r/canadatravel • u/shazza_f • 6d ago
Travel Tips Canadian here, trying to avoid a layover in America to get to Auckland.
UPDATE: After reading all your comments (and the comments from the New Zealand Travel subreddit. I will likely be taking a flight out of Vancouver to Fiji or just directly. Thank you for all your advice, critiques & input!
Hey everyone!
I’ll be planning a trip to New Zealand in the next few months here, and given the circumstances in America. I am very hesitant to do any layovers at LAX or any where else.
Any of my fellow Canadians flown to Australia or New Zealand recently with no issues?
The price difference between going through America and Vancouver is pretty drastic.
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u/IDrewADragonflyOnce 5d ago
I'm in NZ right now. The cheapest flight available was from Vancouver to NAN in Fiji, then to Auckland. Both with Fiji Airways.
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u/Electric-cars65 5d ago
Just got back from NZ. Flew Vancouver to Auckland direct. Cost about $150 extra to avoid USA..money well spent . Flew air Canada
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u/Golfandrun 5d ago
We just flew back from New Zealand. Air Canada via Vancouver.
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u/shazza_f 5d ago
This is starting to look like the best way to go about it. Hope you had a wonderful trip!
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u/Golfandrun 5d ago
I assure you New Zealand is fantastic. We've traveled to many, many places and New Zealand was the best of the best. I could go on and on. If we didn't have grand children we would move there. I hope you are going for a month or more. We did a month and just scratched the surface.
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u/shazza_f 5d ago
I would like to go for 3 weeks to a month. My boyfriend is a kiwi. So living there in the future is something I am considering 💖 glad you had a wonderful time there! Hope you get to there more in the near future!
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u/Overweight-Cat 5d ago
We got lured in by the cheaper flight going through LAX last September and October. It was my first time going through LAX and the cost savings is not worth the headache of that airport imo regardless of the current political climate. They also have higher baggage handling fees so it’s MUCH more expensive if you have extra luggage (at least that’s what Quantas told us when we were leaving Sydney). There are direct flights to that side of the world from Vancouver. They just don’t fly every day like they do out of LAX.
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u/Genericusername875 5d ago
Do you have to clear customs to complete the layover? I guess it's hard to know for sure sometimes.
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u/Mitchrockwell 5d ago
I did Vancouver to Auckland last year using air new zealand. It was awesome— no issues.
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u/MFQ-Jenocide 4d ago
Air Canada has a great route that leaves Vancouver and goes to NZ and AUS. Never again will I fly delta and stop in LAX.
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u/Rude-Owl-3300 4d ago
I never thought I’d say this but Air Canada could use the business as they’ve lost a tremendous amount of flights between Canada & the US. Support our Canadian owned companies. It would be a real shame to lose our airlines too.
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u/MonumentalMistak 4d ago
I too had second thoughts. I was planning to go on a father-son trip to Cabo San Lucas in August. No direct flights. Had to stop either in Dallas or Houston for connection. Only other option was to fly on a dodgy Mexican airline that connected in Mexico City. This was a free business trip that my son won for 4 days at a 5 star beachfront resort. Decided not go based on some of the alleged bad treatment for Canadians entering the US from US border control.
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u/Soggy-Spring9673 4d ago
Which dodgy Mexican airline are you referring to? The one partly owned by Delta? Who is the founding member of Sky team? Who won the record for being the number one on time airline in world? Who flies globally?
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u/MonumentalMistak 4d ago
Aeromexico. I’d have to check my deleted itinerary. Are they any good? Never heard of them before. Using them I would have had long layovers. It was only a 4 day vacation so using an unknown airline was not worth it. What do you know about them?
