We'll be flying to Lima next July and I want to know if this sounds doable. I've preliminarily looked into flights via CheapOair and such (I've used them before with no problems). Flights generally take us from Seattle to LAX on Alaska Air, then using LAN Peru into Lima. The layover in LAX is only 1 hr, 50 min. On the return, I can choose an equally short layover, where LAN flies into Dallas Fort Worth with a 1 hr 46 min. layover, and then onto Seattle on either Alaska or American. We will be checking in bags and those should go straight through to the final destinations, right? Or will I have to go through customs upon returning into Dallas? Thanks!

AS arrives LAX at T6. You need to walk pass T5 and.T4 to get to LAN at TBIT and recreation security.

At DFW, inter flights arrive Terminal E. You will clear immigration, customs and security. AS departs right at T-E, while AA uses almost the whole airport, so you may have to take the train after reclearing security.

Both of your layover are possible but both relatively tight.

"... We will be checking in bags and those should go straight through to the final destinations, right? Or will I have to go through customs upon returning into Dallas?..."

Just to clarify what rkkwan said - On the way to Peru once you check your bags you won't see them until you get to Lima.

On the way back, after you clear immigration at DFW you'll have to claim your luggage , clear customs, recheck your luggage, exit the customs hall, clear TSA and then proceed to your connecting flight's gate.

I think rkkwan had a typo - International flights at DFW arrive in Terminal D, not Terminal E. FYI - Alaska Airlines uses Terminal E and American uses Terminals A, B, C & D. As rkkwan says, if your connecting flight leaves from a different terminal once you clear TSA and reenter the secure area simply take the SkyLink tram to your connecting flight - it's quick and efficient.

Assuming your flights are "on time" the 1:46 and 1:50 connecting times should be fine.

RoamsAround is correct about DFW.

Thank you for the replies and all the gate details. Hubby and I just hate long layovers and try to avoid them at all costs. The connecting flight home from DFW to SEA is only offered through American Airlines. It's good to hear about the SkyLink!

Are you buying your tickets through one of the airlines (written as one ticket) or yourselves as separate tickets?.

LAN and Alaska are all oneworld (as is American).

I just want to warn you that LAN are very difficult to deal with on the phone. I have on several occasions, and it wasn't fun!. You will be dealing with someone in Colombia, Chile, or Peru with a bad connection. (Pray that you get Colombia and not Chile).

You may want to try to book via American Airlines and get the code share flight with AA/LAN just in case you need to rebook with schedule changes.



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BTW LAN flights are comfortable, especially the nonstop. If you can get the 787 so much the better.

They are fine in the air. It is just a matter of how bad they are with reservations and customer service on the ground, if something goes wrong or needs to be changed.

Although I guess that is common nowadays, I have had much better luck dealing with both Alaska and American reservations (although I don't like flying AA!)