[sarahw]

Hi Everyone,

We flew out on the weekend (arrived yesterday) to Wellington. Everything great - except we flew via LA. We opted not to stop-over, but the plane stopped to refuel in LA and drop off/pick-up more passengers.

For anyone who is a non-US citizen flying to NZ via LAX they've just introduced the new finger-printing/photographing thing in the US (which is applicable to all non-US residents) :no . It took us over an HOUR to get from the plane into the transit lounge (a few metres away) via immigration - our stop was only supposed to be an hour! This new system delayed the flight taking off again. If anyone is considering flying via LAX I'd avoid it until they get the process working properly! :hopeso

Bye!

[captainxmas]

They just don't know what they've done...it was bad enough last year.

Least you got through though, eh? :clap

[kamus]

If it makes you feel any better, LAX is a nightmare for US citizens too. It's the worst airport I've ever been in and I've been in a lot

You're also lucky they delayed the plane for you. When my wife and I returned form China with our adopted daughter, although we had 2 hours to change planes and go through Immigration and security- an amount of time that would have been sufficient elsewhere, we just reached the plane with seconds to spare and only because some kindly person took pity on us and cut some corners- and they weren't going to hold the plane at all! It was security, much more than Immigration that really slowed us down. What a PITA!

LAX=HELL

-Dave

[xanctus]

i think us immigration is getting worst and worst since 9/11...I don't blame them, but it's pain in the neck!

[Tara Sage]

When we arrived in July we also flew via LA NEVER again, we had a 2 hour transfer time and still nearly missed the connection!

I know that the security checks in LA are strict after 9/11 and that is fair enough, but it was just a nightmare. :?

My husband was here in May and flew via Bangkok and Sydney and he said that it is a much nicer route and didn't have to collect baggage at every airport.

[clg]

I know I may be the only one here but I sort of like LAX! Granted, I live in LA right not and I don't have to get connecting flights from there but I know it and can manouver it quite well. They even have a brewpub there with beer from place I used to go to all the time.

I can't think of any airports I have connected from that I actaully like. That is always the hard part going from plane to plane. That is one reason I like LAX though, you can get direct flights to just about anywhere.

[Moorf]

Do they take your baggage off too.... I ask because if you DID miss the ongoing part of the flight after it had refuelled etc due to being held up in immigration/fingerprinting etc it would leave with your luggage on it.. and I didn't think this was allowed... :no

[kamus]

I think that if you're going through immigration, you're also going to go through customs too- meaning the bags come off.

That was one of the main reasons it was such a pain for us coming back from China: having to deal with moving our, by then considerable, baggage and our new baby, what felt like a couple of miles to the customs area, then to get in a massive security line in a compltely different terminal in a seemingly unairconditioned building. In that sloooow moving line, I don't know who was most irritable: our fellow passengers or the nasty and extremely hassled guards.

oy!!

[veronica]

We did the LA route two years ago and have decided to give it a miss in future thanks. Although air nz have big luggage allowances its just not worth it. United Emerates apparently are very generous on the luggage and good to fly with so we may look into them next time (I have to go back to the UK each year for trade reasons so get a return ticket each time I am in the UK)

[xanctus]

I remember my cousin arrived in LAX, they opened some of the stuffs dry food/snacks (in a rough way, tear it and then just put it back on the luggage), so when they opened their luggage. Snacks/food were all over the places...it was quite nasty! They were so so angry about it :? :(

[captainxmas]

Even so it does make your eventual arrival in Auckland even sweeter than the sweet thing that it is.

:nice1

[chips]

I guess the hassle of LAX has to be balanced with the extra baggage allowance :uhoh .
It's the same as any plane stopping at an airport ,you all shuffle off.
This happened to me in Brisbane on the way to NZ. It was some god forsaken time of the night ,when we got there, but the worst thing was some poor couple has a young baby ,( like 3 months) , which had been weeping and bleeting :wah of hours. They had just got it to sleep in the little bassanet ,when we arrived. The Aussies insisted that the baby get off, even with the pilot saying he would personally over see the baby.
The parents weren't happy.
You could see the plane as we were shunnted around a loop, we weren't even off for half an hour. The whole place was empty.
It's a means to an end. :hopeso

[coastcat]

We did the LA route two years ago and have decided to give it a miss in future thanks.

