VA Plat benefits on arrival at TBIT LAX

[Quickstatus]

Will be VA WP in a few hours after taking upcoming eligible flight.

Flying VA to LAX in April in J then thinking of connecting to AS different PNR. (Ultimately going to YVR)

Are there any benefits being a VA WP and also J on arrival from MEL into TBIT? apart from priority luggage and maybe an express lane card?

Also Will VA check through luggage onto AS even if different PNR as they have interline agreement. And will WP status facilitate that?

Options for LAX-YVR (arriving into LAX from MEL at 0830 and assume different PNR)
Westjet 1135
Aircanada 1205
Alaska 1355

MEL-LAX arrives 0830

Which one would you take.

 

[justcallmeryan]

Will be VA WP in a few hours after taking upcoming eligible flight.

Flying VA to LAX in April in J then thinking of connecting to AS different PNR. (Ultimately going to YVR)

Are there any benefits being a VA WP and also J on arrival from MEL into TBIT? apart from priority luggage and maybe an express lane card?

Also Will VA check through luggage onto AS even if different PNR as they have interline agreement. And will WP status facilitate that?

Options for LAX-YVR (arriving into LAX from MEL at 0830 and assume different PNR)
Westjet 1135
Aircanada 1205
Alaska 1355

MEL-LAX arrives 0830

Which one would you take.

No benefits and no express lane at TBIT (don't think there is one?)

They'll try and check your bags on the other PNR but doubt they'll be able to. I flew to LAX then on to SAN recently on DL (separate PNR's) and the lady in SYD tried her best but couldn't link them.

Either of those flights should be fine. The Alaska one seems like a long layover but you know how things can go at LAX! I would take the AC flight personally.

 

[Jurahn]

No benefits and no express lane at TBIT (don't think there is one?)

No, I don't think there is an express lane - don't recall seeing one when I went through in November, you just line up with everyone else. Travelled PER-MEL-LAX-MEL-PER in J as Gold and there were no express lane cards handed out at any stage of the journey.

I agree with the previous post, better to err on the side of caution with connecting flights when coming in through TBIT. I arrived on the same flight you're taking, and although travelling in J and one of the first off the plane (and I walk extremely quickly as well!), there were already considerable lines at Customs when I got there - a lot of varied ethnic groups with English obviously not their first language, judging by the resultant hold-ups at many of the desks and very slow-moving lines.

 

[Atleastonce]

12 months ago I was given an express card by VA on board staff just prior to arrival in LAX. Ground staff took the card and I had to use the normal lanes. No priority. Last November no hand out of express cards at all, obviously because there are no express lanes.

 

[justcallmeryan]

12 months ago I was given an express card by VA on board staff just prior to arrival in LAX. Ground staff took the card and I had to use the normal lanes. No priority. Last November no hand out of express cards at all, obviously because there are no express lanes.

When VA's flights used to land at the DL terminal (T5) they would give out express passes. The only time it would do any good is if the queues for immigration were really long. They gave them to me a few times but to be honest not really that useful.

At TBIT there's no priority passes or lanes at all. VA1 happens to arrive just after an Air China flight which can make for some lengthly delays. Not sure about the flight from MEL.