Ordinarily I'd answer a strong "DFW!" to that question, but here's the deal:

I booked our outbound flights to Belize through our Alaska mileage plan last week and want to book the return flights today (11 months out). We're flying American because that's what works for our plan (Continental doesn't ever seem to have saver fares to Belize). We're flying down through DFW but here are the 2 "best" return options:

Leave a day early (around 4pm on a Wednesday), fly through DFW to Seattle landing after 11pm, overnight, fly to Portland in the morning.

OR

Leave just before noon on Thursday, fly through Miami to DFW and on to Portland, landing around 10:30pm.

In other words, we can fly home all in one day and spend an extra night on Caye Caulker if we fly through Miami, which I usually try to avoid. We'd have a 1 hour 35 minute layover there.

Opinions, please?

Unless you want to spend a night in Seattle, I'd go with the Miami option. We've connected through there many times on the way back to NY, going through immigration goes pretty quickly, just ignore the attitude and you'll be fine.

The connection time should suffice, unless you have a big delay leaving Belize. I usually like at least 2 hours, but have been through customers as quickly as 1/2 hour.

That's a tough call.

I find MIA to be so unpredictable. Sometimes I breeze right through. Others, the lines are horrendous. In any case, I'd never feel comfortable with 1 hour 35 minutes to connect there on my return, needing to go through immigration, customs and security.

As long as American Airlines will rebook you the next day at no cost to you (other than the hotel room) if you don't make your connection, I'd go through Miami.

It gives you another night in Belize, which makes it worth taking the chance you won't make the connecting flight.

Thanks for your input!

As everybody has said, the Miami option is more 'direct', however did you say you're booking this itinerary 11 months ahead? Which means you'll be traveling in August 2009? And if so, my concern would be routing thru Miami during hurricane season.

Yeah, that can be a problem, but we've had some effect with hurricans in Texas, too, even that far inland. You've made a good point, though - year round Miami seems to have more weather delays. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for your input. In the end I decided Miami was best avoided, especially with a risky-short layover. I was able to come up with a plan that would route us through DFW to San Francisco on the Thursday (so we have Wednesday night on Caulker) and get us into Portland early enough the next day for me to check in at work that afternoon. Woohoo!

Good call. I'd definitely not try Miami with a short connection and needing to clear customs. Their immigrations lines are notoriously unorganized (which I'm sure you know) and would most likely cause you a missed connection.

OMG, I booked an American Airlines flight from Guatemala to Boston in Feb. which connects through Miami with 2 hours between flights. Any tips on etting through immegration at 6:30 PM so I can make my 8:30 flight to Boston. I've never connected through Miami before and didn't know there might be a problem.

2 hours is better than an hour and a half. My advice is to travel carry-on only and choose seats near the front of the plane. Last summer a friend and I were heading home from Guatemala with only 45 minutes in Houston. We ran off the plane, made it through immigration and customs, rode the shuttle, and ran to our gate in less than 15 minutes! The connecting flight started boarding 5 minutes later. Carry-on only is a huge advantage with customs because most folks are left behind you at the luggage carousels while you head to and through customs. In some airports it even allows you to stay in a secure area so you don't have to go back through security, but I doubt that's the case in Miami. Unless there's another international flight landing right before yours you should be fine. Happy trails!

I agree--2 hours should give you enough room if your flight arrives on time. My experience in Miami (which I hope never to repeat) was with about an hour and a half. Several planes had arrived and there were no lines, just a mass of people. I found myself IN FRONT OF a young woman who had already been in the "mass" for 45 minutes. It was every man for himself. I wasn't being pushy--that's just how unorganized it was. It was totally crazy. And almost everyone missed the connecting. You can imagine the lines also at the airline counters. This was in 2004; I'd like to think it is a little better now. Haven't been there since.

Hopefulist I know that carryon is the way to go, but I do not think I can do that for a two week trip. Shillmac your experience in Miami Airport sounds like a nightmare. Hopefully, they have improved. If not, I guess the worst case scenerio is that we spend some extra time in Miami. We usually transfer from international flights at JFK, and everything has always gone quickly, smoothly and efficiently. I never considered we would need a longer connection time in Miami until I read hopefulist's original question.. Live and learn.

I usually travel for at least 3-4 weeks at a time and a carry-on is big enough for me. You can do it!! Besides the peace of mind at the airport it's so much nicer to have just a single light bag during a trip. Happy trails!

I agree with hopefulist, for the most part, regarding luggage. However, many times, we are taking extra things down to deliver to this person and that person and can't do with just a carry on. Sometimes it is feasible, sometimes not. But sure, if you are just taking "your stuff" all of us have been surprised at how much we can do without!

I'm a bit confused reading this post because we traveled AMERICAN Airlines and went from Vancouver to Dallas to Costa Rica. They put a red tag on our luggage that sent it all the way through both ways. We did not have to pick up our luggage to clear customs. We did not travel first class, so I think this option is available for everyone.

Edensrock, that's just really strange. We've been to Central America 7 times so far in addition to other trips out of the U.S. and I've never before heard of anyone not having to go through customs with their luggage. Did they think you were an ambassador or something?! Sweet!

Hi hopefulist,
The ticket agent acted like this was normal. I asked about how it worked getting our luggage in Dallas before heading to Costa Rica and she said they would "red tag it" to go all the way to our final destination. When leaving Costa Rica I explained that they should do the same thing and they did! Maybe you just have to ask? Now reading this, maybe we were lucky? But why would they have these "red tags" if that's not what they are used for. It makes sense, since our luggage was already thoroughly checked by customs in Canada. I mean, they used a weird cotton swab on it and everything. We didn't touch it, so it should just be sent to the final destination, I would think. It sounds like making people go through the hassle of claiming it and re-checking it just causes more work for everyone. I don't see any security issues since the only ones touching it are the same baggage people that touch it again anyways. Maybe call American to double check on the process? Maybe they finally realized it was a waste to have people do that. Hopefully, because what a pain!

It's common for luggage to be checked through on the way south (though I usually travel carry-on only). On the way home, though, the usual score is to go through immigration, get your luggage if you've checked any, and go through customs. Often that's just walking past the officers and handing them your declaration form - can't remember when I've been stopped last. Anyway, I'll be curious to see if anyone else pipes up with a similar story - it's a 1st for me! Happy trails...

International travel to a country outside the United States I always had my bags checked through to my final destination.

International travel from a country outside the United States back to the USA since 9/11 security changes, I have never had my bags checked to my final destination. I have been required to pick up my bags, clear customs and recheck...

Edensrock...you got a sweet deal! I have had gold or platinum status with American for years and never had my bags "red tagged."....I did not know there was such a thing...