Hi there,

Hoping you can help! I've posted on the "Airlines" board, and will also post on the US Board, but hoping someone might be able to help.

I am moving down to the Cayman Islands at the end of February and am starting to scout out flights from Vancouver, BC.

I have found a flight that goes YVR-LAX-ATL-GCM for a reasonable price (through Travelocity). However, I would have to change airlines in LAX with only a 2 hour layover (so grab bags, recheck in, get to gate, etc.).

Is a 2 hour layover doable? I don't want to cut the time too short, and I will most likely have excess baggage (so that might take a bit longer to check in).

I would be switching from Air Canada to Delta.

Thanks!

P.S. If I do fly out of LAX on Delta, is there any upgrading available? I don't have Delta points (or any points for that matter - just don't fly enough), but thinking if there was some way I could get up to Business Class for the overnight flight...hmmmm?

I'm pretty sure AC will check your bags through to GCM provided your Expedia ticket includes all the flights (i.e. they're all on the same ticket, not a separate ticket for the Delta flights.) You shouldn't need to fetch them at LAX.

You'll also pre-clear US immigration and customs at YVR, so no delays at LAX for that.

That leaves getting from Terminal 2 (where AC berths) to T5 (Delta.) They're on opposite sides of LAX, so your choices are (a) walk around the perimeter road past the International terminal, (b) cut through the parking complex that sits in the middle of things; or (c) take the rumo(u)red free shuttle bus that runs between terminals. Probably I'd go with (c) given your time constraints, but I wouldn't be happy about it. I have bad luck with the shuttle, but perhaps I'm cursed.

Two hours ought to be enough, but I wouldn't dally.

Hi, thanks for your quick reply.

I was just checking the LAX Terminal map and see what you mean about having to cut through from one terminal to another.

Travelocity (and/or Expedia) has all the flights on one ticket (only one purchase for entire route sort of thing), so presumably they will check my bags all the way through? That would be a great bonus for sure!!! I don't like the idea of having to haul around 3 big suitcases - and then I would only have to pay one excess baggage fee?

Advice - should I call AC and double-check just to be safe? I would rather not get to YVR and find out I will have to recheck my bags at LAX (I've heard from others that LAX is a nightmare re: security and stuff).

Thanks again!

I just found another flight (same airlines, same routes) through ITA software which provides for a 3 hour layover in LAX and a 2 hour layover in ATL, for about $422 CDN including all taxes (seems reasonable!).

Travelocity is showing pretty much the same thing (smaller layover in LAX and longer in ATL) for about $435 so they work out about the same.

Which would you choose? Has anyone booked through ITA before?

You can't book through ITA. Copy down the specific flight details and use Expedia or some such to try to replicate the itinerary.

Gotcha, thanks.

Question - I have never flown Delta - are they good?, bad?.

The LAX to ATL section of the flight is overnight - ugh....anyone with experience on overnight Delta flights?

The plot tickens...

Just talked to Air Canada. They will not be able to check my bags straight through from YVR through LAX, ATL and then GCM. I will have to pick up and recheck my bags at LAX.

So.....2 hours isn't long enough huh?

I found another flight with a 3 hour connection....but still chewing my nails on this one.

Help!

I don't think the issue is the 2-hour layover which is probably enough time. What happens if the first flight is late? I don't have enough faith in any airline to assume a particular flight will be on time every time.

If you can fly on Mar 1st, Saturdays are usually a breeze at LAX.

Also, you might ask Air Canada if there are certain airlines that they DO have luggage agreements with.

"I found another flight with a 3 hour connection....but still chewing my nails on this one."

If you are chewing your nails because of time.....you'll be fine with 3 hours.