In message , at 13:21:07 on Sat, 10 Sep
2011, tim.... remarked:
Even more annoyingly if one's travelling LHR to AKL via LAX [1] you have to
pass through US immigration even though you have no intention of ever
entering the country.

Although the lack of airside transit means you are in fact entering the
country, however briefly.

This means that someone who doesn't qualify for the visa waver has to apply
for a full visa just to transit the airport.

Indeed. And the Visa Waiver costs money now (via the ESTA scheme). It's
just one more variable to take into account when planning the route.
--
Roland Perry