Arriving at LAX from Australia- what to expect ?
 

As I have never flown to the US before I was hoping on some advice as to what to expect when we arrive.
We are flying Qantas First Class, arriving at LAX at about 7am. The areas I need advice on are
1) What is the customs/immigration procedure?
2) Is there a seperate line for 1st Class ?
3) Is there somewhere to have a shower/freshen up at LAX T4 ?
4) What is LAX like to navigate around ? (We will need to find the shuttle to Radisson LAX)


Thanks for any help you can give me :)

1 thru 3) I am not sure since I have never arrived on QF into LAX. I assume it will be to T4, but don't be shocked if you have to use the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). If it is T4, then I suppose you might be able to use the AA Flagship lounge which I believe has showers, but you probably would have to go through security to do so.

This is perhaps best answered either on the AA or the QF boards?

4) LAX is a big rectangle with TBIT at the west end and T4 at the Southwest corner just next door. Walking to the Radisson LAX is not pleasent. (Be certain that you are at the LAX Radisson and not the Culver City Radisson on Jefferson which also is near-enough to the airport to have a shuttle.)

Basically, upon exiting the terminal (on the arrivals/lower level) walk along the sidewalk until you are near an island with a red "hotel and parking lot shuttle" sign and wait for the LAX Radisson van to come by. You could also phone over to the hotel from the special hotel phones inside the arrivals level to let them know you are coming and need the shuttle, in case it is not running at that time.

See:
http://www.lawa.org/lax/

More ideas...
 

You might want to see these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/searc...earchid=206343

also, I am posting a link to this thread on the AA board for you.

Thanks !
 

Thanks for your help - sorry if I posted in the wrong forum, am new and still working thinsg out

thanks again :)

"1) What is the customs/immigration procedure?"

Same as any US airport. 1st , go through immigration, then collect baggage, then clear customs. If you arrive on either flight QF155 or (i believe) the new non stop service (QF175) from BNE, then you will arrive and clear customs/immigration in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. All other flights clear customs/immigration in T4

"2) Is there a seperate line for 1st Class ?"

Nope. If your flight arrives at T4 then there is a separate carousel for the luggage for 1st/Business/Priority

Dave

3) QF does not have an arrivals lounge at LAX. There are showers in the F lounge but those are for departures ... you can only reach the F lounge if you are departing from LAX that day, not if you are arriving. Since you asked about the Radisson shuttle, presumably you are staying at a hotel and can shower there. Several LAX area hotels offer guaranteed early check in; for example the Four Points does, and so does the Crowne Plaza (they even painted "7 am check-in" on their shuttle bus). If the Radisson does not, you can probably negotiate to have an early check in by pointing out that their competition does offer it. There is no good reason not to be able to check in to a hotel immediately after you clear customs at LAX (except by a poor choice of hotels), so the lack of an arrivals lounge is not as significant.

Best advice is to listen to to Number 6
Here are all of the right answers. Enjoy your time in L.A

Thanks again
 

Thanks again for the advice
I didn't realise that early checkin was a possibility, we were just hoping on dropping our bags at the concierge desk until our room was ready( normal checkin of 2pm) and heading out for the day. I will contact the Radisson and see what they can do !

Any suggestions on something realatively unstressful to do in LA our first day ? As mentioned before we get in at approx 7am ( but our bodies will feel like it is midnight) after a 14 hour flight.

It appears that all QF flights collect their bags in T4, even those landing at TBIT. I flew QF BNE-LAX via AKL last week, and though we pulled up to TBIT, they had us walk to the T4 immigration & customs area. The sign in TBIT directed all QF passengers over to T4.

Fortunately you're arriving early in the morning, so I think you'll be able to get in and out quickly. I arrived at 10:30 and there were three other international flights in a VERY TINY space. It took two hours to get out. My premium tagged bags came off the carousel 75 minutes after we landed.

Immigration
 

Thanks to everyone for their advice :)
One more question ( If I should post a new thread in another forum please let me know)- we will be entering under the Visa Waiver Program and
I have heard some horror stories about the LAX Immigration officers stopping people from enerting just becasue they don't like the look of them or for soemthing trivial like an unpaid parking fine ( can they even check that sort of thing ???)
Do immigration do some sort of computer check of Australian records ( not that I have anything to hide :) ) or do they just ask you questiosn about your trip ?
Do they take you aside in a seperate booth and interview you or is just walk up to a counter, answer some questions and get your passport stamped.

Having only ever traveleld internatioanlly to Fiji and Thailand I have never had to gp through a tough immigration process before and I always get nervous when I don't know what to expect - even though I know I have nothing to be nervous about it's just the way I am.

the thought of being turned away for no reason after 12 months of planning this holiday concerns me.

Any comments are greatly appreciated

Please post this in Travelbuzz
 

I'd like you to post this question in Travelbuzz.

Here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=176

1) It will get more responses from other non-US Citizens who have recently entered the USA (on all airlines) at LAX and other Ports of Entry

2) It might show some Americans what the new Immigration attitudes are doing to the perception of America abroad (i.e. You are concerned about the arbitrary nature of it all)

Trip Postponed
 

Unforntunately, due to Rae's work we have had to put of the trip till next year :(
So now that I have top I think I will apply for a Visa to put my mind at rest.

Thanks everyone for your feedback

Ok when I booked for Canada (transit via Honolulu) I was asked at the time of booking if I had ever had any kind of record. There is a question on the Visa Waiver form about this. If there is any doubt, get a visa. I've never ever had a parking ticket so no problems there :)

You can and will be turned back to Australia if you are deemed to be planning to work in the US, or if you are not eligible for Visa Waiver. VWP is a privilege - not a right, it is very restrictive.

The set up is similar to arriving back into Australian customs. You go to the desk, and hand over your green form and passport. What's different is that they will ask you lots of questions about your purpose of travel, how long you are planning to stay, whether you have been to the US before, if you have any friends or family in the US, etc. All the immigration people that I encountered were very friendly, though the process did take a little longer than I expected (a good 5 minutes at the counter).

Arriving at LAX, what to expect?
 

If you're met by the INS or Homeland Security expect interrogation. If you're lucky expect deportation. Otherwise expect incarceration.
If you're met by the LAPD expect officer to either beat you with a nightstick, beat you with a flashlight or shoot you multiple number of times.