LAX
 

Arrived.
For those coming via LAX, there is a marked difference to the last time I traveled.
Now instead of a quick and direct walk into a transit lounge there is a whole new route involved which means negotiating security, passport check, finger print scans of both hands of fingers and photo. Some of this was down last time but not the detour outside into the street and back into the building. Thankfully there were a whole team of AirNewZealand staff pointing the route out.
Ensure you get a RED/PINK card and wave it around frantically so you are easily spotted.

Re: LAX
 

Yep. Been through twice this year on way to and from UK. You have to fully clear customs in USA even if only passing through. Make sure you have an ESTA

Re: LAX
 

Oh gawd. LAX. Always been wretched and even more so these days.

Singapore or Dubai every time .

Re: LAX
 

Had this eight years ago, when we came through, but then it was right index fingerprint scanned only. A complete infringement of your civil liberties! And for what? To "catch terrorists"... and how many have they caught in total? ZERO!! Paranoid gits! :frown:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luNfghUnvFg

Re: LAX
 

I travelled to NZ in 2006 on Airnz for the first time and LAX were fingerprinting, photographing and doing full immigration then. Then you are placed in a room you cannot leave from until you get back on the plane. Waste of time! I have once been sent to another immigration area because the queue was too long ( then funnelled straight back to the room)

I will only go via Asia now if going from NZ to the UK;) it's usually cheaper as well and far better than the annoying, pointless and frustrating experience at LAX

Re: LAX
 

There are other options via the US. You can transit via San Francisco, Dallas and even Hawaii. Some of these options may involve going via Australia, still worth looking at.

BB

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Isn't the issue the fact that transiting through the US is a pain whether it's through LAX, Hawaii or San Francisco? I am assuming no stopover. Civil liberties also bother me as Downunderpom has said.

Do you go through immigration and then get stuck in an enclosed room in all those places? I don't know, it may just be the Nz1/NZ2 flights that do that:unsure:
From NZ going through Asia is generally cheaper and much more pleasant, also more interesting IMO.

Re: LAX
 

You couldn,t pay me enough to go through LAX the level of paranoia is incredible maybe if they stopped steaming into everybody's country's they would have less of a problem

Neil :frown:

Re: LAX
 

I hate going through American airports, unfortunately it's unavoidable at the moment. Had some woman decide she needed to frisk my short ponytail ffs
I'd be hard pressed to hide even a kirby grip in there never mind some dangerous weapon - idiots!!

Re: LAX
 

Seems I'm not the only one finding LAX and others an unnecessary stress. I will try to travel via Asia in future too. I was so looking forward to the break for a short time in a relaxed environment with papers, tea, coffee, biscuits, crisps, cola etc on free supply before the start of the second haul across to Auckland.

Re: LAX
 

No comments re LAX, I've transited through there on a couple of occasions, but only ever because that route was the cheapest or most convenient at the time, not out of any great fondness of the USA & their "homeland security" measures. Thanks though for the heads up about the changes, my 84 year old MIL flew that route last time she visited simply because of the benefits of being herded off the plane, through immigration to transit lounge and back again, which was very easy for such a nervous traveller. previously she'd paid an exorbitant sum to fly business class with Emirates via Dubai & Melbourne, but got completely lost & confused in Melbourne thanks to poor instructions (& a fair amount of old lady confusion I suspect…she doesn't cope well with too many instructions at once). If they've changed the system at LAX now that's going to make traveling over here a whole heap harder for her. Hmmm……mixed blessings!

Anyway, really what I intended to say was ….Welcome to Rotorua!! Hope you're settling in well & finding your feet. Good luck with it all, & nd don't hesitate to give me a shout if you need a hand with anything.

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Re . your Mum TOmsk.

I believe it is possible to organise an airport escort .

My friend had this for his parents on the couple of stops.

Re: LAX
 

Re . your Mum TOmsk.
My rellies Hubby here in Chch has just had a visit from his 92 year old mum. She flew out LHR with Singapore Airlines and was chaperoned on/off and through transit at Singapore onto the Chch flight like royalty ;)
Last time she came he couldn't get her to go back to Wales as she says she dosn't need her medication here as her aches and pains go away....she stayed until her visa ran out ;)

Re: LAX
 

I did this return trip twice in the last 6 months. The trick is to ensure you are booked onto NZ02 from Auckland all the way to London and NZ01 on the return. This is the only flight where the transit is allowed to be easier. Still a fingerprint and passport check but that's it.

If you swap to NZ05 or NZ06 in LAX then you have to do the full monty.

Re: LAX
 

Check out my signature :lol: