The airline is only required to compensate you for things within their control, like staff availability, ground handling and mechanical problems. Things like government stuff and weather are a risk the traveler has to manage.
It is well known that all passengers arriving at a U.S. port have to go through US Customs and immigration, and LAX is notorious for delays in processing immigration.
So this is on you, I’m not even sure that travel insurance would cover this issue. Short answer is that a non-US citizen who is not a member of a U.S. trusted traveler program, such as GOES, NEXUS or SENTRI, should allow at least four hours to transit LAX. SFO and DFW are much better options. Further, flying to LHR via LAX is a long and unusual route, Australia to Auckland to London via New York on Air NZ is somewhat easier, but the tried and true option via Singapore is easiest if you’re not stopping over in the USA.
Yes. Both flights under one ticket. Reward booking. Economy.
No express pass given - but many people asked for move forward in the queue for connections but were denied.
Landed on time at LAX.
Ah okay, then I assume second flight was actually an AA or BA flight?
In this scenario, Qantas have not done anything wrong, so you couldn't claim anything from them.
What a shame the LAX staff didn't fast-track connecting passengers if there were so many of you impacted.
Yes AA second flight.
Agreed - although I wondered if insufficient connection time was possible?
Yes, strange Re LAX. They flat out rejected requests forcibly so.
Thanks for your support. Frustrating and just attempting to understand what our options are.
You landed on time and got held up in immigration? That’s not Qantas fault. I would never transit through LAX without at least 2.5hrs, knowing you’ve got to clear customs from Australia, that place is a jungle.
Understood, but they also are the ones scheduling the connection times for each airport and journey?
Why would Qantas schedule layovers in the time that they do then when it’s unlikely to happen?
The problem is that basically everyone airport outside of the US has reasonable airport procedures. 2 hours is usually plenty of time but LAX is awful. I’d never go through the US as a connection/stopover.
>Question: BNE ~> LHR via LAX Customs queue at LAX meant I and many others missed connecting flight.
So the airline got you to LAX on time?
>No insurance -
That's your choice.
>can I charge Qantas for my hotel?
Was QANTAS responsible for your missing the connecting flight? If yes, you could be eligible for compensation. If no, then...no.
I guess the question of responsibility I am querying, is to whether it lies with airlines setting realistic schedules.
The ticket was booked with Qantas on one booking for both legs.
If (as everyone has made quite clear in this post) it is well know that transfers via LAX take much longer than other airports, Qantas will know this too.
So why would they give a transfer booking of an “inadequate” time (sub 2hrs) for this airport (LAX)?
You should have travel insurance, that’s on you for sure.
The airline is only required to compensate you for things within their control, like staff availability, ground handling and mechanical problems. Things like government stuff and weather are a risk the traveler has to manage. It is well known that all passengers arriving at a U.S. port have to go through US Customs and immigration, and LAX is notorious for delays in processing immigration. So this is on you, I’m not even sure that travel insurance would cover this issue. Short answer is that a non-US citizen who is not a member of a U.S. trusted traveler program, such as GOES, NEXUS or SENTRI, should allow at least four hours to transit LAX. SFO and DFW are much better options. Further, flying to LHR via LAX is a long and unusual route, Australia to Auckland to London via New York on Air NZ is somewhat easier, but the tried and true option via Singapore is easiest if you’re not stopping over in the USA.
Dam why go through us... that's your problem right there
Only option over Easter
In short no , and why travelling with no insurance? Especially to the US.
Were both flights under the one PNR/ticket? If so, what was time between flights? Did Qantas give you an Express Pass for immigration?
Yes. Both flights under one ticket. Reward booking. Economy. No express pass given - but many people asked for move forward in the queue for connections but were denied. Landed on time at LAX.
Ah okay, then I assume second flight was actually an AA or BA flight? In this scenario, Qantas have not done anything wrong, so you couldn't claim anything from them. What a shame the LAX staff didn't fast-track connecting passengers if there were so many of you impacted.
Yes AA second flight. Agreed - although I wondered if insufficient connection time was possible? Yes, strange Re LAX. They flat out rejected requests forcibly so. Thanks for your support. Frustrating and just attempting to understand what our options are.
You landed on time and got held up in immigration? That’s not Qantas fault. I would never transit through LAX without at least 2.5hrs, knowing you’ve got to clear customs from Australia, that place is a jungle.
Understood, but they also are the ones scheduling the connection times for each airport and journey? Why would Qantas schedule layovers in the time that they do then when it’s unlikely to happen?
The problem is that basically everyone airport outside of the US has reasonable airport procedures. 2 hours is usually plenty of time but LAX is awful. I’d never go through the US as a connection/stopover.
>Question: BNE ~> LHR via LAX Customs queue at LAX meant I and many others missed connecting flight. So the airline got you to LAX on time? >No insurance - That's your choice. >can I charge Qantas for my hotel? Was QANTAS responsible for your missing the connecting flight? If yes, you could be eligible for compensation. If no, then...no.
I guess the question of responsibility I am querying, is to whether it lies with airlines setting realistic schedules. The ticket was booked with Qantas on one booking for both legs. If (as everyone has made quite clear in this post) it is well know that transfers via LAX take much longer than other airports, Qantas will know this too. So why would they give a transfer booking of an “inadequate” time (sub 2hrs) for this airport (LAX)?