Flying MIA-MBJ on AA on 24th January, flight leaving MIA at 09:50am.
Staying at the Crowne Plaza after arriving from LHR the night before, so not too far away from the airport as far as I can tell.
What time would people suggest we arrive at the airport for our flight? I'm not sure if we will have been able to OLCI prior to our flight due to the LHR flight so if I could have advice please, I'd be really grateful.
Flying MIA-MBJ on AA on 24th January, flight leaving MIA at 09:50am.
Staying at the Crowne Plaza after arriving from LHR the night before, so not too far away from the airport as far as I can tell.
What time would people suggest we arrive at the airport for our flight? I'm not sure if we will have been able to OLCI prior to our flight due to the LHR flight so if I could have advice please, I'd be really grateful.
Many thanks
As a BA Silver you will have access to the first class check-in counters as well as the priority security line. I would think that 60 to 90 minutes in advance depending upon your risk quotient is.
AA recommends "checking in" at least two hours in advance for international flights. If the OP is checking bags, then the bag cutoff is 45 minutes prior to departure. edit: 60 minute bag cutoff for international destination.
Many will disagree with what follows. Boarding might begin 30-45 minutes prior to flight departure, or as early as 9:00 am. I'd get to the airport by 7:45 am or 8:00 am. IMO, sleeping in is what you do when you're at your vacation destination, not the day you travel there.
AA recommends "checking in" at least two hours in advance for international flights. ... I'd get to the airport by 7:45 am or 8:00 am.
Agreed - 7:45 is what you should aim for. Better to be 15/20 min extra early and safe than the opposite. Plus, if you have access to it, you could swing by the Admirals Club and grab a cup of coffee and a muffin. In the FWIW department.
Good advice esp if there are bags to deal with ( which i assume there are on a trip like this). Couple of hours the OP should be fine with some time to spare. If not checking bags you can shave 30 minutes off that.
Agreed - 7:45 is what you should aim for. Better to be 15/20 min extra early and safe than the opposite. Plus, if you have access to it, you could swing by the Admirals Club and grab a cup of coffee and a muffin. In the FWIW department.
I'm going to also second this. I only give myself less than two hours for international on the JFK-LHR runs, where if I miss it there's another flight 90 minutes later. When I'm on vacation, I build in another half hour over what AA recommends just to not screw things up for my relaxation plans (I take R&R very seriously! )
Since the check-in times are well-established on AA.com, and we've certainly seen threads showing the dangers of failing to follow these, I'm not sure why there's a need to question these easy-to-find published values. That's kinda why they're there.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jtav559
Agreed - 7:45 is what you should aim for. Better to be 15/20 min extra early and safe than the opposite. Plus, if you have access to it, you could swing by the Admirals Club and grab a cup of coffee and a muffin. In the FWIW department.
OP is BA Silver, so as a OW Sapphire they get lounge access.
As a BA Silver you will have access to the first class check-in counters as well as the priority security line. I would think that 60 to 90 minutes in advance depending upon your risk quotient is.
Don't you need to be BA Gold to use First Class check in?
BA Silver should be OW Sapphire which means Business Class Check in and Business Class (Admiral's Club) Lounge.
Since the check-in times are well-established on AA.com, and we've certainly seen threads showing the dangers of failing to follow these, I'm not sure why there's a need to question these easy-to-find published values. That's kinda why they're there.
Upon reconsideration, I'm going to recommend that the OP be at the checkin counter at 4:00 am.
I don't want to be blamed if the OP misses their flight to Jamaica.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brp
Since the check-in times are well-established on AA.com, and we've certainly seen threads showing the dangers of failing to follow these, I'm not sure why there's a need to question these easy-to-find published values. That's kinda why they're there.
Cheers.
Because we have to give you something/someone to criticize for asking a question.
Now, for a more serious answer: People ask because they want real live feedback based on experiences. For example, in OKC they may tell you 60 minutes or more (can't remember what it says), but if you have elite access to the TSA line you can clear OKC in 30 minutes guaranteed. I've also been in other airports (GRU comes to mind) where I arrived from a connecting flight with more than the listed check in time, and still barely made it.
Real time feedback from a community such as this is more valuable then a webpage. We should all do our part in supporting that community environment.
To the OP: I don't have enough experience with MIA, only connected there a few times in the last few years. Good luck with your answer and trip.
Last edited by bchandler02; Jan 11, 13 at 2:39 pm..
Reason: Add to the OP note
Because we have to give you something/someone to criticize for asking a question.
Now, for a more serious answer: People ask because they want real live feedback based on experiences. For example, in OKC they may tell you 60 minutes or more (can't remember what it says), but if you have elite access to the TSA line you can clear OKC in 30 minutes guaranteed. I've also been in other airports (GRU comes to mind) where I arrived from a connecting flight with more than the listed check in time, and still barely made it.
Real time feedback from a community such as this is more valuable then a webpage. We should all do our part in supporting that community environment.
The first part is certainly the more amusing
But, just to be clear - I agree that sometimes (often?) information on a website is not as accurate as real-flier experience.
So, what you're suggesting is that we need a place in the wiki where per-airport real-world check-in information would be kept, particularly those data that deviate from published website information. This would reflect the real life wisdom of the community, something which I agree is quite valuable. Quite the excellent suggestion you make.
I assume you're not suggesting the people should just ask the same questions about the same airports (which, presumably would have the same answers) over and over again. Because that would be exactly antithetical to the community environment.
Of course, if you're advocating that repeated threads on the identical topic contribute to the community environment, then we'll just have to agree to disagree
Thank you very much to everyone who gave positive replies, it's really appreciated.
I expect to be up at 6am local time in MIA as jet lag kicks in so had planned a bit of breakfast then leave around 7:15am which should get us to the airport for 7:30/7:45 if my thinking is correct, plenty of time I would imagine and we will have bags to check - can't have a week in MBJ with only carry-on
Fully prepared to miss breakfast at the hotel if times become tight & get breakfast at the airport. Also, I wasn't aware we could use Business Class check in, we're flying coach so assumed coach check in, so thanks for that. We know we can use the Lounge so would rather get there earlier than we need to be to relax pre-flight and fully intend to relax in MBJ
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