If you are traveling to either AKL or LHR on NZ1 or NZ2 & have to transit @ LAX do you still have to provide the API?
As it's been 7 years since we last tansited in LAX i was unsure if the rules have changed.
Yes. From 12 January if you travel on visa waiver for USA you will need to have pre-cleared ESTA before check in for your flight (it can take up to 3 days to clear so do not leave it to the last minute).
Up to an hour queueing to be photograghed, and fingerprinted, so you can wait for another hour in a large room, with all the other passengers who have also been on a plane for twelve hours.
No shower, no lounge access.
The additional luggage allowance has to be really important to you to transit LAX.
Business class passengers can spend the transit queueing at regular immigration, queueing at customs, queueing at security and if there is time visit the lounge.
The NZ 1/2 LAX transit is best done with a 24 hour break in Santa Monica, about a 10-15 minute cab ride.
there is no doubt if time is avail a one nighter in santa monica will refresh yr beleif in flying L haul. there are neat bars and resturants anda bit of shopping and lots to see if the weather is nice . it just takles the edge of that AWFUL lax experience.
can someone please explain whats being talked about here? im flying to auckland for the first time in a few weeks from atl to lax . thanks
Air NZ runs a service NZ1 from NZ to the UK, the plane stops in LAX for refuelling/crew change etc,
The current US customs/homeland security rules mean that all passengers have to disembark, be herded into immigration, granted a visa waiver, and then herded back into a room before being allowed back on the plane.
Most other places have a thing called Transit,
Travelling from a US domestic flight through LAX then onto NZ (and return) is pleasant in comparison
can someone please explain whats being talked about here? im flying to auckland for the first time in a few weeks from atl to lax . thanks
Welcome to FT chris535is.
This thread is about London - Auckland flights on NZ via Los Angeles, where there is a two hour or so refuelling stop, but where you have to get off the plane and go through immigration for the privilege of being sent to a transit lounge before you get back on the plane. And in those circumstances, where you used to require a Visa waiver to clear US Immigration, you now need Visa pre-clearance in advance via the ESTA programme.
can someone please explain whats being talked about here? im flying to auckland for the first time in a few weeks from atl to lax . thanks
Welcome to Flyer Talk chris535is
As welly points out, most of this is about through passengers flying between London and Auckland.
For you, and assuming you are an American, things are a bit different.
Going to AKL you will have a change of terminals at LAX (NZ flies out of T2, DL uses a different terminal) and need to reclear security (as there is no airside transfer). If you have *G status or are in business class or have paid UA Red Carpet Club membership, then you can use the very nice NZ lounge while you wait.
Coming back from AKL you first clear immigration. As American this is much quicker and easier than for non-Americans. Then pick up any checked baggage and take them through customs. If tagged through to ATL you can use the bag drop just after customs on the right hand side (or carry them over to DL's terminal if you prefer - such as tight connection or wanting to standby for another flight). If not tagged through to ATL then you have no choice but to carry them over to DL's check in. Change terminals, clear security and wait your onward flight.
What the previous posters are talking about is transit process at LAX for the passgengers who are flying on NZ 1 and 2 between Auckland and London. It doesnt apply to passengers who are only flying one of the flight segments.
Basically the passengers get sent to a holding pen during the stopover and can't wander around the terminal. The up side of flying from Auckland to London via LA is you get more baggage than if you flew via Hong Kong.
. it just takles the edge of that AWFUL lax experience.
can someone please explain whats being talked about here? im flying to auckland for the first time in a few weeks from atl to lax . thanks
