WE fly into LAX on the 2/8, arriving at 12.40pm. Our choice is to stay one night in LA and fly to Nola the next day or could we make the connection of the 5.59pm flight to NOLA? We, is my husband, my 19yo son in a wheel chair, my self and three suitcases.

There are pros and cons for both scenarios, go to a hotel ,get a good nights sleep and then fly out the next day with no rushing to make connections but we would wasting about $300 AUD and one day in travel. Or rush to make the connection, get to our hotel and wake up in New Orleans! Our son is an epileptic and I have concerns about him being over tired, we couldnt afford business class flights but have booked the Skycouch seats on Air New Zealand, so he should be able to get a decent sleep and then can sleep in the next morning if we are in New Orleans.

But first, is there enough time to get through Customs, get our bags, get to the domestic terminal and check in in time for the 5.59 to NOLA?

Is it safe to arrive in NOLA at midnight? I would book a direct transfer to the hotel but there may be waiting involved.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Which airlines/terminals? One ticket or two?

But -- assuming you land on time that would be plenty of time - generous really. If they are different tickets you won't be able to check your bags through. You will have to collect them in any case but if they are checked through you just need to drop them off and continue to your departure terminal/gate. If they are separate tickets you then need to schlepp your luggage to the new terminal.

You probably land at Tom Bradley - which often has enormous immigration queues. If it was me - that would be a extremely long travel day and I'd be inclined to book a hotel in Manhattan Beach, relax, have a nice dinner, and fly to Nola the next mid-morning.

Yes sorry its Tom Bradley airport and they are different tickets.

>>. . . and they are different tickets.

I too would be inclined to spend the night. That is one long flight for you, and if you can check into a nice hotel for the night, Manhattan Beach is close to LAX, take a shower, relax, walk on the pier, have a good dinner and more importantly a good night's sleep, I have to think New Orleans is going to look a lot better to you.

Is your son's wheelchair motorized? If you spend the night in Manhattan Beach (where I live), you should know that the pedestrian path along the beach is not flat in the pier area, and the sidewalk from the pier area to most of the shops and restaurants is extremely steep for the first two blocks and continues to rise in the third block. IMO, pushing a wheelchair up the first two blocks would be nearly impossible, and if the sidewalks are wet from rain it could even be dangerous. (February is our rainiest month.)

If you're trying to keep this simple,I wouldn't consider Santa Monica. It can easily take 45 minutes each way, the fare wouldn't be cheap, etc. Is 300AUD your budget for lodging that night? If so, look at the Aloft Hotel, Fairfield Inn and Hampton Inn near LAX. Hire a taxi/Lyft/Uber to take you to dinner in El Segundo or Manhattan Beach and maybe make a stop at the MB Pier for a short stroll. There is a parking lot with flat access to the Pier.

Are you using Delta from LAX to MSY? Have you BOUGHT the LAX-MSY ticket already? Are you aware of which terminal your connecting airline flies out of at LAX? It could be from a terminal right next door to the Bradley arrival terminal.

You keep using the term "rushing" to make a connection...you are going to HAVE to collect your baggage anyway for Customs/Immigration since the flight from LAX to MSY is a domestic one and you will go THROUGH Customs/Immigration AT LAX, NOT in New Orleans.

Thank you Jean, that's very helpful information. My sons wheel chair is a push chair so I think the pier may be out of the question. Thanks Dukey1 for those extra questions, I know I haven't finished all my research yet and yes we will have to do all those things. I just remember a few years ago we flew into LAX and had to transfer for a flight to NY and at the time I thought we had plenty of time but the queues were so great we ended up having to run a long way to the gate. I don't want to have to do that with a wheelchair this time.

I think you ask the airlines for assistance getting to your flight. I don't know the airport, but this would seem to be a perfect use for that service.

On two separate tickets that is not enough time IMO. Last time I flew into LAX it took me 90 minutes to clear Immigration and Customs, there is a separate line for US citizens.I was using wheelchair assist also.
Stay overnight and fly to NOLA the next day.
From many LAX hotels there is the Ocean Express trolley that goes to Manhattan Village mall and Manhattan Beach Pier, $5pp roundtrip but I could not tell from their website if they are handicap accessible or not.

