Flying via JFK vs MIA

Old Feb 6, 2016, 1:04 am
  #1  
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Flying via JFK vs MIA

if I want to fly LHR to GRU, am I better doing it via MIA or JFK?

I flew LHR-MIA-GRU earlier this year and it was ok, but out of four flights I had two plane changes to 777-200 pre-refurbs and the ePassport system took ages even with ESTA in place.

So is JFK easier than MIA?

If I wanted to leave bags at JFK and head into the city, where can I do that?
Considering arriving JFK at 7am from GRU and leaving at 9/10pm to LHR, so could have a full day in New York.

Thanks!!
(And yes it's for BA Tier Points that I want to fly 4 legs rather than 2)
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Old Feb 6, 2016, 5:14 am
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On what airline(s)?

In what class of service?

What time of year?
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Old Feb 6, 2016, 7:04 am
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There is baggage storage at JFK, and immigration and customs is less shambolic than MIA.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...struction.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...struction.html
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Old Feb 6, 2016, 10:45 am
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Originally Posted by discoverCSG
On what airline(s)?
AA (hence posting here)
In what class of service?
Business
What time of year?
Mid March
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Old Feb 6, 2016, 11:28 am
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Depends on your preferences. I am a fan of the JFK routing over MIA, because I like the longer leg on the overnight (and, for me, more time on international equipment, since I connect to a short domestic hop). I can sleep better GRU-JFK than GRU-MIA. A colleague prefers to split the legs at least a little more evenly/reduce length of any one leg. I also personally disliked the early morning MIA arrival (sometimes prior to the opening of security for readmission airside), though it has been a long while since I took that routing and the timing may have changed. Of course, YMMV (literally and figuratively).

Last edited by brie; Feb 6, 2016 at 11:32 am Reason: clarify
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Old Feb 6, 2016, 2:41 pm
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Originally Posted by brie
Depends on your preferences. I am a fan of the JFK routing over MIA, because I like the longer leg on the overnight (and, for me, more time on international equipment, since I connect to a short domestic hop). I can sleep better GRU-JFK than GRU-MIA. A colleague prefers to split the legs at least a little more evenly/reduce length of any one leg. I also personally disliked the early morning MIA arrival (sometimes prior to the opening of security for readmission airside), though it has been a long while since I took that routing and the timing may have changed. Of course, YMMV (literally and figuratively).
On that 4AM arrive into MIA the breakfast service starts somewhere around 2:45M to 3AM EST. Its usually noisy so forget about sleeping through it. I remember one flight back to MIA from GRU the FAs starting banging around carts and silverware at 2AM.
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Old Feb 6, 2016, 2:47 pm
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I always choose the outbound via JFK, because it has the shortest total travel duration. Leaving London after 5 PM and arriving in So Paulo the next morning doesn't feel too absurd compared to the non-stop options. Never had a problem clearing immigration with some lounge time to spare. Also, it's the same aircraft continuing, so if you pay for WiFi it's valid throughout . Returning, the day flight out of GRU via MIA works nicely (although it sometimes connects with an old-configuration 777).
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Old Feb 12, 2016, 5:42 am
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Thoughts on the following set of flights?

AA 107 LHR-JFK
AA 951 JFK-GRU
AA 950 GRU-JFK
AA 100 JFK-LHR

I believe they are all 777-300 flights, so should have new style Biz Class?
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Old Feb 12, 2016, 7:25 am
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When will you do this? Will you have GE by then? If this is a quick hop, does this mean nothing checked?
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Old Feb 12, 2016, 7:59 am
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Originally Posted by Often1
When will you do this? Will you have GE by then? If this is a quick hop, does this mean nothing checked?
Nothing checked, carryon only.

Outbound 12th March, Inbound 17th/18th March.

Not enough time to secure Global Entry I think
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Old Feb 12, 2016, 8:52 am
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Originally Posted by CocoPops
Thoughts on the following set of flights?

AA 107 LHR-JFK
AA 951 JFK-GRU
AA 950 GRU-JFK
AA 100 JFK-LHR

I believe they are all 777-300 flights, so should have new style Biz Class?
Unless you're planning to spend time in NYC, I highly recommend connecting in MIA over JFK. I have connected in both, and I find MIA immigration process to be much shorter than JFK (JFK took over an hour just to go through passport control). At JFK you may have to take the AirTrain to your next flight (which involves a long walk with confusing signage); no train required at MIA. And, MIA is much less likely to be impacted with weather delays than JFK.
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Old Feb 12, 2016, 9:02 am
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On the way out, I intend to pass straight through.
2hr layover in JFK on outbound and 12hr layover on inbound.

I was intending to use the 12hrs on the way back, to head down town to grab a bit of shopping
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Old Feb 12, 2016, 12:03 pm
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Originally Posted by CocoPops
On the way out, I intend to pass straight through.
2hr layover in JFK on outbound and 12hr layover on inbound.

I was intending to use the 12hrs on the way back, to head down town to grab a bit of shopping
That's what I would do. I've never been able to make much of a long layover at MIA...
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Old Feb 12, 2016, 12:10 pm
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I figured in 12hrs... I'd get 8hrs downtown.
Enough for Apple Store visit, bit of shopping, spot of lunch

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Old Feb 12, 2016, 12:18 pm
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Can't you get one of the BA A380's ticketed as AA on LHR->MIA? I was due to fly to Memphis via Miami this way 2 weeks back but got re-routed due to a broken plane on my preceeding DUB->LHR leg?
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