Connecting through LAX

[Bev]

Hi

 

At the end of an upcoming cruise, we will board a flight on Air New Zealand that will arrive at LAX at 10:35 AM. We have a choice in flights, both on different carriers than Air New Zealand, from LAX to Toronto.

 

One choice leaves LAX at 1:55 PM. Keeping in mind that we may have to collect our luggage and go through customs/immigration, will there be enough time to make the connection?

 

Our other alternative leaves at 11:10 PM, but would mean waiting around for most of the day between flights.

 

Anyone have experience with making connections at LAX? Can we make the first flight?

 

Or, if it’s better to choose the later flight, does anyone have sightseeing tips for the day, tips on what to do with the luggage etc.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Bev

[ell52]

You should have enough time with your first option (1:55pm flight). Since it is a connecting flight, you should be able to check your bags all the way through to TO, since, technically you're not staying in US.

 

Jusst to be sure, call Air New Zealand and ask them if they do this with your connecting airline.

 

We've flown through LAX numerous times on connecting flights and have never had to collect our bags and go through customs. Although, nowadays things may have changed?!

 

Ell

[billybob123]

You'll almost certainly have to collect your bags and re-check them after clearing US customs in LAX. If the airline will sell you the ticket with the 10:35-1:55 connection, then it's considered "legal" and should be makeable. You shouldn't have any problems making the connection, and if you do, the airline will protect you on the next available departure anyway, so no worries!

 

That connection is over 3 hours -- I'd be more concerned with having to kill so much time rather than worry about missing the flight!!

 

If you choose the later flight (one of my friends returning to Ottawa from Auckland thru LAX did this), your bags will probably be "droppable" at the airline, once you clear customs you leave your bags at the transfer desk and poof, they're gone. There's tons of things to do - you could go to Hollywood by public transit or cab and spend the day there (Universal Studios is where my friend went). Just make sure to ask the cab driver/bus driver when to leave to get back to the airport in time!!

 

Enjoy your cruise

-bb123

[Bev]

Hi

 

Maybe "connecting" isn't the right term. We arrive in LA on Air New Zealand but will be switching to another airline for the trip from LA to Toronto. Do you think we'd still have enough time to make the second flight?

 

Bev

[greatam]

Are these flights booked on two separate tickets? Someplace to LAX via Air New Zealand and then onto Canada via another carrier on two separate tickets? Or is it one ticket, but a change of carriers? It makes a BIG difference.

 

If it is two separate tickets, you will have to clear Immigration, collect luggage, clear Customs, recheck in at the second airline, maybe even a change of terminal, go through security and then board your second flight.

 

If it is all one ticket, since you are Canadians, they should check your luggage all the way to Toronto. You will have to clear immigration and still may have to change terminals.

 

Either way should be doable, with 3 hours, although two separate tickets could cause some tense moments if check-in or especially security is bogged down. Be prepared with airport map and airport shuttle info if you have to change terminals. You should be entering LAX in the International terminal, but your departure terminal will depend on which airline you are flying to Canada.

[CruisinDoug]

Is the "other airline" an international or US carrier? If it is international, they both probably land and board at the Tom Bradley international terminal. You should have no problem making your connection.

[Globaliser]

If it is two separate tickets, you will have to clear Immigration, collect luggage, clear Customs, recheck in at the second airline, maybe even a change of terminal, go through security and then board your second flight.

 

If it is all one ticket, since you are Canadians, they should check your luggage all the way to Toronto. You will have to clear immigration and still may have to change terminals.

All international arrivals at all airports in the US now have to clear immigration, claim baggage and clear customs even if they are in immediate transit or have an immediate transfer to another international destination. This has long been an irritation at the vast majority of US airports, but the direct airside international-international transfer facility that existed in a handful of airports have all now been withdrawn in the name of "security".

 

So this process is unavoidable whatever the nature of your connection.

 

Having said that, 200 minutes ought to be enough. Best thing to do: Phone Air New Zealand, tell them which flight you're arriving on and which airline you're departing on, and ask them what the published minimum connection time is. That should set your mind at rest.

