Layover in LAX

[harddrive]

Morning all,

So my partner and I are traveling from Melbourne, Australia to New York and have a 7 hour layover in LA before our flight to NY. Arrrive at LAX at 6:45am, depart 1:45pm. This will be a Saturday.

Wondering what there is to do at the airport, or if anyone has any tips or tricks to help pass the time, or any recommendations on good places to eat etc?

 

[bcla]

What airline(s)? That might narrow things down in terms of which terminals you'll be using as well as whether or not you'll be able to access places in the secure areas. You'll also need to collect your baggage, and go through Customs since that's your first stop in the US. You might even need to go to a domestic terminal to check in your baggage to NY.

Here's the list of food options:

http://www.lawa.org/tenantLAXResult.aspx?airport=4

I remember my brother-in-law was flying to Seattle from overseas through San Francisco. We were able to pick him up and take him out for lunch after he took care of Customs and checking in his baggage to Seattle. We sent him back to the airport. Not sure what might be near LAX, but you would probably need a taxi (or Uber) if you're short on time.

 

[harddrive]

According to our flight bookings we are flying with Virgin Australia right through to NY, although the LAX and NY legs note they are operated by Delta Air Lines.

 

[jevs]

If you want to leave the airport, Manhatten Beach is about 20 minutes away.

The food at LAX in my opinion is pretty dire.

 

[jevs]

What airline(s)? That might narrow things down in terms of which terminals you'll be using as well as whether or not you'll be able to access places in the secure areas. You'll also need to collect your baggage, and go through Customs since that's your first stop in the US. You might even need to go to a domestic terminal to check in your baggage to NY.

Here's the list of food options:

http://www.lawa.org/tenantLAXResult.aspx?airport=4

I remember my brother-in-law was flying to Seattle from overseas through San Francisco. We were able to pick him up and take him out for lunch after he took care of Customs and checking in his baggage to Seattle. We sent him back to the airport. Not sure what might be near LAX, but you would probably need a taxi (or Uber) if you're short on time.

If the flights are booked as one on one ticket then surely the baggage goes straight through to NY?

I tend to fly in and out of LAX, then organise domestics afterwards which requires me to recheck luggage.

 

[bcla]

According to our flight bookings we are flying with Virgin Australia right through to NY, although the LAX and NY legs note they are operated by Delta Air Lines.

I looked up Delta's flights LAX-JFK (assuming that's your destination) and Delta seems to be using Terminal 5. Virgin Australia uses the international terminal.

Here are some options around LAX. The ones that sound intriguing are Pann's and Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles. It's going to be an expensive breakfast/lunch with taxi fare, but if you're looking for something interesting and local it might be worth it.

http://la.eater.com/maps/where-to-eat-around-lax-airport-best-restaurants-los-angeles
http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-10-restaurants-by-lax-20150316-story.html

 

[bcla]

If the flights are booked as one on one ticket then surely the baggage goes straight through to NY?

I tend to fly in and out of LAX, then organise domestics afterwards which requires me to recheck luggage.

I believe one goes still has to go through Customs along with collecting all baggage. There might be re-check window at the international terminal (after Customs), but I think you can only use that if you book straight through as opposed to booking separately. Booked separately is going to mean going to the domestic terminal to check-in baggage.

 

[jevs]

I believe one goes still has to go through Customs along with collecting all baggage. There might be re-check window at the international terminal (after Customs), but I think you can only use that if you book straight through as opposed to booking separately. Booked separately is going to mean going to the domestic terminal to check-in baggage.

Yeah, I know I have to do that, but the OP has a ticket from MEL-NY which indicates to me that their baggage will go straight through to NY and no need for picking it up and rechecking it in on the next leg....?

 

[RedAngie]

Yeah, I know I have to do that, but the OP has a ticket from MEL-NY which indicates to me that their baggage will go straight through to NY and no need for picking it up and rechecking it in on the next leg....?

Unfortunately, baggage will need to be collected at LAX, then go thru Customs and Immigration, and then rechecked to NYC. Even on a through ticket. There may be a recheck desk right in the customs area. If not, they will need to recheck it at Delta's counter.

I think Air New Zealand's flight from Auckland to London with a stop in LAX, is or used to be an exception. There is or used to be a dedicated lounge for continuing passengers.

As for what to do for 7 hours, well, probably two to three hours will be wasted in customs/immigration and rechecking baggage. Plus if one leaves the airport they need to go thru security again. So really not 7 hours available. My suggestion, take a taxi to the In-N-Out Burger just north of the airport on Sepulveda Blvd.

 

[jevs]

Unfortunately, baggage will need to be collected at LAX, then go thru Customs and Immigration, and then rechecked to NYC. Even on a through ticket. There may be a recheck desk right in the customs area. If not, they will need to recheck it at Delta's counter.

