LAX: allowance for transit time for international flights?

Question

Trying to organise a flight from Sydney (Australia) to Cancun via LAX.

We have been told to allow 3 hours transit time for LAX (collecting bags, going through immigration & customs, & boarding bags for onward flight (whether direct international or via another US transit point). However all the top searches bring up shorter transit times (eg 1hour 30 & 2hr 40).

Based on current operations, do we need to be looking at allowing 3 hours + for connecting ongoing flights ? Thanks

Answer

When connecting through LAX on an international itinerary, it’s important to account for the unique complexities of entering the United States, even if your next flight is also international. LAX is one of the busiest airports in the world, and procedures can be time-consuming depending on the terminal, airline, and day of the week.

For international-to-international connections where you are entering the U.S. (Sydney → LAX → Cancun), you will need to:

Disembark and proceed through U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) for immigration processing.
Collect any checked baggage and clear customs.
Re-check your bags for your onward flight if the airlines do not offer through-checking for international itineraries.
Proceed through security screening for your next flight, which can be a separate checkpoint if your connecting terminal differs.

Even if many online sources suggest shorter minimum connection times (1h 30m–2h 40m), these are generally considered “absolute minimums” under optimal conditions. In reality, international arrivals at LAX can experience long immigration queues, particularly in peak travel seasons or during delays. Baggage processing and customs clearance can also add unexpected delays.

Recommendations based on current operations:

Allow at least 3 hours for international-to-international connections at LAX to comfortably clear immigration, collect and recheck baggage, and pass security.
If you are using airlines that have interline baggage agreements and can through-check your bags, you may be able to reduce connection time slightly, but immigration clearance still takes time.
Consider the terminal layout: transferring between Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) and other terminals can add walking or shuttle time, sometimes 15–30 minutes.
Check if your airline offers TSA PreCheck or expedited CBP lines (Global Entry), which can reduce wait times, but should not replace the general 3-hour buffer.

In short, while some travelers may make connections in under 2.5 hours under perfect circumstances, for planning purposes it’s safest to allow 3 hours or more at LAX when connecting from an international flight to another flight—even if it’s also international. This ensures you have enough buffer for delays, long lines, and terminal transfers.

LAX: allowance for transit time for international flights?

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