I'm really not understanding the time issue. The way you have it listed, you have more than 5 hours between flights in the same airport. This is doable, even with clearing customs and rechecking. Even with changing terminals.

We've sped through customs twice at LAX and hit a far shorter connection. And even though that was on a single ticket, the fact remains that you can still do this easily because your LAX-MSY flight only requires check-in an hour before you board, NOT three hours.

Simply stated, 319 minutes between connections at one airport is NOT rushed. Even at Heathrow or Sydney's own daft set up where you have to navigate terminals that are far apart, a 5+ hour connection is easy. Just the fact of the connection and going through customs is what sucks.

Would not risk trying to make the connection not because there wouldn't be enough time, but because it sounds like you don't know how tired your son is going to be. Well the sky couch is relatively comfortable it's certainly not a business class life flatbed or seat. And if your son is tired and stressed I doubt that you want to be rushing to make a connection if the plane is late or the lines are long etc.

I don't know if the 300 is what your budgeting for a hotel for that night or if you're saying those are the change fees for changing ticket you've already purchased. And then event I think it's well worth staying in a hotel that night and resting up especially if you encounter any difficulties along the way.

5.25 hrs is more than enough time, and Wednesday afternoons are one of the quietest periods at airports. If everything is on time out of New Zealand, that should be no problem.

However, if you leave New Zealand more than 2 hours late (very unlikely) , things would be very tight. You'd know this in New Zealand however and likely could book a room for the night from there. I've never traveled with a wheelchair so I don't know which would be more cumbersome for you.....getting to a hotel in Los Angeles for just one night, unpacking/packing and then back to the airport next morning for another flight......or just making your one long flight day and night a rushed 24-hour ordeal and getting it all done.

The $150 Delta economy tickets to New Orleans are not changeable or refundable, and they will not credit the $150 towards purchase of new tickets, they would just be lost. New last-minute tickets are currently pricing at $260. The Delta Comfort Fare of $230 allows a change, but there is a $200 charge per ticket to make the change.
All domestic tickets will have extra fees for your bags.
Summary: Economy ticket, if you were late and missed your Delta Flight, would end up having cost $410 pp. Comfort ticket $430pp.

I checked our budget carrier Southwest Airlines for you and their last-minute fare is $550 so in this case they would not work out any better for you should your first plane be delayed.

Also the on-time performance of your Air New Zealand flight is pretty good. It is on-time 85% of the time and when delayed averages 30 minutes delay.

The La Quinta Inn near LAX has a 6pm day-of-arrival cancellation policy. So you could lock in a room, then if everything goes smoothly and you transit off to New Orleans that evening, you could cancel your reservation and not be charged. You'd just have to remember to cancel it before 6pm on Wednesday, which you could do from a public phone at LAX if your phone is not USA ready at the time.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate all your advice

"BigRuss on Jul 16, 17 at 12:20pm
I'm really not understanding the time issue. The way you have it listed, you have more than 5 hours between flights in the same airport. This is doable, even with clearing customs and rechecking. Even with changing terminals. "

I agree. I'm from L.A. and fly in and out of LAX all the time. I just came home, from overseas, a week ago. I don't see it being a problem catching the connecting flight. Plus Tom Bradley terminal is in the middle of the U-shaped airport. I fly out and into it often.

As for going to a hotel, I see that as more exhausting than just going straight to NoLa and checking into the hotel late and then getting a really good night's sleep and waking up the next morning already in NoLa.

Have fun in NoLa. I go every spring and have a ball. It's a great place.

Happy Travels!

Oh, as for arriving into NoLa at around midnight, I don't see that as a problem. Just let your hotel know that you will be arriving late.

The airport there isn't very big and you should be able to easily get a taxi. Plus, since you've already cleared customs in L.A., then when you get to NoLa, you'll only need to collect your luggage and off you go.

I have arrived into NoLa during the busiest time of the day and have either taken the airport shuttle directly to my hotel or have walked out and there was a taxi right there and in I went. It's never been a problem.

Happy Travels!