Thanks for your response. Since prices kept going up, I bought tickets last night and now think I may have a different problem. I ended up buying two separate tickets-a domestic from RDU-MIA with US Air and another from MIA-MAB with TAM (both purchased through cheapoair). I was thinking I would take a chance on asking US Air to check the bags all the way through-AA did this for my husband with the same itinerary a few weeks ago. However I since found discussion that US Air absolutely will not check them through when there are 2 separate tickets.

I have 3 hours between fights and Miami and it's looking like I WILL have to collect the baggage and recheck it at the TAM counter. I am traveling with 6 large rubbermaid bins and my 5 year old. How feasible is this in this time frame? I'm thinking of standing by on the earlier US Air flight that morning to give myself more time. I know most airports have luggage carts, but those small ones still won't fit all our luggage..Have you seen those large flat ones available to travelers? I'm so stressed out over this move...