Transitting in LA

tishy wrote: We're flying from London - Auckland on Monday with a 2 hour stopover in LA. AFAIK, we get put in a room and then back on the plane again when it's refueled. Anyone done it? I'm just wondering what facilities are there. Cafe... Vending machines.... kids play area?

When we did it ... it was just a room ... there was a table with food (free) .. mostly snack food and there was tea/coffee/juice (there were bathroom facilities too, but no showers, just toilets) .. but other than that it was just a room like they put you in before you board the plane. (And it took forever to get from the plane to the room with the security screening!)

2 hours isnt very long, it took us nearly that long to get through all the security at LAX so there probably wont be alot of time.

Transit Lounges never have much.

And I agree a lot of the 2 hours will be security checks, immigration etc.

Definitely ask to be fast tracked. I flew via HK last month with Air NZ (against my better judgement, absolutely the last time I do long haul with them) flying alone with an 8 month old. I found if I asked for help and for fast tracking I got it, but on the flight over I kind of assumed they would do that and I was left to fend for myself. Once I asked though the help was great.

You'll get fast tracked, I've flown that route numerous times and families with small children always get moved to the front of the queue. It is just a big room with seats, a couple of tvs and then snacks like chippies and fruit, tea coffee etc.

It will probably be good for E & A to be able to get to run around a little.

It is a miserable depressing room they put you in. Normally there are free packets of crisps and mini biscuits. But the fingerprinting and photos of your eyes takes up plenty of your waiting time anyway.

Slightly off-topic ... I think everyone should fly SIA and stop here for a playdate instead of hanging out in the airport

Good luck for your flight home tishy!

Why'd you have to go and mention chilli crab??? Now I want it for breakfast!!

We went to the US last year with Air NZ and they were brilliant.

Two hours in LA isn't long as you have to go through the security checks again but will give your little ones a chance to run around. Make them jump, run, do star jumps or whater, we did this to Caleb before long haul flights just to burn off any surplus energy.

I always take a facecloth, clean undies and T shirt, deoderant, toothbrush and toothpaste on the plane and have a stand up wash in the transit lounge bathrooms when flying longhaul. After 12 hours you need it, especially if you've slept in your clothes.

Hi

Surprised about the comment on being fast tracked with kids and toddlers at LAX. I have just moved back from being in the states for 3 years and flew thru LA alot and never got any help with kids and toddlers. Never got asked to board early etc. No help what so ever until I hit akl airport and they were lovely. Actually after doing a lot of travel the passport people and general airport people in LA are the rudest I have ever had to deal with. We were flying american airlines and qantas so it might be the airline that makes the difference.

I remember standing in a screening line and after 1 hour (I only had 20 mins to make my flight) I said loudly to no-one in particular "for gods sake sept the 11th was 7 years ago you would think you would open up more xrays and hire more people in that time" This didn't go down well but they let me go thru. I think airlines and airports hide behind extra security measures to cover up for bad service. Better stop now as this is my pet peev and I can rant ffor hours. lol.

Good luck with the flight. Take an extra t shirt for yourself as kids will always mange to spill stuff and it normally ends up on mum. I also pack zip lock bags of chips and snacks and a few toys from the $2 store for each kid. Named and then when they need something they get it from their bag themselves. I tuck them into the seat pocket. Go comfy on the clothes. I do the closest clothes to pjs that don't look like pjs for flying. For shoes use crocs as you have to take them off so much that when you are a family juggling sweatshirts, bags and shoes etc as well as kids and all their stuff laces or velcro is an added pain. Easy on and off shoes.

Take care and hope you have a good flight.