LAX -- transfer between terminals
 

We will have two hours between arrival at Terminal 4 and departure from Terminal 3. I am having a bit of difficulty working out how far it is between terminals. Can we walk that with luggage or is the shuttle the best bet? I have found that the time spent waiting for (and on) shuttles is often more than the walking time for the journey!

Although there's a "back route" via the American Eagle pier (T4) to a bus that connects to the Alaska pier (T3) I usually walk it. Takes maybe 5-7 minutes. Turn left at the door of T4 and walk past the TBIT (international terminal) and T3 is the next one after that.

If you're arriving from an international flight and clearing customs at T4 the baggage carts in the luggage/customs area are free (otherwise a charge in other parts of the airport) so that will ease bag transfer.

If you want to take the shuttle, it runs (allegedly - not in my experience) every 12-15 minutes. Also out front of T4.

are these domestic, international, or what? If you are arriving internationally at T-4 you may have a problem since immigration, luggage, customs can take an hour or more.

Looking again at the OP's handle and knowing that Qantas arrives at T4, I'm guessing it is indeed an international arrival.

That being the case, while I've found clearing immigration/customs at LAX to be okay, that's traveling with a US passport - the lineups for non-US passports can be quite long, so that would be a concern.

Bigger concern is if the OP is connecting to Alaska (even AA-numbered codeshares) at T3. T3 security is the SLOWEST and most aggravating setup at LAX, which is saying something.

If it is indeed an international connection (and not just a domestic hop on AA, which also uses T4) then if the tickets were bought separately there's a big problem. If the flights are on one ticket, then the carriers will have to accommodate the OP in the event of a misconnect.

Kiwi rob, perhaps you could advise which is the case. If international > domestic, the "back route" I mentioned before might be a better bet.

Thanks. I'm new at this and keep omitting relevant detail. We will be arriving at T4 on a Qantas international flight and connecting with an Alaskan Airlines flight from T3 -- all tickets done through our travel agent.

"done through our travel agent" isn't really the info you/we need. Were they booked together as one itinerary, or are they different bookings?

I sure hope they aren't separate bookings - and if they are, your TA has some answering to do . . . . .

All as one -- I'm learning!

OK - then you are fine. You may very well miss your domestic flight - but they will get you on the next available one . . . . .

Thanks a lot. You have been most helpful.

I do hope I get a reply to this as it will probably determine if I will make the trip or not. My daughter has a business trip to LA in Sept. and she will be flying in from a different area and different airline. My question is this, we have to meet up so we can proceed in her rented vehicle and I would plan on coming in on Northwest airlines (I believe it was perhaps terminal 7 and she comes in on United I believe terminal 3 or so. Question, for me to meet her, do the airport shuttle take you to the arrival areas or only the departure (different level) as I would have to say go from 7 to 3 and get to the arrivals (I am an active senior citizen, however am the type to want to get this ironed out BEFORE having to do it). So if anyone knows if the airport shuttles take you to ARRIVALS in another terminal, please advise. I have a feeling of they might not as generally most folks would be departing. Will await advise. Thanks much. Halfpint

halfpint: Is she arriving about the same time as you and then you are heading to the rental agency?

If so - I wouldn't even try to meet in arrivals. I'd head to the car rental agency (they have their own shuttles from the terminals) and meet up there.

NW uses Terminal 2, UA uses Terminals 6 & 7. On opposite side of the airport.

There's the LAX Shuttle "A" that goes around all the terminals. Look for the sign for it, and go to the other terminal. Doesn't matter upper or lower level. You can always take the escalators between the two in any terminal building.

Or like janisj says, just go to the car rental agency separately and meet there. All of the rental companies have large buildings for their LAX operations with plenty of place to sit around.

Thanks so much for the answers I did receive. Actually if I do go, I would plan to arrive (if things went on schedule) a few hours before my daughter would arrive and therefore wanted to perhaps meet them at their terminal at the luggage retrieval. Wondering if that sounds doable ? Wonder if I would go in and out of various securities? Thanks for any help. Halfpint

If you arrive that much earlier, you can easily take that "A" shuttle over to her terminal (T7 for United). You don't need to go through security to get to baggage claim, assuming she's on a domestic flight.

Not familiar with LAX T7, but others may know if there's any restaurants or Starbucks where you can wait for her instead.

Just seeing if anyone MIGHT have something to add to this today. Halfpint

I don't believe that there are any Starbucks or food service outside security in Terminal 7. I believe that the only Terminals that offer food/drinks outside of security are the International Terminal (TBIT) and Terminal 1 (Southwest, US Airways) which has a little Kiosk-type place.

If you had a few hours to kill and not alot of luggage, you could take the shuttle to the TBIT, grab something to eat at the food court there, and then hop back on the shuttle or walk terminal 2.