Long Haul First Timer Advice.

[HodgoBerro]

Hi guys, I was wanting to get some advice from the seasoned long haul travellers who've gone across the pacific to the USA.


It's my first ever long haul flight and I have a few queries.


I'm flying NZ2 from AKL to LAX which arrives at 2:45pm. I was looking at getting the a red eye from LAX to JFK and I saw that JetBlue is due to commence low cost business class on that route next month.



Should I spend the extra for a flat bed seat to get some shut eye over to NY as coming off a 12 hour flight?

My scheduled stopover time in LAX is 6 hours what advice do you have for anyone ie: immigration wait times/what to do in LAX before rechecking in my bags etc


Any advice on what to do long haul would be much appreciated please!

 

[Spacetravel]

Personally I hate long haul economy and do anything I can to get out of it trying all my options for upgrades. It really depends on how easy you can sleep in an economy seat. Personally for me I have a hard time even trying to get some rest in business class and no chance at all in economy. I haven't flown with AirNZ before to say what its like. To give you an idea what it would be like, think back to your longest economy flight, how you felt and how you would feel if that flight was 12 hours. After that could you wait 6 hours and do it again?

For me I get so sore and long haul economy destroys me. My last flight SYD > LAX > FLL after getting to LAX with a screaming baby next to me the whole flight and no sleep I immediately paid the extra money for business class upgrade LAX to FLL.

So I would spend the extra for the flat bed as a no brainier.

Do you have status with any of the airlines? Depending if you do there is probably a lounge you could go to.

LAX is pretty awful. The new TBIT - international flights is really good but domestic LAX is one of my most hated airports.

You should arrive via TBIT which immigration is a lot faster compared to before. You should be through it within an hour.

If you don't have status, you could check in to your domestic flight then get on a bus to one of the hotels. They are free and don't check anything.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi guys, I was wanting to get some advice from the seasoned long haul travellers who've gone across the pacific to the USA.


It's my first ever long haul flight and I have a few queries.


I'm flying NZ2 from AKL to LAX which arrives at 2:45pm. I was looking at getting the a red eye from LAX to JFK and I saw that JetBlue is due to commence low cost business class on that route next month.



Should I spend the extra for a flat bed seat to get some shut eye over to NY as coming off a 12 hour flight?

My scheduled stopover time in LAX is 6 hours what advice do you have for anyone ie: immigration wait times/what to do in LAX before rechecking in my bags etc


Any advice on what to do long haul would be much appreciated please!

Sure! I'd go for the flat bed on the domestic sector if you have some $ spare nothing like being able to stretch out and sleep when you are so physically tired your body aches!

 

[RooFlyer]

I agree with banana0692. if you aren't sure of good sleep on the long haul, after a 6 hour layover at LAX, the next 4 hours in the air till JFK would be a killer. Go for the biz seat/bed.

As for what to do in LAX. Ahem. May I suggest a look here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/destination-guide/illustrated-what-do-x-hour-58788.html