In the past four weeks, I've two TATL flights and four domestics that have connected through MIA. Not a huge sample, and I'm sure that some of you have much more of an experience with this airport. I've come and gone through it before, but these past experiences have left me very unimpressed. Getting a rental car and then finding the right road to actually return it? It was a nightmare. An hour in line to pick it and four times around the ring road before I found the way to get into the garage. Priority AAccess lines to check in- another forty-five minutes. Security lines? long and slow. D15 Admirals Club? Too crowded to be useful as a quiet place to work in between flights. E International lounge was quiet, but not much there. Trying to get anywhere in Terminals D and E- another long walk.
I did find that when I could actually speak to an agent at either the gates or the counters that they were invariably friendly and professional. (I had enough with the gatekeepers, who funnel everyone into the long lines.
It just seems like the airport itself is designed to frustrate.
The D30 lounge is much better than the D15 lounge; it's about 2-3 times larger.
There is a lot of walking in MIA as the tram is generally worthless; just consider it a little extra exercise!
As for the rental car center, while that's hardly an AA issue, I do agree that it is rather confusing the first time through. However, once you get the hang of it it's actually quite a nice setup they have there. Make sure you sign up for your rental agency's frequent renters program and you can skip the counter (and the lines) completely.
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Items Missing in Checked Baggage When Traveling through MIA
The last time I connected through MIA carefully concealed gifts in my baggage were missing. The box set of little Dior perfumes and another bottle of perfume were gone.
Is this common when checking bags through MIA? Next trip am taking another airline to the Caribbean from another USA gateway.
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Don't bother with the sky tram or whatever it is called. By the time you go up to levels, wait for it, board, get off, and go back down, you could have walked the distance. The walk between flights would do you good as well.
MIA is a lot less of a pain if you are comfortable in Spanish. The vast majority of airport/airline employees' first language at MIA is Spanish.
I suppose it depends on how far you want to go with the SkyTrain. I've found it very useful, especially when going between station 4 and station 2 for D30 lounge, and back to the gate.
My only complaint is the folks in the baggage claim area can be a bit rude.
The D30 lounge is much better than the D15 lounge; it's about 2-3 times larger.
When I went to the D15 lounge a few weeks ago they were actually operating an overflow area outside of the lounge in the area at the top of the escalators. It even had its own little bar set up on a table.
When I went to the D15 lounge a few weeks ago they were actually operating an overflow area outside of the lounge in the area at the top of the escalators. It even had its own little bar set up on a table.
Overflow was in operation last night as well. I find the MIA Admirals Clubs to be among the worst in the system. Are they nice in appearance? Yes, but both are way too crowded. They could easily operate another club equally as large as the D30 club and fill it.
Don't bother with the sky tram or whatever it is called. By the time you go up to levels, wait for it, board, get off, and go back down, you could have walked the distance. The walk between flights would do you good as well....
- I was told that sky tram is operated by city of Miami and AA has little to do with how often it runs etc. Usually, I just walk!
Count me as a MIA fan. I have had some great experience with the AC staff, and once you know how to use it, the D tram is very helpful. Hint: use the elevators not the escalators.
I fly out of MIA a lot and think there is both a lot to love and hate.
Love- Parking can be easy to get in and out of if you know where to go. I can get from the parking entrance through security in 5-10 minutes depending on how long it takes to find a spot. People say D is a "pretty" terminal and it seems like there are a lot of good restaurants and shops if you have time to kill (although I usually pre-check through security just early enough for a quick drink at the AC).
Hate- Lines are terrible making Pre-check priceless. Lounge at D15 is too small, but at least they created the overflow area. The tram is only useful for going between 2 and 4, or if you are trying to kill time. They badly need to install moving walkways/sidewalks. Almost no one speaks English, but I guess thats Miami in general. I have never had issues with things from my bags going missing but can completely believe it happens, especially on a long layover.
