Transferring in LAX using separate tickets

[Travel Mum]

Platypus, that's very interesting because we'd be doing it the opposite way: travelling to LAX internationally on FF tickets and then purchasing domestic. That's very interesting to know that, even with you on separate tickets, QF checked you in all the way through to Toronto. Maybe it was because you were on another OneWorld carrier so I'm not sure they could do it for UA or DL, one of which we'd be flying if on separate tickets. I'm curious about your next trip - what time does your international flight get into L.A. and what time does your AA domestic flight to Orlando leave? It is direct? It's so annoying to me that the 8.25am direct flight is 5 minutes under the minimum connecting time - oh for a 5 minute schedule change

 

[battymum]

Travel Mum,

Can you explain what the 2hr Legal connection time means. I have never travelled long haul like this before.

Thanks

 

[Travel Mum]

Battymum, the legal minimum connection time is the minimum amount of time that airlines and airports guarantee to get passengers through to connecting flights. The time differs per airport and per type of connection (e.g. Domestic to international, domestic to domestic etc) For LAX, the minumum connecting time for passengers travelling from an international flight to a domestic flight is 2 hours. On a through ticket, you are not able to book flights any closer together than 2 hours. If you are on a through ticket, (which will have been booked abiding to the minimum connection time) and the international flight gets in late meaning you miss your domestic connection, the international airline must take responsibility of you. This means they should book (and pay for if necessary) a new domestic flight or pay for you to stay in a hotel overnight if necessary.

If you have booked flights separately, you are on your own to sort it out!

Hope that helps

 

[emilyd]

Battymum, the legal minimum connection time is the minimum amount of time that airlines and airports guarantee to get passengers through to connecting flights. The time differs per airport and per type of connection (e.g. Domestic to international, domestic to domestic etc) For LAX, the minumum connecting time for passengers travelling from an international flight to a domestic flight is 2 hours. On a through ticket, you are not able to book flights any closer together than 2 hours. If you are on a through ticket, (which will have been booked abiding to the minimum connection time) and the international flight gets in late meaning you miss your domestic connection, the international airline must take responsibility of you. This means they should book (and pay for if necessary) a new domestic flight or pay for you to stay in a hotel overnight if necessary.

If you have booked flights separately, you are on your own to sort it out!

Hope that helps

Our QF light gets into Lax at 6.15 and United flight leaves at 8.35 There is an AA at 8.50 so fingers crossed the QF flight is not late.

 

[Travel Mum]

You will most likely be fine and the airline will look after you

What a shame AA runs their direct flight at 8.25 am when I'm going as 8.50 am would have been perfect

 

[platypus67]

Platypus, that's very interesting because we'd be doing it the opposite way: travelling to LAX internationally on FF tickets and then purchasing domestic. That's very interesting to know that, even with you on separate tickets, QF checked you in all the way through to Toronto. Maybe it was because you were on another OneWorld carrier so I'm not sure they could do it for UA or DL, one of which we'd be flying if on separate tickets. I'm curious about your next trip - what time does your international flight get into L.A. and what time does your AA domestic flight to Orlando leave? It is direct? It's so annoying to me that the 8.25am direct flight is 5 minutes under the minimum connecting time - oh for a 5 minute schedule change

We arrive into LA at 7am. We would have liked the direct AA flight but it was under the legal connection time and I always find it a lengthy process getting through customs. We are on a connection via Dallas which departs LA at 10:55 Bit of a pain, but I always like at least 3 hours up my sleeve in LA. Last trip we had 2.5 hours and only just had enough time after clearing customs and getting through a very long check in for our next flight to grab a bottle of water and board our flight

 

[Travel Mum]

I can see the AA flight you are booked on Platypus. Does it leave L.A. at 10.40 am, arrive Dallas at 3.50 pm, depart Dallas at 5pm and arrive Orlando at 8.35pm?

On QF FF tickets, we could do those AA flights or otherwise fly to Dallas earlier at 9.45 am. That's means we'd arrive there at 2.55 pm but still have to wait fo rthe 5pm flight to Orlando. They both sound exhausting so not sure which is better? Either way the journey time is 23.30 from Auckland to Orlando (plus we still need to add on the Wellington to Auckand flight)

 

[platypus67]

Thats probably ours. My times are slightly different, but AA is always making 5 or 10 min changes. I think it has been changed about 3 times since we booked.
It is a long one, but we connect through Dallas quite often and don't mind too much. I did toss up the option of the earlier flight but decided to play it safe and give us the little extra time to make the LA connection. We will hopefully use the airport time in Dallas to grab a bite to eat since we don't arrive in Orlando until close to 9pm and by the time we get to the resort it may be too late to get anything from the food court. We thought about an overnight in LA but then decided the best was just to get it over with in one go.

 

[Travel Mum]

So Platypus, do you find that although you are on separate tickets, when you are flying QF internationally and then on AA FF tickets, that you are checked through to Orlando from Australia?

 

[platypus67]

So Platypus, do you find that although you are on separate tickets, when you are flying QF internationally and then on AA FF tickets, that you are checked through to Orlando from Australia?

From what I remember, your luggage should be tagged through to Orlando but you will still have to collect it and transfer it via the transfer area. From what I understand this is the process regardless of through ticket or not as you have to clear customs with your bags.
Last year when we went to Toronto we had paid tickets to LA and then ff the rest of the way, we got off the plane, collected our luggage, cleared customs and then proceeded out of the customs area and placed our bags on the transit belt before leaving the terminal and going to the other terminal to check in for our next flight.
On the return, as far as I can remember its a bit different as your luggage gets tagged and checked through to your first Australian destination.
In 20 years of regular travel back and forth to the US/Canada I've never even considered there to be any difference between a through ticket and two seperate ones, but we always have flown on oneworld airlines.
This coming trip we've had our AA flights changed several times once with a missed connection, but its been fixed by QF and is all good.
When booking I always make sure I give myself at least the legal connection time but preferably a little more just in case.
When I check in for the flight I just make sure I tell them our final destination isn't LA. They then know to look at the further bookings and tag accordingly.
I would give QF a call and they will be able to tell you for sure what the process is.