Clearing customs Immigration at LAX

[RokNRich 7]

OK, she has her flight from Manila to LAX. When she booked, they gave her a 12 hour layover in LAX before flying onto PHX.....not good.

Option A - I was going to drive out to LA and pick her up, I started adding up the costs associated ($4 gas anyone) and decided to look at other flights...

Option B - The last flight from LAX to PHX is 9:50 PM, her flight from Manila is supposed to arrive at 7 PM. The 950 PM flight is less than the cost of fuel to drive to CA and back.

Does anyone think that is enough time to clear customs and immigration and transferring to terminal 4 ? Coming on K-1 visa from Phils....

[SMOKE 1,426]

thats more than enough time. the longest its taken me to go thru customs at LAX was 1 1/2 hours.(6 trips) it was packed that time too. if the cost difference wasn't a huge budget issue, i'd pick her up anyway. you'd get to be w/ each other 4 hours sooner & spend the drive time together...she'd probably appreciate it too.

[RokNRich 7]

The cheapest way would be to let her spend the night in LA by herself, but we don't want to do that.....

Driving over and back would be about double the cost of just buying her an additional ticket, not too mention the 12 hours of drive time for me (6 for her)....

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Go to LAX and pick her up. LAX is intimidating even to experienced travelers.

Or, fly there, and fly back, if you don't want to drive.

Edited April 9, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

thats more than enough time. the longest its taken me to go thru customs at LAX was 1 1/2 hours.(6 trips) it was packed that time too. if the cost difference wasn't a huge budget issue, i'd pick her up anyway. you'd get to be w/ each other 4 hours sooner & spend the drive time together...she'd probably appreciate it too.

It took Marie four and a half hours to clear customs at SFO. She was the last one cleared on that flight.

When I flew over, it only took me 15 mins. There was only a handful of blue passports on that flight. I still had to wait an hour for my baggage though!

Edited April 9, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[Theresa0828 65]

OK, she has her flight from Manila to LAX. When she booked, they gave her a 12 hour layover in LAX before flying onto PHX.....not good.

Option A - I was going to drive out to LA and pick her up, I started adding up the costs associated ($4 gas anyone) and decided to look at other flights...

Option B - The last flight from LAX to PHX is 9:50 PM, her flight from Manila is supposed to arrive at 7 PM. The 950 PM flight is less than the cost of fuel to drive to CA and back.

Does anyone think that is enough time to clear customs and immigration and transferring to terminal 4 ? Coming on K-1 visa from Phils....

Can you fly to LAX and be on the same flight with her on LAX to PHX? That way you will be with her in that 12 hour wait... and perhaps you can surprise her too...

[Theresa0828 65]

OK, she has her flight from Manila to LAX. When she booked, they gave her a 12 hour layover in LAX before flying onto PHX.....not good.

Option A - I was going to drive out to LA and pick her up, I started adding up the costs associated ($4 gas anyone) and decided to look at other flights...

Option B - The last flight from LAX to PHX is 9:50 PM, her flight from Manila is supposed to arrive at 7 PM. The 950 PM flight is less than the cost of fuel to drive to CA and back.

Does anyone think that is enough time to clear customs and immigration and transferring to terminal 4 ? Coming on K-1 visa from Phils....

Can you fly to LAX and be on the same flight with her on LAX to PHX? That way you will be with her in that 12 hour wait... and perhaps you can surprise her too...

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Are you related to Almaty?

Don't worry! You would be in good company.

Edited April 9, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[A and T 82]

When she gets to LAX see if she can get a flight more near your area earlier. maybe you can pick her up but just some where closer/more locally

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Clearing immigrations at LAX can be a mess especially for first time immigrants, it is a huge ariport. The airport is a huge U shape for the terminals so once cleared everything is walkable as long as you can manage your luggage.

[charlie&pam 1]

i am in phoenix also you should have looked into flying hawaiin air pam was through customs in 15 minutes and the total time it took her to get here was 17 hours ....

[RokNRich 7]

i am in phoenix also you should have looked into flying hawaiin air pam was through customs in 15 minutes and the total time it took her to get here was 17 hours ....

Yup, I had planned on getting her a ticket on Hawaiin, she called from Manila and said she had a great deal lined up so I sent her money to get it (in the middle of my night).....turns out that great deal has a 12 hour layover at LAX......

Looks like I'm driving out...her flight actually lands at 2030, nothing later than 20:50 that I've found leaving LAX for Phoenix.....we'll stay the night somewhere and relax....