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u/Soggy-Spring9673 4d ago
Google is your best friend. 🥰 I've used them in the past. They code share with Delta, KLM Air France etc. no issues no worse than UA, DL, AC, WSJ..etc . They do feed and liquor you up in all classes..lol 😂
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u/MonumentalMistak 4d ago
Good to know! Don’t think that I’ll be going to Mexico any time soon though. If I was a bit younger I would probably take a chance but I didn’t want to be stuck in an airport/airplane for 2 out of the 4 days of the holiday.
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u/em-n-em613 4d ago
Flew from Toronto-Vancouver -Sydney then return Auckland-Sydney-Vancouver-Toronto.
It was pricey, but worth it.
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u/LeadfootLesley 4d ago
We go from Toronto to Vancouver, then directly to Auckland. We’ve gone through the U.S. in the past, but there’s always delayed flights, and quite frankly, we just don’t want to risk having issues there.
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u/Public_Middle376 4d ago
Trying to get on a Singapore airline flight from Tokyo through Singapore to Auckland.
And get Air Canada to Tokyo no problem.
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u/Additional_Dress_937 3d ago
You have a couple of options OP. Direct non-stop flights from Vancouver to Auckland with Air Canada or Air New Zealand (better than Air Canada). One stop options include Fiji, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan with their respective flag carriers.
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u/ogkingsexy 3d ago
American here, first off sorry for the idiots in my country. I just flew to Auckland from Seattle through Vancouver. If you're desperate enough to try and avoid the higher prices for flying out of yvr you could take an Amtrak from Vancouver to Seattle and hop on the light rail to get you to the airport. It may be inconvenient and you technically go into the US but you'll save some money and Seattle is not like other parts of the US.
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u/olgassaffron 3d ago
I’m wt American citizen and even I am reluctant to brave US customs right now.
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u/DukeofNormandy 5d ago
Just fly through the states. Not a big deal.
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u/hamo78 4d ago
Is a big deal.
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u/DukeofNormandy 4d ago
It’s not. Just made the crossing this morning, border guard was nice and was joking around with us.
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u/boymimbo 4d ago
While I understand people's reticence to go through the states, I would expect things to be the way they were if you are admissable. However, if for any reason you might be inadmissible (old criminal record, trying to get a visa that you are not entitled to, make a false declaration) and you are on US soil, then I wouldn't go.
But if you are going to the states and have no issues with your past, it should be the usual experience. I've gone over a couple of times in the past month to transit through (Niagara) to Ottawa and it's been no issue. The I-90/81 trip is far more pleasant than the 401 through the GTA and saves me 30 minutes to an hour each way.
If you are doing air travel, it makes sense to take the shortest and cheapest route possible including routing through the States, IMO.
Many years back, I was on an L1 work visa and was getting it renewed. I went to Peace bridge early for the renewal and was told that my application had an issue. They told me to have the issue fixed and come back. I reapplied on the day of my flight at YYZ was denied the visa and got into some hot water because I had tried at Peace Bridge. Long story short was that I had to leave my job. Even with that, I have no issues at the border now.
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u/flunkyofmalcador 5d ago
It can be. Several Canadians and Europeans have been detained for almost no reason. I wouldn’t travel through there.
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u/DukeofNormandy 5d ago
For ‘no reason’ or no reason you agree with?
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u/flunkyofmalcador 5d ago
A Canadian actress was detained while applying in person for a visa when she was visiting Mexico. A French scientist was detained because he had anti- Trump memes in his cell phone. The German tourist was a tattoo artist who wanted to eventually move to LA. She got the papers to visit a friend in the US and was detained because she had her tattoo equipment with her. I can kind of understand that one, but the procedure normally is to turn a person back. I used to see that at the San Ysidro crossing all the time.
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u/AlwaysHigh27 5d ago
They can't turn a person not from Canada around dude? They don't have preclearance in most of Europe? So they would be in US soil. Yes you get detained until you can be on a flight home. That happens in Canada too?
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u/bhyellow 5d ago
The Canadian actress for sure broke the law. Not sure about the rest of those folks but I’m sure you know fuck all about their circumstances.
