[jamilliah]

Hi guys anther question again...has anyone done this to avoid L.A airports?...we will be taking either laguardia or jfk airport.just for you to know..is it a good idea..or will the hours of flight me longer?

[Oregonkiwi]

if you're trying to avoid LAX, how about San Francisco? Air NZ flies direct SFO-AKL, same flight time as LAX-AKL, and SFO is a really nice airport without the crowds.

[Bruckner]

Nothing connects out of LaGuardia but it looks like Continental has a flight out of Newark that connects to an Air New Zealand flight in Honolulu. CO #15 flies non-stop from Newark to Honolulu (10 hrs 35 mins) then connects with AZ # 9 (9 hrs 15 mins) which flies non-stop to Auckland. There is a 5 hour and 50 minute layover in Honolulu.

Oregonkiwi's idea is the best way to go.

Emily

[khhill]

We flew out of John Wayne in Anaheim to Hawaii with Aloha Air. Much smaller and nicer airport than LAX. TSA agents even smiled and called us by name when wishing us well on our journey!

PS: at least as of February, they had FREE Wifi as well :D

[G&K]

A friend of mine flew Auckland, Tahiti, N.Y, London - can't remember the airline though... Think the last leg was Airlingus though...

Sorry that wasn't much use was it ?

[Sean-n-Judy]

Can I ask why you want to avoid LAX?

[KerryS]

I've done Auckland - Tahiti - New York flying with Air Tahiti Nui. I was a bit sceptical about them, but the flight was excellent. And the return leg meant I got to spend a few days in Tahiti too.
May be worth checking them out - they were a lot cheaper than AirNZ/United going San Fran - New York.

[toesonthenose]

Aloha,
I guess that gives away my answer! Continental flies Newark to Honolulu daily, the Honolulu to Auckland is only 2 or 3 times per week, depending on time of year. Having said that, why not take a little break in the Islands before heading down to NZ? Of course going through SF or Tahiti (Kahiki) would be just as nice. I guess just look at the prices and see what you want.
Mahalo Nui, Shaun

[tigerlily]

A bonus of a stop over in Hawaii, is that it will help with the jet lag quite a lot- I think it's only an hour off NZ time.

[jamilliah]

Hi sean -n-judy...my parents just wanted to know that its an option..um we know when booking ticket time comes we could ask this of the agent.but they just heard that LAX is annoying and hectic and just wanted a different route...everyone traveling from new york city.would usually do a ny-lax-then nz....but i never heard of a ny-hawaii-nz..its seems to be around the same flight hours...
somone suggested sanfran airport....forgot about that one.we may do that to..
but i read that american trans air does a special for jfk to hawaii...a direct flight there.heres a little read on it...
http://gohawaii.about.com/library/weekly/blhd012201.htm

so if we could do that and get a connecting flight to nz.that would be sweet.should be possible...

just weighing my options*

[Jameelka]

We flew via LAX and stayed there 3 nts last week,an absoluted doddle compared to the chaotic and madness of Heathrow!
We arrived at LAX airport for out flight from LAX-AKL early thinking it would take ages,took 20 mins from the moment we arrived to sitting in the departure lounge! and we had 8 cases plus hand lugagge.Could n't have been easier!
Mel :exit

[Park City Partner]

Just as a point of information...Air NZ is in terminal 2 of LAX one of the least used terminal as none of the major US airlines fly out of term. 2. Additionally, Air NZ flights are later at night when things at LAX have mellowed out quite a bit. Everytime, I have flown from LAX to NZ it has been very easy.

I guess part of it would be influenced by which airline you were flying into LAX on. If you were flying a major airline I am guessing it would be either American or United. LAX is a horse shoe shaped terminal with term1 and term 7 being at either end of the U. United is at term. 7 and American is term 4...just off the bottom of the U (closer to 7) as the International Term. is at the bottom. There are buses that take you to other terminals but if you have the time you can walk (if your luggage isn't too much) as it is nice to stretch your legs before the long flight.

[Toronto_Kiwi]

Just as a point of information...Air NZ is in terminal 2 of LAX one of the least used terminal as none of the major US airlines fly out of term. 2. Additionally, Air NZ flights are later at night when things at LAX have mellowed out quite a bit. Everytime, I have flown from LAX to NZ it has been very easy.


I've connected in LAX (Los Angeles) to Auckland (return) twice now and the LAX to Auckland portion is fine... it's the return that's been a problem. I think LAX is not very organized with moving luggage between terminals and especially since you have to collect your bags on arrival in LAX and then check them in again for your connecting flight. I lost my luggage both times I've flown AKL to LAX to Toronto.
We're flying through San Fran this fall: there aren't as many flights but we swore we'd never connect through LAX again if we had another option.

[Going2NZ]

I'll chime in on the avoid-LAX-at-all-costs opinion. LAX is the most poorly organized airport I've ever been in. It was bad pre-Sept 11 but it is 10 times worse now with the extra "precautions" they've put in. If you have any mobility issues or the least tendency to road-rage (air-rage?) or you just don't want to start off your life in NZ with a sour experience, I'd avoid it.