Unfortunately we North Americans haven't much of a choice! If you want to get to NZ, you're pretty well stuck with LAX. Air New Zealand does fly from San Francisco to Auckland (either non-stop or with a transfer in Honolulu or Sydney), but it's a bit more expensive. I don't know if SFO is any better at handling the new customs requirements!

Still, if I'm stuck with a long layover, I'd rather be at SFO than LAX. There's an excellent dim sum (yum cha) place near SFO, so if I time it right...

Hmm, interesting. When I try to price out the flight with October dates, I get the non-stop and Honolulu options. When I try it with May dates, the non-stop is not available. And I can schedule the return through Honolulu, but not the flight to AKL. Wonder what clearing US customs is like in Honolulu?

[kamus]

Coastcat, I haven't done customs at SFO but it does have the advantage of being a considerably smaller airport than LAX, so that might make a difference.

-Dave

[Timbo]

When we went through LAX en-route to Auckland in March this year, I have to admit it was not quite as bad as expected. They did not take the baggage off the plane, but simply let the dogs go over the hold. There was a bit of a hold up getting into the transit lounge, but this was exaperated by a loud mouthed whinging pom who decided to verbally abuse anyone remotely connected with LAX or ANZ.
The transit lounge itself is a bit basic, but at least there were plenty of freeby refreshments available.
One small point though, NO SMOKING anywhere from what we could make out. Not even the first and business lounge. Boy am I glad we gave up before going.

[Radders]

I've been through LAX 4 or 5 times now, and a couple of those were post 9/11. It is a hassle, but then getting your baggage, and re-checking in will always be. There's a good little bar there though in the departure lounge...great onion rings! It's just a rather long wait for them!

[sarahw]

Hi Moorf

We had to take our hand-luggage off but they left the luggage in the hold as it was a continuing flight which had just stopped to refuel.

They didn't make us do a Customs declaration and we didn't pass through Customs as we weren't officially entering the US. I can understand the paranoia with regards to terrorism but I thought it very strange that we had to have fingerprints & photos done just to sit in a transit lounge! :?

Hi clg, yes you are the only one who likes LAX I think!

[Tanya]

It took us over an HOUR to get from the plane into the transit lounge (a few metres away) via immigration - our stop was only supposed to be an hour! This new system delayed the flight taking off again. If anyone is considering flying via LAX I'd avoid it until they get the process working properly! :hopeso

Bye!

Assuming that you are not changing planes at LA then the simple solution which has worked everytime for us is to get off when they call for the 1st class, Business class and people going on to other flights to disembark. Everyone else has to wait on the plane until those people have got off. If you leave with the posh people you end up at the front of the finger print queue and can sit and have a cup of coffee whilst the people queueing from cattle class glare at you through the glass.

We came through on Saturday and brought 8 heavy suitcases so we really had no choice but to go Air NZ.

[Yogi]

Compared with the arses that work at Auckland airport LAX is a dream!

Yogi.

[Raeven]

Tanya!!!

You're back and posting!!! So?? How did everything go?? What's happening now?? How was getting out of the UK?? Huh?? Huh?? Huh?? HUH???

I'm so glad to see you've arrived safely, and I wish we could be there to meet up with you and everyone on November 13th.. I just want to hear EVERYTHING!!

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggggssssssss, Rae

[veronica]

Yogi, you have obviously meet a different set of airport officials to us, each time we have been through LA (3 trips) we have had to deal with rude suspicious and grumpy people, whereas everyone we have spoken to at Auckland (5 times through) has been good. Even the customs people who check the line with dogs in LA have been officious.

[Timbo]

Yogi, are you sure you didnt get the two airports the wrong way around there???
If not, then you are the first person that I know of who has had a bad time of it at Auckland a.p.

[Yogi]

In LAX they were sticklers for rules but a least fair, Auckland randomly pushed us to the back of queues that we waited in for over 2 hours without explanation and they also refused to allow us to take hand baggage on the flight even though it was weighed as within allowance at Heathrow.

If people's only experience in NZ was Auckland airport you can see why some people think Kiwi's are grumpy sods.

Have to say that everywhere else in NZ everyone else we met was fantastic however. Think there's something about Auckland airport gave them a personality transplant for the day!

Cheers,

Yogi.

[Timbo]

I think there may be something about Auckland and haveing to work there full stop.
It is sad when your first impresions of somewhere new are blackened, probably because some one got out the wrong side of the bed.

