I'll be bringing my family to Brisbane in mid- to late-November from Houston, a trip I've never taken before. We're relocating to Australia, so the trip will be arranged by my company's travel department, for whom cost is a key issue (even though we do get to travel business class).

Here's my question: I've been told that the transfer from a US domestic flight to the international flight is likely to be nightmarish because of LAX's physical setup and transfer procedures: checked baggage must be reclaimed (and we'll be taking a lot!) for rechecking, you have to leave the terminal (in some form of shuttle) and then return, there are three or four security checkpoints involved, etc., etc. This is supposedly the case in a Continental-to-Qantas handover at LAX.

Is this true? If true, what can be done to mediate it? Should I tell the corporate travel office I want to go through SFO instead?

I've done a lot of traveling, but Australia is one place I've never made it to, so in this case I'm a complete newbie. Advice welcome (especially since we haven't booked our tickets yet). TIA

Fly American/Japan Airlines which codeshare or United Airlines. Then you can check your luggage all the way through.

First, CO and QF are both major airlines with baggage transfer agreement. Your bags can be checked through to Australia. Plus, your company can definitely book the whole itinerary on the same ticket, so you'll be "protected" if you miss the connection at LAX.

What's bad is that Qantas uses TBIT (Tom Bradley International Terminal) at LAX. It's a 3rd world scene, especially in late evening. QF have day flights to Australia, but most flights depart late night. The walk from T6 to TBIT is not that far.

I would highly recommend transferring at SFO instead, in order to avoid TBIT.

But either way, you don't need to transfer bags.

BTW, QF has LAX-BNE non-stop on some days of the week. That'd save you a transfer and significant travel time.

I guess despite the mess at TBIT, I'd still use this connection to get on the LAX-BNE non-stop.

BTW, it really helps you're flying business class. You can use separate check-in desks and lounges at LAX.

I suggest you post the question about QF at TBIT on the "Airlines" forum. Fodorite "AAFF" fly QF in C or F quite often, and I think he can tell you exactly how to maneuver around the crowd at TBIT at LAX as a C-class flyer.