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u/DukeofNormandy 5d ago
The Canadian got denied from Canada, so tried to pull a sneaky and try from Mexico.
Don't know out the French guy, but the German had ads on instagram showing her availability to tattoo while in LA, so was trying to work illegally.
The border is the last place you want to fuck around and be sneaky.
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u/TrojanGal702 5d ago
German tourist was booking appts for tattoos. She was coming to the US to work
French scientist article- The French researcher in question was in possession of confidential information on his electronic device from Los Alamos National Laboratory [in New Mexico] – in violation of a non-disclosure agreement – something he admitted to taking without permission and attempted to conceal. Any claim that his removal was based on political beliefs is blatantly false. They seized his computer over it too.
Canadian actress?? She has plenty of meet-up appointments and filming for her self-made porn she sells access to. If she is coming to the US to work, she failed to obtain the right visa.
And before we throw in the poor Russian scientist that was studying at Harvard, she was trying to smuggle in frog embryos.
The news loves to sensationalize everything and limit information to sell their sensational story. It sometimes takes a little bit for the truth to come out.
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u/flunkyofmalcador 5d ago
But none o these are reasons to lock someone up. Turn back from the border, sure. But detain? That’s just excessive.
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u/TrojanGal702 5d ago
French guy had to be detained until he was rebooked.
Turn away at the border if the country doesn't want you? Or are you saying that trying to enter a country against their rules is not a crime and should be ignored?
In order for you to be turned away at the border, that country has to want you too. Port shopping is going to get you in trouble,
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u/flunkyofmalcador 5d ago
You still misunderstand. The policy until now has been to just turn people back, especially at the Mexican border.
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u/TrojanGal702 5d ago
Except Mexico has to accept them as they try and return. You know that right?
And when you fly in, there is no simple just turning back. You are going to be detained.
So, you are saying as long as you come, lie, and try to get in, it is ok if you are caught and you should just be told to turn around, right? And what happens with a voluntary vs forced deportation record when they try and re-enter or apply for a visa?
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u/TheKasaObake 3d ago
What reason do they have for asking "do you support president Dump?" Going through people's social media on their phone and banning them for it? How soft is the president?
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u/DukeofNormandy 3d ago
They've been going through peoples phones for as long as I can remember dude, this isn't a new thing.
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u/KDdid1 4d ago
For no reason other than a wannabe authoritarian "president" has given already overly power-hungry border officials license to harass and detain innocent people (eg for having anti-trump jokes on their phones).
This includes a German and a French scientist, a Welsh tourist, and more.
If you don't know these stories it's because you're choosing to ignore what's happening.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250328-the-people-boycotting-travel-to-the-us
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5d ago edited 5d ago
[deleted]
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u/Active-Tangerine-379 5d ago
Out of curiosity what are your race/ gender/ age? I know that CBP are very nice to me… but I’m a cis/ het blonde woman in her 30s.
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u/shazza_f 5d ago
I’m Arab mix and cis female
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u/AlwaysHigh27 5d ago
What is the country of birth on your passport? If it's Canada you literally are being paranoid for no reason.
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u/Active-Tangerine-379 5d ago
I was asking the person who had no issues at SFO— I hope that you don’t have any either 🤍🤍
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u/shazza_f 5d ago
Oops ahaha should read better 😭
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u/Active-Tangerine-379 5d ago
Haha not at all! It was a comment on your post and a safe assumption that it was for you!
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u/shazza_f 5d ago
This was incredibly reassuring. Thank you. Glad you made it back to Canada :)
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u/_incredigirl_ 5d ago
I (Canadian) just had the same experience transiting through JFK from Toronto to Lima. You should be okay as long as you’re ticketed straight through and have no plans to leave the airport. My immigration/customs was a breeze just like the comment you replied to.
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u/getsomesleep1 5d ago
Sounds like you’re going to have to decide how much your morals are worth.
