First time US traveller questions

[Scuderia]

Hi Guys,
Heading off to the US in a couple of months for the first time and hoping you guys can answer some questions for me. Current plan is to go with V Australia business class from MEL to LAX then probably Virgin on to ORD.

Like everyone I'm curious about the customs process. From what i've read it seems around 45 minutes to get through customs/immigration is about right ?. Anywhere up to 2 hours on a bad day. Does travelling business class help at all with the time ?.
Is there good and bad times of day to go through customs ?. All the V flights seem to arrive at 7-8am local time.
Im also wondering what facilities there are before you go through customs. I would assume you would have access to things like bathrooms between the plane and before you clear customs. I haven't been able to find a map of the arrivals level at TBIT.

I would be travelling around 12pm on to ORD which i assume is pretty busy time. Im under the impression that first/business travellers get though security faster so I'm contemplating paying the extra if thats the case.

Thanks for your help

 

[MatF]

I went to the US for the first time a couple of weeks ago, arriving into LAX on QF11 at around 9:30am. I was in First, so got off the plane first, but we seemed to arrive at the same time as some other aircraft, so it still took me over an hour to get through immigration, collect my bag and then go through customs. There was quite a long queue for immigration, then another long queue for customs after I picked up my bag.

I'm not sure what facilities there are between the plane and immigration - I just went straight there as fast as I could. I didn't really see any difference from being in Business or First, apart from getting off the plane first, which I guess does make it faster than otherwise.

I then transferred to an AA flight (operated by American Eagle) to SLC, so had to take my bag upstairs and put it on the transfer conveyor. I then had to make my way to T4 (where there was another long queue to clear security) and jump on a shuttle bus to the American Eagle "terminal".

I had around 2.5hrs between my flights and in the end finally got to the American Eagle terminal with only about 20mins to spare before boarding.

Can't say I was a big fan of LAX. It's a circus, particularly if it's your first time there.

 

[Scuderia]

Thanks. The other option i was considering was going via SFO but that would mean going with United or someone else but its still an option. Im pretty flexible on everything if i can spend less time waiting in queues.

 

[dfcatch]

I would choose SFO over LAX anyday.

Unfortunately - all of Asia (and several flights from Australia and other places) all arrive at around the same time at LAX.

There are washrooms off to the side at the immigration hall.

Being in business means that you are ahead of all the others from your plane - but not necessarily in front of the other 18,000 747's all queueing up in front of the 3 immigrations officers and no doubt you will be stuck behind the line that is constantly calling over the PA for "translator to booth (insert booth number for your line)".......

QF 11 has been my weapon of choice the last 3 arrivals in LAX:

1st time - from First - around 45 mins

2nd time - from Economy - 10 mins

3rd time - from Economy - 2.5 hours

I've also tried QF 107, QF 93, as well as ANA and UA arriving at various times over the last 12 years.

I would say the average is between 1 and 2 hours. Anything faster is a bonus.



So...... go SFO

 

[cove]

I used to stop and use an airport hotel for a night around Los Angeles to make the trip easier. Going straight on about 3 hours later can make you feel pretty wrung out. ORD flight......is that direct or do you go thru a hub? How many hours is that total travelling time LAX to ORD?
I have never been too concerned about the queues at LAX as I have been in them close to a hundred times but I never cease to be amazed by those who are anxiously trying to get to a connection inside 2 hours.

 

[BensAdventures]

Gotta agree that avoiding LAX is always preferred, but I rarely take my own advice! I prefer to fly Qantas (mainly due to the J A380 seats), and my average connection time has always been 2-2.5 hours. I always give myself 3 hours, and last December I made by flight with less than 10 mins to spare!

As mentioned below there is no advantage either in Immigration or Security if you are flying in a higher class, I fly First Class with AA most of the time and security is still SO slow.

Anyway, enjoy!

 

[harvyk]

I think the one thing with LAX is it's unpredictable...
Last year when I was there it took me 2 minutes to get through customs (loads of lines open), but there was another line just after baggage claim which was only staffed by 2 officers (and I have no idea what they where actually doing apart from rechecking passports).

That line took nearly an hour, and there was no other line I could join.

 

[gbh]

Yeah, unpredictable is the word - which makes sense when you think about it. All depends on what other aircraft land at the same time or just ahead. I've been through Tom Bradley inbound in 15-20 mins on a number of occasions, and once or twice it's taken an hour - usually when a flight from Mexico has landed just ahead. For some reason, the processing time for those guys seems to be a little longer. Obviously, if you're first off the plane you can stay ahead of the rest of your flight, which helps, but is no guarantee.

 

[simongr]

The only severely adverse experience with LAX that I have had was when I flew on Ansett (I think) SYD-LAX connecting to a virgin flight to London (again I think that was the carrier). We didnt know about the customs process and were told we would go through the transit lounge and NOT need to go through customs. We only found out that we needed to go through customs after a flight from China arrived. We were also told that we would need to recheck in all of our bags (not just put them on a new baggage conveyor)... and then the waitress through my beer on the floor in the bar... I have had better experiences.

