Connecting Flight at LAX

Hi

Hello to you all - a very informative & friendly corner of the web !

My question:
I am making a rare flight to LAX in December and need to book a local connecting flight. My question is how long does it take to clear immigration, etc these days ?(exiting UC with a British passport)

The flight is supposed to arrive in LAX at 18.50 (VS23)-would it be cutting it too fine to try and catch a 20.55 flight out?

Thanks in advance

Cleo

Hi Cleopatra,

Cant help with the connection time as such, as i've never connected through LAX. Although I have made connections through other US Airports in the 1.5 hours you have left.

Have you booked a through ticket? Or two seperate segments? While landing in the US you will have to clear immigration and customs and collect your luggage regardless so this wont be checked through. Although booking a through ticket gives you more chance of the airline(s) being able to move you to later / alternative flights if you miss the connection. Where as with booking the connection seperately I'm not so sure how accomodating the other ailine will be if you arrive late / dont get through customs in time.

I'm sure some other users on here will be able to tell you how long LAX immigration and customs takes. If its anything like SFO, last June took me just over an hour (VS, BA, Cathay, Air France, and KLM all seem to land around the same time!).

Steven

Hi Cleopatra,

Welcome!!:)

I have arrived in LAX ( early afternoon VS flight (1525) plus 2 KLM fl;ights and have always been first off the aircraft and cleared customs and immigration ( inc bag reclaim) in about 30 mins.
These flights have always been on time.
Do not know if there are many other Intl flights arriving at your time which may delay things.

What airline are you flying out of LAX from ( if America West from T1 it is just a short walk).

I would rather have three hours to be safe and allow for a delay in arriving at LAX.

Regards

TBS

Airlines normally require a min of 2hrs for guaranteed connections; however in order that your second flight be a guaranteed connection you need to book it at the same time as the flight in to LAX

If you book them seperately the second flight wont guarantee your connection so if your late arriving you would need to book another flight and possibly a new ticket depending on which airline your using from LAX.

Its safer and cheaper to book both flights at the same time..

Thanks Guys,

I am flying with AA for 2nd flight, and had to book it seperately from VS flight. Given that AA flight only cost £35 (!) one way, I may also book a later one as insurance (flying just between Christmas & New Year, so I guess internal flights will be v. busy)

Cleopatra

[HighFlyer]

Its just one of those tricky things isnt it?

Every connecting flight i have ever taken has been delayed, but normally when i fly in premium classes we are off the plane so quickly that 2 hours is plentiful for connections, 3 is enough to start climbing the walls!

It all depends on the gamble you want to take. You can never account for all the things that will cause your first flight to be delayed and make you miss your connection. AA i find are quite good, if you have only just missed it they seem to be quite accomodating in putting you on the next flight, provided it isnt full (same goes for putting you on the earlier flight). Being Xmas/New Year you may find the flights are busy.

Can you check whether your ticket is transferrable? If so, go for the earlier one for sure, you can always get put back.

If it were me? Yep, id book the earlier connection and take my chances (and probably be seething in LAX if my plane left without me) so as i say, depends on whether you want to take the chance.

You could always try 'phoning VS and asking if they have any records of how early/late VS23 has been historically. Thinking about it now, this might be a useful resource for everyone aiming for a connecting flight. Others better than me would know if such a tool exists. Or, try 'Flight Status' on the Resources drop-down menu.

Regarding immigration clearance at LAX - it very much depends on which part of the plane you're on. UC should take no time at all though. Last time through - row 60 - it took me over 90 minutes to clear immigration.

The last two times I've been through LAX immigration - in June on VS023 and July on VS007 - the flight landed shortly after an incoming Air New Zealand flight at the same terminal. This clogged up the immigration hall quite badly. That's the only potential cause of a delay for incoming UC pax I can think of.

Regards,
Barry

quote:Originally posted by Cleopatra
Thanks Guys,

I am flying with AA for 2nd flight, and had to book it seperately from VS flight. Given that AA flight only cost £35 (!) one way, I may also book a later one as insurance (flying just between Christmas & New Year, so I guess internal flights will be v. busy)

Cleopatra

I've done this transfer a few times. You need plenty of time to check in with AA -- security can be a real nightmare at LAX.

BC

My experiance with LAX immigration, is if you are arriving in the afternoon or early evening, more often than not, the other pax from the flight you just got off of are the only competition in getting to immigration. I have been once in the morning and it was a zoo. I have gotten through in as short at 15 minutes and other times it has taken up to 2 hours. To be safe you should probably give yourself atleast 2 hrs.