Whether the person asking the question has a visa to enter the US or not is largely irrelevant with regard to this question. Any passenger setting foot in a US airport having entered from another country will have been legally admitted into the US once they have cleared customs and immigration. In other words, having a visa (which isn't even necessary for Canadian citizens) isn't a necessary requirement for this person leaving the airport at LAX, since persons entering the US go through the customs and immigration process at the point of entry, not the final destination.
Also, it should be noted that customs and immigration may not necessarily eat into this time, depending on the airport in Canada from which she is departing. Many Canadian airports have US Customs and Immigration pre-clearance -- meaning that the border check is done at the Canadian airport before departure, and not at LAX upon arrival. This service is offered at most of the major Canadian airports (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax) -- so if this is the case, there is no additional time that would be spent in LAX clearing customs and immigration.
If that is, indeed, the case, then you might have a little bit of time to leave the airport, but you won't likely get very far. Given that you'd have to reclear security and get back to the gate before they close your next flight, your three and a half hours is really only about two hours out of the airport. If I had five or more hours, I'd consider it, but with three and a half, you lose enough time in security and dealing with your next flight that you end up losing half of the layover before you even consider what to do with the other half.
You can, but just remember to allow yourself enough time to get back through security and to your gate. If you have 3 1/2 hours between flights, then I would say you probably have about an hour or so to be out and about. You have to consider the time it will take you to get off the plane, outside, then back through security, and to your next gate. Also, be sure you are checked in for your next flight before leaving the airport. If you aren't checked in 30 minutes before, they can give your seat away if they are oversold. Also remember that the airplane door closes approx. 10 minutes prior to departure.
3.5 hours is not enough to go downtown and have lunch/dinner. There are a few places to eat fairly close to the airport, and you may have time for that. Bottom line, better to be safe than sorry! You don't want to miss your flight!
Yes you can, you have enough time to wander right outside the airport, to talk to a friend or to get some air. if you are flying from any major canadian airport then you would have already went through customs as they have US border preclearance at all major canadian airports. Just keep track of your time, and if you are checked all the way through to your final destination, then just be at the gate 30min prior to boarding. have a nice trip
Well, you'll have to get your passport stamped just to go outside of the airport. That can take upwards of two hours just to get that taken care of!!
Once you get back to the airport, you will have to go through the TSA checkpoint, and depending on what time of day it is, can also take another hour or so.
I wouldn't recommend it. I would just have to catch up with my friend later
Have you friend meet you at the airport for a nice meal at one of the airport restaurants.
All of the other posters are correct that just the slightest hiccup will make you miss your flight.
You'll need to reenter through security which can take as long as an hour in some cases. It is legal, with a visa, but be careful to allow enough time.
3 hours plus is not enough. Something will get screwed up traffic and security wise.
yea go have lunch with a friend its kool you can chit chat and eat for 2 hrs
No comments:
Post a Comment