I have a flight that arrives into LAX at 6am and then a domestic flight departing at 7am. They are not on the same ticket.
If I do miss the 7am flight the airline has another one at 9am. Would I be put on standby for that flight?
Is 60 Minutes Enough Time to Make a Connecting Flight at LAX
harthagan on 03/10/2018 - 00:18
Last edited 03/10/2018 - 09:39 by 1 other user
Last edited 03/10/2018 - 09:39 by 1 other user
Comments
The airlines have no obligation to out you on a later flight since the connections are not on the same ticket.
absolutely not
i'll just say that if you do decide to go ahead with this
- look at the airport terminal maps in advance. study them and/or print them/save to pdf on phone/tablet.
- find out what gate you're arriving in and what gate your departure for the next flight is is (just before you depart australia)
- memories flight numbers so you can quickly check the screens whilst still walking (eg. run > walk (check screens) > run again)
- see if you can do online web checkin and not need to present yourself at the checkin desks with carry on for the connecting flight
- build up your cardio fitness in advance (beep tests, short sprints, endurance etc.) you will need to RUN through the airport (i can't stress this enough)
- make sure you have a good sturdy backpack that can be strapped tightly to your body (lighter the better).
- make sure your seat on the first flight is as close as possible to the front of the plane (aisle seat is necessary)
- when the seatbelt sign switches off, be prepared to JUMP out of your seat to get your carry on, and shove your way to as close to the front of the plane as possible.
- pray that the first flight is on time, or early
- be prepared for long TSA queues, shoes off, laptop out of backpack, don't bring any gels, liquids etc.
- very politely ask if you can jump queues by saying 'excuse me, i might miss my connection can i please go ahead of you'. thank them profusely. when they see you are out of breath from running they might pity you. depends though, some yanks are assholes.
i used to make it a sport of making tight connections. never really missed a flight for those reasons (timing everything to maximise my time in the city i was visiting).
it's not really worth it as it is stressful, so i just don't do it anymore.
you really need to be in the zone, on point and pray the airline gods line up for you on the day.
and use the force luke. use the force.
but that said, i still think you're going to miss your flight.
What a dedicated response, seems like you have more time on hand now..
Go for the 9AM flight. 1 hour isn't enough time.
3 hours isn't even enough time for LAX
There's a lot of arrivals at 6am.. customs queues are pretty long.
Likely terminal change for domestic
Possible severe delays on the incoming long haul flight.. for a 12 hour flight.. when they get delayed they can get delayed for hours.
LAX is a mess of an airport… you'll never make it.
Not at LAX.
Even without delays, lines, or getting lost, you'll have to collect bags, pass through immigration, transfer, check in, then go through again. No.
If that LAX flight is from Australia then definitely go for a later connection. Way too many variables for that flight to land on time.
You have to give it at least 4 hours-any flights after 10?
Damn i had a feeling i had screwed up.
I wont have any checked luggage if that makes a difference.Ive already paid for the flight and its non refundable. The flights later on are a good $100 dearer hence why i went with the earlier flight thinking i would just get put on standby
Live and learn
non-refundable but they'll reschedule? pay the diff for peace of mind.
better to try to reschedule/ book the later flight now than risk having to put through the roof for a new ticket at the airport. The airlines has no obligation to even put you on standby.
You're scheduled to arrive 60 mins before the domestic flight. Check-in for domestic flights would be closed by, say, 30 mins before departure. (My guess, didn't look it up, but should be any less than that.) So you've 30 minutes to clear immigration and custom, get to the check-in area for the domestic flight (which could well be in a different terminal). Can't see how you could possibly make that connection unless your domestic flight is significantly delayed.
And yes im flying from sydney with virgin. The domestic flight is with delta.
as others have said, unlikely to make a 1 hour connection.
On top of that, Virgin Syd-LA flight seems to always be delayed (is it VA1?). I flew it a few months ago and kept an eye on its on time performance as I too had a connecting flight (but 5 hours after intended arrival).https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VOZ1
See above link near bottom of page for their performance. Usually about 30-90 min delay. They make up time in air most the time though. However, I doubt you would be off board by 7am, let alone on the next flight
No chance at all at LAX. Domestic security metal check can be a nightmare, on top of immigration and customs, and it's huge.
You'd best plan for missing that connection.
