US Visa rules
 

Going to Mexico over Christmas/New Years and for various complicated reasons relating to trying to use upgrades etc, the best thing to do is to book Auckland - LAX (or SFO) on Air NZ, enter the US and then fly on a separate ticket to Mexico, returning by entering the US and flying out on the return part of the Air NZ ticket.

All seems kosher, although I note this on the Air NZ website re the Visa Waiver programme:
"You cannot study or work on the Visa Waiver Program, nor extend your stay beyond 90 days. A return or onward ticket must be held, although the final destination may not be Canada, Mexico or in the Caribbean (unless you are a resident of that country or island)."

Anyone done like what we're thinking about doing? Possible?

I have this year flown in to Houston, out of LAX on Air NZ and tripped extensively between the arrival and departure dates on other tickets. Just need an arrival and departure from the USA in 90 days . . .

You have a return ticket to New Zealand on NZ, this is a non issue.

Travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean doesn't reset the VWP 90 day clock, hence that wording.

As above...you can fly wherever you like to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean (well..,maybe not Cuba?!!!), but it does NOT reset the 90 day clock.

The wording is confusing, but the point of it is the (foolish) US rule that remaining within the WHTI zone (US, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean) counts against your 90 day US time and doesn't count for your having a ticket to leave the US within the limited period.