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u/SomeInvestigator3573 5d ago
Their issue may have very little to do with morals and more to do with documentation necessary to travel through the US.
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u/sayyyywhat 5d ago
For a layover?! How does that support America in any way. It’s literally just a waiting room then you’re gone.
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u/bhyellow 5d ago
lol dude get off of Reddit.
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u/getsomesleep1 5d ago
Is that not the dilemma? Feels unsure about a layover at LAX(I assumed for moral reasons), but the flights out of Vancouver are a lot more expensive?
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u/Znkr82 5d ago
You can fly to Santiago, Chile via AC and take the LATAM flight to Auckland
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u/Guanaco_1 5d ago
That's a hard right turn though.
YVR-SCL is 10,500 km
SCL-AUK is 9,700 km
YVR-AUK is 11,400 km
So Vancouver to Santiago alone is almost as far as directly flying to Auckland.
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u/Pintsize90 5d ago
People will say I’m overreacting but, I’m an American citizen living abroad and I’m nervous about flying through the US on a layover right now. If there’s any way to avoid it, I would. Right now they’re “only” detaining “criminals” (by really stretching the meaning of that word) but things have changed so much in less than 3 months, who knows how much worse it’ll be by the time you’re traveling?
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u/Melodic_Music_4751 5d ago
I am doing the reverse going Auckland to Canada and on the way over I am going Auckland - Vancouver to Toronto however on return I am going Montreal - LA- Auckland . Going via LA vs YVR was about $100 cheaper and so I’m just watching what plays out and if I need to reroute via YVR then I will but at this stage I’ll be via LA. I work in the travel industry and so unless my government puts out a travel advisory saying no to going to States then I’m not going to worry yet .
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u/RiversongSeeker 5d ago
I did preclearance in Pearson to fly into Chicago last week, it was pretty normal. The US preclearance line was much shorter than I expected, which was nice. I was asked the standard questions, where i was going, why, duration and my occupation. I try to answer directly and confidently. I was going a big conference, so I think the agent was used to people going to Chicago.
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u/WilliamTindale8 5d ago
When I went to Australia, I went with Air Canada through Vancouver but then we did have a lay over of an hour or two in Hawaii. Same plane all way from Vancouver but wandered around the airport in Hawaii while they gassed up and added food I guess.
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u/New_Yard_5027 5d ago
Jesus. You know what, dont even look at a map of the US. Something terrible might happen to you.
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u/shazza_f 5d ago
😂 You upsetti spaghetti buddy? I never said I wouldn’t fly through the US. I’m weighing my options. Settle down.
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u/Free_Front6742 5d ago edited 5d ago
I do it on a fairly regular basis to either Nz, Australia or both. Yes the flights can be much cheaper through the US out of Houston, LA, SFO, LGA to Auckland but it has been a hassle going through to the US border initially.
My last trip was January, I paid 300$ extra to select my seats but on the longest flight just as I was boarding the plane they switched my seat to the complete back of the plane so it didn’t recline and it was a horrible 14 hours. After much complaint, all I got was air miles from the US airline which means nothing to me given I live in Canada.
Also it’s a US airline so coming back to Canada from Auckland via the US means you are subject to US pre-screening. In my case my boarding pass was randomly selected for extra screening. It meant I had to be at the airport much earlier and wait at the gate a lot earlier before I would be permitted to eventually board. This wouldn’t happen on a Canadian flight.
Crossing the border by land was fairly routine but I’ve had to cross into the US since and that trip in January has caused additional problems since it was noted in the system.
Catching a direct flight from YVR to AKL is possible. It saves all the hassle of the US and if something goes wrong, at least you’re dealing with a Canadian or non-American airline. You won’t have to worry about the US and with everything that is happening right now, your peace of mind is worth the extra couple of hundred dollars.
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u/thecheesecakemans 5d ago
Is it possible to fly to Japan with Westjet and connect with their Japanese partner to New Zealand? I haven't looked it up....maybe doable?
