Moving to LA
Apr 7, 2013 | 5:25 pm
#106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
Designated driver or taxi. Taxis aren't easy to find on the street, but you can call for them and they come quickly.
Apr 8, 2013 | 2:19 am
#111
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,887
To be honest, most people drink and drive. Most LA residents regard themselves as the best buzzed drivers in the world. Regrettable, but true.
Apr 8, 2013 | 3:18 am
#112
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 178
Apr 8, 2013 | 8:20 am
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
You are a responsible person and to be commended. Here's a list of LA taxi companies you can call. LA taxis are reasonably priced, though the vehicles themselves (and, frequently, the drivers) approximate what you'd find in Beijing:
https://www.google.com/search?q=los+...hrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.google.com/search?q=los+...hrome&ie=UTF-8
Apr 8, 2013 | 11:38 am
#114
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SNA, LAX, PHL, NYC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 663
You are a responsible person and to be commended. Here's a list of LA taxi companies you can call. LA taxis are reasonably priced, though the vehicles themselves (and, frequently, the drivers) approximate what you'd find in Beijing:
https://www.google.com/search?q=los+...hrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.google.com/search?q=los+...hrome&ie=UTF-8
Apr 8, 2013 | 11:42 am
#115
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
Other great resources are Taxi Magic and Uber - they have cell phone apps which can also locate you via your cell phone's location services. My odds of the cab showing up are pretty hit or miss if I call them (granted, I do live in the 'burbs and it's probably a pain to go there) but I have never had a problem with a ride ordered via those apps. They even have a mechanism where you can track your ride and which alerts you when it is there.
Apr 11, 2013 | 6:23 pm
#116
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 178
Spoke to Citibank today and they were completely useless even though i hold accounts with them. Said there is nothing they can offer that will help me open an account/debit/credit card over in the US.
Rang HSBC out of interest and they were very helpful. Suggested i open an account here in Aus asap with a CC and then a month before i go contact them again and they will get the paperwork underway so i can at least have a US account ready for when i get there and then maybe also be able to get a debit or credit card straight away
Rang HSBC out of interest and they were very helpful. Suggested i open an account here in Aus asap with a CC and then a month before i go contact them again and they will get the paperwork underway so i can at least have a US account ready for when i get there and then maybe also be able to get a debit or credit card straight away
Apr 11, 2013 | 6:38 pm
#117
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL Gold, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,602
HSBC has a very small retail footprint in the US so you should still consider opening an account with one of the major banks (e.g. Citi, Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America) for easy access to your money once you get your driver license.
Apr 11, 2013 | 8:58 pm
#118
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 178
Yeh i will, but it I am assuming it will be easier/better for my credit if i already have a US HSBC account and credit card.
Apr 12, 2013 | 6:32 am
#119
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: The shape-shifting urban sprawl that is El Lay. FT member #71.
Programs: UA Gold & MM; DL & AA credit card dirt status; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Fool's Gold
Posts: 4,839
HSBC does have a branch in Encino. So this might be a good interim solution. But as bzcat points out, it probably won't be convenient for regular day-to-day banking.
Apr 12, 2013 | 1:23 pm
#120
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL Gold, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,602
I have a HSBC account in the US but I mainly use it when I travel overseas in countries where their ATM is more plentiful. I also like being able to drop in a branch if I need to. It came in handy when I was in Tokyo... after visiting the royal palace, I really needed to use the toilet so I walked in the HSBC branch across the street and made a deposit 
If HSBC says they can set up you in Australia and give you US accounts when you get here, I would definitely do that.
If HSBC says they can set up you in Australia and give you US accounts when you get here, I would definitely do that.