MIA and LAX both have sterile in-transit areas. As others have mentioned, both airports get substantial transit traffic between Mexico/Central America/South America and Europe/Asia. Also, the quickest way between some countries within Central America, northern S. America and the Caribbean is often times on AA via MIA-- so the in-transit facilities are a practical necessity.

Pax transiting the U.S. w/o required entry documentation are referred to as "TWOVs" (transit without visa) and on some flights, you will notice that these pax are required to hand over their passports to the airline crew prior to boarding their departure flight to the U.S. These passports are bundled together in a large envelope and handed to a ground staff person at the transit airport and not returned to the pax until they are ready to board their outbound flight from the U.S. to their final destination.

AA's terminal facilities at MIA are designed to segregate transit pax the entire time (no need to be escorted through the terminal to the plane). They basically escort transit pax the reverse direction up the segregated passageways from immigration to the gates and avoid intermingling.

Last time I was transiting LAX going from Mexico to Hong Kong, I planned to avail myself of the LAX sterile area. Unfortunately, the line to get in was so hellishly chaotic that I figured it would actually be quicker to go clear customs and immigration (plus, then I would be able to check out the shops, restaurants, etc.).

Recently I departed Mexico en route to Asia via LAX and planned to avoid clearing U.S. customs & immigration. Unfortunately, the line to enter the sterile area appeared



[This message has been edited by HKG_Flyer1 (edited 06-02-2001).]