Alaska Airlines, so presume there would be priority check-in, but not sure about security?

 

[UP4014]

I have been keeping an eye on this thread since it started and am feeling some disquiet about the bookings I have made and would appreciate some advice.

In September I have an FASA on QF93 arriving LAX at 0635. I then connect to Alaska Airlines departing at 0945 to YVR. Separate PNRs, so have to collect luggage, change terminals, check in etc...

When I made the bookings I was feeling reasonably confident that 3 hours 10 mins would be sufficient and was within the MCT at LAX, however my confidence is fading.

I would be interested in hearing from those who travel through LAX more frequently than I do as to whether they think my time frame is do-able given the current delays. If it isn't feasible, rather than book a later flight, I think I would stay overnight in LA and go through to YVR the following day. I suppose in my favour is that fact that I will be flying F and I can move fairly quickly (travelling alone).

hit and miss, won't know until you get there.

I've missed my Alaskan airline flight in that time frame. My tip, walk between the terminals if you're able, the 7 minutes to do that briskly is faster than waiting for the bus.

matt

 

[kempvet]

I have been keeping an eye on this thread since it started and am feeling some disquiet about the bookings I have made and would appreciate some advice.

In September I have an FASA on QF93 arriving LAX at 0635. I then connect to Alaska Airlines departing at 0945 to YVR. Separate PNRs, so have to collect luggage, change terminals, check in etc...
etc.

Very unlikely you will not be able to make the 0945 flight, but if you feel that say it is 0850 and you are nowhere near to the front of the line, I would just go to the US citizens line and tell them that you were directed there and show them the details of the next flight that you have (there is only a 1% chance that the CBP officer will even question why you are in the US line in the first place)

 

[serfty]

Most major airlines now have check-in counters at TBIT arrivals.

If on UA you should be able to recheck luggage and get BP's before departing TBIT. Then head out to the left and the "blue" bus stop where you can catch an "A" or "C" bus to T6.