LAX AIRPORT CONNECTIONS CONFUSION / TIPS FOR FIRST TIME FLYING ALONE Please?

I will be flying by myself for the first time to San Diego at the end of May. However, my flight has a stop at Los Angeles before I reach San Diego.

My flight from LDN to LAX is with Virgin, and my flight from LAX to SAN is Delta.

I have been told by one of the workers at Virgin that when I reach LAX, I will have to claim my checked luggage, then re-check it in again with Delta airlines as the airport will not transfer my luggage over for me. (Something to do with American security I suppose? That's what the lady said)

I'm VERY nervous for this as this is my first flight alone and I was not aware that I would have to claim my luggage at LAX and re-check it in even though LAX is not my final destination.

Has anyone else had to do this before? Is it a straight forward process? Is it easy? Are there plenty of signs/staff around to help out? How did you calm yourself for your first flight alone?

Any tips concerning my issue at LAX or just tips for flying alone for the first time in general would be great, thank you!

I had to do that once in Singapore because the two airlines I was on did not have a reciprocal agreement. That might be the issue here. It has nothing to do with security. How long a layover do you have? Lax has an international terminal, so you may be landing there. There will be signs overhead directing you to baggage claim. Then if you have to go to another terminal, there's a shuttle bus. Then you'll check your bag at the Delta check in area, and proceed through security to your flight. It will take a while.

There are plenty of signs, plus there are airport volunteers who walk around in identifying blazers offering to answer any questions and give guidance. If there's no rush to make your next connection, you'll be fine.

ALL Passengers need to clear Passport/Immigration and US Customs
You claim your luggage after Passport control/Immigration and take it past a Customs Officer that might want to look inside.

Your flight arrives you WILL NOT be getting off the minute it arrives. Allow 30 minutes to get to Passport Control line.
The wait can be a few minutes or very long depends what other flights arrive a few minutes before yours. Budget a 30 minute wait. It can be much longer an hour or two.
Your luggage should be in the luggage claim area by then.

Off to Customs can be fast or slow. Allow at least another 30 minutes.

EXIT Customs area and make your way to either Terminal 2 or 3 they are a short walk and are next to the International Arrivals Terminal. On the map below you arrive at Terminal B on the left.

Many many signs and uniformed staff to assist you. Many information screens to find your next flight and gate.

Recheck your bags and go to security check area. This wait can be fast or very slow allow 2 hours for this step.

After security find your gate rest a bit maybe get something to eat and Use the Lavatory. Much more comfortable than the ones on the plane. Watch your time there are many shops you can explore while you wait.

Not a complicated process. It does take time. Sometimes it can be a fast process and sometimes like just for your flight things just take much longer. Plan at least 3-4 hours between flights. NO ONE can guarantee your Arrival over the Ocean. Flights can easily be an hour early or late for weather along the way. You might depart late from London for many reasons.

No need to plan to race and run from one to the next.Allow time for the stuff that can happen to delay things.

End of May is the start of the busy travel time expect the Airport to be busy with longer lines.

Enjoy your visit.

There are FIRST TIME flyers everyday at Airports. They are ready for you with help.

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS are not at the same place as DEPARTURES

Virgin Atlantic flies in and out of Terminal 2, just like Delta. Delta is also in the adjoining Terminal 3.
When you land, you go straight to immigrations. Then you get your bag and go through customs. You should be able to drop your bag right after you leave customs. You should be able to get your Delta boarding pass when you check in in London, so you should just have to head to security.

When I flew to China through LAX, the cheap ticket did not have service from Denver (where I started). So I had to take a domestic flight, grab my bags… And then check in again for my International flight. What you need to be aware of is that LAX is not one airport. There are at least two… A International terminal (where you land) and a domestic terminal (where you will take off). Your biggest challenge will be… TIME. If you don't have a minimum 5 hour layover from (expected landing time) to (expected takeoff time), you might want to re-book your flights. Coming into the US with a foreign passport, you will face long delays at immigrations and customs… Especially at a large airport like LAX. If you have your (checked) luggage cleared past customs less than 2 hours after walking off the plane, then you are making pretty good time… (your biggest delay will be immigration). Also, you are SUPPOSED to check in for your domestic flight 2 hours early. So to be safe, you should leave 2-3 hours to clear the international terminal, but you need to be in the DOMESTIC terminal 2 hours before your flight takes off. This is because it can take an hour or more to stand in line at security AFTER you have your boarding pass…

Oh, and since you asked this question in perfect English… You will have no problem navigating LAX. The place is huge, like a small city. But there are clear signs in English everywhere. Getting lost won't be a problem. Having the stamina to walk for miles dragging luggage might be a problem…

I figure you are trying to say you are flying out of London as LDN is actually the airport code for Lamidanda Airport in Nepal.

But this is really simple…

When you arrive Internationally into the US you must go through US Customs/Immigration at your first Entry Point. In this case LAX.

When you get off of the plane you will be directed to Immigration & Customs, you can't get lost because there's only 1 path. There will be different lines based on your Citizenship, one line will be for US Citizens and there will be one or more lines for Citizens of different countries.

Once you go through Immigration you will pick up your luggage and proceed to Customs. It's all in the same area so don't worry about trying to find it. There again will be two lines, one for people who have something to declare, and one for those who don't. Unless you are bringing in a significant amount of cash(over $10,000) or items that are more than just for personal use, you most likely will go to the Nothing to Declare line.

Once past Customs there will be various baggage counters for people connecting to other fights. Look for the counter for Delta and drop off your checked bags. The one thing that may be different is that LAX to SAN is probably on Delta Connection they may not have a counter to drop your bags off. In that case you will just carry your bags with you until you get to the Delta Terminal.

Virgin Atlantic operates out of Terminal 2 just like Delta, so all you need to do is once you are outside of the Terminal, is to go right back in and upstairs to the Departure Level. If you didn't drop your bags off after Customs you will do it here before you go through security. The only curve ball here may be that your flight could be out of Terminal 3, but that is an easy walk with plenty of signs.

Easy, get staff employees for help.

As it's your first arrival point in the USA, you have no choice but to go through customs and immigration, after you collect your baggage, there will be signs to drop your baggage through flight connections. Ensure you have checked in online for your Delta flight so you have a boarding pass etc. There's a good chance you'll need to change terminals as your flight to SAN is a short domestic flight.

Don't forget to apply for an esta

Because your point of entry into the US is at LAX, you will have to get your bags (at the Immigration/Customs area, not at Baggage Claim) in order to walk them through Customs. You will then be able to drop them off there in the Customs area to be rechecked on to your final destination at San Diego. Delta and Virgin are partner airlines, so they WILL take care of transferring your bag, but only after it has cleared Customs. You will not have to go to the check-in counters to recheck your bag. And with nearly 4 hours at LAX, you shouldn't have any trouble getting through this Immigration and Customs process before your next flight.

The best tip anyone can give you is to allow yourself plenty of time, and to ASK if you're not sure what to do next. Every airport in the world deals daily with hundreds of people flying for the first time; they are used to it, they expect to be asked, and they will know the answer.