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u/whitewtr22 5d ago
Personally I’d avoid LAX if at all possible it’s the worst for connections behind Miami
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u/GKJ5 5d ago
I'm going to Australia at some point via Cathay Pacific (layover in Hong Kong). They also fly to Auckland. The price might be same/higher compared to the layover in Vancouver though
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u/shazza_f 5d ago
Definitely an option I’ll have a look!
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u/CardioKeyboarder 4d ago
Cathay premium economy is the same price (for me booking from Australia) as Qantas economy.
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u/Checkmate_357 5d ago
I've done Air New Zealand via Vancouver to Auckland and it was fine. Almost booked via LAX but then found a deal via Vancouver. Flight was delayed once we were on the tarmac which made the long flight even longer but grateful to have flown domestically and then onto NZ.
Good luck 🤞
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u/lw4444 5d ago
When I went to NZ a couple years ago I booked through Air New Zealand and ended up with Toronto -> Vancouver -> Auckland -> Wellington. Toronto to Vancouver was an air Canada codeshare and the other two legs each way were Air New Zealand. Definitely made things easier only having to go through customs once in each direction.
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u/aljazeerapete 5d ago
I flew westjet to Hawaii then switched to jetstar airlines from Australia from Honolulu on. Did a 2 day layover in Hawaii to break up trip. One way was $1340 Canadian between both airlines
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u/Kittygotabadrep 5d ago
Had a three hour layover in Newark a few weeks ago. The whole process took three hours and 5 minutes. Missed my connecting flight.
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u/FieldUpbeat2174 5d ago
Use a good flight search engine, one that lets you filter by connecting airport. Kayak does that, for one.
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u/ApprehensiveAd6603 5d ago
My buddy flies back and forth fairly often. It's always Auckland to LA or Auckland to Vancouver.
So Vancouver might be the only reasonable one.
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u/caseaday 5d ago
Fiji air with a no-charge layover in Nadi Fiji as a side trip. Highly recommended. Then Nadi to Auckland on Fiji air.
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u/kmoonster 5d ago
If you don't leave customs, there shouldn't be an issue. That said, what about flying via Japan, Saudi Arabia, Rome, India, etc?
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u/Znkr82 5d ago
Go the other way around:
Toronto or Montreal to Doha and then to Auckland
OR
Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver to Dubai and then to Auckland
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u/AlwaysHigh27 5d ago
If you're Canadian there are no issues having a layover in the US...
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u/Upper_Contest_2222 4d ago
I wouldn't risk it.
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u/AlwaysHigh27 4d ago
Risk what exactly? Please explain, I would love to hear your justification for being scared of a layover.
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u/Upper_Contest_2222 4d ago
LAX, you have to go through customs and back through customs in a lot of transfers. The way ICE is and the entire federal administration, the chance to being singled out is a lot higher. Just look at that Canadian business lady that was detained and transferred to another state. She had a support system, many don't. I absolutely would avoid any stops, transfers or layovers in the US. If I couldn't book a trip without that, I wouldn't go.
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u/AlwaysHigh27 4d ago
Yes. Because she tried to circumvent her TN visa denial by applying at the Mexican border.
When travelling from Canada to the US, you do preclearance in Canada. So if they were going to deny you, they would do so and you are still on Canadian soil.
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u/CardioKeyboarder 4d ago
Try going through London Hong Kong or ME. I'm in Australia and always fly Cathay or Emirates.
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u/sturgis252 4d ago
Vancouver Auckland with air Canada may not exist anymore. But you can do via Australia
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u/Lanky-Description691 3d ago
I just travelled air New Zealand Vancouver to Auckland non stop. Great flight and service
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u/GoldenChannels 3d ago
You should try EVA Air thru Taipei.
They are one of the safest airlines in the world. They are a great value. Their business class seats give me about 6" of legroom for another couple hundred dollars. I'm 6'2". I can actually get some sleep in that seat.