I managed a 2hr turn around in LAX on different international carriers. I flew with American and landed at the domestic hub, had to get to the other building to check in my connection. In the domestic hub they had Someone ushering people into “fast track” queues if they had connections within 1hr so it could be done if all conditions fall your way. Good luck.
Not a hope mate, just did this exact thing two weeks ago Virgin-Delta. You will need to change terminals, border security/TSA etc. The 9am flight will be tight.
Earlier this year I flew United MEL-LAX-Chicago
Was a 90min connection time (same ticket) while at LAX.
The only reason I made it for the flight was because the one to Chicago was delayed. I had been running and asked to cut the queue at security.
Others are right - it is one very slow process between arrival and making it for the next flight.
After walking from the international to the domestic terminal to catch a Vegas flight, we were confronted by a l-o-n-g line stretching outside as security was checking people at the entrance.
Ok I'm getting the picture.
What is my best bet from here? I always thought that if you missed a flight (even if it's your own fault) the airline will put u on standby for the next flight assuming u get to the airport within 2 hours of your flight.
I know they arent required to do it but it's been my experience that they generally do.
I'm not even sure if I can change my flight at this stage. It wasn't a flexible fare.
Cancel/change the flight - you got no choice really. You may be able to change for a fee + difference. You may have to forfeit the initial fare. You can do it on delta website
You can normally change a flight, log in to the Delta site with your PNR and search around. No way you go on a magical standby list, especially in America, in fact, I have never heard of this unless you are talking about that Tiger Air Add-on they have if you miss your flight but arrive after check-in. I have missed flights in Brasil, Australia and Indonesia and never was offered this.
Buy the new flights and give yourself 3 hours at least between. LAX aka T.Brad is made of many terminals and clearing security even as you check in to a flight takes at least an hour-hour and a half in itself once you go through the lines ups and body scanners. '
Good luck, it sounds like you are going to need it.
It's not something I'm making up or imagining. It's referred to as the flat tire rule or the two hour rule:
"The two-hour rule states that if a passenger arrives within two hours of their missed flight, the airline employee can put you on the next flight with the same airline on standby at no charge. If you miss the last flight of the day, you'll be standby on the first flight the next day."
Like I said it's not a right that a passenger has but it's certainly within the capabilities of the airline/agents to do. If you have missed international flights that might be why it was never offered to you… as far as I'm aware it's only for domestic.
and present yourself at the airport within 2 hours of your missed flight
Honestly its up to the airline to decide but one hour seems like way too little time, given you don't know when international flights will arrive.
Ive missed plenty of domestics as well. Always charged something. What airline are you flying domestically?
@Pootie Tang: It might also be a north american thing. You mentioned missing flights in indonesia, brazil and australia.
Is 60 Minutes Enough Time to Make a Connecting Flight at LAX
I'll make it simple, NO.
You have to go through customs, pickup bags, then checkin to the other flight etc.
Would I be put on standby for that flight?
Depends on the class of ticket if they allow that.
Well I've just checked and the flights later on are all $200 more than the flight I'm on. I guess I'll be catching a bus if they don't let me fly standby
Not sure I'd want to start of an international trip with a pretty much guaranteed flight over 200 bucks…
Definitely not. 6am is the touch down time if it's on time. LAX is a big airport. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the gate, then another 5 - 10 minutes wait for the queue to get off the plane. On the other gate, the boarding time usually starts 30 minutes before departure, and gate closes 10 minutes before departure. So technically, you have about 20 minutes to clear immigration, get your baggage, clear custom, get to domestic terminal, repeat process.
I wonder whether travel insurance will cover it if you miss the flight, or if they deem it impossible?
No way
Last time I transited through LAX I was on a B2 visa and was able to skip the regular ESTA line. I got off the plane and cleared immigration and made it to the baggage carousel in about 20 mins. I then spent another 20 minutes at the baggage carousel waiting for the luggage to arrive.
If you are travelling on an ESTA then immigration will be a pain.
I dont have any baggage to claim or check in. Not that it will matter.
I see my chances as being extremely low. I need to hope that the domestic flight gets delayed significantly or that i get someone nice who puts me on standby for the next delta flight to LAS.
Worst case scenario i get to experience the frustration of getting a bus from LA to Vegas haha
At this point, to hedge your bets you might want to go and book a cheap bus ticket from LA to Vegas. If you're far enough out, you should be able to get it for $5USD. That way if you make the flight, great (and you've only lost $5) but if you miss it you've got a backup.
