I don't know how others have found it, but I have the following common findings from my trips to the USA :-
After 9-11, entering the USA is now like trying to enter a fortress. If you hadn't had enough at (in)security, get ready to get searched at the gate too. Even flying DOM is a pain. I hope oz never ever ends up like this. oz security is FAR more civilised (and efficient) than this.
You get 'wanded' (metal detector) after walking through the stand up one, be ready to remove your shoes and get your feet wanded. If the TSA go and search your bag (you'll know if you're lucky, because you'll get SSSS on your boarding pass), leave it unlocked and DON'T go touching it, they get rather upset Mine asked me what a copy of Pl@yboy was doing there, so I told her it was the inflight magazine
Leave the checked baggage unlocked so the TSA can go and check that you're not carrying any naughty things in it Or you'll end up with broken samsonite combination locks.
Be ready to show the US immigration a return or onward plane ticket, and state why you're there. They seem to be paranoid that you'll stay there as an illegal immigrant.
AA lounges are good, but IMHO, QF lounges have the edge. But AA lounges have coughtails. The showers are o.k. too, but in LAX DOM, it took 1 hour at 1200 to get 15 minutes. So pass the coughtails.
And don't expect the priority baggage handling to have any effect. According to my last flight, it was supposed to come in on number 5, but the priority was mixed with the normal luggage and EVERYTHING went everywhere, and DIDN'T come off first.
After 9-11, entering the USA is now like trying to enter a fortress. If you hadn't had enough at (in)security, get ready to get searched at the gate too. Even flying DOM is a pain. I hope oz never ever ends up like this. oz security is FAR more civilised (and efficient) than this.
You get 'wanded' (metal detector) after walking through the stand up one, be ready to remove your shoes and get your feet wanded. If the TSA go and search your bag (you'll know if you're lucky, because you'll get SSSS on your boarding pass), leave it unlocked and DON'T go touching it, they get rather upset Mine asked me what a copy of Pl@yboy was doing there, so I told her it was the inflight magazine
Leave the checked baggage unlocked so the TSA can go and check that you're not carrying any naughty things in it Or you'll end up with broken samsonite combination locks.
Be ready to show the US immigration a return or onward plane ticket, and state why you're there. They seem to be paranoid that you'll stay there as an illegal immigrant.
AA lounges are good, but IMHO, QF lounges have the edge. But AA lounges have coughtails. The showers are o.k. too, but in LAX DOM, it took 1 hour at 1200 to get 15 minutes. So pass the coughtails.
And don't expect the priority baggage handling to have any effect. According to my last flight, it was supposed to come in on number 5, but the priority was mixed with the normal luggage and EVERYTHING went everywhere, and DIDN'T come off first.