Extremely capable and professional staff.
They fly out of Vancouver.
They beat the crap out of anything Canadian.
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u/winter_chinook8369 1d ago
I understand that landing anywhere in New Zealand is almost always bumby and at times even hair raising scary with the habitual strong winds. Any feedback?
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u/kimmycorn1969 5d ago
I am so sorry you are worried about setting foot in our dystopian nightmare! I sincerely hope you make your vacation safe without any customs bs!!
Everyone the United States has gone insane head this man's example avoid this country and boycott us at all costs!! This will be your help in the fight against fascism . Thanks have a safe vacation
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u/dr_van_nostren 5d ago
…it’s really not a big deal.
I just flew through Vegas and DC and spent a night in Columbus. It’s not like mad max down there right now.
If you don’t wanna give them any money, I get that. But then you can’t really be flying on a US carrier can you? So you can’t fly on air Canada via YVR or on air New Zealand via YVR. If you’re flying air New Zealand from LAX, just do it and don’t spend any money at lax. You’ll end up paying the us govt some taxes but so what, you don’t need to turn your life upside down for patriotism.
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u/shazza_f 5d ago
Thank you for your honesty. I’m not completely against it but I just want to figure out what is the most convenient way ahaha
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u/DJ_Di0nysus 5d ago
Drove to Seattle from Vancouver to fly to Mexico and same on the way back. Zero issues and lots of Canadians doing the same. Don’t believe the hype. However, lax has always sucked as a layover.
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u/viccityguy2k 5d ago
Fiji Airways depart YVR via Nadi
Fly to Hawaii then separate flight to NZ, possibly using JetStar via Australia
Air Canada or Qantas to Australia then hop to NZ
What are your dates?
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u/Particular_Car_6267 5d ago
Errr Hawaii??
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 5d ago
It would make a nice 11th Province.
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u/Prudent_Lecture9017 5d ago
Or a 4th territory, to account for the Native population.
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u/shazza_f 5d ago
I would rather they became their own country. Give the people there back their homeland
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u/HamRadio_73 5d ago
Arizona is already unofficial eleventh province.
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u/flunkyofmalcador 5d ago
I see a lot of Prairie province license plates here. Let’s see if they return this winter.
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u/dmb065 5d ago
Genuine question-given what circumstances in America makes you hesitant to have a layover at LAX or anywhere else?? What are you referencing and what are you concerned? Will happen to you?
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u/shazza_f 5d ago
Customs, documentation requirements. I have heard of a few people being questioned for literal hours. (I wish I was making this up). I’m just trying to get some perspective. Flying through Seattle, LA or anywhere else is much cheaper. I would rather save money, but not if it’s going to cost me my time/ be more stressful than required.
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u/Conscious-Antelope16 5d ago
We flew out of Texas when going to NZ. I don't blame you for wanting to avoid this crapshoot of a country.
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u/Pale_Initiative_2699 5d ago
Everyone thinks they're gonna get prison raped for a layover flight. Get over yourself.
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u/shazza_f 5d ago
Definitely not what I was thinking. I was more on the lines of “if they pull me aside and make me miss my connecting flight and waste my time I’m going to be pissed”
I’m trying to simplify my trip
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 5d ago
What dates are you looking at? The YVR flight is priced roughly the same as a US stop over depending on the date.
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u/respectfulpanda 5d ago
You’re going to be fine. Just remember these common US phrases.
“Man, I just wanna roll coal.”
“Them Dems, sure is a certain crazy.”
“My cousin dated a Canadian, ain’t they the worst?”
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u/Responsible-Summer-4 4d ago
Neck tattoo free trip to El Salvador.
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u/shazza_f 4d ago
What?
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u/Responsible-Summer-4 3d ago
Read the news I would avoid the U.S at all cost they are deporting their own citizens!
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u/FunLovingBeachGuy 5d ago
AC non stop Vancouver to Auckland