LAX - LAS - which flight?

Bonjour guys

Just booked our next trip to Vegas in April. As I didn't get in quick enough, we missed out on the K fares on one of the legs, therefore we've got to go LHR-LAX on the way out, LAS-LGW way back.

I've been looking for connecting flights for the LAX-LAS leg. Bearing in mind the LHR-LAX VS007 flight gets in at 14:50, which of the following flights would be the soonest flight you think we could get, realistically -

1530 (US/America West)
1645 (US/America West)
1657 (Alaska)
1755 (US/America West)

Thanks
Andy

Personally I'd play it safe and go for the 1755.

[RichardMannion]

Isn't the 1755 a codeshare with Mesa airlines though in one of those tiny planes?

LAX immigration can be the worst in the country; do NOT cut your connections close!

I'd try the Alaska flight if I were you. HP has a truly dire record of getting flights in the air on-time out of LAX during the winter, same as PHX. The planes are on pretty tight-scheduled turns, and if just one is late, the whole schedule goes in the bin. The later flights almost never leave on time. But the one time you are running behind they won't be late - bet on it.

Good luck and happy travels, and my personal mantra is: Just say NO[n]HP!

Cheers for the input. Richard - good spot on the 1755!

OK just found an alternative - 17:02 with United - is that leaving enough time do you think?

Depends on what day of the week you'll be traveling. Middle March to end of April is Spring Break over here, and the college students can arrive in hordes off planes from holiday destinations. If you're behind one of those planes, you'll be forever getting through to your domestic flight.

Also, dates can make a difference. If you have Expert Flyer access, check to see which planes are FULL to the brim, and avoid them if you can, or at the very least pick the slowest day if you can change your plans. Most universities posted their break days back in August, so many of the students have already booked their trips/packages already.

United or Alaska, it's up to you - you wouldn't have time to waste, but anything's better than HP (and if it's that miserable Mesa plane you'd be booking, trust me you don't want to do that!).

How many bags are you going to have? Traveling light + small? That's about the only way I'd go with Mesa if you're determined to take the 1755. Gate-check is the norm for late arrivals with cabin bags, and if the regular checked bags are big enough, or checked late enough, you'll be waiting for it to arrive at LAS on another flight. Since you'll be racing as it is, worst-case scenario, that needs to be factored in.

Do you know your way around LAX? If not, take a look here at the official LAX webpage. If you think you won't make it from one terminal to another in time, take the latest flight you can.

Make sure you sleep on your flight in to LAX - you'll need it!

Cheers, yes its been a while since I've been into LAX and with good reason, I hate that airport!

We're travelling on April 10th, which is a Tuesday.

I've since found Delta 1800 which looks like my favourite, although I will check EF to see how busy it might be.

Thanks again and I'm definetely avoiding the Mesa flight!

Since found out the Delta is some random codeshare flight with Atlantic Southeast, again on some tiny little plane. So the quest continues!

[Scrooge]

Make life easy for yourself, it's a short flight, go to southwest, book a full fare flight, if you get through immagration early you can just jump on the first plane out, if you are running amazingly late you don't have to worry about fee's etc, this happened to us in Sept, flight was 2 hrs late getting in, called Southwest from the runway, they booked us on the next flight..ok so you will pay an extra few $$$ but it will be a lot less than any fee's for a missed flight.

HP and southest are one terminal down, go out the door and turn left, UA are across the airport, not a big deal at LAX but could still be a pain if you are rushing to catch a flight.

Cheers for that Scrooge, very helpful. I've checked SW, they have a 1715 which is their last flight out of LAX to LAS, would that be cutting it fine do you think?
Thanks

[Scrooge]

No it's not, flights at

4.10 pm
5.25 pm
6.05 pm
7.30 pm
8.30 pm
9.30 pm
10.30 pm

When using the Southwest website make sure you click on the flights anytime that will show the whole days flights.

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by AndyK
Since found out the Delta is some random codeshare flight with Atlantic Southeast, again on some tiny little plane. So the quest continues!

Well not really a codeshare. Atlantic Southeast is a contract carrier for Delta. It is a Delta flight from all aspects BUT the pilots and flight attendant work for Atlantic Southeast.

Atlantic Southeast (ASA) was wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines but Delta sold Atlantic Southeast to SkyWest to get cash during the Chapter 11 filing.

Contract carriers are very common. Normally operate on a fee per departure basis.

Originally posted by Scrooge
No it's not, flights at

4.10 pm
5.25 pm
6.05 pm
7.30 pm
8.30 pm
9.30 pm
10.30 pm

When using the Southwest website make sure you click on the flights anytime that will show the whole days flights.

Nice one

Southwest looks like the best bet to me;)

VS.

Agreed, I'm going to be booking a flexible fare on the 1805 and then hope/pray we get there in time for an earlier flight!

Thanks everyone for the help :)