I'm flying from Lima, Peru to Brisbane, Australia with connections in Miami and Los Angeles. I've heard various negative things about Miami Airport and have 2 hours 40 minutes, which I assume should be enough time (particularly as my flight to LA is domestic) but I'm still not sure how it all works. I'm flying the entire journey on American Airlines and am assuming that I can get my luggage checked from Peru to Australia. I want to know 1) Do I get all of my boarding passes in Lima, eliminating the need to check in at Miami and LA? 2)I know that I have to go through Immigration, do I also have to go through Customs (given that I'm not actually exiting the airport)?3) After this, do I just turn around and go back into the secure area and go to my next gate for the flight to LA? It's a dometic flight, so I wouldn't need to show my passport again. Sorry for the silly questions, I've never actually had to make a connection before and I'll be traveling on my own, plus I'll be devestated if I miss my return flight to Australia because I didn't know what to do at the airport!

My guess is you'll just check in once and will go through customs in Miami, then head onto the next flight. Two hours and 40 minutes should be enough time in Miami.

I don't know why MIA gets so much bad press. I just wish the rental car companies were located at the airport. (Like in a nice parking garage) I spent 45 minutes driving around the airport area trying to find Avis to return my car. When I saw a police officer and asked for directions, he said, "I don't have time for this."

I've never come in to the US via Miami. Another Fodorite "AAFrequentFlyer" perhaps can give you more specific information about that airport.

But in general, you will have to go through US immigration, pick up bags (even if they're tagged to BNE), go through US customs, and then give it back to AA right outside the customs exit.

Then you reclear security and go to your flight for LA.

At US immigration in Miami, you'll have your picture taken and thumb scanned. At LAX, you need to go to a "US-Visit" automatic kiosk and have your picture taken and thumb scanned before departing.

2:40 should be enough.

<b>rkkwan's</b> explanation of the procedure is right on.

The only thing I would like to add:

You will need to have your BP and passport ready for the security line at MIA. It's nothing to do with immigration, just identity.

Also, depending on your Australia destination, you may have to change terminals at LAX. QF SYD flights go out of term 4, same terminal that AA uses so no need to go through security again, but if your flight is a non-stop to anywhere else in Australia then you will (ONCE again) have to change terminals and go through security. All other QF flights go out of TBIT in LAX. It's the next terminal over from term 4(turn left when exiting term 4 and don't worry, it's a short walk over to the next building), but you will exit secure area, and go through security again in TBIT.

MIA - it's under construction but it's slowly getting done. Terminal D is finished and looks great, terminal A is almost there. The only problem is the walks between terminals. The walk from A to D is a good 15 minutes plus, through some long and not very nice looking construction corridors. Other than that I don't have a problem with MIA.

The previous two posts correctly describe the procedure in MIA. You will often find some pretty slow lines at Immigration but Customs seems to move along better most times. It seems that there are always several flights arriving same time so it gets really crowded every time I've been there. You do have to re-enter thru security to go you your domestic departure gate. If there's a way to go to your gate without going back thru secrutiy I haven't figured it out yet. 2:40 is enough time.

Ont thing that may help you if your native language is Spanish, you will have no problems finding people to assist you at either airport who speak Spanish.

One other piece of administrivia: check on whether you need a US transit visa, assuming you are an Australian citizen. Most people do need such visas these days, even when transiting only one US airport.

Australia is one of the countries in the visa waiver program, so no visa needed to enter the US for most Australians.

I wish I'd had the good luck with MIA others have had. Every time I go through it's a zoo. Maybe next trip. . .