Transit via LA, what to expect?
Apr 24th 2007, 12:11 am
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 402
Transit via LA, what to expect?
So what the deal with transiting through the US?
I do not want to enter the US, but I was told you have to be finger printed, go through immigration, recheckin your luggage etc
Anyone done this and can give me a low down on the process.
We are flying out Air NZ to London, via LA (we are coming back!)
Cheers!
I do not want to enter the US, but I was told you have to be finger printed, go through immigration, recheckin your luggage etc
Anyone done this and can give me a low down on the process.
We are flying out Air NZ to London, via LA (we are coming back!)
Cheers!
Apr 24th 2007, 12:22 am
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Northland New Zealand
Posts: 587
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
So what the deal with transiting through the US?
I do not want to enter the US, but I was told you have to be finger printed, go through immigration, recheckin your luggage etc
Anyone done this and can give me a low down on the process.
We are flying out Air NZ to London, via LA (we are coming back!)
Cheers!
I do not want to enter the US, but I was told you have to be finger printed, go through immigration, recheckin your luggage etc
Anyone done this and can give me a low down on the process.
We are flying out Air NZ to London, via LA (we are coming back!)
Cheers!
when you get off the plane you are ushered into a queue for customs, get to the front after about an hour of queing (in our case) have fingerprints and photo taken and then you go through to the room directly behind the customs officers, just a transit room which you cannot leave, then you queue to get back on the plane. Your luggage remains on the plane.
Seems a lot of hassle when you don't actually get to go anywhere, there are toilets and a drinks machine and a few snacks crisps biscuits, but by the time you have queue to get through the customs checks it's time to queue to go back on the plane. The only people in the transit room are those from your own flight.
Debbie
Apr 24th 2007, 12:24 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: waikanae
Posts: 4,148
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
Hi,
when you get off the plane you are ushered into a queue for customs, get to the front after about an hour of queing (in our case) have fingerprints and photo taken and then you go through to the room directly behind the customs officers, just a transit room which you cannot leave, then you queue to get back on the plane. Your luggage remains on the plane.
Seems a lot of hassle when you don't actually get to go anywhere, there are toilets and a drinks machine and a few snacks crisps biscuits, but by the time you have queue to get through the customs checks it's time to queue to go back on the plane. The only people in the transit room are those from your own flight.
Debbie
when you get off the plane you are ushered into a queue for customs, get to the front after about an hour of queing (in our case) have fingerprints and photo taken and then you go through to the room directly behind the customs officers, just a transit room which you cannot leave, then you queue to get back on the plane. Your luggage remains on the plane.
Seems a lot of hassle when you don't actually get to go anywhere, there are toilets and a drinks machine and a few snacks crisps biscuits, but by the time you have queue to get through the customs checks it's time to queue to go back on the plane. The only people in the transit room are those from your own flight.
Debbie
i flew back to uk in Nov via LA (not my first choice but had to return quickly) & it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be, i would even do it again, but not with the my kids
Apr 24th 2007, 12:38 am
#4
Give us a kiss
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Peka Peka - Kapiti Coast - Nice!
Posts: 3,140
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
What to expect?
Lots of fat Americans - sorry to any fat Americans logging in.
I've heard that the whole customs thing can be a nightmare, with lots of queing, patting down, waiting, shoe removal and suspicious looks. Given the choice I'd go the other way through Hong Kong or Singapore perhaps.
We transited through Miami and changed at LA it it was a fairly stressful experience with 3 littl'ns
Lots of fat Americans - sorry to any fat Americans logging in.
I've heard that the whole customs thing can be a nightmare, with lots of queing, patting down, waiting, shoe removal and suspicious looks. Given the choice I'd go the other way through Hong Kong or Singapore perhaps.
We transited through Miami and changed at LA it it was a fairly stressful experience with 3 littl'ns
Apr 24th 2007, 12:48 am
#5
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 402
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
Thanks everyone.
Sounds like it's going to be a hassle. But forewarned is forearmed etc......
Definitely coming back via Asia, only ended up going through LA, because of Air NZ special offer (one way).
Sounds like it's going to be a hassle. But forewarned is forearmed etc......