[Yogi]

Have to say though, overall rest of NZ must have agreed with me to a certain extent as we're off there soon, airport psychos and all!

Cheers,

Yogi.

[richard]

Tanya!!!

You're back and posting!!! So?? How did everything go?? What's happening now?? How was getting out of the UK?? Huh?? Huh?? Huh?? HUH???

I'm so glad to see you've arrived safely, and I wish we could be there to meet up with you and everyone on November 13th.. I just want to hear EVERYTHING!!

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggggssssssss, Rae

Ummm, I am embarrassed to say that I didn't realise that Tanya was logged on to my laptop so it was actually me. :oops: Hopefully she won't notice as she is too busy. :uhoh

We are fine albeit on an emotional roller coaster. We arrived on Saturday at 9am and by 2pm we were driving out to Rangiora and Kaipoi to check out rental properties. Given how tired we were I don't think this was a good idea as we didn't get a great impression of what was available. For the sake of the kids we were trying to find a rental in the same area as we would ultimately buy in and decent rental properties seem few and far between up that way. Once we met up with family and friends in ChCh we decided to concentrate our search nearer to them.

The bank account was opened on Monday without drama and credit cards ordered too. I have just checked and funds from the UK have finally arrived so it is spend spend spend tomorrow. :nice1

We then spent Monday PM driving round and round looking at rental properties in North West ChCh. Our two kids were as fed up as their parents by the end of the day. There are some real dives out there so it was rather depressing. Kiwi (Nic) hosted a barbie in our honour that evening and we met up with Moorf and Woz too. It was great to finally put faces to Avatar's and a good time was had by all. I hear I am in Kiwi's bad books though as I hardly spoke to her all night - too busy talking cars with the boys. (Will hopefully make up for it next week Nic). :oops:

On Tuesday Moorf and Woz generously offered to take the kids to the beach whilst we went off rental hunting again. When we got back at 2pm both kids and Moorf were totally soaked and covered in sand. It seems a bit odd dumping the kids on total strangers but as Tanya said it is like we have know them for a long time through being on line. The kids appeared to have had a great time and want to go again. Moorf and Woz seem to have totally settled in to the cafe lifestyle here in Sumner.

Anyway, the good news is that we managed to find a rental in Ilam that afternoon. It is not what we were after really but time was running out as we have to be out of the flat on Saturday. It is a 4 bed, typical NZ house with um 'interesting' wallpaper. There is a nice big garage for the Jag and what ever else we buy for Tanya and a bit of garden for the kids.

Today's job was car hunting and my initial desire to buy a Subaru Impreza Turbo to compliment the Jag has been shattered as now we have sat in one they are a bit too small and cheaply made. We had a go in a turbo Toyota station wagon this afternoon and the difference in the quality of the finish is quite noticeable. It appears to be almost as quick and since we have to hand the rental car back in two days I suspect we will just buy that. Friday is a holiday here so we would also loose a days car hunting anyway.

Once we have raided the bank we get the keys to the new house tomorrow so we will start migrating over there. I spent over an hour on the phone this morning arranging electricity, phone and Sky for it so we should settle in quite quickly. The call centre ladies here are so chattly and helpful. The Telecom lady even phoned Sky to see who had the most competitive price whilst I held on the phone!

Our container does not turn up until Dec 26th due to port problems in Southampton (xmas rush) so we will look to rent bits and pieces in the mean time.

Saturday is the famous ChCh barbie then we may dash over to the West Coast to raid Tanya's mums house to tide us over until the container arrives. Back on Monday for Shrek2 with Nic and brood.

The container packing went pretty smoothly (thanks PSS) although I have even more grey hairs from watching my car go in to the container. They had arranged for a flat bed truck to help get the car in but the one that turned up was too small. It was basically a foot too low! They reversed the Jag on to the flat bed truck then reversed the flat-bed up on to some car ramps then made the container driver reverse the huge lorry back all of 4 inches to close the gap a little. The packers then filled what little gap was left with wood and the car was slowly inched forwards. The wood creaked and groaned but luckily held. The best bit was that the weather was good. They had forecast stormy wet weather but we didn't get any in the end.

