SFO vs. LAX
Back to Forum- This topic has 7 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 22 Jul 2014
at 16:46 by SGJNI1961.
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PrakashMehtaParticipantI’m planning a holiday with family to the US west coast sometime around May next year and have started my preliminary planning. I will be flying from BOM to either SFO or LAX and flying out from the other. We will fly business class on CX, EK or EY, depending on who has the best deal. i don’t have status with any of them (I’m Star G)
My question: is it better to fly into SFO and out from LAX or the other way round? Consideration: immigration experience on the way in and lounge and security on the way out.
Thank you for any insights or information that you can share.
22 Jul 2014
at 06:13
Str8TalkingParticipantFor flying in, for me, without question SFO. The experience is so much smoother and faster. I have cleared immigration at SFO within 15 minutes of landing on more than one occasion and with no special priviledges. Never came anywhere close to this at LAX.
In terms of lounges on the way out, the experience will depend on who you’re flying with.
22 Jul 2014
at 06:39
PeterCoultasParticipantDo not connect in the US on the way to your destination as you will have to clear immigration, collect & recheck baggage at the first US entry point.
22 Jul 2014
at 06:44
LondonVikingParticipantThe new Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX is great. So if your airline flies out of that terminal then I’d fly out of LAX.
San Francisco is a nice city to visit. However, the weather may/may not be great. So I would enjoy SF and then head down for some sunshine in L.A.
22 Jul 2014
at 06:53
PrakashMehtaParticipantThanks for your replies.
Str8Talking – SFO seems to be the place to fly into; a chance that immigration could be done in 15mins in US is great.
Peter – no, i will not be connecting in the US. Will probably land in SFO and then make my way south to LA over 3 weeks and fly out
LondonViking – CX, EK and EY all fly out of TBIT.
So it seems best to get in at SFO and out from LAX.
22 Jul 2014
at 10:10
DavidGrodentzParticipantHave recently flown on international flights into both LAX and SFO, both in June this year. Immigration queues are the luck of the draw. Experience was better at LAX (better queue management) and much quicker. Much depends on how many flights arrive at the same time and the number of non US passengers they carry
22 Jul 2014
at 14:46
SGJNI1961ParticipantI flew into LAX last Saturday. Immigration was simply appalling! Waited more than one and a half hours in a very muggy uncomfortable hall as the officers took forever to process the one or two flights in front of me. I initially put the lack of speed down to the fact that both flights originated in Asia and there seemed to be a language issue. Not so! When my turn finally came I was treated with total contempt and grilled for 10 minutes including not just where was I staying but how much had I paid for the room!!!!! It was over two hours before I got to the kerb. At LHR on Friday (admittedly with an EU passport), the same process took exactly thirty five minutes. The last time I flew into SFO I was on the BART in twenty five minutes. I do accept that one can be unlucky with the queues but the attitude at LAX is positively hostile and I will try to avoid it again at all costs. The pre-clear in Dublin or if possible Shannon are to be highly recommended for those who can make use of them.
22 Jul 2014
at 16:46 -
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