Air NZ on NZ1 and NZ2, how bad in LAX?

crockpot

Hi

I am thinking of travelling to NZ next year, Air NZ seem to be offering best deal at mo. I need to travel-fly from up north and then also need an internal flight in NZ. With them I can book it all together.

But not sure about the transit in LA, I will be travelling alone with 2 children 6 and 8.

I have travelled through LA before, but I was single and it was before 9/11.

Thanks

kay74

Flew Glasgow - Heathrow - LA - Fiji - Auckland - Cairns with Air NZ. On way home was just self and son (5 at time). LA was fine - but really long flight if you don;t take the stopover. We stayed at one of the airport area hotels - not expensive and bus picked up and dropped off at terminal. Air NZ didn;t go out of main terminal - was a small shed like place. Quite slow getting through at time (after 9/11) as bags all being hand searched. Not sure if this still happening. Have to say AIR NZ NOT the best - no TV (was broken), food pretty poor and legroom rubbish. But agree that prices are normally OK.

kay74

Sorry, forgot to say - can get free stopover in Fiji, Cook Islands or Tonga! We did week in Fiji and it was brilliant! Really made the holiday.

Have you checked Emirates? Might be an easier flight?

planetdannii

I flew Air NZ London-Hong Kong and found it all fine, good, professional company, been on many & this was one of the hassle free kind, for the money I found it great, (£200) depends on the difference between I guess, for me it was over £100 cheaper than another company so it was really worth it but for less maybe I would have considered another airline.

Fiji is meant to be beautiful I wouldn't miss the oppurtunity to have a couple of nights there thats for sure.

What ever you decide have a fab time

Virgin were great but not sure they fly NZ I know they fly to Oz.

Party_Animal

I stayed in Raratonga, Fiji going out and Hawaii and LA coming back. Raratonga is beautiful.

patrick1

http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/air_nz.htm might be worth a read

crockpot

Thanks for that.

Kay74. we went with EMirates last time, when hubbie came on trip with us- they were the cheapest.

We flew Manchester to Duabai- Dubaui was a pain-bus from plane to terminal q to go through xray and then bodies everyewhere- they do not want you to sit down, just shop! We got on the plane on time but where over an hour late leaving-no explanation which ment we were laye into Melbourne and Auckland. ! of our 2 cases was still in Duabai and we nearly missed our internal flight! We did get our case 36 hours later.
Coming back was ok.
I have looked at there website but having trouble with it.

Just what to get there asap.

Have also loooked at Singapore as they fly from Manchester, with only a 2 hour stop each way, but it gets into Auckland at midnight so would have to get a motel and fly on the next morning- plus cost at mo is £500 more.

We had not planned to travel again so soon, but family illness means, If we can I like to travel early next year, March.

patrick0

Being kiwi I fly to NZ quite often.

Going via LA (on any airline) has the advantage of a higher luggage allowance (2x23kg on AirNZ) but you have to check out your luggage in the USA then check it back in and get fingerprinted, photographed, shoe-xrayed and so on. And LA Airport is horrible (once got stuck there for 8 hours - there's nothing to do).

I much prefer to fly via Asia (1x20kg) as the airports are nicer and there's not the security drama. I think the airlines have better service too as there's more competition on the Asia route.

I usually pick the cheapest 2 hop journey (never tried Emirates as that's 3 hops). I think Singapore Airlines is the best. Malaysia Airlines are fairly good but never as good as Singapore.

It's always worth checking the airline flight schedules on the respective websites as some airlines will do a stopover in Oz (Malaysia does or did on 20% of flights).

For internal flights in NZ I always book direct (check https://www.airnz.co.nz and https://www.qantas.co.nz for internal flights). You may find it cheaper to book the whole journey with AirNZ but worth checking. Auckland airport is nice and calm relative to Heathrow or Asia/US and it's easy to transfer between flights.

2lions

I flew NZ1 / 2 LHR to Auckland back in March 2005 as part of my gap year (actually ended up taking 11 flights with them during the trip - eak carbon footprint). Decent legroom (34 inches in economy), food ok as airlines go, great crew. Entertainment system was a bit dated, but I hear they've updated the fleet now.

Stop over in LAX not too bad. Basically land, clear US immigration, hand card from immigration straight back to Air NZ ground crew, sit in what resembles a gate for a bit, get back on aircraft. I don't think you leave airside at anypoint. Free drinks (non-alcoholic) and snacks (usual airline fodder - crisps, nuts, fruit) available the whole time. All in all not as bad as I imagined, especially in the middle of a 26 hour flight.

crockpot

Thanks again.

Been looking at singapore airlines again, only 1 1/2hour stop on way out and 3 hours coming back. They fly no stop to Singapore now, so less hassel with the boys. But it would meam getting to Nz at midnight, first flight out is 6.30am I think- could spend night in airport? To save cost of motel and hasell?

Is anything open midnight to 6.30am?

Luggage is not a problem, going to vist family- so prob only take 1 case.

Worried as last time we only checked in for internal flight with minutes to spare- but could we have travelled with out case? Thought is we booked all together- they would have to sort us if flights delayed.