Morton

Any information would be much appreciated regarding JFK arrivals.

Flying from London Heathrow on British Airways arriving T7 1225.
Connecting to T8 for San Juan at 1600.

I realise immigration is down to luck on the day how long it will take. Also I have checked out the AirTrain to transfer.

Will I need to collect my luggage after immigration or will it go straight through to Puerto Rico. Alternatively is there a luggage drop for connection in One World Alliance.

When I arrive at T8 will I be treated as in transit regarding security or will I be joining the general queue for departures.

Thank you in advance. Much appreciated.

RoamsAround

If you are flying on One World Alliance Partners your bags should be marked for SJU (with an intermediate stop in JFK) so you will need to claim & recheck your luggage at JFK.

After you deplane follow the signs to Passport Control to clear Immigration then proceed to Customs where you'll claim your luggage at the appropriate carrousel & clear Customs. As you exit Customs there's a place right outside where you recheck your bags. You can then proceed to the AirTrain to transfer to T8. Since you will have left the secure area you will have to go through the TSA checkpoint once you get to T8.

doug_stallings

Everyone arriving in the US from abroad (regardless of the airline connection or even if in the same terminal) has to go through the full security regimen at any US airport. We have no "in transit" as they do in much of Europe. And you always have to collect and recheck your bags upon arrival in the US from abroad. Doesn't matter which airport.

Kazza3013

Doug_Stallings, does that mean if I'm flying from Australia, ticketed with Qantas to lax and then 1.5 hours later a flight to New York also with Qantas, that my bags won't be automatically taken thru to the NY flight? I'll have to go thru security....and get my bags and go thru passport control too?
Perhaps that timing will ne tight?

nytraveler

Yes that's exactly what it means - and I would think that timing is very tight. Is this a legal connection on a single ticket? If so, the airline is responsible for getting you on the next fight - but no guarantee of when that is. If this is separate tickets (doesn't sound like it) you would be considered a "no show" and have to buy a new ticket at the walk up price.

I'm not familiar with international arrivals/ongoing domestic terminals at LAX - so others with more info should chime in on timing - but I would consider this risky.

doug_stallings

LAX is always a crapshoot, but I have actually arrived at the same time as that flight (albeit on V Australia rather than Qantas) and was through immigration within 30 minutes of arrival, with bags waiting, but people further back in the plane had to wait considerably longer, so don't tarry at all, even for the rest room. The drop-off for your bags is nearby, but you will likely have to go to a different terminal (your "Qantas" flight is likely on American Airlines, which flies from Terminal 4), and then you have to go through security again, and those lines can be slow at LAX. But it's a relatively short walk if it's not too hot, but there should also be a bus. It's a risky transfer (less risky if on a single ticket) but may be a legal one.

When I did this year before last, I was on two tickets, flying on JetBlue, but I checked in online and didn't have to check a bag.

Kazza3013

Doug_Stallings it is definitely 2 Qantas flights, so hopefully they will make it work for me. All done thru the Qantas website.

nytraveler

My experience on AA out of LAX has been miserable. When you get there if the security line is truly horrendous and you are running short of time go to one of the guards and explain and they may move you to the front of the line - or not.

Now going to a client near LA I only take Jet Blue because for a very modest fee ($59?) you can get seats with more leg room, early boarding and a separate security line (I've been on a line with only 3 or 4 people ahead of me while the regular line seemed to be about 200 people). But don't think AA has anything similar.

doug_stallings

You will have to go through security again regardless, but just because you booked on the Qantas site does not mean you are not on a code share flight. And most likely you are.