Can I make my connecting flight? In LAX airport from international arrival?

Hey!

I'd greatly appreciate opinions from those who have done it.

Details:

Saturday flight/connection.

I arrive at 12:55 pm via Malaysia Airlines in the T.Bradley terminal. My departing flight is departing via NWA terminal #2 at 3pm.

Will I have enough time (with two kids and wife in tow) to get my luggage, get through customs, security, and recheck in in the NWA terminal #2. I have not been through LAX and hear it's a bear.

Or should I cough up the $200 total needed to change flights to a later one? Note, the later one is a 5:30 flight and is the last one out for NWA until midnight. I imagine that NWA will charge me the $200 regardles if I miss. If not other fees...

Thank you!

2 hours should be plenty of time. If you have a 1 ticket all the way thru to your final destination then Malaysia Airlines should check your bags all the way thru (if you have 2 separate tickets show them both tickets and ask them to check your bags to your final destination) If your bags are checked all the way thru NW should have a recheck station right outside of customs that you just give them the bags and then you just have to get yourself and your family to the next flight. Also if you have your whole itinerary on one ticket and you miss your flight NW will just put you on the next available flight with seats without charge.

I once made a connection flight at LAX in 10 minutes!

But my luggage didn't...

can you try to make it, then if you miss it, pay the 200????

seems a shame to rush, especially with kids in tow. flying internationally should be a little more of a calm experience for all involved.

good luck, hope you make it!

Above is proof positive that "Top Contributor" means nothing.

2 hours to transfer from TBIT to T2 is cutting it close, but doable. The big X factor is how long it takes for you to clear immigration and customs.

Once you clear, you can either walk to T2 (about a 10 min walk at medium pace), or go downstairs and take the A bus (about 15-20 minutes).

Personally, I would keep the flights, and if you're late you can standby on the later one (as a connecting international passenger, you'll have priority), at no charge.

yeah but you have to go through U.S. Customs first, bcuz the flight was international.

You might be ok, but I think I'd switch to a later time, just to be safe.

By all means pay the $200 and take the later flight. If your flight from Malaysia is delayed even by just a little bit, you could miss your connecting flight. LAX is pretty nasty, and there's a lot of construction going on there right now.--with two kids, you and your wife will have your hands full wnough already without having to worry about missing your plane.