However now I find transiting LAX easy - customs can take a while but I havent had much past 45 mins but have still then had to wait for my bags. Security has never been a problem as I access the experss lane - not sure if F/J pax can do that - I access through status.

 

[ozmille]

Can you go via DFW? Depending on when you travel you might score an F seat and no waiting at LAX... And anything less then 1 hour for the whole immigration and customs circus is very good in my eyes. Not something I prefer to do after a long haul.

 

[Fantic125]

I had 6 flights into the US (1 SFO, 5 LAX) last year, and 1 coming up next month into LAX.

There are a number of flights that arrive into LAX at that time of the morning so it can be a bit of a lottery in regard to the time taken to clear immigration.

Business class and first class passengers don't get any preferential treatment over economy passengers.
The best tip is when you get to the immigration hall head for the lines the furtherest away from the entrance. Usually less people as most of the tourists/elderly/confused tend to mill around the first few lines. Try and pick a line that appears to be mainly business people - usually they will have their passports and documents (if applicable) ready for presentation. (A lot of the tourists/elderly/confused wait until they get to the immigration booth and then search for the documents which ends up taking twice as long).

Once you get through immigration you will need to collect your bag from the carousel and then line up again for customs clearance. Usually this takes about half the time it took to get through immigration. You'll need to present your passport again at the customs desk.

If your bag is ticketed through to ORD, then after the customs desk turn right. This will take you to the baggage transfer area. Drop your bag off then go through the door and out into the terminal. To get to Gates 1~3 turn left, gates 4 upward turn right. If you get approached by someone offering you directions they will usually be seeking a donation to a charity at the end of it. (They will take any currency as well ).

If you bag isn't ticketed through you will need to turn left after the customs desk and go out into the terminal.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I used to stop and use an airport hotel for a night around Los Angeles to make the trip easier. Going straight on about 3 hours later can make you feel pretty wrung out. ORD flight......is that direct or do you go thru a hub? How many hours is that total travelling time LAX to ORD?
I have never been too concerned about the queues at LAX as I have been in them close to a hundred times but I never cease to be amazed by those who are anxiously trying to get to a connection inside 2 hours.

I too dislike flying into LAX but if you have your heart seat on VA MEL/LAX I would overnight in LAX at the Airport or maybe Marina del Rey which is not too far from LAX. It seens a bit silly to fly UA just so you can fly into SFO. Another option is on NZ MEL/AKL/SFO.

Domestically, VX fly non-stop SFO/ORD which has fares of USD119.00 on 11,12,13 & 14 Oct on VX836 1230/1840 or VX840 1745/2340. They also fly non-stop LAX/ORD which has fares of USD99.00 one way on 10,11,12 & 13 Oct on VX810 1110/1710 or VX816 1640/2235.

I'd just compare the J class fares on NZ & UA to SFO vs VA to LAX & QF to LAX or DFW to determine what city to go via. Either way as it's your first time to the US I would break the journey on the West Coast in SFO or LAX then get a morning flight the next day so you arrive in ORD during the day instead of late at night.

 

[serfty]

Can you go via DFW? ...

Don't expect a DFW arrival to be generally faster than at LAX.

 

[UP4014]

I find departing LAX a lot more tedious than arriving. I don't think LAX is really that bad, queues are long but there are many people there to do the processing, it's the same as Sydney but a larger scale.

 

[notzac]

I managed to get lucky on VA MEL-LAX and found a practically empty immigration hall on arrival - I went from plane to kerbside in 15 minutes flat. SFO is generally better, but not always - have seen it get pretty ugly there as well.

Bargain on spending at least an hour in Immigration and Customs and definitely make sure your connecting flight to ORD is on the same ticket as your inbound to LAX, or an absolute minimum of 3-4 hours after your scheduled arrival in to LAX.

 

[juddles]

There is no bonus due to class of travel, other than getting of your own plane first. But as per other posters, there are a s...load of planes arriving at the same time. Class of travel does make a difference when getting in thru security checks. In my last five or so LAX arrivals this year have averaged about 45 minutes to clear customs and find bag. But I walk fast

 

[notzac]

But I walk fast

This is excellent advice, really. Once you get off that plane you're going to want to walk as quickly as possible down the corridor to the immigration desks; each person you overtake is another person you're not queueing behind!

 

[dfcatch]

This is excellent advice, really. Once you get off that plane you're going to want to walk as quickly as possible down the corridor to the immigration desks; each person you overtake is another person you're not queueing behind!

Agreed!

This is what the travelators were invented for

 

[serfty]

Agreed!

This is what the travelators were invented for

Just ensure you won't get stuck behind a group of slower moving people before entering each travelator!

 

[awilcockson]

I don't think LAX is really that bad, queues are long but there are many people there to do the processing, it's the same as Sydney but a larger scale.

It's definitely nowhere near as bad as JFK!