lakebluffer

A friend and I want to travel to the Caribbean from ORD (Chgo-O'Hare) this coming winter, but dread going through MIA.
I think I've been pretty diligent in checking with AA (my preferred carrier b/c of miles), but don't see any possibilities.
Help, please!

Bassguy66

It's going to be hard (if you use AA) not to go through Miami. I was under the impression that all AA flights going to the islands or MX go through MIA.

Maybe save the miles for a different trip, and price out some flights though other airlines?

Weadles

Does JetBlue fly out of ORD? I am pretty sure it's a code share or partner with AA, so I'm thinking you may be able to transfer your miles. Much prefer them to AA, especially now that AA's in the news for all the wrong reasons!

KVR

Has AA worked out thier personell issues yet? If not, I wouldn't fly them anyway. Everytime we fly with them we get screwed. Late departures, missed connections, late arrivals.

I can fly AA direct from Dallas to Mexico and some Caribbean Islands if they offer it. We booked Jamaica last December and had a direct flight from Dallas except we arrivied late from MAF and missed our connection so was re-routed through MIA. Took 6 hours longer to get to Jamaica than orginally planned.

On a previous trip to Cancun, they just canceled our flight all together and then it took them 4 hours to get us on a Continental flight.

Any AA flight that we had to go through MIA to get where we are going, never, ever, ever left on time. Always at least 1 to 2 hours+ late. If you can avoid it for a reasonalbe price with another carrier I would do so just for the sake of sanity.

Against my better judgement, I booked them again for this December to Cabo. Again a direct flight from Dallas. I can only fly AA or United and AA was offering a really great deal so thought I would chance it. I am kicking myself now that I did that. I should have just paid the extra $$$ and went with United. I'm hoping I get there and back this trip.

BellaClaire

Try US Airways via Charlotte...

I just (Sept 14th -Sept 23rd) flew AA to Lima via Mia and had a 7 hour layover...terminal D is quite nice....not a lot to do, yet it's a lot better than before terminal D...Coming back is another story.... it took 45 minutes to get my bag...and then another hour to recheck my bag, clear through security..(and I'm a Gold - so I get to go through the "fast security lane"). If you fly AA, make sure you have at least 2 1/2 hours...... Their planes are old and shabby looking...and their pilots are making sure there are delays..due to their frustration with mgmt and their union contracts.....they are also in bankruptsy and just eliminated more flights......

Makes me feel sad...they used to be a top notch airline.

blamona

KVR, you'll LOVE Cabot! One of my favorites, completely different from Caribbean though.

AA through Mia, sometimes my connection leaves early! So I always end up having to spend the night there. They say they can take off early to keep on time status, here's the irony, my connection the plane parks overnight, so taking off early has no bearing.

And I must say, Miami workers are the most rude anywhere.

mamamo

We have flown to caribbean twice from ORD in the last year. Sounds like you really want AA but united does have a direct flight to St. Thomas USVI on Saturdays or at least they did last December. Flew via Miami on way home on AA bc we could not stay the full week to get direct flight going home.
We were running for sure in Miami as we could not have been further away from arrival gate and connecting gate.
Not sure if USVI and BVI are on your list but lots of great options with a direct flight.

In May went to Turks and Caicos via Miami AA both ways. We did not check luggage so missed so many long lines at check in, customs, etc. get a seat toward front in case you are delayed and have to run.
We are leaving next month for another trip down and are on AA so given recent news I am a little nervous.

Both times I considered other cities like Charlotte and Atlanta but was nervous to connect there bc of where we were going sometimes flight was only offered once a day or every few days and I didn't want to be stuck. Miami had lots of options.
Jet Blue??
Apple??

xkenx

A good way to go to the Caribbean via Miami is to fly to MIA the evening before and stay overnite near the airport.You don't care if your flight to MIA is on time. There are a number of decent hotels @ $70-$100 with shuttle. That way, you can take an early flight(likely to leave on time)to the islands and enjoy the afternoon and evening at your resort for which you will pay a lot more. Why have the connection hassles to get to your island resort with little time left to enjoy it? And you're tired from traveling all day.

Knowing

We always dreaded going through Miami. Nor do we advise that anyone else goes through it unless you have to. Flying from Minneapolis, we never had too much of a choice. I like xkenx's suggestion. We did that one year on our way to Nevis. Stayed at a Ritz Carlton and had the pool to ourselves all afternoon. Enjoyed a wonderful dinner in the restaurant in the hotel. Again, all by ourselves. We were really lucky. And our waiter was able to spend a lot of time with us in good conversation. What an easy process that entire trip was!

lakebluffer

Thanks to all. Will look into the UA flights to Carib.
Staying in Miami night before not an option, as part of my itinerary involves spending a night in Chicago (where I meet my traveling companion) each way. Cannot bear the thought (or price) of adding 2 addt'l non-destination nights to trip.

KVR

"Cannot bear the thought (or price) of adding 2 addt'l non-destination nights to trip."

I can agree with that. In the early 2000's when we started traveling, we used to overnight in Dallas, Houston or San Antonio to get a better flight, price, schedule. After a few times, it got old. Just eaiser to pay the higher price and get there and back as quick as possible.

I can not wait until Southwest starts flying to Mexico/Caribbean from Houston Hobby. It will be so nice.

Blamona, this will be our first trip to Cabo. Looking forward to it. Carribean Mexico's pools are too cold for me in December. I like that the Cabo resorts have heated pools. Looks like some excellant nightlife also. Something new to try.

tejana

AA might also still have flights to San Juan from Chicago, which might make for a better connection than MIA if American Eagle is still flying. I feel your pain trying to fly AA right now -- they have stopped flying to SJU from the DC area, so I'm having a really hard time getting down island in November, but I've got no other choice since they are the only airline that flies to a lot of islands in the Carrib. As far as MIA goes, it is a LOT better now that the construction is finished, and I've been pretty lucky on connections there for the last few months.

lakebluffer

Tejana, I was thru MIA in February coming back from Barbados and it was terrible then. Was the construction still going on then? Maybe that accounted for part of the delays. As it was, I was in a wheelchair (faster thru security and taking elevators) and we still almost missed our connecting flight to DFW.

tejana

The construction in the AA terminals was finished the last time I flew through there (May), but if you are talking about delays because of Customs and INS, that might be a different story. I just checked the AA website, and they do still have a n/s between ORD and SJU, so you might want to look into a connection through San Juan instead. What island are you trying to get to, anyway?

cw

We flew to St. Kitts through Miami last March. We had no problems and probably had about 2 hours or a bit less between flights. We were flying from BOS on AA.

On the return we did spend the night but that was because of the schedule.

lakebluffer

Haven't decided yet, Tejana. Thinking St John's, but nothing is definite. Easiest access is best, as my friend is elderly and we both might be in w/chairs. Maybe we should do PR and leave it at that. Any recommendations about nicer, but not lavish, resorts in Old San Juan?

Brian

I've had very few problems going through MIA when I fly midweek and start my trip early in the morning. Going through customs and clearing security can be a pain sometimes, so I always allow at least 2 hours between connecting flights on the way home.

Dayenu

What is so terrible about MIA? Will I have an unpleasant surprise in January? Flying to Puerto Rico with AA.

Is it only long lines at customs and security, or something else? We have 3-4 hrs between planes.