2 hour connecting time... to little?

alexlyons

Just looking for personal experience and logical opinions for the following.

Leave Heathrow and Arrive into LAX at 2.20pm (American Airlines)

Flight to Mammoth Lakes, CA. leaves at 4.20pm the same day, also with American Airlines.

Is that to little time to land, get to gate, get bags, check in and board a domestic flight? Not overly sure what we'll do if it is though...

how long before a domestic flight in the US do you need to check in?

listermint

alexlyons wrote: »

Just looking for personal experience and logical opinions for the following.

Leave Heathrow and Arrive into LAX at 2.20pm (American Airlines)

Flight to Mammoth Lakes, CA. leaves at 4.20pm the same day, also with American Airlines.

Is that to little time to land, get to gate, get bags, check in and board a domestic flight? Not overly sure what we'll do if it is though...

how long before a domestic flight in the US do you need to check in?

To my knowledge flight transfers are treated differently, So 2 hours should be enough. (from Heatrhow experience) however Id recommend that you just contact the LAX, simple phone call will clear it up.

Incidently the baggage area in LAX is a joke. Open to any passerby to swipe your stuff.

alexlyons

thanks for that. the two flights would be booked separately, so technically it's not a transfer...

schemingbohemia

I'm not sure about LAX but getting through passport control took ages for me in Dulles (Washington DC) and then having to wait on my bag took another lump of time. I'd say it would be very tight.

Can you check in online for the domestic flight from Ireland or Heathrow? that might save some time.

Batgurl

Hi OP

While I don't have any personal experience, I do have a similar trip coming up so I've done a bit of research on it.

From what I've found out, the problem won't be the check in time for a domestic flight but that fact that you will have to go through customs at LAX when you first land which could take a while.

Passengers on any international flight into the USA have to go through customs at the first airport they touch down in, even if they are only transferring.

So you will have to land, get off the plane, go through baggage reclaim, then go through customs & passport control, then probably change terminals, recheck in your luggage and get to the gate; all in 2 hours.

I'm not sure if that's feasible but I thought you should be aware of everything that you will have to do in that 2 hours.

Ultimately, no one can tell you if you'll have enough time because flights could be delayed, queues on that particular day could be really long etc.

If you can at all, I'd try to leave more than 2 hours connection time. If you can't, I'd suggest taking out some good travel insurance.

Sorry if I've been a bit of a dampener but just thought you should know.

Davidth88

Hi

I just checked there is another flight to MMH at 6pm, so I imagine if push came to shove they would just drop you onto that flight.

alexlyons

really grateful for all the replies, I have been to the states numerous times before but for some reason passport control etc just slipped my mind!! I have seen some unbelievable queues for it on my travels.

david, where did you see that later flight? could solve all my problems if I just book that instead... a link would be great.

steve-o

Why book separate flights? You are exposing yourself to the risk of a lot of expense if a flight is delayed and you miss the next flight. You'd still need to collect your luggage and recheck it, but if it's all on one ticket then the airline will rebook you for free if you miss the connection. If on seperate tickets they'll probably hit you for big $$$$.

alexlyons

the cheapest way to do it is by booking dublin-LAX and then book LAX-Mammoth lakes. No website I have found will allow you book a flight from dublin to Mammoth Lakes, at least not for any reasonable amount of money.

Davidth88

alexlyons wrote: »

really grateful for all the replies, I have been to the states numerous times before but for some reason passport control etc just slipped my mind!! I have seen some unbelievable queues for it on my travels.

david, where did you see that later flight? could solve all my problems if I just book that instead... a link would be great.

Ill be honest, I just looked at the AA timetable

http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/airportAmenities/electronicTimetable.jsp#one?anchorEvent=false&from=Nav

alexlyons

it says that flight is only effective on sundays from march 13th onwards, but I can't fro the life of me find it...

Davidth88

ohhh damn , yes just noticed the little 7


Sorry to get you hopes up ......

alexlyons

no its cool, I actually want to fly on sunday the 12th of June so that works perfectly, if I can find the feckin flight!!

Davidth88

indeed if you try to book ( even with Alaska Air the operator ) the only flight is the 4:20 ..... wierd

alexlyons

just checked and you can book that flight on March 13th but not on june 12th... or any sunday after that. All sundays coming up to it have a flight at 6...

Davidth88

overnight stop in LAX :-)

alexlyons

absolute trek of that, plus the expense... bus to yosemite and spend the night there

alexlyons

and there is no bus after 4.30am on the sunday the 12th...

alexlyons

just rang AA there and she was about as helpful as a 2 year old. Couldn't understand me, and didn't know the flight schedule existed. All she could see was the flight at 4.20 and didn't really care about anything else

Savman

I flew LHR-LAX and Immigration took an hour in LAX, so a 2hr connection will be tight tbh. You will need all the little things to go your way, landing a little early, not sitting waiting for a gate etc etc.

Also try sit yourself at the front of the flight into LAX so you are first off, the little things will make the difference if you want to make a run for it. It's do-able, just not without breaking a sweat.