Damn terrorists!

[Allee]

So I fly back to New Zealand in four weeks. We have to route through LAX, which is bad enough in itself given that they have the rudest and most obnoxious staff of any airport on the planet, but with this security thing it's going to be a nightmare. I hope a three hour connection is enough to get through the screening queues, it certainly won't give us enough time to enjoy a sit-down dinner.

On top of that, we're now facing a 12 hour flight to NZ (and back again) with no portable DVD player, no MP3 player, no herbal sleep aids and no Gatorade. Guaranteed the movie will suck.

I swear, if I ever meet a terrorist, I'm going to nail him right in the nether regions...

[Tommy D]

You don't go through customs in Calgary? Last time I flew out of Calgary, I went through customs there, not when I landed in MSP (Mineapolis) or BDL (Bradley-Hartford, CT).

Seems strange to me that you'll be doing the customs thing in LAX, after already being cleared in Calgary.

[skatha]

If she has a lay over in LA, she'll have to clear customs...or NZ may be requiring inbound passengers not to have the above listed items...
I saw that the incoming Brits couldn't have the electronics, and that was my first thought, too-how awful to be stuck on a plane with no spare diet Coke or mp3 player

[Allee]

LAX is a law unto itself. For anywhere else in the US you can clear Customs in Calgary. For LA, you have to pick up your luggage (all of it) and clear customs again there, walk around the corner, transit your bags, and then you can go off and stand in the screening queue for hours...

I flew through LA to Canada the March after 9/11. Then, you not only had to wait an hour for your bags, but you had to RECHECK, the airlines weren't allowed to check you all the way through. They made you take all your bags, have them all X-rayed, and then put them in a quarantine pen. When you got to the check in counter, you pointed out your bags to the attendant, and he gave them to the airline staffer to put on the conveyor - you weren't even allowed to TOUCH them after they'd been X-rayed. The couple in front of me were travelling with a baby and their carry on was overweight, so they made them repack all their bags and repeat the whole process, the poor girl was nearly in tears. It took almost four hours to load our plane, and needless to say we were nearly 2 hours late leaving.

Next time I am flying through SFO...

[Tommy D]

Well, that's my question though. Does she go through customs in Calgary too? Calgary Airport is setup such that all international flights go through customs before departure. I've never heard of going through customs during a layover; international inbound and outbound flight terminals are typically the same terminal, so if she clears customs once, why should she need to go through it again?

Unless... (Yes the light is dawning ...) her flight from Calgary lands at a LAX domestic terminal, then she needs to transfer to an international terminal to leave the US. IE - Calgary customs clears her for entry to the US, and then the LAX customs clears her for entry to NZ.

Oh well, it's a long trip, for sure, and I don't like waiting at customs at all. It took me 2 hours to get through customs in Calgary. :(

EDIT: Allee, we posted at the same time. I'll make a note to self not to fly through LAX if I can avoid it.

[skatha]

Fly thru Houston, instead-all international flights are in the same terminal...
and, if you want, I can hook you up with some great food-pick your country....
Or you can tour the Saint Arnold's brewery...
Or see the world's flattest city! You'll be able to see downtown Houston 20 miles away from the second floor on the terminal, or any overpass

[Allee]

in February. Going to Belize was OK, coming back we had an officious a$$hole of a customs officer who proceeded to lecture me about the visa waiver program, all because I forgot to give my stub to the airline when I was leaving the country. So what, I gave it to you, just process it, will ya? My other half is the world's most nervous traveller and I'm sure he was having visions of me being marched off and strip searched.

But it's a nice airport and the food was good, I remember. ;)

[bartron]

On top of that, we're now facing a 12 hour flight to NZ (and back again) with no portable DVD player, no MP3 player,

Those poor unfortunate souls that don't have noise-cancelling headphones will certainly suffer on flights with children. :)

On the other hand, I'm sure the airlines will be willing to rent you some headphones that you can use to listen to the on-board music selection. :lol: Actually, that would be the nail in their coffins, since people would certainly quit flying. I have to go to Toronto in 2 weeks, and I'm going to look into taking the train.



no herbal sleep aids and no Gatorade. Guaranteed the movie will suck.

Bring an empty bottle, they should allow it. Once on board, ask the flight attendant to fill it with water. If she declines in any way, tell her she either fills it now or brings you one of those barely-bigger-than-a-shot-glass cups with water every 15 minutes for the next 4 hours. :)

At least their still allowing living humans on board....at least for now.

'later...

[skatha]

Bad news, NTSA says current recommendations are in effect indefinitely....

Richard Reid pulled his little shoe trick 5 years ago and we're still pulling off the shoes....

I, for one, like carrying water.....I hate flying and taking a little nip here and there works the best for my nerves....

I guess I'll have to go back to beer and being sloppy drunk :smashfrea


It just looks bad-all those early morning flights, all that beer

[Gecko]

the media is lying to everyone to make matter worse. The TSA says (http://tsa-7.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/tsa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=254&p_created=1155227254&p_sid=CWG_YTei&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfc m93X2NudD0xNiZwX3Byb2RzPSZwX2NhdHM9JnBfcHY9JnBfY3Y 9JnBfcGFnZT0x&p_li=&p_topview=1) the computers cell phone and ipods are still legal

[bartron]

I have to go to Toronto in 2 weeks, and I'm going to look into taking the train.
I just crunched the numbers, comparing Montreal-Toronto round-trip by plane vs train from my place in near downtown to downtown Toronto during the week. (service level: economy)

Plane:

Cost: $418
Time: 3hrs minimum, each way

Train:

Cost: $270
Time: 5hrs minimum, each way


For the flight, I used 30 minutes as the minimum time before departure that I have to arrive at the airport. For the train, I used 15 minutes.

The way I see it, the big advantage with the train is that I don't have to go through customs and I don't have to use a taxi to get to and from the train station either in Montreal or Toronto. But, since my employer is paying for the trip, I'll go with the plane and collect some aeroplan miles. :)



Bring an empty bottle, they should allow it. Once on board, ask the flight attendant to fill it with water.

After reading the reports, I realize that they only forbid water and gel-like substances. Which means we should be able to bring an empty bottle and a pouch of Gatorade powder on board, and mix it when on board. Although I would not recommend drinking Gatorade unless, you're desperately dehydrated (the body absorbs water quicker when there's a little bit of sugar in it) or just before, during or after very intense exercise, which is what it was designed for. After all, it's simple sugar.

'later...