Changing planes at LAX - question

Scam

Scam

Scam

Soldato
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I have the corporate travel people looking at this too but trying to figure out if this return leg of my trip is do-able. If I fly from Las Vegas to LAX, then on to LHR, is 1hr enough time to change at LAX when (a) they're both Virgin flights and come up as an option on VA's website and (b) I'll be in business (might help? :confused:). I presume I'll be on one ticket and my bags will go straight through? :confused: Never really done many layovers, not sure how it works... What security will I need to do at LAX?
 
Why would you go via LAX when you can fly straight back to London from Vegas?

But no an hour is not a sensible amount of time for a transfer.
 
Blinkz said:
Why would you go via LAX when you can fly straight back to London from Vegas?
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I want to fly VA for my airmiles, but I don't want to fly Delta as I've heard it's terrible. And I really enjoy VA. The only direct VA flight from LV is to Gatwick (and it's full on the day I'm leaving, anyway). And I need to land at Heathrow because I'm going straight to an off-site 20mins away on the day I get back (joy).
 
I haven't travelled through LAX but I'd be surprised if domestic and international flights leave from the same terminal. There are apparently 9 terminals in LAX.

I'd either drive from Vegas to LA or leave 2-3 hours between flights.
 
Scam said:
I want to fly VA for my airmiles, but I don't want to fly Delta as I've heard it's terrible. And I really enjoy VA. The only direct VA flight from LV is to Gatwick (and it's full on the day I'm leaving, anyway). And I need to land at Heathrow because I'm going straight to an off-site 20mins away on the day I get back (joy).
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Fair enough, glad to hear you like VA tho!

Shame that the direct flight is full, it’s easier to get from LGW to LHR then from LAS to LAX.

As people above have said, LAX is a big airport with lots of terminals. Also you can’t guarantee that your first flight will be on time. With a short turnaround all it takes is a small delay and you’ll miss your connecting flight. Personally I would also aim to have at least 3hrs between arrival and departure.

Another option is to drive, but it’s around 4hrs or so depending on LA traffic!
 
1 hr is cutting it fine in any airport, I recently had a 50 minute transfer that didn’t work out
 
wedrum said:
flown with delta a few times no issues.
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Me too, as good as any other trans-Atlantic carrier, if not better, got bumped up to business on a flight from Atlanta-Gatwick, due to connecting flight from Tampa-Atlanta being delayed, seemed very good to me.
I don’t have many business flights to make a comparison really, got bumped up to Connoisseur Class on United once, LHR to IAD, and did a business return on BA, LHR to BNE, via SIN, Delta was equally as good.
 
Ah well I'm comparing Virgin Upper Class; the people I've spoken to who've done both much preferred Virgin. Delta looks a bit naff in comparison to be honest. My girlfriend flew back with them on business and they ran out of food! :o

There's quite a few flights from LV to LAX that morning. Surely it's easier flying on one ticket/company as above, than catching an earlier flight from LV to catch the same LAX>LHR flight with separate companies? E.g. if I get an earlier flight with Southwest (LV>LAX)for example, I'd have to check my bags and do the whole shebang at LAX no? Whereas booking on the same ticket (1hr transfer) would be a direct transfer? Hmn. :confused:
 
I'd say not a chance at LAX. You have to go through immigration, collect your checked bags and then re-check them and go back through security again. This is standard procedure for all incoming flights to the U.S. - bags do not go straight through. Connections on outbound journeys from the U.S. can check bags straight through.
 
Internal connections are a lot easier than international ones as you don't have to go through security, recheck your bag, or any of that nonsense. An hour will be cutting it close but provided your flight is on time, you should be fine.

Delta and Virgin do codeshares btw, so it's likely you'll end up on the same plane regardless of whether you book it through Delta or Virgin. I've flown Delta plenty of times and thought they were fine, probably better than American Airlines.

Selekt0r said:
I'd say not a chance at LAX. You have to go through immigration, collect your checked bags and then re-check them and go back through security again. This is standard procedure for all incoming flights to the U.S. - bags do not go straight through. Connections on outbound journeys from the U.S. can check bags straight through.
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He's talking about an outbound flight.
 
Selekt0r said:
I'd say not a chance at LAX. You have to go through immigration, collect your checked bags and then re-check them and go back through security again. This is standard procedure for all incoming flights to the U.S. - bags do not go straight through. Connections on outbound journeys from the U.S. can check bags straight through.
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I'm doing the latter: LV to LA to London.
 
i done a connecting at atlanta and that airport is huge!!! missed the connecting flight best to leave a few hours.
 
I did some more research. Looks like there's an earlier Delta flight that gives me 3hrs at LAX. I shall be booking that tomirrow, probably safer. 3hrs in the VA lounge won't be too bad :p
 
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