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Flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand
I'm flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand later this year, and I'm
changing planes at Los Angeles. I've never changed planes en-route before, and I wondered if someone could explain the process to me... Will I have to collect my suitcases, check in again and go through all the security checks again? I have one hour and 15 minutes between arriving at LA and departing to Fiji. I'm worried that this isn't enough time. When visiting Boston last year, it took over an hour just to get through the securtiy checks... Any tips would be greatfully received. Cathy |
#2
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Flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand
"Cathy" wrote in message
om... I'm flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand later this year, and I'm changing planes at Los Angeles. I've never changed planes en-route before, and I wondered if someone could explain the process to me... Will I have to collect my suitcases, check in again and go through all the security checks again? Aren't you using a travel agent? Luggage can usually be sent to the first place that you will have to pass through Customs, presumably Nadi, unless you are having a stop in NZ, in which case it would be Auckland -- Tony Bailey Mercury Travel Books |
#3
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Flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand
"Cathy" wrote in message om... I'm flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand later this year, and I'm changing planes at Los Angeles. I've never changed planes en-route before, and I wondered if someone could explain the process to me... Will I have to collect my suitcases, check in again and go through all the security checks again? I have one hour and 15 minutes between arriving at LA and departing to Fiji. I'm worried that this isn't enough time. When visiting Boston last year, it took over an hour just to get through the securtiy checks... Cathy, who are you arriving into LAX with?? Some airlines may not have an interlining agreement with NZ, which means yes, you will need to collect bags at your arriving airline baggage collection, schlep them to T2 and do the NZ check-in thang. Your header line suggests you are possibly in the U.K. which raises the possibility that you are flying LHR-LAX with NZ themselves. If this is the case, then you should be fine for time as NZ in LHR will tag your bags through and give you a boarding pass for the LAX-NAN flight as well as the one from LHR. When you arrive at LAX on NZ, you would be in the sterile airside area. No need to clear customs/immigration - just a matter of getting off at one gate and staying in the "holding area" at the new gate. *Caveat - this is how it was with NZ as of earlier this year. Check with them direct to see if it's still the same procedure. *Also make sure your passport/nationality is one that allows a visa free transit of the USA. Cheers/Regards. |
#4
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Flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand
"Al Bennett" writes:
When you arrive at LAX on NZ, you would be in the sterile airside area. No need to clear customs/immigration - just a matter of getting off at one gate and staying in the "holding area" at the new gate. I thought that with the new homeland security you actually had to collect your luggage and recheck in with Customs even though you were only in transit. Cathy, ask the question in rec.travel.air and confirm there. -- Widya Santoso +61 2 6288-0405 The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep -- Stopping by woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost |
#5
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Flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand
In , Widya Santoso wrote:
"Al Bennett" writes: When you arrive at LAX on NZ, you would be in the sterile airside area. No need to clear customs/immigration - just a matter of getting off at one gate and staying in the "holding area" at the new gate. I thought that with the new homeland security you actually had to collect your luggage and recheck in with Customs even though you were only in transit. Cathy, ask the question in rec.travel.air and confirm there. Ask your travel agent, if you're using one, too, but I think Widya is correct. A week ago I went NZ - LA - Canada on an Air NZ-Air Canada codeshare. Despite arrival and departure both being from Terminal 2, the homeland security stuff did indeed entail the whole immigration - collect baggage - customs - recheck baggage thing (this was with bags that were tagged right through and being in possession of an onward boarding pass). It took about 1.25 hours before I was back inside the secure area. Depending on the time of day you arrive, it might go faster or slower (previous trips through LA, involving terminal changes, have taken me far longer). If it's a codeshare trip all the way from London, there should be someone to shepherd you through. However, I'd say anything less than 2 hours is pretty tight. You might make it, but your baggage might not until the next day. Take enough basics in your hand luggage to tide you over. Geoff -- Actually, I do have spots. |
#6
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Flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand
"Widya Santoso" wrote in message
... I thought that with the new homeland security you actually had to collect your luggage and recheck in with Customs even though you were only in transit. That's probably right for transiting International travellers - so she would have to go through US Immigration as well - remember the dreaded HNL to and from YVR! -- Tony Bailey Mercury Travel Books |
#7
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Flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand
Assumption - you are flying London to Fiji with Air NZ all the way!!
On check in at London, ask for boarding passes for both legs of your flight. You will have to collect your baggage on arrival at LAX and recheck it in, and have it security checked for LAX to Fiji. This should be able to be done at a special point before you go through Immigration. After checking your baggage in you have to go through Immigration. This entails a 'visa waiver' for UK nationals (and several others including Australians and NZ citizens). You then have to go through security again and surrender your visa waiver, before heading off to the boarding lounge. When your flight is called - you again go through the hoops - and board your aircraft. Security in LAX is often chaotic. Too many passengers being screened by unintelligent security agents, most of whom seem more concerned with completing a 'ritual', than with real security. The whole procedure takes about 2 hours usually; however I suspect Air NZ will hold your aircraft for Fiji; or have someone to 'walk you through' the procedure. Good Luck! "Cathy" wrote in message om... I'm flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand later this year, and I'm changing planes at Los Angeles. I've never changed planes en-route before, and I wondered if someone could explain the process to me... Will I have to collect my suitcases, check in again and go through all the security checks again? I have one hour and 15 minutes between arriving at LA and departing to Fiji. I'm worried that this isn't enough time. When visiting Boston last year, it took over an hour just to get through the securtiy checks... Any tips would be greatfully received. Cathy |
#8
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Flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand
"Widya Santoso" wrote in message ... "Al Bennett" writes: When you arrive at LAX on NZ, you would be in the sterile airside area. No need to clear customs/immigration - just a matter of getting off at one gate and staying in the "holding area" at the new gate. I thought that with the new homeland security you actually had to collect your luggage and recheck in with Customs even though you were only in transit. Correct - it's only NZ1 and NZ2 transit pax that no longer have to clear immigration/customs/baggage now. For some reason I thought it was all NZ connecting to NZ pax. Apologies. Regards. Al. |
#9
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Flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand
"Al Bennett" wrote in message
... Correct - it's only NZ1 and NZ2 transit pax that no longer have to clear immigration/customs/baggage now. How did NZ pull that trick? -- Tony Bailey Mercury Travel Books |
#10
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Flying to Fiji with Air New Zealand
Thank you all for your comments - I'm travelling on Air New Zealand
the whole way (from London to Los Angeles on NZ1 and then from Los Angeles to Fiji on NZ55). It sounds as though it's going to be fun, but I'm sure we won't be the only ones on the plane doing the same thing! Thanks again |
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