Anyone familiar w/ LAX international?

[Kimberle]

We're flying in on Delta (domestic) then need to transfer to Air France in the Intl terminal. What is the best way to get from a domestic terminal to Intl? Is there a bus or tram? About how long should it take? We've 6 hours (unless we're delayed) going out, and only 3 hours coming back home between flights. We're also traveling Christmas/New Years time, the busiest time of the year.

Also, how is it clearing customs? I've only cleared customs @ smaller airports before.

 

[aussietravellers]

I think you will need to find out which terminals you arrive and depart from. I have arrived internationally at Tom Bradley terminal and have departed internationally from Terminal 3, Tom Bradley and Terminal 4 (with Qantas and VAustralia).

I have arrived at Tom Bradley on an international flight and then had to take a domestic flight at Terminal 4. It was quite easy as the terminals were right beside each other and as our luggage was ticketed right the way through from Australia, once we collected our bags and got through customs there was a recheck area to just drop our bags as they were tagged right the way through. We then just walked to Terminal 4 as it was right beside our arrival terminal.

If Delta and Air France are partner airlines, then you will be able to check your bags right the way through to your international destination from your original domestic airline. This makes it really easy to change terminals as you get off your domestic flight with Delta, don't have to worry about your luggage and you just head over to the other terminal. There are shuttles that run between the terminals but you have a lot of time, you could just take a stroll and walk between terminals. Just depends on which terminals you are arriving and departing from and also wether Delta and Air France are partner airlines and checking your bags right the way through.

At LAX, we have always cleared customs at Tom Bradley terminal. It has been very easy and didn't take long at all but that depends on what time you arrive I guess. We are always early in the morning and it is as customs is opening. But I have always found it to be very efficent, then again if it did take a while I may not have noticed as we were so excited about arriving on our vacation in the USA

 

[Kimberle]

Thank you! Delta & Air France are partners. We booked on 1 ticket so they will transfer our bags. We made sure of that!

 

[SkinsFan76]

If they are partners, then it will be pretty easy for you. LAX is just a big U and they have shuttles going between the different terminals, or you can walk which isn't bad either. I've never transfered through LAX, but have flown out of Tom Bradley several times when we lived in SoCal. While it's alway busy, it was always pretty quick to get through customs and to the gate compared to Chicago for me. 6 hours will be plenty of time. Have fun!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Thank you! Delta & Air France are partners. We booked on 1 ticket so they will transfer our bags. We made sure of that!

Your DL flight will probably arrive at Terminal 5 and your Air France flight will probably depart from T2. There is an expansion program going on at the Tom Bradley Int'l Terminal (TBIT), so this departure terminal could change before December. LAx is laid out as a horseshoe, with T1, T2 and T3, then TBIT at the middles of the horseshoe, then T4, T5, T6 & T7. Traffic is one way (counter- clockwise).

I believe you will need to exit the secured area of T5 (haven't flown DL for many years), then take the inter-terminal shuttle bus, which you will board under the Blue sign on the island in front of the arrivals area. Because vehicle traffic moves counterclockwise, this shuttle will first make stops at T6, T7 and T1 before arriving at TBIT. You can also walk around the horseshoe clockwise by turning left towards T4, passing TBIT and T3.

Have a great trip -- Suzanne