With the loss of the LHR-LAX route on AirNZ we are now in the position of "hoping" to book for July to NZ, well aware how fluid travel is, and the necessity to quarantine at both ends. We were meant to be in NZ in April but the trip was cancelled due to coronavirus. We will hold out as long as we can before booking but various family issues mean we "must" now travel in July, unless the world situation worsens or the USA does not allow transiting passengers.
I see from the AirNZ website there are flights showing via Houston and Chicago in July. After 20+ years of transiting LAX to NZ and knowing LAX almost inside out, we need to consider other options.
Can anyone give me an idea which is the easier airport to transit - from the point of view of clearing immigration and customs and the need to go landside to re-check bags etc - the routing on the AIrNZ website shows the first leg on United to both Chicago and Houston.
Also do the lounges in either Chicago or Houston have showers?
Interestingly booking PE shows the first leg in biz class on United - that sector books into P class for a measly 50 status points. If flying via Chicago that would mean we would get Polaris as it's a 767 - not sure if those seats are on the United 777 if we go via Houston. There is 3 hours to transfer from United to AirNZ in both airports which is better than what LAX used to be.
There is no sign from the AIrNZ website what the alternatives to Air NZ will be on the LHR-LAX leg before transferring onto AirNZ, with LHR-LAX still showing as AirNZ.. The less time on United from what everyone says the better but have not tried Polaris to date.
The plane from Chicago to NZ is a 787-9 on the website but from Houston the NZ plane is still showing as a 777 which they have said will be grounded for a long time to come. Presumably with all the ongoing issues this will be updated at some point as I am sure they have other more pressing priorities.
What I would really like to know is if there any feasibility of either of these 2 routes operating (despite them showing on the website as booking options) and at what frequency but no one has the answer to that so will just have to wait and see.
In the mean time views on transiting either Chicago or Houston having arrived on United internationally would be great.