The other bit of good news is that two days before I left work my company asked me if I would continue working from NZ. It will initially be for 3 months but if I can prove it will work they may extend it for a bit. So Tanya and I will both be getting UK pay rates whilst sitting in ChCh. :nice1 :nice1

Everyone seems so friendly here. We went to the chemist as I had a sore throat and a sniffle. The assistant diagnosed it as a particulary bad case of 'man flue' and went to great pains to select suitable pills and potions for me. Whilst we paid she even went to get a glass of water for me so that I could start my treatment straight away. You wouldn't get service like that in the UK!

Anyway, we all caught bad colds from the flight (mine is worst of course) so Tanya and the kids went off to bed ages ago. Once we have the wireless broadband set up I am sure she will be back on line although I think I have told you everything already :laugh :laugh :laugh

[Iain & Liz]

Hello every body

We flew to christchurch via LAX yesterday and i am so glad we have two small, noisey, impatient, loud,grumpy little boys.
We went through every check point first,loaded, disembarked,Thank goodness for small things. :P
We had a fantastic flight the kids were great and so was iain as it was his first time flying.
Just a little advice if you have kids flying, we booked 3 seats [window to aisle]and one aisle seat opposite, so that we could take turns at sitting with kids.
We were so lucky that they slept most of the time.
BUT MAKING UP FOR IT NOW. :wah

LIZ

[Yogi]

Richard,

What model of Jag did you ship? How wide are containers inside?

Cheers,

Yogi.

[richard]

Yogi, it was a Jaguar XJR, a 98 to be precise. Once the car was in the container there was just enough room to walk down either side of the car. You could get in and out of the car but it was tight. For the record the car is 1799mm wide with the wing mirrors folded in.

Having spent most of the week driving around ChCh I think its 370bhp and 0-60 in 5.3 secs might be wasted here as everyone sticks very closely to the speed limit. A quick blast over to the West coast to see the in-laws might be in order though as the roads are superb :nice1

[veronica]

Sorry its off topic I know BUT

whooaa. Richard the police are always lurking on the roads between places, they know where they can catch the most people, so I wouldn't try it. They tend to just be an ordinary station wagon or van parked up on the side on the road too so they aren't obvious.

[Tanya]

Tanya!!!

You're back and posting!!! So?? How did everything go?? What's happening now?? How was getting out of the UK?? Huh?? Huh?? Huh?? HUH???

I'm so glad to see you've arrived safely, and I wish we could be there to meet up with you and everyone on November 13th.. I just want to hear EVERYTHING!!

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggggssssssss, Rae

Hey Rae

I am here!! Richard has sorted out broadband so I can use my laptop when he is on his so no fighting!!

Have had a helluva week and a half :wah Looking for places to rent and buying a car with 2 children isn't a recipe for a great time. nic(Kiwi) has been excellent, organising a BBQ at her house 2 days after we arrived,which was fantastic of her, we met Moorf & Woz there and they kindly offered to take the children to the beach the next morning for us to give them a break(and us!) Huge thanks to Helen for that - she was soaked by the time we picked the kids up - they all had a great time :wah

Finding decent places to rent I am sure are out there but we only gave ourselves a week to find a place and move in as Richard needed to have broadband in to be able to start work this week - which left us with no choices really - we wanted a lifestyle block but finding rentals in the area you intend to buy was difficult enough , then to find that they couldn't get broadband meant that was out of the picture. We saw the property we are in now on tuesday and got the keys thursday. We came over with some suitcases to find it had been broken into and mirrors and lights/lamps had been smashed and glass was everywhere. Long story but we only moved in on sunday. Not a good feeling I have to say - neighbours said it was kids but it has made us uneasy about the place. We only signed up for 6 months so hopefully, something better will come along before then.

As Richard has mentioned, we also bought a car within 6 days of arriving.

I had intended to allow the children off school until the new school year starting in January, but now we are here I feel it's better for them to try to fit in straight away so we are seeing the school tomorrow. This way they get a few weeks before they break up and hopefully will make some friends for the summer holidays. They need to get into the routine and with only a few weeks to go, hopefully they will be winding down for the end of year, so will settle in slowly.

Now I have typed all this, maybe I should have sent you a PM. Sorry everyone else. Have spent a fortune in shops and supermarkets. I have kept my receipts if anyone wants to know grocery prices etc.

Have you sold and moved - I feel like I have been off the forum for months, not 3 weeks! Let me know your news too,

Tanya