Beware Qantas Longhaul

[Bronski]

I'm flying back to London from New Zealand with my four year old son - just the two of us - and Qantas have changed our flights since booking so we now have a TEN HOUR wait in LA between flights.

They say they cannot change it and that if we want to stay overnight in LA they will charge us £150 to change our flights. They couldn't have been more unhelpful.

Any suggestions on what to do in LA for a few hours gratefully received!

What time of day/night will you be there?

I am sure there are a few people on here who live in LA. I can't really remember the distances involved but LA has Disneyland and Universal Studios and well as other places to do studio tours. Or you could just go and chill out in Long Beach.

I'd take a cab or bus to Santa Monica. Its just up the coast from LAX about 20 min drive, you can visit the boardwalk and beach, walk along the Promenade, its v. pedestrian friendly and you can do a bit of shopping, theres plenty to keep you occupied and lots of places to eat.

Assuming you're there during the day!

I'd take a cab or bus to Santa Monica. Its just up the coast from LAX about 20 min drive, you can visit the boardwalk and beach, walk along the Promenade, its v. pedestrian friendly and you can do a bit of shopping, theres plenty to keep you occupied and lots of places to eat.

Assuming you're there during the day!

What time will you get into LAX?.

If leaving the airport is indeed an option I would suggest somewhere like Santa Monica to visit for a few hours.

Bear in mind that you will have to go through Customs and Passport control (can take a while) and will have to check in 3 hours before your next leg. Will leaving the airport be worth it?

If so what about going to an airport hotel? Find one with a pool so that your LO can let off some steam and you can relax, take a shower, etc. Or you may be better off just paying up to QANTAS (yah boo hiss)

yes, I'd book into an airport hotel. After that first leg, last thing you'll want to do is organise trips. Find a reasonable hotel in/v close to the airport, book the room and go and chill till you leave again. What a pita.

Would agree with an airport hotel option. Nap, play, shower, food, wander, maybe a swim. Will rejuvenate you both.

Sorry but I'd go back to the travel agent and get them to get date changed maybe?

The 2 movie studios are quite different. If you go to Universal, the areas you get to see are more theme park than studio.

The Warner Brothers tour is more of a real studio. The props department is interesting, you get to see sets for shows they're filming and you may even see filming in progress. They were filming ER when we visited, IIRC. If you're interested check whether advance booking is required for the tours.

The Queen Mary at Long Beach is moderately interesting. The beaches at Santa Monica and Venice Beaches are nice places to chill and of course you can spend some time wandering around Hollywood.