Atrios says:
Yes this is a horrible idea. Perhaps just make customs and immigration a bit more pleasant instead?
As a US Citizen, Duncan gets to see the best parts of US Customs and Immigration. I'm not, and while I got to experience some of that VIP treatment during the nine years I was a permanent resident alien, I've also seen the other side.
I now live in New Zealand, but most of my family is in England. I fly from one to the other about once a year on average, not through planning, but for events like funerals and weddings. Next month I will be able to combine two reasons for going back - to meet my new niece (Grania) and to celebrate my youngest brother's wedding. Happy times.
There are an infinite number of equally long paths between two points on opposite sides of a sphere (I'm actually opposite Marbella, but close enough). The aviation business being what it is, there are almost as many ways to get from here to there, but they fall into two main groups: via America (usually LA) or via Asia (usually Singapore or Bangkok).
Here's what you get in the international transit lounge at LAX. First, you still have to go through immigration. Then you get (yay!) free fruit and coffee, or water. Black plastic seats that are less comfortable than the ones on the plane.
Compare this with Singapore. No immigration. Shopping (including lots of really cheap electronic gadgets). Restaurants. For a few dollars you can get a shower, and a few more gets you a massage, to work out the cricks from sitting on a plane for 12 hours.
When I was planning next month's trip, I flatly refused to travel via LA. I don't care how much cheaper United is than Qantas. US Customs and Immigration is driving businesses away from American companies. Because apparently Osama bin Laden is not as fussy as I am about where he changes planes.