Airport transit question.
I am arriving on a flight to LAX at 7.30 am from Australia. I am then hoping to get on another flight to Costa Rica from LAX at 3pm on the same day. As they are two seperate flights how do l get my luggage onto the next flight? Do l need to collect my luggage, go through customs and then recheck in for the next flight in the airport. Is there an easier to transit through the airport? Thankyou.
Since your flights are on separate tickets, arriving from Australia and then connecting to Costa Rica, you will need to go through standard international arrival procedures at LAX before boarding your next flight.
Here’s what to expect step by step:
- Immigration/Customs: Upon arriving at LAX, you will first go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This includes passport control and answering any standard questions about your trip.
- Baggage claim: After clearing immigration, you will need to collect your checked luggage from the carousel. Even if your next flight is international, because you are on a separate ticket, the airline cannot automatically transfer your luggage for you.
- Customs inspection: Once you have your luggage, you will pass through the customs inspection area where your bags may be inspected.
- Re-checking luggage: After customs, you must recheck your luggage for your flight to Costa Rica. This is typically done at the airline counter for your next flight or at designated recheck areas for international departures.
- Security check: After rechecking your luggage, you will need to go through TSA security again before reaching your departure gate.
Additional tips:
- Allow ample time: With an international-to-international connection on separate tickets, 5–6 hours between flights is recommended to comfortably navigate immigration, baggage claim, customs, and recheck.
- Check baggage policies: Ensure your connecting airline accepts checked baggage from a separate ticket and check their cutoff times for baggage drop.
- Consider travel insurance: In case of delays or issues, travel insurance can provide some peace of mind when connecting between separate tickets.
- Ask at the first airline: Sometimes airline staff can provide advice or issue temporary luggage tags to ease the recheck process, but typically you are responsible for collecting and rechecking your bags.
Unfortunately, there is no shortcut for collecting and rechecking luggage when you are on separate tickets at LAX. The process is standard for all travelers entering the U.S. on a separate itinerary.
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