Flying into LAX

Flying into LAX next month on Qantas and connecting onwards to LHR on British Airways, got about 4 hours turnaround time, can anyone tell me whether LAX has express travel lanes for immigration or customs incoming and whether Qantas Platinum FF can get access to that.

Why would you be going though immigration and customs if you are transiting to LHR?

Because the USA does not have airside transit for international arrivals. You must go through Immigration, then downstairs to the carousels to collect your luggage, then through Customs, then re-check your luggage, then exit onto the street, then go to the departure terminal.

Hi I flew into Lax recently on Qantas flight. No express lane was available. Also unfortunately waiting time is not thar short - took me 30-40min.

I believe express pass was given to passengers continuing onto new york flight pre pandemic.

Also I dont think Global entry kiosk was operating..

Off topic, but I’ve never heard of someone using that route to get to the UK? Keen to understand it relative to going via Asia (I’m assuming arriving with Qantas means departing from Australia)

Yes travelling from Aus to UK via LAX, availability of one world flights out of Aus at this time is the main reason.

I know pax have to go through Immigration. But is it necessary to collect luggage and re-check it after Customs if travelling on a single ticket to LHR?

Flights to Europe as of last week were lot cheaper flying on AA ticket (routed via LAX (QF metal)-DFW), AA must have had a sale to pick up outgoing AUS traffic, compared to a direct flight via QF or Asian carriers

You might want to check the historic route structure of Qantas. When it was one of the few 'round the world' airlines, it flew to London via Asia and the Middle East .. but also across the Pacific, both via the USA (Sydney, Nadi, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York City and London) and additionally via the 'Fiesta' route, which included stops in Nadi Fiji, Tahiti, Acapulco, Mexico City, Nassau in the Bahamas and Bermuda. The Fiesta route was QF 580 from SYD, and the return from London was QF581.

So, there were not one but two TransPacific routes to London. Even better, was the fact that BOAC (now British Airways) actually flew flights ex Sydney across the Pacific to London, via Los Angeles using a VC-10. Not quite as an unusual route as you may think.

A nonstop SYD-LAX flight is usually around 13.5-14hrs and LAX-LHR is usually around 9 hrs, so roughly comparable to the 23 hr trip via Asia. Of course, the new B787-9 service (PER-LHR or DRW-LHR) is now redefining this again, in terms of travel times.

"so roughly comparable to the 23 hr trip via Asia"

Well yes, it is not much longer flying time wise outbound (forgetting however the absolute contrast between the dreadful LAX no-transit hassle vs a couple of hours in a SIN lounge), but only because of the tailwind eastbound. The distance to LHR via LAX is over 2000 miles more than via SIN , so with that and the headwind, trans Pacific is a much, much longer slog from London or for total roundtrip.

I've just booked SYD/NAN/LAX/LHR/SIN/SYD on FJ/BA biz using AA miles for 165k in June; trans Pacific can be a good option for rewards or sometimes cash fares (UA/LH has been competitive)- but eastbound only, I'd reckon, and perhaps only if you actually want to stay in the USA en route. Nevertheless, I'd much prefer via YVR or even SCL for one-stop to LHR via the Pacific....

I remember doing the Fiesta route in the early 70s - it was more like going on a cruise, with the ability to even wander out of the airport during stops in NAS & BDA! Baled out in Nadi for a night to recover before a leisurely progress on to SYD on the BA VC10.