Hi,

I'm flying London, England - Miami - Belo Horizonte, Brazil in June. I booked the flights through a tour operator as one but the first leg is with BA and second with American.

I've got a 12 hour daytime wait at MIA and would like to leave the airport and go into the city for the day, then return to catch my Brazil flight.

I'm on a british passport and have a valid ESTA.

My questions are:

1. Will I be allowed to leave the airport at all?
2. If so, will I have to collect my hold luggage then check it back in again?
3. If 'yes' to (2), can i check it back on immediately or do AA have a policy where it can only be checked in 2-3 hours before the flight time (meaning I'd have to drag my bags round Miami with me).

I called the tour operator and they don't know. Miami Airport website suggests visitors with more than 5 hours between flights visit attractions outside the airport, so they seem to think it's fine.

I don't know if this is something that individual airlines or airports have different policies on, or if there's some sort of global aviation regulation on it.

Any advice would be gratefully received!

Thanks,

Pete