Thanks mate. Yeah got 4 weeks to stress about this until im leaving so will definitely look at the alternatives and make some arrangements.
I can recommend Megabus for travelling LA - Vegas.
You can take the FlyAway bus to Union Station in downtown LA, and then the Megabus from Union Station to Vegas
@dane45: Yes have taken the megabus before from Vegas to LA. I remember it vividly because the female bus driver had to swerve the bus violently to avoid a horrendous accident involving 2 trucks driving in opposite directions on the interstate. She then continued on driving unphased without saying a word as if nothing had happened while most of the passengers were blisffully unaware and asleep. The few of us that saw what happened were in total shock for the remainder of the journey. Oh and we still managed to get into union station 3 hours behind schedule.
But ill still probably use them again. The fact they are cheap, have modern coaches and have a phone number to actually call and they speak english puts them a cut above the rest lol
No
OP, what is the expected flight time/duration you have been quoted for Sydney-> LA?
I just checked Virgin's latest flight for route VS7701…delayed 40 minutes at Sydney. :( Sometimes they make up the difference in the air but not in this case. Same delay estimated on arrival.
Anyhow, you can check several days for your flight code to get an idea of the typical actual arrival time. Often it's faster in one direction than the other, which might give you a little breathing room, or the opposite.
Nope! I always prefer to enter through Canada..you can go through US customs at Vancouver airport which is a breeze 5mins! and land in US in domestic airport and just get luggage n walk straight out. No customs. LAX is nightmare takes 2 hrs just in customs.
I just realised I do have a US passport although it is expired. I wonder if it's worth renewing it to save some time in customs at LAX. It's 3 weeks till I leave though so I might be out of luck
Sorry for the bump guys but im stupidly trying to convince myself that i can make this happen even if its a long shot
My reasoning is as follows:
If my flight arrives at the scheduled time of 6am then im assuming it will be among the first planes to arrive into LAX. Someone has to be first to arrive to the customs point and i have more motivation than anyone else to do so.
I will have to sprint from the time i get off the plane to have a chance but its worth it to me.
Also i have no checked bags to collect or to check in to the connecting flight so that will be a big factor.
What would be the best way to find out in advance the distance from the arrival gate to the customs point so that i can prepare myself. Also i need to find out where i need to get to for the connecting flight. What would be the best way to find this info?
there is an app that might be helpful called GateGuru http://gateguru.com/
you put in your flight details and if there is any new info like gate changes or security wait times it updates in real timeim assuming it will among the first planes to arrive into LAX.
In addition to the Virgin flight, you have the Qantas/United/American Airlines flights that arrive at 6.00-6.05am from Sydney. Plus the Qantas flights that arrive from Melbourne and Brisbane at 6am and 6.10am.
Better hope your pilot has a lead foot
Haha ill tell him to step on it.
Plus hopefullt ill be the only one running to the customs point so fingers crossed
your only hope is for everything to go off perfectly if there's a crowd going through customs or your inbound flight is late you're screwed
as someone said make sure you sit in an aisle seat you definitely do not want to be jammed in the window seat waiting for other people to get their luggagecheck with delta what their policy is on standby flights once i was flying domestic with virgin and they were going to put me on a later flight for only $50 unfortunately that was too late for an event i was going to so i had to pay $300 to go with qantas
Yes its a long shot. Ive got a $20 bus ticket already booked just in case of the inevitable lol.
The flights to vegas were all crazy expensive due to it being haloween week. The only cheap flights were 7am and i had a brain explosion and booked it thinking if i missed my flight i would be put on standby however that doesnt apply to the cheapo tickets… Oh well its a lesson learned!
Good luck with it mate. Please get a go-pro with a chest strap mount and post the video for us to watch the frantic dash! We'll all be cheering for you.
Lmao i missed my flight as expected. I wasnt off the plane till 6.30am and customs was another solid hour after that. The good news is i got lucky and am on the next delta flight at no extra charge (in an exit row too haha)
@harthagan: So end result is i saved a chunk of change but at the cost of some stress and a few new grey hairs…
Are you arrivng from an international flight? If so you'll have to clear border control and customs first.
You'd be put on the next flight available whatever that is with the airline you've chosen.