LAX transit times

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › LAX transit times

afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#204882 21-Oct-2016 12:07

Dear frequent flyers,

Attending conference in NY 2nd week of December and looking at returning via LA (United from NY onto ANZ777-300) which has 2.5hrs transit time.

Apart from the obvious "if they schedule it, it must be possible", how tight would be the transitioning. ie can I check in my luggage in NY straight to Auckland or will I need to go through the pickup luggage and rechecking in chaos of the past.

Any tips?

(sadly United aren't flying the 787 on the Auckland to LA route :-( )

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1655641 21-Oct-2016 12:30

May take you up to 30 minutes from touch down to get outside and take the orbiting bus to another terminal. I think you will have to go from Terminal 7 to the Tom Bradley terminal.

1 hour is normally enough to get through security and immigration on the way out.

On the way home, if you are with star alliance carriers all the way you can normally check your luggage and get boarding passes all the way through to Auckland.

Mike

afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1655646 21-Oct-2016 12:39

Thanks.

Flying both ways via ANZ website. Work paying and I get the airpoints :-)

How about hotels in Manhattan $NZ350/n or so.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1655657 21-Oct-2016 12:48

It's about a 20-25 min walk airside from Terminal 7/8 where UA are to TBIT.

You don't need to re clear security as you're already airside and the US doesn't have customs/immigration for departures.

Assuming you're on a single ticket bags will be checked right through.

afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1655669 21-Oct-2016 13:07

Probably be united NY to LAX then ANZ to Auckland.
? So not one ticket, though playing one fee.

A.

JonnyCam

643 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1655679 21-Oct-2016 13:29

Sorry to hijack this thread. I'm doing the Sydney to New York via LAX on Monday with Qantas. Anyone done this, and what do I need to do to transit? (walk times etc)

I understand I need to pickup my luggage and clear immigration / customs then give my luggage back but not entirely sure how that works.

It's the same QF11 flight number on to NY as from Sydney.

huckster

843 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1655700 21-Oct-2016 13:34

sbiddle: It's about a 20-25 min walk airside from Terminal 7/8 where UA are to TBIT.

You don't need to re clear security as you're already airside and the US doesn't have customs/immigration for departures.

Assuming you're on a single ticket bags will be checked right through.

I might've taken a wrong turn recently, then, 'cos I did have to do the whole security thing again when going from one terminal to another. Luggage was checked thru, boarding passes all sorted but I still had to get myself scanned (as did many others in transit).

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1655702 21-Oct-2016 13:38

huckster:

sbiddle: It's about a 20-25 min walk airside from Terminal 7/8 where UA are to TBIT.

You don't need to re clear security as you're already airside and the US doesn't have customs/immigration for departures.

Assuming you're on a single ticket bags will be checked right through.

I might've taken a wrong turn recently, then, 'cos I did have to do the whole security thing again when going from one terminal to another. Luggage was checked thru, boarding passes all sorted but I still had to get myself scanned (as did many others in transit).

That was my experience taking the outside concourse/bus between terminals. I wasn't aware of an air-side route between terminals.

Mike

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1655729 21-Oct-2016 14:00

Most people probably aren't aware of the airside terminal connectors. For many years these were really only known to staff, and several have been upgraded in the last year or so since TBIT was upgraded and most international flights moved to there rather than being all over the place.

There are plenty of resources online if you Google it. If you exit and walk you will have to clear screening at TBIT. Depending on the time of day this can be incredibly slow. Two weeks ago when I was there they had 4 lines open and 2 body scanners and despite there being hardly any passengers they were so inefficient it took around 45 minutes to actually go through TSA security.

The OP's biggest problem will be the outward flight if they're transferring at LAX. After becoming good for a while (took me around 25 mins from plane to kerbside in the middle of last year) it's not uncommon to hear of 90+ min delays to clear CBP and customs. If you've entered the US on your current passport and ESTA you can use the kiosks which are for US citizens and returning visitors. It took me about 10 mins to clear CBP using the kiosk in SFO a few weeks ago - the delay for manual processing had probably 700-800 people in it.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1655853 21-Oct-2016 16:20

Yes I had nightmare one time just transiting through LAX to Heathrow. This was when swine flu was breaking out in Mexico and it was manic. Normally they process you in a transit lounge. This occasion we had to go down the main immigration hall, which was chocker and I spent two hours in the line. AirNZ had to delay the LAX - Heathrow departure as so many passengers were stuck in immigration.

Transiting through the US is such a PITA. I try to go to Europe via Singapore. If I have to go to the US I avoid LAX if at all possible.

Mike

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1655859 21-Oct-2016 16:25

MikeAqua:

Yes I had nightmare one time just transiting through LAX to Heathrow. This was when swine flu was breaking out in Mexico and it was manic. Normally they process you in a transit lounge. This occasion we had to go down the main immigration hall, which was chocker and I spent two hours in the line. AirNZ had to delay the LAX - Heathrow departure as so many passengers were stuck in immigration.

Transiting through the US is such a PITA. I try to go to Europe via Singapore. If I have to go to the US I avoid LAX if at all possible.

It's a lot better since they abandoned the transit lounge with the move to TBIT in 2014, but you still have to clear CBP before you can enter the terminal.

LAX transit is a negative for many people when flying to Europe. Asia is so much easier, but I actually far prefer traveling East to get to Europe rather than West.