FishermansFriend

I'm flying on New Zealand airlines via LA shortly. I've never been this way before and am starting to hear some horror stories about treatment of passengers in transit through LA. So,

Anyone flown via LA?
Is it really bad?
Can you get a drink (either beer or tea) in the transit lounge?
If so do you need $US dollars?

Cheers in advance.

sub

Hi! I have flown via LA to Sydney, and its not called one of the worlds busiest airports for nothing!!! Like a vast cattle market with everyone in a mass rush. Generally treated ok although cant remember any staff being particularly helpful or pleasant You will need US$ to spend there.
The less time spent in that airport, the better!!!!
Susan

rickg37

We came in via LA's transit lounge with Air NZ and along with others experience we queued for about half an hour to get through the checks and into the lounge. Once in there are free hot drinks and water along with fruit and cookies just enough for the short layover.

Colin in the middle

Same as rickg37 not sure what its like post Iraq invasion but we came thru during the invasion got told loads of horror stories of tight security...yade yadey yaa. Got to LAX and no problems what so ever tighest security was Heathrow.
We did Fly NZ1 direct otherwise with a change to NZ5 you may have to go into US Customs, which we avoided chaging flights to NZ1 on the day because people cancelled for some reason (SARS and Iraq Invasion).
Got a leaflet thrust in my hand at Heathrow saying they changed the procedures at LAX, yet from the 5 trips via LA no change.

Transit Lounge is fine, you dont go into the main airport.

jackietyfry

"We did Fly NZ1 direct otherwise with a change to NZ5 you may have to go into US Customs,"
Excuse my ignorance (stupidity, blondness?) ..... but what do the flight nos refer to exactly. Do particular flights do certain routes or whatever?

lisaH

HI

We returned to the UK from NZ via LA. Yes its a nightmare but its lovely once you get to NZ. Yes take some US dollars, as we didnt find any free drinks or cookies and we were there for over 5hours!!:curse:
It took us an hour and a half to go through to the lounge i felt the staff were miserable and treat you like a criminal

teambwr47

If you are traveling with very young children then you will be moved towards the front of the queue to get into the transit lounge and if like us you were towards the back of the plane it should take you maybe 20-30 minutes of standing in the narrow hot corridor with your tired, aggitated kids before you are cleared to enter the USA, issued with your 6 month visa and allowed into the 'transit' lounge.

Its a good idea if you get a chance to get seats as near to the front of the cabin as possible as this obviously moves you to the front of the queue and hence into the lounge quicker.

Some people who were on our plane sat near us towards the back of the plane never actually made it into the lounge. They stood in the hot un-airconditioned corridor for two hours at which stage the USA immigration strangely decided not to bother with their usual checks and just ushered those peolpe still queuing through a side door and back onto the plane

So far as i know its the only country where you need to pass immigration as a transit only passenger.

TeamEmbo

If you're flying on Air NZ flight no. NZ1 it's not that bad! And like others have said if you're travelling with children you get moved up the queue. You just have to hand over your passport, fingerprint of left and right index fingers and photo and then you go to the transit lounge where there are toilets, free coffee, tea, sodas, water, apples, crisps and cookies and tv. There's plenty of space in the transit lounge and it's quite comfortable. It the queue is very long, as it was one of the times we've done the trip they bring a trolley down the queue with drinks and snacks (as listed above) to keep you going.

It's only a minor inconvenience outweighed IMO by the great baggage allowance you get and to be honest its great to be off the plane and standing and moving around!

You don't exit the building, or have a long walk, you just pile off the plane, line up in the corridor to go through US immigration and get back on the plane from that transit lounge. There are no smoking facilities there but you won't need any US$, all refreshments are free. You get back on the same plane which will have been cleaned and freshened to continue your journey to Auckland so your suitcases remain on the plane.

Hope this helps, and have a safe journey

happynz

I'm not sure if you could swing it, but Air New Zealand also fly out of San Francisco on a daily basis. SFO isn't as horrible a pit as LAX. You will still have to put up with TSA (Transport Security Agency I think) silliness, but at least the absurdity is not as craptacular as LAX. I suppose you'd have to find your way from the UK to SFO , maybe on a code share flight?
Just a thought...

Colin in the middle

NZ1 is the Air New Zealand Flight number that goes direct from London to Auckland via LAX.
NZ5 is flight Number that only flys LAX to Auckland basically gets in 2 1/2 hours later.
They are flight designator codes assigned to the Routes the Aircraft fly, affectionatly NZ1 is called the Pommie Express we originally were to fly NZ1 then change to NZ5 because the fare was cheaper. For the sake of 3 hours spent wondering around LAX.
But because of the circumstances on the day we flew we manged to bump ourselves on to NZ1 all the way which took out a lot of hassle.

Say to a frequant flyer a route and they probably could tell you the flight numbers.

LAX is a pit to be honest but unfortunately there are No other direct Air New Zealand Routes from the UK other than Hong Kong.

poppets

i agree with teamembo, i did this return flight in december & thought it was going to be a mare but i was quite surprised at how painless it was, i would even do it again

garryhg

hi jacky g here
flew this route but transferred to nz5...
it was fine once you got through customs and into departure lounge,
but you have to collect all your baggage and then put it back through,was a pain,

we actually then had to go outside airport and re check in....the crowds were a bit scary..

having said that when you have kids, and your tired,and they are fed up flying, any airport is a nightmare....

we did it to get the extra baggage allowance..
didn,t particularly enjoy it,but never having done any other way,who knows it might be just as bad going via other airports.....

good luck with flights..

jackietyfry

Colinitm
Thanks for taking the time to explain
Ta!

Bint

LAX is OK. We flew last Nov and yes you have to queue then pick up yr bags and take them to transfer area a short distance away and neither are a big hassle if you are prepared. Suggest you get plenty of rest/sleep on the plane. You do not need dollars but can use cards. Best is Nationwide as you don't pay any fees or commission and exchange rates are excellent (takes about 1 week to receive if you go into Branch with necessary details). Much agree with TeamEmbo re fantastic baggage allowance!! Would fly route again.
Relax & have fun

SarahB

I agree.... we had great luggage allowance going through LAX. Found the food prices at the airport an absolute rip off and what we thought would be a pizza big enough for the 2 of us was teeny weeny. Would fly that way again but order 2 pizzas next time!