Air New Zealand Air Points - A dilemna: PE comfort level vs LAX connections

I'd be really curious to hear what you guys, especially those of you with experience of transferring NZ>UA at LAX, would suggest as the best option in the following situation.

I've booked my parents on a RTW, starting on July 7, of which the first leg sees them flying BHE-AKL-LAX-DEN-DRO. It's a lengthy sequence of flights, but one which they are adamant that they want to do without breaking the journey with an overnight stay en route. I paid to put them in PE for the AKL-LAX section, so took care to ensure they were on a 744 rather than a 777 for that leg.

I've just been notified of some schedule changes to their UA flights which make things a bit tricky. They arrive into LAX at 14.30 on NZ2 (which is currently the only AKL-LAX flight to feature the 744 rather than 777, so I really don't want to switch them off that). Their original itinerary had them connecting on a 17.05 departure to DEN, and then on to DRO - which was tight, but do-able, for the NZ>UA transfer. UA's schedule changes mean that they are now booked onto the 16.00 LAX-DEN flight, which is the last flight with a same day connection to DRO.

My parents are both in their early 70s, and while they are relatively fit and mobile (and have the benefit of *G status) they are not very frequent flyers, not the fastest movers in the world, and not particularly familiar with the intricacies of LAX. They will also be travelling with some checked baggage, as this is part of a fairly extensive trip. It seems to me that even if everything ran smoothly, their flight was on time, and US immigration was uncharacteristically speedy, that they would still have pretty much zero chance of making that connection.

Looking at the alternatives:
- The earlier AKL-LAX flight, NZ6, has feasible connections to DRO and does operate on that day but as a 772, so that's out
- The other days of the week that NZ6 operates (Th/Fr/Sa/Su) it currently shows as a 744. My parents have some flexibility to change their dates, provided the airline will allow them to make it as an invol change.
- AKL-SFO also provides workable sameday connections to DRO, but it too is currently a 772.

I think my parents would happily change dates in order to guarantee onboard comfort and manageable connections, provided the airline doesn't force a ticket reissue to do this, but I have no confidence that NZ won't change its allocations of 772s and 744s in the meantime.

What would you do in this situation?

I agree 1:30 int->dom connection at LAX is asking for trouble. Very low chance they'd make the onward flight as non Americans (I assume).

I doubt a date change will be treated as invol - there is an earlier flight they can take. That said on *A RTW a date change doesn't incur reissue fee as long as routing remains the same. For me, I'd be inclined to wait a bit longer and see if there are other changes in equipment and schedules.

Note I haven't checked how loads look (assume low for mid-week). That may make a difference.

What would you do in this situation?Forsake the same day connection to DRO.

If your folks can get to DEN the same day they leave BHE, even if it's a 10pm arrival, there are a whole load of airport hotels you can priceline and get a free shuttle to. They could make a much more leisurely connection to DRO the following day.

Does the fact that the 777 will have the increased seat pitch by then tempt you to consider switching.

I doubt a date change will be treated as invol - there is an earlier flight they can take. That said on *A RTW a date change doesn't incur reissue fee as long as routing remains the same.

Are you still allowed to change the date for no fee if it's the first international sector of the ticket? I had an idea in my head that the first international sector had to remain the same - or did I make that up?

For me, I'd be inclined to wait a bit longer and see if there are other changes in equipment and schedules.

That's kind of what I was thinking too. So far, the only change has been to UA's schedules, and I'm not sure how frequently they change those. NZ seems to chop and change their schedules/aircraft allocations a lot these days as well.

Forsake the same day connection to DRO.

If your folks can get to DEN the same day they leave BHE, even if it's a 10pm arrival, there are a whole load of airport hotels you can priceline and get a free shuttle to. They could make a much more leisurely connection to DRO the following day.

True. Though in that case it might make more sense to break the trip in LA, which would at least mean that they got to relax after the longest and most gruelling part of the trip.

Does the fact that the 777 will have the increased seat pitch by then tempt you to consider switching.

Not really - on the 744 I have them in one of the pairs of seats, and knowing my parents that extra level of privacy / separation from everyone else would be worth a lot to them. Plus of course the extra width is a bonus. Given that the recline will still be the same, I don't think the extra pitch is a big drawcard.

True. Though in that case it might make more sense to break the trip in LA, which would at least mean that they got to relax after the longest and most gruelling part of the trip.It might, but then they'd have to face LAX twice - with the return visit being for an exceptionally busy domestic US sector, versus DEN twice - with the return visit being for a somewhat less busy regional connection. Stopping at LAX would also see them starting their relaxtion mode in the very early afternoon, which isn't the best way for any traveller from NZ to begin overcoming jetlag.

FWIW, I've done an annual trip this last few years that requires this very same decision point. I've booked on NZ paper, in PE, a few months in advance, with a 2 hours + connection window. I think 4 of the last 5 years a UA schedule change has brought me under the MCT, and between NZ and UA they've done me few favours with waiving fees for the re-schedule. I have yet to experience a re-schedule that saw a later depature time.

One other consideration for you, and forgive me for maybe teaching you to suck eggs, but if they're arriving in the US on July 7th it's likely all major US airports will still be recovering from the overbookings and denied boardings that arise from the 4th of July weekend. In that case I have to agree with KiwiFlyer in the strongest possible terms; 1.30 at LAX is asking for trouble :)

Plus, NZ2 is problematic in that it arrives at LAX when you all the European carriers arrive ie:KL, AF, VA which is why I always opt for NZ6. See if you can get the dates changed.

Good Luck

I would never intentionally inflict a short LAX NZ->UA connection on anyone, let alone inflict it on the slow moving and elderly. (At least not if I liked them at all.)

If making an overnight stopover I'd do it in LAX for several reasons.

1) No worries if flight from AKL is late because all they have to do is leave airport for hotel.

2) Overnighting at LAX means just 1 lot of TSA security (at LAX, stay airside at DEN). Overnighting at DEN means 2 lots of TSA security (at LAX and again at DEN).

3) LAX-DEN-xxx is fairly low risk connection. Lots of LAX-DEN flights to choose from.

4) More things to see/do in LA then in Denver.

We all know the 747 is preferable in PE, but seriously, the 777 isn't that bad. Put yourself in your parents shoes: do they really want all the inconvenience and stress of an overnight stop in a strange city just to have a slightly more private cabin environment?

Hmmmm - still debating the options. I think I'll sit tight for a few more weeks and see if there are any more timetable or aircraft changes.

reason077, believe me I am trying to put myself in my parents shoes and I think they probably would prefer the 744 enough to justify breaking the journey. My father absolutely, completely and utterly detests flying, and a big part of that is the cattle car feeling of very little personal space or privacy. The extra width and mini cabin upstairs on the 744 would really help. I also think that for them it is starting to get a bit ambitious to fly BHE-AKL-LAX-DEN-DRO in one continuous run.

Anyway, thank you all for the advice. I'll let you know what we decide to do :)