A couple of weeks ago I posted a query about making connections in MIA between an AA inbound flight from Curacao and an AA outbound to LGA.

I mentioned that if the inbound landed on schedule that we would have two hours to make the connection and was assured that was plenty of time, with the added qualification that, (paraphrase) "MIA would be an interesting experience."

While doing some web surfing today I ran across a site on which travelers posted their experiences in various airports ( URL http://www.airlinequality.com/Airpor..._forum/mia.htm ).

After checking out those about MIA (with which I've had absolurely no experience), I can't say I was filled with confidence that it will be smooth sailing even with two hours to make the switch.

We'll be checking luggage with AA in CUR, but we'll apparently have to retrieve it in MIA in order to go through US Customs. (My wife and I are both native Americans so I would hope that Immigration will not be much of an issue, but who knows these days.)

Does all of this also translate into having to go through security as well?

What kind of hassles could we expect and are there any preparations we could take in advance in an effort to mitigate them?

Many thanks.

When you land in Miami, you have to pick up your luggage to clear customs. Once you clear customs, AA will have personnel right there to take your luggage and put in on a conveyer belt which will (hopefully) get it to the flight you are connecting to. With two hours connection time, you should be fine. We have connected in Miami many times coming back from the Caribbean and Bahamas and have never missed our flight. Any less than two hours, I might be concerned, but I think you will be fine.

If you're are US citizens or residents, I don't think you should worry about immigration lines at all. Of all the years I've travelled back to the US, I have never been in a line for over 10 minutes. It's quite different for aliens, as 1.5-2 hours are not unheard of.

I believe you're talking AA1880 later this year arriving at MIA at 6:08pm and the LGA flight leaves at 8:09pm. I don't think you should worry about that at all. Right now 1880 arrives at 5:45pm and you can book the connection flight to LGA departing at 7:05 with only 1hr 20 minutes of connection time.

I'd say again that you should only worry if you're not US citizens or residents.

orangetravelcat/rkkwan

Many thanks.

I would add that you will almost surely have to go through security again after rechecking your luggage. That has been our experience at many entrances, although we have not been through MIA.

YOu should not have to go through security again at MIA as they now have access behind security checkpoints in between gates.

You should be fine, unless you are traveling on a Holiday weekend or something, or Fridays and Sundays are generally pretty bad at MIA.

Good luck!

Based on having done a northbound conection at MIA once I think you should be fine for time. I (just) made it with 1.5 hours between flights and I am not an American so I was stuck in the slow line. We did have to go through security again.

Really appreciate the interest and responses; thanks everyone.

The wife just read the thread - her response: "Perhaps we should check for decent hotels in the vicinity of the Miami airport, (just in case)."

We thought we had an excessive amount of time between when we arrived in MIA from SFO on AA and when our flight left for San Jose, CR. But, it took 40 minutes to walk (and take a short train) from our incoming terminal to terminal E. We did make it with time to spare but it could be a problem if you're first flight is late.

We were surprised we had to go through security again. This slowed us down for about 15 minutes.

We never had to do this in Newark or DFW when transferring to a Latin America flight. MIA will not be our first choice for connections in the future.

We also had to go through security again on our return just after re-checking our bags after customs. This is somewhat of a hassle for no apparent reason.

Then our flight had to return to the gate just before takeoff because there was a passenger who had some problem and no one could communicate with her in Arabic. And to top it off, AA had put us on a 757 which we had to spend seven hours on before landing at SFO. Never again.

Its my understanding that anytime you have access to checked baggage, such as when you go through customs, you have to then go through security screening again. If you think it through, it makes sense, as you could retrieve your pocketknife from your checked luggage and be a threat.

Yes, it's normal to go through security check after you get your luggage and go through customs on your way back.

However, it's unusual that you'll have to go through security when connecting from a domestic to an international flight. Haven't been to MIA, but on aa.com, you can find the MIA map and this is what it says. "...except the High E Teminal where it is necessary to exit security area to take the train".

RKK:

Where on the AA site did you find that? I've got two tight BA/AA international-to-international connections there and I can't find a thing about the airport layout on either company's site.

Wow, this thread is 3 years old, and I still haven't been to MIA.

AAFF or others probably know better what the layout and situation is at MIA.

Well, they probably do and I've put a message out on the US board.

But you cite a quote on the AA site. How did you find it?

http://www.aa.com/content/aboutUs/wh...inal_MIA.jhtml

Very helpful. Thank you

Now why didn't I think of that?

At MIA you will have to reclear security after dropping off your luggage with AA.
For domestic to international flights you can go from terminal to terminal without going thru security again.
With about 12 trips thru MIA in the last year I haven't found a way around the security checkpoint on an inbound flight from the Caribbean or S America.

That said, 2 hours should be enough. When you come to immigration go as far to the right as possible. Those lines seem to move the fastest.

SamH:

Thank you.

But as I said in the post I'm connecting international to international, AA to BA. So surely I can't drop my bags off with AA? Surely I have to walk, with bags, from the E concourse to the A concourse? And surely that's outside the secure zone, so I have to gi through security after dropping my bags off with BA?

flanner,

I do not think you will have to walk your bags around to BA - this link says you can recheck your baggage immediately outside customs. http://www.oneworld.com/ow/airports-...inal-map/miami

I am not an expert on Miami airport, but I have done an international connection at LAX and as soon as you walk out of customs there was a bag drop for luggage - you just need to make sure your luggage is checked through at the starting destination. Then you go to other terminal/through security again for your connecting flight.

Hope this helps in some way!

Optimystic:

Well, it really couldn't be clearer than that, could it? Now why couldn't the silly cow at BA explain that this morning?

All I have to do is make sure the Fast Drop people at LHR and in Central America through-check the bag so it's carrying an onward tag I BET BA will find an excuse not to.

Trouble is: every time I've been through Miami, something's gone wrong and I've only ever made AA to AA international connections there - and that was before September 11.