Flying UK to Australia via LA

[jollyjester]

Hi has anyone done UK to Australia via LA before? Will be travelling with an 8 year old and a 3 year.

Planning a trip next year but we've only ever gone via Asia but I'm seeing a great deal with 2 days in LA on the way over and the way back.

In terms of jet lag how did it differ?
What can I do for 2 days in LA with 2 children?

Thanks for any advice

Hopeful bump for the night time crew

Benefits of flying via LAX used to always be double luggage allowance for some reason. Not sure if that is still the case. (Been 5 years since I've flown through, now do the Emirates route) Jet lag will be taxing as ever. Be prepared for a special kind of hell that is USA customs and border patrol ! Happy travels x

Which airline would you use for such a routing?.

Honestly I would avoid such a route like the plague and fly eastwards via Singapore instead.

Transitting through LAX can be both time consuming and stressful and may also involve a change of terminals (at LAX these can be some fair distance apart). Travelling west means you "gain" time so jetlag would not be so much an issue going to LA. Its from there on in and crossing the International Date Line that you would notice more. You would also need an ESTA completed online for all members of your party.

The link below details Air New Zealand's procedures for their flights via LA:-

www.airnewzealand.co.uk/connecting-at-los-angeles

.

Where in Australia are you flying to/from? Check connection times, particularly if you're transferring inside Australia, and facilities at the terminals you will be waiting in.

We're flying into Sydney and thats our only Australia stop. We've done it a few times but only with 1 child in tow and via asia.

The flights I've seen have a 2 day stop over in LA so no transiting.

Flights are all with virgin Atlantic and virgin Australia. The LA to Sydney leg is an over night 14 hour flight that gets into Sydney in the morning so thats why I thought it might be better jet lag wise. I forgot about the date line!!