V-Flyer

Hi Everyone, I've got a slight dilemma which hopefully you'll be able to help me with.

We're booked on the VS23 to LAX (in UC). Our final destination is Seattle and we would have been able to connect straight to SEA had UC awards been available on the VS7. As a compromise we planned to stay in a hotel near LAX for the night, then fly up to SEA in the morning (probably with Virgin America).

I've since realised that there is an Alaska Airlines flight to SEA at 9pm, which would leave us 2 hours to disembark, collect bags, clear immigration, and walk from T2 to T3 to re-check in for our Alaska flight. I've never caught the VS23 so I don't know if that's a bad time to arrive for immigration queues?

Part of me thinks that it's a big risk and a recipe for severe stress, but part of me wants to do it so we're in Seattle that night and gain an extra 1/2 day in the city.

Your thoughts would be much appreciated! oo)

Personally I would not risk it as even if the flight is on time, the queues can be hideous at that time of night in T2. From memory there are two AF planes (one from Paris and one from Tahiti) as well as a few others due in around the same time.

Your post rang a bell -- this recent VS23 trip report mentions a long delay at immigration:

http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=6&t=271592&rb_v=viewtopic

Obviously that's just one experience and there will doubtless be others.

But two hours is not long for a connection when you have to clear US immigration, change terminal, and check in. The shortest I've ever allowed was three hours, and I almost missed my connection on that occasion.

I'm going to give a typically Irish response, that if I were you I wouldn't have started from there!! ) I would have gone from SFO but obviously that isn't an option.

I'd go along with Tinks' advice and say stay overnight and remember you also get miles and tier points on the Virgin America flights

honey lamb wrote: I would have gone from SFO but obviously that isn't an option.

SFO was our first choice but sadly being stuck to school hols plus the Olympics meant that grabbing one of the few available LAX rewards was the only option

I think we will stay the night as you say. Perhaps 'earn as we sleep' by staying in a Hilton or other VS partner!

I flew in on the VS23 last night (in UC). Mr DL and I always walk briskly to immigration and were amongst the first couple of passengers there from the 23. We still waited an hour ( the queues were mainly down to a load of ? Air China passengers who all seemed to be getting the third degree. We usually travel on the VS07 which can be just as bad.
There are plenty of airport hotels nearby- I'm currently in the Renaissance (two minutes from the terminal) about to leave for Sin City .
DL

Clarkey

I did the LHR-LAX then VX LAX-SEA the same day using VS07 then catching VX 797. (TR here). The earlier VS07 meant that there was a ~4 hour layover which is manageable and not too stressful.

If you had been able to get on the earlier flight, no problem; but given you have to go on the 23, I'd stick with the advice here and stay the night at LAX. I'm sure it would spoil the UC experience fretting about the connection.

You don't say when you are going, but last week the jet streams and headwinds meant we had an 11 hr 40 min flight time just to SFO and LAX is further South. Add in a couple of hours in immigration and it could go pear shaped. xx(