I'm travelling from Sydney - JFK via LAX (QF 107) next month and I'm not sure of the process once we land in LAX. I think (but could be wrong) that as LAX is our first stop in the US we will go through customs and body scanning, finger printing etc. Or do we transit through to our LA-JFK flight and go through the body scanning etc when we land at JFK?

Does our flight from LAX - JFK leave from the same terminal or do we need to change terminals. Also, do we collect our luggage at this point or do we collect luggage at JFK?

Apologies in advance if these are really dumb questions, but I've not flown to the US before.

You get off plane at LAX, go through US immigration, claim bags, go through US customs, drop off bags, reclear security, and then reboard.

Same terminal (TBIT). Not sure if it's same aircraft or not. QF107 usually departs LAX 2 hours after it arrives. So, if first flight is late, the next leg is usually late as well.

It is a rather confusing situation, and it is definitely not a dumb question.

It's not the same aircraft -its much smaller.
if you are coming back on those flights you will be taken by bus from QF 108 at LAX to the departure for Oz -that way you do not have to go through security.

Thanks for the clarification. We are coming home via Hawaii so that will be different altogether.

Indeed, SYD-LAX is currently a 747-400, while LAX-JFK uses an Airbus 330-200.

As others have said, yes you will have to go through immigrations and customs. Just make sure that you allow the time for it. You'll enter immigrations and it is (usually) what takes the longest, unless you have items they need to check. Once through there you'll see the baggage claims area. Grab all your bags and stand in the fun customs line. IF you have something that needs checking they'll put a big B on your paper and make sure you go to the correct line. It's different than the one for people that are just passing through. Most people just have to pass off their paperwork at customs, flash their passport and keep moving.

Once through customs you can go two different ways. I'm not sure if your airline has it, but some airlines have an area (before leaving the secure part) where you can recheck your bag. This is to the right as you exit from customs. Ours always do so I'm hoping they all do! After that (as long as your LAX-JFK flight is also leaving from the International Terminal) you simply leave and go upstairs to return to security. It is confusing and each airport is different! We fly LAX internationally and actually just came through there a week ago. In my experience the security lines are usually fairly short and they move quickly.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Thanks everyone for the help. I feel much more relaxed about the change now. I just didn't fancy getting to LAX at about 1am, sleep deprived and not having a clue about what happens next.

cheers, Cathie

Don't worry, it will be almost 7am LA time... on the day you departed. You will do fine.

OMG rkkwan I suppose it will be about that time. I'm dreading it to be honest, I hate that sleep deprivation thing. We arrive in NYC at about 5.30pm and plan on checking into our hotel, having a bit of a walk, dinner somewhere and then off to bed for the night.

the last time I did that flight I arrived at midnight because of late plane leaving Oz, very long lines in immigration and missed connections in LA

rkkwan-some flights on the Syd/lLA have the 380

I was referring to the SYD-LAX leg of QF107.

LAX isn't the worst airport As others have already clarified, yes because it's your point of entry for the US you will clear immigrations, claim your bag, go thru customs, recheck your bag, and go on to your next flight.

Sorry can't tell if you'll need to change terminals or not, but it's no big deal, there's a shuttle that runs the loop.

Hi there. I know this post is a couple of years old but I'm hoping someone can answer my question. We've booked out complete return flights through qantas and when I was book it said SYD-JFK only to find out once purchased there is a stopover in La. Can someone advise if baggage collection is still required and the flight was book as one flight and whether we will have the same seats we paid for on our flight QF107 as when I log into manage booking it does not have the stopover in LA separate therefore wont allow me to choose seats for the LA to JFK flight. Thanks for your help!

You will still go through US border controls at LAX, including immigration and customs. You'll re-check your bags after customs, go through a security check and then <i>either</i> re-board the same plane, same seats, <i>or</i> will be put on a different plane. If Qantas won't allow you to select seats for the LAX-JFK sector, that probably means there's no change of plane, and you'll be back in the same seats. You'll probably have a lot more room, because Qantas isn't allowed to carry domestic (US) traffic on that portion of the flight, only people who hold Qantas tickets to/from Oz before or after the LAX-JFK (or JFK-LAX) portions of QF107/108. So therefore some people will get off at LA and not be replaced.

When are you flying? It appears that Qantas uses a 744 all the way at least through the end of this year, so you shouldn't have to worry about changing seats.

We were on a different plane for the LAX-JFK leg and were with an American airline, I can't remember which one now. The change at LAX was easy. As we disembarked, all passengers flying through to NYC were given a card, orange or yellow, I forget. We showed the cards at each stage and were 'expressed' through the system and had time to have a coffee before going to our departure lounge.

While we didn't have the same seats on the domestic leg, we were still seated together. You may need to check that for your flights. I think the flight left from the same terminal, we walked a long way but didn't go outside at all.

I don't think "finger printing" is involved(?)

It's not? I am pretty sure it is for visitors. And US is hardly the only country doing it. I've done it in at least Japan and Malaysia in the past 2 years.

All my friends from overseas are finger printed when arriving in the States . . .

Suze, just a thumb print and that eye scan thingy.