Transfer Q at LAX

OK, I have to go to Colorado Springs ... don't ask why. It's a pig of a place to get to and I figured the best route is direct to LAX then onto COS. Either that or Continental to Houston or even third choice BA via Denver (ouch!). Anyhow, back to LAX, I have a choice of the VS007 or the VS023 ... then the next connecting flight after either is at 2030. Would you:

a) take the VS7 and sit around for hours but be comfortable that there'd be relatively little pressure of any delay in checking in for the connecting flight
b) take the VS23 with a scheduled arrival time of 1835 and run around LAX?

I'll be travelling on a Satuday and VS arrives at terminal 2 and the United flight departs terminal 8 which is not good. Looking at recent TRs it seems that if your in the pointy bit immigration is nice and quick.

[preiffer]

18:35 - 20:30 can be done. I'd go for that one.

It's not *entirely* safe, but normally easily do-able.

Is there another flight after 20:30 (just in case)?

I think it would be pushing it to be honest. When we went into LAX on VS007, we were upstairs in PE so relatively quick off the plane (certainly before the masses), and we were in a queue in imigration for 90 minutes! OK, I think we were just unlucky, but it can happen. Not sure what the inter-terminal links are like at LAX as we only flew in and out of T2 (VA and Hawaiian), but after our long delay in imigration last year I wouldn't want to chance it.

[Scrooge]

There is a bus system that links all the terminal's..to be honest I would fly on 007 then go grab a bite to eat at one of the local resturants.

[Bazz]

Slinky, take the 7 and buy yourself a bit of flexibility. You don't say what cabin you are flying in, but even if in Y, I would still go for the earlier flight, assuming availability and comparable prices.

Ooooh depends whether you've got balls or not.

The transfer times between terminals is laughable. I remember my first trip to LAX and thinking each terminal must be similar to those at LHR with conx times pretty much the same as well but at LAX they're all within spitting distance of each other.

I'd get on the VS23 then if there's a queue at immigration point out to someone important looking you have a conx you may miss and they'll whisk you to the front (this has worked for me on the 3 occacions i've needed it)

But don't forget if you've checked in bags you'll have to collect them at LAX.

The conx time is 5 minutes inside the minimum allowed so no decent ticketing agent would give you a ticket on the VS23 to the conx, meaning you'd have to buy seperate tickets. If you bought seperate tickets and you missed the conx VS would take no responsibility for getting you to your final destination.

[ChuckC]

Echo the others (especially Bazz, who uses the 7 regularly as have I) -- there's nothing like the 7!

Chuck-

[Bazz]

Originally posted by ChuckC
Echo the others (especially Bazz, who uses the 7 regularly as have I) -- there's nothing like the 7!

Chuck-

Unfortunately our next trip is on the 23 [n] No "G" availability on the 7 for the dates we needed [:(!]

[ChuckC]

Originally posted by Bazz

Originally posted by ChuckC
Echo the others (especially Bazz, who uses the 7 regularly as have I) -- there's nothing like the 7!

Chuck-

Unfortunately our next trip is on the 23 [n] No "G" availability on the 7 for the dates we needed [:(!]

Bazz,
Well, hopefully you are not transferring to other flights but just to your favorite hotel in Buena Park. The other good thing is that you'll be spending the holidays in Southern California. Great time of year. Hopefully will get to see you, maybe in Palm Springs this year? - Chuck

Chuck

Will you be in PS in October, just planning that holiday - four days in Beverly Hills at the Peninsula then 10 days in Palm Springs.

Only, do I wait for a fare sale or book it anyway!

As to this trip, have decided on the 7 and it only helps that it's a 747 of course ... chancing the transfer on the later 23 would appeal to me but not my colleague who's not quite as up for a good run around LAX.

Thanks for all your thoughts.

Slinky