LAX Terminal 6 Arrivals to Departures

Question

My teenage daughter will arrive at LAX Terminal 6 (Air Canada) and depart from the same terminal (Alaska) an hour later. She only has a carry-on, no checked luggage.

Given the short time between flights, I'm concerned if she’ll make it to her next flight on time. Can anyone familiar with Terminal 6 confirm if it’s possible to move from Arrivals to Departures without leaving the secure area or going through security again? Is one hour enough for this connection? Thanks in advance!

Answer

It’s understandable to be concerned about such a tight connection time, especially for a teenager traveling alone. Here’s what you should know about connecting flights at LAX, specifically in Terminal 6:

### 1. Terminal 6 Layout and Moving Between Arrivals and Departures

At LAX, Terminal 6 is used by both Air Canada (arrivals) and Alaska Airlines (departures). The good news is that you do not need to leave the secure area, as both the arrival gate and the departure gate for Alaska Airlines are located within the same terminal. This means your daughter won't have to go through security again, which is a big plus for tight connections.

However, there are a few steps to consider:

Arrival Gate to Departure Gate: After arriving at Terminal 6, your daughter will likely deplane at one of the arrival gates. She will need to follow the signs to the main concourse to find the Alaska Airlines gate for her departure. The walk between gates in Terminal 6 is relatively short, but it will still take a few minutes.
Arrival and Boarding Times: Even though she only has a carry-on, she will need to deplane and potentially walk through the terminal to find her next gate. It's important that she is ready to head straight to the departure gate as soon as she gets off the plane.
Gate Proximity: Alaska Airlines’ departure gates are located towards the middle of the terminal, which are reasonably close to where Air Canada arrives. This minimizes the walking distance, but it's still important to be quick and efficient.

### 2. Is One Hour Enough?

One hour for a connection at LAX can be tight, but it’s certainly doable under normal circumstances. Given that your daughter has no checked luggage, this makes things easier because she won’t have to spend extra time at baggage claim. However, a few things to keep in mind:

Airlines are usually good about tracking tight connections: Since both her arriving and departing flights are within the same terminal, the airlines may make accommodations if there are any delays, so be sure to check if her flights are on time.
Potential Delays: If her incoming flight is delayed, it may be more stressful, but in general, airlines aim to minimize connection times. She’ll likely have to hurry to her departure gate once she arrives.

### 3. Additional Tips

Plan Ahead: Make sure your daughter knows her gate number ahead of time. She can check the flight info boards once she exits the plane to confirm her departure gate and make sure she’s headed in the right direction.
Stay Close to the Gate: Encourage her to stay near her gate once she arrives at her departure gate to ensure she doesn’t miss any updates or announcements.
Contact Airline if Needed: If you’re really concerned, you can always contact Alaska Airlines or Air Canada in advance to confirm that the short connection time is feasible and ask if they have a policy for passengers with tight connections.

### Conclusion:

In short, while one hour is tight, it’s generally possible to make a connection at LAX between Air Canada and Alaska Airlines in Terminal 6, especially without checked luggage. As long as her flight arrives on time and she heads straight to the departure gate, she should have enough time to catch her next flight.

LAX Terminal 6 Arrivals to Departures

More Los Angeles Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions