Lima to Los Angeles (LIM-SCL) Business Class on LA 767
The transit lasted about an hour. I fell asleep soon after take off, only waking up in time for breakfast about an hour and a half before landing. By this time we along the northern Mexican coast and the sun was just rising. I peeked out the window to see the southeast faces of peaks and ridges glowing in the early light, nicely highlighting all the ripples of the landscape below like rumpled bedclothes.
As we neared Los Angeles we encountered low cloud, obscuring most views until we were on final approach, apart from once that reminded me of the intro to Airplane when I saw another aircraft a few miles away pierce the cloud with its tail for several moments before the rest of the aircraft burst forth from the cloud cover. I can't recall flying over the southern stretches of greater Los Angeles before and so I was taken unawares of the extent of the sprawl.
We had a long taxi to the terminal including a 15 minute stop on the taxiway. I think immigration wasn't ready for us yet as we were the first arrival of the day at TBIT. We get a close gate and so once doors are open it only takes a few moments to reach immigration where there is no queue after than a handful of passengers who deplaned before me. The officer asks why I'm re-entering US after being away so few days, but soon becomes disinterested when I say I'm only in transit.
Since I have a longish layover, had correctly forecast I would need some sleep and freshen up as well as wanting internet access, and no/poor lounge options; I had decided to book a day room at a nearby hotel. I had considered walking to the Hampton Inn LAX, but on seeing how long it took our landing aircraft to travel past the hotel to the terminal I flagged it away and rang the shuttle. It took about 20 minutes for the shuttle to get me, and 10 minutes after that I was checked in, albeit to a rubbish room at that time of day. I think this was a good option this time. I had privacy. Could freshen up, repack my bags etc. Had free internet access on the computer (shared with other guests but not much in use), and free coffee. Plus leave my bags while I go out to do some stuff.