BroadwayGirl

Hi all---my mom and I are travelling to Sydney via LA in July (coming from Minnesota) Our flight on NWA gets in at 9:40 in the morning, and we leave on Qantas at 1 pm. I'm wondering about the time span----what with baggage claim, etc. will we have enough time to have everything ready in time to board our Qantas flight? Do you know how far apart NWA and Qantas are in location at the airport? I'm one who likes to look at airport gift shops and take in everything I thank you for your time and appreciate any responses!!!
Dana

chimani

Maybe you should try posting this on the US board. People come to Australia from all over the world and many may not have the slightest clue about LA airport. I for one, don't know what NWA is.

Happy travels.

ms_go

I don't know whether your flights are on the same ticket or not, but do check with Northwest to see if it has an interline agreement with Qantas. If so, you should be able to check your bags all the way through to Sydney when you check in in Minnesota and not worry about baggage claim in LA. Many major airlines have such an agreement, even if they're not partners. You'd just need to show Northwest a copy of your Qantas ticket or receipt at check in--and watch to make sure they put on the correct tags. It would surprise me if they don't have an interline agreement.

Can't help with the terminals, sorry. I only know the United terminals at LAX. Here's a map that may help.

http://www.lawa.org/lax/terminalMap.cfm

wlzmatilida

Broadway,

Get your bags from the NW baggage area, walk outside the terminal and look for signs directing you to the airport shuttle bus. Walk out to the "island" to wait for the shuttle - transfer from the Domestic Terminal to the International and watch for the Qantas sign (they have a tape running announcing the airlines at each stop as well).

Take the escalator up to the second floor, turn right, go pas the first bank of counters, and Qantas will be the next on your left.

Check your bags and then you're free to visit the shops with time to spare.

Hope this is helpful!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

oliverandharry

Melodie just made that sound like a walk in the park! LAX, IMHO, is a pain in the butt to get around and the process described is a real slog. I don't know how long you're going for, but try not to have too much baggage, or at least only what you can carry in your hands by yourself. Absolutely check with Northwest about checking all the way through, but our home airline, Frontier, does not have these agreements and we're always stuck dealing with the bags in LA.

vervid

QANTAS flights from lax to Sydney leave from terminal 4 not tom bradley. You should not have to recheck yr bags as long as the NWA staff at your first airport check them through to syd.

Neil_Oz

Yes, packing as light as you reasonably can is always a good idea. Flights to/from the USA have a generous weight allowance of 32 kg rather than the more common 20 kg for your checked baggage, but the latter figure in my experience is about the upper limit for comfort. One wheelie bag and a carry-on is manageable.

I'm assuming that Qantas will want you checked in by either 11:00 or 11:30am at the latest, but this should give you plenty of time, even at LAX. And between checkin and boarding you'll have at least an hour to check out the gift shops. You may as well get some exercise in - it's a long flight.

Tim_and_Liz

Hi from Saint Paul!

We have flown that route and yes, NWA will check your bag through to Sydney. So all you have to do is walk over to Terminal 4's AA/Qantas ticket counter to pick up your boarding pass and then go through security. I also despise LAX so be prepared for a headache and some lines but realize Sydney will be worth it.

wlzmatilida

Oliver and Harry,

What? It's not a walk in the park?

I agree with your comments about LAX, and avoid it at costs; thankfully, both Air NZ and Qantas have come to their senses and now I can avoid it by flying direct from SFO, thereby cutting HOURS off my travel time!

In the past, I have walked from the Domestic Terminal to International many times (with my one roll-y bag) knowing I'm going to be on a flight for a loong time and grateful to stretch my legs a bit!

Tim and Liz, good to know that you had good luck with them checking your bags all the way through; me, I'm just a cynical travel agent, knowing that if any airline is going to lose bags, it's going to be on the connection...

Plus I'm used to travelling with carry on only - if Qantas didn't make me check my bag (I'm GOOD, but I can't make 15 lbs requiement for carry on!) it would be with me as well!

Regards,

Melodie

twoaussies

WaltzingMatilda - are you saying that to depart from S.F. rather than LA is preferable. Flying from Florida to Sydney we have that choice. Is SF more traveler friendly ?

Tim_and_Liz

twoaussies--

YES! LAX is a nightmare. JMHO.

Liz

Neil_Oz

Hi, two aussies. Yes, I'll vote for SFO too. It's a much more user-friendly airport and as inveterate public transport users we were impressed that it has a BART station right inside the terminal - faster and much cheaper than a cab from anywhere on the BART network, including downtown. The bext LAX could offer when we were there was an airport bus stop, which you have to take an airport shuttle to reach.
Cheers, Neil

wlzmatilida

Two Aussies,

well, I don't have to defend myself now being biased since I'm in the Bay area!

Both Tim and Liz and Neil have offered their comments - one from the US and one from Oz!

Come see us in Northern California (the best part of the state!)

Melodie

BarbaraS

Thanks for the tip about flying out of SFO - I too had a choice between LAX and SFO on an upcoming trip!

Karen246

Wehave come through LAX with a 3 week old baby and a brand new set of golf clubs. From Denver to LAX - during the ski season - we lost neither the baby or the golf sticks!!! LAX is a bit of a nightmare but if you know which terminal you need to go it is not that bad of a stroll. SF airport on the other hand - we came in late at night - pretty easy to manage - our son was 3 years old at that stage and no golf clubs. Just ask if you are not sure - there are many staff around. My motto is that if you can survive LAX you can go anywhere - have fun

Sarvowinner

I've walked from Terminal 4 and Tom Bradley to Terminal 2 several times - after a 14 hour overnight flight. I enjoy the opportunity to stretch my legs. I've even done it with a luggage cart. 15 minutes max.

I would rather walk than wait for the shuttle. You can either walk around or cut through the car parks.

Last time, our Qantas flight was two hours late so we missed our AA flight to Toronto. Customer service met us, booked our bags through and told us to go to T2 to book in. We would then had a several hour wait. As we are Qantas Club members, we convinced the CSO to give us back our AA boarding passes (issued in Sydney). We walked over to T2, checked in, wandered back to TB and used the joint AA/QC lounge to shower and wait. So much better than hanging in T2.

Security didn't even catch on that the Boarding Passes were for a flight that had left a few hours before.

twoaussies

thanks for the heads up on SFO. Will certainly try for the flight through that airport.

AUSTRALIAONE

Bradley Terminal in LA probably ranks as the worst terminal in the World. It is disgusting, has no facilities and everyone is rude and they take forever. Leave from SF if you possibly can.

AndrewDavid

well neil and robyn could have travelled lighter when they came to north americaif they hadn't insisted on dragging along two kangeroos and a dingo

cheers A/D

Neil_Oz

Andrew, that wasn't a kangaroo, that was our Prime Minister. After kidnapping him with the idea that you'd assist us in releasing him into his natural habitat (the Jornada de Muerto in New Mexico), we had to cunningly disguise him in order to fool Homeland Security. Unfortunately he escaped while we were scouting out a suitable alternative location in Yellowstone NP, cleared a sleeping grizzly with one bound and disappeared into a lodgepole pine forest. He must have made his way home, as he's since been sighted on the shores of Sydney Harbour.

Surely you remember our deal? We are still awaiting delivery of your president, have not been contacted by FedEx. The expedition to the Great Sandy Desert is ready to go when you are. Has the benign air of Canada dimmed your enthusiasm?