I think Air New Zealand's flight from Auckland to London with a stop in LAX, is or used to be an exception. There is or used to be a dedicated lounge for continuing passengers.

As for what to do for 7 hours, well, probably two to three hours will be wasted in customs/immigration and rechecking baggage. Plus if one leaves the airport they need to go thru security again. So really not 7 hours available. My suggestion, take a taxi to the In-N-Out Burger just north of the airport on Sepulveda Blvd.

Thanks for that! What a hassle.

I never put all flights on the one ticket so was a little confused as to why you would need to pick up and recheck luggage before reaching the final destination

 

[kimblebee]

Thanks for that! What a hassle.

I never put all flights on the one ticket so was a little confused as to why you would need to pick up and recheck luggage before reaching the final destination

When I went to Florida, I had to pick up my bags in Toronto and go through customs. it was the same plane and flight number but we were specifically told we needed to do it in Toronto..

 

[SirDuff]

Thanks for that! What a hassle.

I never put all flights on the one ticket so was a little confused as to why you would need to pick up and recheck luggage before reaching the final destination

It is a hassle, but not as much as when you have separate tickets. Usually (depends on the airline/airport), all you do once you get through customs is dump your luggage on the luggage belt - you don't have to go up to the Departures level and check-in again.

 

[RedAngie]

Thanks for that! What a hassle.

I never put all flights on the one ticket so was a little confused as to why you would need to pick up and recheck luggage before reaching the final destination

Because other than that Air New Zealand exception, LAX doesn't have a sterile transit area for connecting flights. (Neither do any other US airports, AFAIK.) You must go thru C & I at your first US stop. Even if you don't intend to stay in the US. Say you're flying into LAX and then connecting to Canada or Mexico or a different country. You must still go thru the US bureaucratic process.

Air NZ is an exception because it's not a connecting flight, merely a stop in the US. If your journey from NZ ends in LAX, yes, you go thru C & I. But if you're continuing to London, not necessary. The same applies to London-boarding passengers flying to Auckland.

When I went to Florida, I had to pick up my bags in Toronto and go through customs. it was the same plane and flight number but we were specifically told we needed to do it in Toronto..

Most Canadian airports have US customs in them and pre-clear before arriving in the US. You would have needed to do it upon arrival in Florida otherwise.

 

[RedAngie]

When I went to Florida, I had to pick up my bags in Toronto and go through customs. it was the same plane and flight number but we were specifically told we needed to do it in Toronto..

I'm curious. Did you have the same itinerary for your return? If so, did you clear customs in Toronto or Winnipeg? I'm guessing Toronto.

 

[kimblebee]

I'm curious. Did you have the same itinerary for your return? If so, did you clear customs in Toronto or Winnipeg? I'm guessing Toronto.

When we came home, we flew direct and did customs when we got here.

 

[bcla]

Thanks for that! What a hassle.

I never put all flights on the one ticket so was a little confused as to why you would need to pick up and recheck luggage before reaching the final destination

It's a requirement of US Customs and Border Protection that Customs clearance (including all declarations and possible baggage search) happen at the first port of entry in the US. On top of that, most US domestic flights arrive at terminals without Customs. It makes sense simplifying the process, especially when a connecting flight could be to a domestic-only airport without Customs.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/de...eler-clear-u.s.-customs-and-border-protection

At what point during a traveler's trip to the U.S. does a traveler clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection?

​

If the final destination is in the U.S. and the first port of arrival is in the U.S., travelers must clear immigration and customs at the first port of entry.

If a connection is involved, the traveler will not be required to go through another clearance when they arrive at their final destination.​

This can create problems, especially with alcohol into certain states like Utah. They have an allowance for the standard duty free alcohol amount if clearing Customs in Utah, but not if its a connecting flight. It's generally illegal for normal people to bring alcohol into the state from out of state.

http://abc.utah.gov/laws/law_faqs.html

A person coming from a foreign country who clears U.S. customs in Utah may possess, for personal consumption, two liters of liquor purchased outside of Utah.​

 

[low-key]

If it were me I would play find the most movie star game ? That might get fun claiming poor look alike are the famous person

 

[jevs]

If it were me I would play find the most movie star game ? That might get fun claiming poor look alike are the famous person

I'll be passing through end of November Low Key, make sure you have your camera ready

 

[low-key]

I'll be passing through end of November Low Key, make sure you have your camera ready

you know you could devote a whole page of photos to ramdome people and caption (I think its Grocho Marks, or whatever )

 

[jevs]

you know you could devote a whole page of photos to ramdome people and caption (I think its Grocho Marks, or whatever )

When we were in FL and staying at Cabana Bay there was a Hugh Hefner lookalike and Playboy Bunny wandering around in the food court - spitting image, I kid you not. I did a double take but figured the real Hugh would have much classier places to eat than the food court at Cabana