Transfer lax

Question

Hello! I'm doing a transfer at lax, flying in with British Airways from Copenhagen, will change to American airlines for domestic flight. I know that I have to take my bags trough customs. My question is if I have to go out from airside to landside to the ordinary check in counters, or if there is a place airside where I drop my bags after customs?

Answer

When you arrive at LAX on an international flight, such as from Copenhagen on British Airways, you will need to clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This process requires you to collect your checked baggage and go through the customs inspection. LAX does not have an airside bag-drop facility for connecting flights after customs; you must complete this on the landside.

Here’s how the process generally works for your connection to an American Airlines domestic flight:

After deplaning, follow the signs to U.S. Customs and Immigration.
Once you clear passport control, you will retrieve your checked luggage from the baggage claim area associated with your arrival terminal.
Proceed through the Customs inspection checkpoint with your bags.
After clearing customs, you will enter the arrivals/lobby area (landside). Here, you will need to drop off your bags at the American Airlines check-in counter or designated bag drop for your domestic flight.

Additional tips:

Check if your connecting domestic flight allows online check-in or mobile check-in—sometimes you can print or receive your boarding pass in advance, but you still must drop your bags at the counter.
Allow at least 1.5–2 hours between your international arrival and domestic departure to account for passport control, baggage claim, customs, and moving between terminals if necessary.
LAX has a terminal shuttle if your connecting flight departs from a different terminal, which may add additional time to your transfer.

In short, there is no airside bag drop after customs at LAX for international-to-domestic connections. You will need to exit to landside, drop your bags at the American Airlines counter, and then proceed through security to your departure gate.