Flying via the US
 

Hi,

Anyone got any experience (good or bad) or suggestions on a route to Adelaide from the UK via the US?

I'm thinking of going that way in September and taking my mum for the ride. As neither of us have been to the US so it would be nice to do a stop over or two on the way.

Elaine M

Didnt stop over but we got double the luggage allowance for flying via L.A. but the airport was an absolute nightmare with all the security. We had to check all our stuff out and then in again and then whilst we were queing for our passports checking in this huge queue our luggage was left on its own out of our sight for at least half an hour going round and round on the turnstyles. Any terrorist could have easy opened our case and slipped a bomb in if theyd really wanted to.
Probably would be a nicer experience if you stopped for a few days though but we just wanted to get to NZ quick as poss.

Re: Flying via the US
 

If you want to see Chicago for free, fly United, and hopefully they will route you through O'Hare. Most likely your flight will be delayed until the next day, and they'll put you up in a hotel downtown. :)

Actually, if you can arrange a stop in San Francisco, a drive along the pacific coast highway is nice. Miami is a fun town, but that would probably take you well out of your way.

Re: Flying via the US
 

We haven't done it yet but we plan to go to Brisbane via San Francisco and Las Vegas.

It helps getting the 64kg baggage allowance but I've always fancied seeing those places .

TT

Re: Flying via the US
 

Elaine

We flew from the UK to Melbourne (yes, we know it's not Adelaide but the first part is applicable!) via LA and Auckland on Air New Zealand. The flight was really good and we had double baggage allowance (2 pieces of up to 32kg each). The only misery was in LA where we were confined to a goldfish bowl during transit, though our baggage did remain on the aircraft which was good. If we were flying directly between OZ and the UK we would not choose this route again, however if you are planning to have a stopover it is worthwhile, if anything for the baggage allowance (our parents recently flew home on BA and had to pay for 7kg excess at $60 per kilo!) and the fact that the fares can be slightly cheaper.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I must admit the only thing that's making me hesitate about going via the US is the additional security/risk due to terrorism.

I've not really done a stopover before; is it easy to get around on your own or is it best to book some kind of package for sightseeing while on the stopover? (Bearing in mind my mum is planning to come along for the trip, I want to make the most of each stop).

Thanks,

Elaine M :)

Hi Elaine

We've just booked our May flights via the US. We are flying into San Francisco with BA, picking up a car and spending 16 days driving around (Sequoia, Vegas, Canyon), ending up in LA, then flying LA to Brisbane with Quantas. Our flights were 1550 quid in total for 3 adults and 1 child. Booked all the hotels via the web in about half a day.

Hope that helps

Martin

Hi.

We fly on the 4th May and had originaly booked the route you are considering. We got double baggage allowance at 50kg each.

Then we read some reviews of LA airport that said it had the worst international airport in the world. Rude staff, dirty toilets, massive queues. Some people were saying that even though they had hours between connections they missed their flights because the queues were so long.

We decided that those few days travelling would be traumatic enough after saying goodbye to all our friends and family, and so switched to go via Singapore on Singapore airlines. We got double baggage allowance (at 40kg each) and a stop over for about £40 in a luxury hotel.

It seemed easily as good a deal and we're lots less worried about the journey now.

This is of course just our perception. I'm sure many people had the same journey without any problems at all. We just didn't want to risk it.

Smart move! The problem with a stop in LAX is that in certain cases, you will arrive at a different terminal than you depart from. In those cases, you have to go through security again. It's a very strange system there.

We have been via LA many times but last Oct we were through passport control in 10min. I think that could be a world record! It could have been quicker except for the Officer's question to me "have you ever been involved in Islamic websites?" Yeah, right - as if I would declare it if I had!

Cutgrass - how do you arrange double baggage allowance with an airline???

Admittedly I have not seen the form myself so I can't attest to the accuracy of my friend's story of their 4 hr refuelling stopover in LA en-route from OZ to London late last year.

Prior to arrival they had to complete an 'entry form' which started off with questions like :-
Are you an addict?
Are you a member of a terrorist organisation?
:rolleyes:

They estimated 3 hrs of the 4 were taken up by the processing of these forms. Would love to hear from anyone going through LA recently if they had the same experience. Do you have to get a visa now for just the refuelling stop?

I was planning to go via LA on next visit to NZ but now I am totally put off :(

Visa Waiver Programme


The US operates a Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), available to most British Citizen passport holders travelling on business, pleasure or transit from where they normally reside and who intend to stay in the US for less than 90 days. The VWP is not available to other categories of British nationals and you should check the data/photograph page of your passport to see whether you are described as a British citizen. If you are not, you should consult the information on the Visa Waiver Programme on the US Embassy website (details below) for further information. From 26 October 2004, all British passport holders, including children, travelling to the USA under the VWP will need their own machine-readable passports (MRP). From 26 October 2004, anyone without a MRP, including children who are currently on a parent's passport, will need a visa to travel to the USA.

Travellers to the United States who are HIV positive are not eligible, under current US law, to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Programme. They are required to apply for a visa and a waiver of the ineligibility before travelling. Applicants’ details will remain confidential and an applicant’s HIV status will not be declared on their passport.

Say, for argument's sake, I do not have an MRP, this still doesn't answer my question. If I am only on transit and travelling via LA to NZ or OZ do I (from Oct '04) need a visa to sit 4 hrs in LAX lounge? If so, US is going to lose a lot of transit passengers ( and US airlines lose a lot of revenue) because I understand the visa costs £75 and has to be applied for in person. Might have got facts wrong here but bet a few forum members know already.

So if you have never been tested for HIV +ve ???????

I believe you need the machine readable passport to use the visa waiver program. You will need to fill in the little green I-94W card, which has the following questions on it...

http://www.airfares.co.uk/VisaHealth...ver_Scheme.asp (scroll down to see them)

There used to be a provision that people transiting through the US en route to another country didn't need a visa. This is no longer the case. To fly from Vancouver to Sydney through Honolulu, you have to get off the plane, go through US customs, then get back on the same plane. After waiting in line for about an hour, the only question I was asked was "where are you going?", and the customs official stared at his computer for about 5 minutes, and then just handed back my passport and boarding pass and said "next".

If you are going straight through, I don't think you will have any problems, but you will most likely have a long wait in line. Having to choose, I would personally avoid LA, as I've never had an on-time flight from there.

You're right, LAX is a hole. Avoid at all costs if you are only transitting. San Fransisco is a better bet, Air NZ are starting flying there from June.