LAX Transfers

[Kiltrash]

Long story short version
My son, UK national and Girlfriend Mexican national flying MX 918 Mexico City to LAX and transferring to NZ2 to LHR

Arr LAX Tom Bradley Terminal 13.40
Looks like they need to clear security and customs as no airside transfer to Term 2.
NZ2 t/o 16.30 so have 3 hours to stopover

Q. 3 hr stopover TBIT to Term 2 If it feasable or any known hitches
Q. Any issues with US Visa's or can they be done on line, GB and Mexican nationals, as I found out on my last trip LGW - MCO
Thanks in advance

[TightSlot]

3 hours is a very sensible amount of time for the transfer.

If UK passport is machine readable, then no Visa requirement - entry will be on a green I-94W form. Bags will be collected at TBIT - take the 'A' Bus to T2 for NZ (or walk, 15mins with a cart) - go up one floor from arrivals to departures.

Mexy passport - don't know requirements.

[ExSp33db1rd]

I agree that 3 hours should be adequate - but don't hang about. You have to enter the USA via normal Immigration channels, collect baggage, re -check in at Air NZ, go through security again etc.

Getting a US Visa is a tedious process involving interviews, but as stated a UK passport qualifies for the Visa Waiver Programme - take a green form, not a white one but .......... for a year or more now it has been a requirement to apply for an ESTA clearance before boarding an aircraft into the USA if not a US National and wishing to apply for an entry permit on the Visa Waiver programme. I got that Online without trouble, but it is only valid for 2 years then one has to apply again. It is free. You will be issued with a 16 digit reference number. Don't lose it.

You won't get an ESTA clearance if you are a convicted drug abuser, or engage in moral turpitude, or have been involved in espionage, or sabotage, or genocide, or terrorism, or were involved with Nazi Germany between the years of 1933 to 1945. I kid you not - World's gone mad.

I also have no knowledge of how a Mex.passport will be treated, but judging by the number of Mexican nationals passing freely around Southern California I would suggest that entry will be easy.

But don't quote me.

[WHBM]

The green I-94W form asks about your address in the US and makes no provision nor gives any guidance for those in transit. However you should just write IN TRANSIT in the space provided for the address.

Physical clearance of customs neer seems to take very long, and often you can just walk through. It is Immigration that takes the time, and this is variable depending on how many flights have arrived just ahead of yours. Try and take seats as far towards the front of the aircraft as you can, and once out of the jetway consider running if there are many passengers ahead of you.

Some years ago there were two examples of how to fill an I-94W posted up on the wall in the approach to the Immigration desks at LAX-TBIT. One in English and one in Spanish. They had been produced by writing in thick pen on the normal form and then blowing this up to A0 size on a photocopier. One of the fields on the fom is City of Departure. The English example used London, the Spanish example used Guadalajara. The field for this city name was marked as 10 characters. You would think they might have chosen a better Mexican city name for their example .......

[c3pd]

My experiences at LAX is that it is generally an efficient port and the Terminals are all fairly close together...so shouldn't be a drama getting to the other terminal for NZ.

The focus, of course, should be to get through Customs etc and get checked in for the NZ flight asap...then think about what to do with any time that's left over...if all goes smooth, I would 'guestimate' that you'd have about 1 to 1.5 hours left by the time you get to check in for the NZ flight...so, not too long really, as the flight will start boarding probably 45 mins or so before departure (I've taken 20 mins just to get off an arriving aircraft at LAX sometimes:confused:...so time can easily get used up). C3PD

[Kiltrash]

Many thanks to those who contirbuted and also general info for others

All went well and the inbound flight arr 15 min early into LAX, and the transfer was very well handled, cases went through MEX - LHR, without needing to be collected in LAX and dropped off at check in. Son and girlfiend, by now fiance, met at plane by Mexicana staff and escorted through immigration, who were surprisingly friendly!! and fast tracked to the NZ2 Gate, via fast track security in T2 with ample time to spare, NZ2 left 30 min late and arr LHR 45 Min early.

Well done Mexicana and Air New Zealand

[WHBM]

NZ2 left 30 min late and arr LHR 45 Min earlySomeone on these forums pedalling like mad !

[TightSlot]

.86 Nippy Kiwis - no messing around!