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Getting to LA from Yorkshire - what is the best/least inconvenient way?
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Posted 4 months ago #
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I passed through LAX three times in December. First occasion being my first US port of entry coming from outside the US, then the other two being internal flights.
I also passed through SFO, SAN, DFW and LAS in the same month.
They're airports - busy, slightly stressful and full of people whose job it is to keep the place safe and to stop muppets from holding queues up by trying to pass through body scanner with a WWF wrestling belt on which they somehow forget to remove. It's never going to be pleasant, but LAX is pretty much the same as everywhere else.
Vancouver is one of my favourite airports, and also happens to be the one that always takes me the longest to pass through. DFW is a **** nightmare if you have a short connection. I've spent many a night at the Hyatt Regency thanks to missing connections there.
You can actually have a bit of a laugh with the immigration guys, they're not KGB, just answer the very simple questions and smile. One told me my nose looked straighter on my passport photo than in real life, I told him that I'd send him the details of the booth I used and it might be able to do something about his hair
Posted 4 months ago # -
I normally find that travelling in slacks and a blazer, and storming to the front of the queue, before saying in my best terry thomas voice
I say my good man... see here, in my passport, it clearly states that Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State Requests and requires in the Name of Her Majesty that all those whom it may concern allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance... without let or hindrance, do you hear? now, you rapscallion, make way
Works every time
Posted 4 months ago # -
Unless cost is an overriding factor then do the flying part in one go without connections if possible. Breaking your journey, rushing between flights, or getting stuck in the wrong place when something's cancelled or you miss a connection is no fun on your own (if, sometimes, a natural consequence of flying...); doing it with family/children in tow would be a nightmare.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Cost is a factor but not the only one - I can't afford to be spending thousands per person but would rather pay hundreds more for the best/right ones.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Since it looks like you can't fly direct from a North-East / Manchester airport to LAX, you need to decide what you think the kids will deal with the best: a 3-5hr car or train journey to Heathrow (including the retun leg when jet-lagged) or connection through either a UK (LHR), European or US airport. I would note that at least connecting within the UK or Europe you don't have to go through immigration, whereas you do in the US (and because of this the airlines have no control over your connection). Whereas, for example BA or KLM are more likely to hold a plane for you when connecting through LHR or Schiphol because they know you are in the airport and getting through security (your boarding passes are scanned at each stage).
Also note that not all airlines are selling tickets for December yet and many have sales towards Easter, though it's up to you if you want to chance it. I use skyscanner and kayak to determine routes, cheap(er) dates of travel etc and then use sites like Expedia / Opodo to see if you can get discounted travel & hotel. For a big group of you, might also be worth looking at renting a home (e.g. vrbo) but might be very expensive especially if you are travelling around Thanksgiving. I would also recommend BA over carriers such as Delta / AA but thats just my opinion and your finances / ease of travel might be more appropriate considerations!
Good luck!
Posted 4 months ago # -
Also note that not all airlines are selling tickets for December yet
Yeah we believe the tickets will be released in the next week or so and want to know what we are doing (my head is a shed with all the options)
Posted 4 months ago # -
I'd recommend against driving to Heathrow if you can get a single booking with connections from Manchester or LBA unless you're prepared to go the night before as the drive itself has the potential to be very stressful with the need to build loads of contingency time in. The idea of taking the train and using the tube or transferring to Paddington/Heathrow Express is ludicrous on the basis that the shuttle from Manchester or LBA (or out to Schiphol) puts you in the airport where you need to be and not in the middle of a crowded city. Of course on a single ticket, if you miss the connection through delay it's the airline's responsibility. Try telling that to East Coast Trains.
