Travelling question
needingtochange
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 155
Travelling question
My wife and I are going on vacation in Mar. to Aus and NZ for two weeks. How much time do you think is enough between our domestic leg and the international leg? Right now I've booked flights that will give us a three hour window at LAX. According to the LAX map, it doesn't look that far (not in a different part of the airport anyway), but we've got to get through customs and all. Thank in advance.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: German Village, Columbus with my love ♥
Posts: 88,548
Well, maybe ask an Aussie?
Hi xx
NO.....three hours is nowhere near enough. You can get stuck in customs in LA for a long time. I went through there internationally 6 times in a few months, and I would never give myself less than four hours, five preferably. And if you have any other questions, feel free to ask away. xx
Hi xx
NO.....three hours is nowhere near enough. You can get stuck in customs in LA for a long time. I went through there internationally 6 times in a few months, and I would never give myself less than four hours, five preferably. And if you have any other questions, feel free to ask away.
xx
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Sonoran Desert & Southeast Asia
Posts: 6,561
You won't need to clear customs until you get to your destination country, only on the way back in.. so 3 hours may be enough.. but if you are changing air carriers in LAX for your international flight, you should definitely allow more time - because if the first flight is delayed and you miss your connection you are screwed. The first airline (and possibly the second, depending on fare class) owes you nothing if you miss the second flight.
When I fly two different air carriers internationally these days I plan for an overnight in between to be safe. There are just too many flight problems and delays now, as the system is at capacity and weather is worse in winter. If your entire trip is on the same carrier, they have to see you through, but 3 hours is still pushing it in LAX if there are delays.
When I fly two different air carriers internationally these days I plan for an overnight in between to be safe. There are just too many flight problems and delays now, as the system is at capacity and weather is worse in winter. If your entire trip is on the same carrier, they have to see you through, but 3 hours is still pushing it in LAX if there are delays.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: German Village, Columbus with my love ♥
Posts: 88,548
Yes, that's true; I thought about that after I went to bed. So I am now with advbkie—three hours should work well.
The biggest problem with LAX is having to travel so far from one terminal to the next, a lot of walking. And the other is the queues at all of the check points, and there are a few, so it can take some time. So, if you are going soon, over this holiday period, or anywhere around Spring Break, the queues get crazy.
And I hope you have a wonderful time.
PS. Also, you need cash for the trolleys...dollar notes and five-dollar notes, if I recall, although, since covid, you can probably use a card, but it is a good idea to have a bit of money on you.
The biggest problem with LAX is having to travel so far from one terminal to the next, a lot of walking. And the other is the queues at all of the check points, and there are a few, so it can take some time. So, if you are going soon, over this holiday period, or anywhere around Spring Break, the queues get crazy.
And I hope you have a wonderful time.
PS. Also, you need cash for the trolleys...dollar notes and five-dollar notes, if I recall, although, since covid, you can probably use a card, but it is a good idea to have a bit of money on you.
needingtochange
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 155
"its confusing having two threads. The path of least resistance is to merge everything here in the Newcomers thread.
Dee. Thanks for the advice. Since I'm almost exclusively (okay, only in Newcomers thread) I wasn't sure how much visibility this question would get in Cafe Central. I know that people in Newcomers span the globe, but didn't want to clog it up with a travel question.
advbike, I work for an agency that deals with the flying public and know how a seemingly small thing in one place can have huge impact everywhere else, so I like to err on the side of caution. Somewhere between getting a room while waiting and doing the "OJ Simpson" through the airport. Better to have a little too much idle time than not enough.
venus, according to Delta, the flight should be in terminal 2 or 3. International arrivals/departures is in terminal B. It all looks much easier on a map! We'll see. I may try and call some folks at LAX, Tuesday to see what they advise. I'm old school (emphasis on old) so I always carry some cash. This time it'll be either US, AUS, or NZ dollars. We're travelling 13-26 March (Fall, in that neck of the woods.) I'm expecting to have a good time. I've never heard anything bad from friends who've been there.
Thanks for all the well wishes.
Dee. Thanks for the advice. Since I'm almost exclusively (okay, only in Newcomers thread) I wasn't sure how much visibility this question would get in Cafe Central. I know that people in Newcomers span the globe, but didn't want to clog it up with a travel question.
advbike, I work for an agency that deals with the flying public and know how a seemingly small thing in one place can have huge impact everywhere else, so I like to err on the side of caution. Somewhere between getting a room while waiting and doing the "OJ Simpson" through the airport. Better to have a little too much idle time than not enough.
venus, according to Delta, the flight should be in terminal 2 or 3. International arrivals/departures is in terminal B. It all looks much easier on a map! We'll see. I may try and call some folks at LAX, Tuesday to see what they advise. I'm old school (emphasis on old) so I always carry some cash. This time it'll be either US, AUS, or NZ dollars. We're travelling 13-26 March (Fall, in that neck of the woods.) I'm expecting to have a good time. I've never heard anything bad from friends who've been there.
Thanks for all the well wishes.
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,481
Originally Posted by needingtochange 
"its confusing having two threads. The path of least resistance is to merge everything here in the Newcomers thread.
Dee. Thanks for the advice. Since I'm almost exclusively (okay, only in Newcomers thread) I wasn't sure how much visibility this question would get in Cafe Central. I know that people in Newcomers span the globe, but didn't want to clog it up with a travel question.
advbike, I work for an agency that deals with the flying public and know how a seemingly small thing in one place can have huge impact everywhere else, so I like to err on the side of caution. Somewhere between getting a room while waiting and doing the "OJ Simpson" through the airport. Better to have a little too much idle time than not enough.
venus, according to Delta, the flight should be in terminal 2 or 3. International arrivals/departures is in terminal B. It all looks much easier on a map! We'll see. I may try and call some folks at LAX, Tuesday to see what they advise. I'm old school (emphasis on old) so I always carry some cash. This time it'll be either US, AUS, or NZ dollars. We're travelling 13-26 March (Fall, in that neck of the woods.) I'm expecting to have a good time. I've never heard anything bad from friends who've been there.
Thanks for all the well wishes.
Dee. Thanks for the advice. Since I'm almost exclusively (okay, only in Newcomers thread) I wasn't sure how much visibility this question would get in Cafe Central. I know that people in Newcomers span the globe, but didn't want to clog it up with a travel question.
advbike, I work for an agency that deals with the flying public and know how a seemingly small thing in one place can have huge impact everywhere else, so I like to err on the side of caution. Somewhere between getting a room while waiting and doing the "OJ Simpson" through the airport. Better to have a little too much idle time than not enough.
venus, according to Delta, the flight should be in terminal 2 or 3. International arrivals/departures is in terminal B. It all looks much easier on a map! We'll see. I may try and call some folks at LAX, Tuesday to see what they advise. I'm old school (emphasis on old) so I always carry some cash. This time it'll be either US, AUS, or NZ dollars. We're travelling 13-26 March (Fall, in that neck of the woods.) I'm expecting to have a good time. I've never heard anything bad from friends who've been there.
Thanks for all the well wishes.
D
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