Definitely coming back via Asia, only ended up going through LA, because of Air NZ special offer (one way).
Apr 24th 2007, 3:09 am
#6
CockneyLass
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Auckland
Posts: 204
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
Be aware also, that you might have to check your luggage through again. We flew through LA last October and thats what we had to do. Although its possible its changed by now as things change all the time, so fingers crossed you wont have to do that. Although, have to say it was fairly quick though. 
Apr 24th 2007, 4:09 am
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 143
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
Hi,
when you get off the plane you are ushered into a queue for customs, get to the front after about an hour of queing (in our case) have fingerprints and photo taken and then you go through to the room directly behind the customs officers, just a transit room which you cannot leave, then you queue to get back on the plane. Your luggage remains on the plane.
Seems a lot of hassle when you don't actually get to go anywhere, there are toilets and a drinks machine and a few snacks crisps biscuits, but by the time you have queue to get through the customs checks it's time to queue to go back on the plane. The only people in the transit room are those from your own flight.
Debbie
when you get off the plane you are ushered into a queue for customs, get to the front after about an hour of queing (in our case) have fingerprints and photo taken and then you go through to the room directly behind the customs officers, just a transit room which you cannot leave, then you queue to get back on the plane. Your luggage remains on the plane.
Seems a lot of hassle when you don't actually get to go anywhere, there are toilets and a drinks machine and a few snacks crisps biscuits, but by the time you have queue to get through the customs checks it's time to queue to go back on the plane. The only people in the transit room are those from your own flight.
Debbie
They seriously took your photo and fingerprints? I travel to the US almost once every few months. I was just there for March break. I have never had my photos or fingerprints taken. Just lost luggage, bad connections and long lines.
Nishka
Apr 24th 2007, 4:15 am
#8
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 388
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
. We did have to take our hand luggage off the plane whilst in transit, which is a huge pain. We've done this 3 times now & always the same. Most of the women take the opportunity to dash to the ladies to freshen up
Annie
Apr 24th 2007, 4:25 am
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 143
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
a) Hong Kong
b) Honolulu
c) Sydney
d) LA
I guess LA would not be anyones top choice !!
Apr 24th 2007, 8:53 am
#10
you dewty owld maan!
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: is practically perfect in every way
Posts: 5,565
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
*But* if you have little uns (toddler/baby that is) you can get to the head of the queue quickly - got to be one advantage of littlies!
Apr 24th 2007, 12:27 pm
#11
Memetchi
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 201
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
The fingerprints and photo are no biggie, it's just an electronic scan of one finger and a digital camera picture, so it's over in seconds. Only the older travellers (14+) need to do it. If you're travelling with young kids you go to the front of the immigration queue so it only took us a few minutes to get through last time.
If you're on flights NZ1/NZ2 to/from Auckland you don't have to change planes so you don't need to recheck your bags but if you're on a different flight to NZ (e.g. direct to Christchurch from LAX) you have to claim your bags, go through customs, check your bags in again and go through departures again, which is tedious.
If you're on flights NZ1/NZ2 to/from Auckland you don't have to change planes so you don't need to recheck your bags but if you're on a different flight to NZ (e.g. direct to Christchurch from LAX) you have to claim your bags, go through customs, check your bags in again and go through departures again, which is tedious.
Apr 24th 2007, 12:39 pm
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 273
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
may be a bit of a daft question to some but the last time I traveled to the US I needed a visa. If we were going or coming back from NZ, stopping at LAX airport would we need any sort of visa being from the UK?
Apr 24th 2007, 12:51 pm
#13
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,813
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
If you are from the UK you should be on the visa waiver programme meaning you'd get three months on arrival. If you wished to stay longer, say six months, you'd need to apply for a visitor visa and have at your disposal heaps of supporting documents and an appointment to have an interview with a consulate of the US.
Apr 24th 2007, 1:37 pm
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 273
Re: Transit via LA, what to expect?
If you are from the UK you should be on the visa waiver programme meaning you'd get three months on arrival. If you wished to stay longer, say six months, you'd need to apply for a visitor visa and have at your disposal heaps of supporting documents and an appointment to have an interview with a consulate of the US.