It's a tough call as to whether a short + very long flight (i.e. LBA > AMS > LAX) or two medium/long flights are best (e.g. MAN > Chicago / New York / Washington > LAX) - it depends on the age and capability of the kids. I believe if you do enter the US elsewhere other than LAX then you won't be going through LAX immigration which as others have said can be a nightmare. I've personally never had any bother at Newark (but never as a transit passenger) and I've been through 5-6 times. Kayak.co.uk is your friend for assessing the costs and options.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Done transatlantic with small kids loads of times. I'd go for a non-stop every time, even if that means heading south to LHR or Gatwick. Most outbound flights are mornings, so that means an early check in. We usually book a single night hotel with fortnight carpark deal and head for the airport the night before. An on-airport hotel is a huge bonus as you can get up, dress, then go check in, then head back to the airport for breakfast, (swim?) and chill in your room rather than hanging round the departures lounge for hours. I think for LGW and LHR the Sofitel is the only hotel close enough, for MAN, the SAS is linked to the terminals. For long trips, Nintendo DS are your friends, together with books and puzzles. The rest is normal kids stuff. We've usually had no problem taking our own booster seats for the hire car to US, we just take a big holdall empty and shove them in at the airport, then check them in. US immigration is pot lock, just remember to not try to rush it,and have the kids go to the loo before joining the queue. Minivan with DVD player very handy in US. Have fun.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Many thanks for all the help - especially the last two replies that are full of really useful info
Posted 4 months ago # -
Google maps says get to China them swim
Posted 4 months ago # -
My personal worst queue is about 90 minutes at LAX immigration - that was after they'd held our plane on the tarmac for over an hour before letting it get to the gate. Queue started well before we reached the "hall".
desks were staffed at about 50%, as they always seem to be
(best ever time (of about ten) through there would be maybe 30 minutes in the queue)
I hate LAX but it's pretty much the only US airport I've been to
Posted 4 months ago # -
Oh yeah, one other reason not to transfer in the USA, is that most internal flights, even if they are called BA or Virgin or whoever, are 'code shares' with various US airlines. I've had things like 7 hour coast to coast flights without food (or having to pay $10 for a sandwich), typically no entertainment system (a shared film if you're lucky), and almost always no alcohol.
connecting within the UK or Europe you don't have to go through immigration, whereas you do in the US (and because of this the airlines have no control over your connection).
Does that mean you get luggage booked through - that makes a massive difference to how much difference a connection makes - connecting in the US for me meant getting luggage out from the plane, security checking it, checking the luggage back in which was a right pain, whereas when I did NZ and Australian connecting flights my luggage just magically followed me without any intervention.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Better half been twice (family matters etc) to the states with the kids 2&4 in the last year - by herself. No probs. clearing customs - but then they all have yanky passports! Heathrow or Schipol is much of a muchness. But Schipol is a great deal less stressful than Heathrow.
Posted 4 months ago # -
connecting in the US for me meant getting luggage out from the plane, security checking it, checking the luggage back in which was a right pain
pretty sure this is right for LAX at least - there were people in our queue who were worrying about missing connecting flightsPosted 4 months ago # -
Good points on US transfers - I'm pretty sure you'll need to pass through immigrations, collect any checked baggage, pass through customs, recheck any checked baggage and then proceed to your terminal, going through security again before making your way to the new gate. I had to do this once when going to Auckland via LA, I wasn't even stopping in the US and the AirNZ planes were at adjacent gates - barmy.
So the best bet is probably Manchester > Heathrow > LA or Leeds > Schiphol > LA dependant on price etc or drive down to Heathrow the night before. Pretty much all flights to the US are daytime making a long day, and the returns are overnight which with a 12 hour flight gives plenty of time for the drugs to kick in.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Also got family south of LA so often visit with the wife and kids. Usually always fly direct but one Xmas we thought we spend a few days in Vegas on the way out, big mistake as an absolute shite hole imho and never again but the internal flight on to LAX was bloody awful.
Wouldn't even consider doing a non-direct flight no matter how much cheaper it may cost and immigration at LAX last time we went was a frigging nightmare.Posted 4 months ago # -
US Internal flight changes can cause almsot as long security queues as international flights. They are getting better but they have been infrastructure for internal security provisions, with few Xray machines etc. I'd go for the transfer here in Europe and direct flight to LAX. Heathrow or Schipol are much nicer places to spend time than US airports.
Also I'd agree about US internal flights - think long haul Ryanair!
Posted 4 months ago # -
Well my wife has been on to Trailfinders and they have been very helpful. At the moment flying Air New Zealand from Heathrow is looking the best option - apparently they have a reading corner on their flights for kids where the cabin crew read them stories. And for a small upgrade fee you can get seats that fold out into one big bed.
Posted 4 months ago #
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