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Google maps says get to China them swim 😉
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
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.
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.
pretty sure this is right for LAX at least - there were people in our queue who were worrying about missing connecting flightsconnecting 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
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.
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.
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!
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.