 

However, I wouldn't worry too much about having time on your hands, either. LAX international arrivals is a chaotic zoo. You should count yourself lucky if you have cleared immigration and customs inside 90 minutes.

 

One other thing - immediately after you exit Customs, you may be able to drop your baggage with your next airline there before you exit into the public areas. That will save you having to drag your bags to another terminal, if that is the nature of your connection.

 

Which is your onward airline, anyway?

[greatam]

All international arrivals at all airports in the US now have to clear immigration, claim baggage and clear customs even if they are in immediate transit or have an immediate transfer to another international destination. This has long been an irritation at the vast majority of US airports, but the direct airside international-international transfer facility that existed in a handful of airports have all now been withdrawn in the name of "security".

 

So this process is unavoidable whatever the nature of your connection.

 

 

LAX has been allowing Canadians to check luggage to final destination. Or maybe it is only certain Canadians or certain airlines. I'm not sure. Last week, two of my business associates from Canada, flew from South America on Lan Chile in first and then onto Montreal. Another business associate met them in the lounge for a meeting. Their luggage had been checked all the way to Canada. They only had to clear immigration, not customs. I just called and verified after I saw your post. So may be something new. Or just another one of those weird things that is not supposed to happen, but did. Who knows anymore? Day to day, it is getting more difficult to travel via air.

[Globaliser]

So may be something new. Or just another one of those weird things that is not supposed to happen, but did. Who knows anymore?

Well, if it's supposed to happen it would be a good start. Any step away from the crazy system of no direct airside transits would be good. Looking at what now passes for normal rules, anyone would think that the passengers concerned were being punished for having the temerity to land in the US but not stop there.

[Bev]

Hi

 

Thanks for all your info. We were thinking of taking a discount airline (Westjet or Jetsgo) from Toronto to LAX and return. Am I understanding it right that on the return flight this will mean our luggage won't be checked all the way through to Toronto, we'll have to claim it in LAX, go through Customs, possibly transfer to another terminal, check the luggage in at the other airline counter and go through Immigration? Yikes. I'm tired just thinking about it. How long would all that take?

 

Bev

[Globaliser]

For a definitive answer, you need to ask the airlines concerned. But if you're on a low-fare carrier, the chances are much greater that they won't interline your bags to another airline or accept interline bags from another airline. (Some of them won't even transfer your bags from one of their flights to another of their own!) If you want to save some money flying on an airline like that, you have to put up with the disadvantages that come with it. The comforts of major airline travel have a price.

[billybob123]

Jetsgo and Westjet have NO interline baggage agreements. You will have to check your bags at their desks. Far be it from me to suggest anything, but don't be fooled necessarily by Westjet or Jetsgo's 'low fares'. Although I adore Westjet and they're *my* carrier of choice, their fares, particularly from Los Angeles to Toronto, are often matched by Air Canada (and sometimes by American Airlines) which all fly LA-Toronto nonstop; these airlines most likely interline with Air NZ - Air Canada certainly does as they are part of the "Star Alliance" with Air NZ. Hope this info helps. Don't forget to look into Air Canada's airfare from LAX. If you book a flight with Air NZ directly from Toronto (if you can) you will be on a single ticket which includes an Air Canada flight anyway. It might be cheaper!

 

Enjoy your trip

-bb123

[Bev]

That sounds like good advice. We're going to check out Air New Zealand and Air Canada. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

Bev

[Bev]

Hi

 

To make a long story short, we have booked return air from Toronto to LA on Air Canada, thanks in large part to the advice we received here at Cruise Critic.

 

We called Air New Zealand - BTW their attention to customer service was very nice. They advised, that because their flights were actually code share with Air Canada, that our best and cheapest option would be to book an Air Canada flight through the AC web site. As luck would have it, AC announced sale fares in the last few days. Even though travel is supposed to be complete by Dec. 15th and we're not travelling until February 05, we were quoted the sale fares.

 

Plans are falling nicely into place - thanks for your help!

 

Bev

[billybob123]

Congrats, Bev. Glad to hear everything worked out. Enjoy your trip!