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ARCHIVE: 2015-19 AA Guide: MIA / Miami International Airport, MCT / Connection, etc.

Old Jan 7, 2019, 11:20 pm
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Last edit by: JDiver
Please edit or add information to this wiki as necessary.

The current thread is here.
Check-in times as of March 2016 Link

In most locations, you must be checked in:

At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States

At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States


If youre beginning travel from any of the airports below, the check-in time is longer:

Departing from: Check-in must be completed by:
(minutes before scheduled departure time)
  • Caracas, Venezuela (CCS) 90 minutes
  • Dublin, Ireland (DUB) 75 minutes
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) 75 minutes
  • Maracaibo, Venezuela (MAR) 90 minutes
  • St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT) 90 minutes
Link to Miami International Airport website

Link to aa.com Miami International Airport page and airport app.


Link to thread with archived older posts.

Peculiarities: MIA can be affected by summer tropical storms and hurricanes. Knock-on effects during lengthy IROPS can manifest themselves systemwide. At peak times (e.g. early morning arrivals), arrivals processing and terminal facilities can get very crowded.

Special notice

We operate out of Concourses D and E. Check your flight status for gate information.

Ticket counters
American Airlines
Concourse D
Daily: 4 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Airport Map



AA Ticket Counter & Gates Map

Official MCT / Minimum Connection Times for MIA (assuming same terminal):
  • 0:40 Domestic to Domestic
  • 0:45 Domestic to International
  • 1:35 International to Domestic
  • 1:35 International to International
NOTE: Though 1:35 is the given MCT International to Domestic (and 1:35 international to international), one should not consider that useful for everyone connecting international to domestic unless one has Global Entry or luck.

International arrivals at MIA requires most passengers to fill out a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Declaration Form 6059B - one per family - process U.S. Immigration, retrieve baggage at arrivals carousels, process through U.S. customs, re-check baggage, proceed to either the TSA connections security processing queue or landside and process TSA security (with onward boarding pass) to return airside. (Read on for exceptions.)

This does not apply if you are connecting international to international and have red "ITI" tags on your checked baggage. You will have to produce the Form 6059B and still pass through USCBP, albeit without baggage.

Other than for U.S. passport holders and passengers with USDHS ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization under the Visa Waiver Program), who may use kiosks that expedite the arrivals process, Immigration, Customs and TSA Security queues can at times be tortuous and one would do better scheduling a connection time closer to 2:30 (or even 3:00) for a comfortable international to domestic or to international connection for non-ESTA / non-U.S. passport holders.

If one is enrolled in Global Entry and can use the dedicated kiosks and expedited queues, the process is speediest as there are clearly marked queues after the self-clearing kiosks and one is not required to possess a Form 6059B.
For general information, see:

AA FAQ: Will I make my connection?

AA Wiki: Minimum Connecting Times

MIA Airport Website

MIA North Terminal (Concourse D) Updates

Concourse D Skytrain (inside security) - transfers between all gates in Concourse D and between inbound international flights and Customs & Immigrations Halls in Concourse E. Concourses D and E are connected inside security via a walkway.
Connections between terminals at MIA (using the Skyride Connector moving walkways)

AA.com: Admirals Club Locations and Hours

FT: American Airlines Lounge Dashboard for Lounge information
MIA Concourses and Gates

The terminal at MIA is a single U-shaped building divided into 6 concourses. AA operates flights out of Concourses D & E.
Concourse D: Gates D1-D60
  • American Airlines ticket counters are located at Concourse D, Doors 1-7 and Concourse E, Door 10
  • American Airlines mainline flights depart from Gates D1-D51
  • American Eagle flights depart from Gates D53, D55 & D60

Concourse E: Gates E2-E11 & E20-E33
Gates E20-E33 are located at the International Satellite Terminal, accessible via people mover on Level 4 just past the Concourse E security checkpoint. If the people mover is out of service, signs will direct passengers to the shuttle bus departing from the E1 Bus Station on Level 1
  • American Airlines ticket counters are located at Concourse D, Doors 1-7 and Concourse E, Door 10
  • American Airlines mainline flights depart from Gates E2-E11 & E20-E33
  • airberlin ticket counter is located at Concourse E, between Doors 9 & 10; flights to Dusseldorf depart from Gate E10 and flights to Berlin depart from Concourse F
  • British Airways ticket counter is located at Concourse F, Door 14; flights using Airbus A380 equipment depart from Gate E6 and all other flights depart from Gate E8
  • Finnair ticket counter is located at Concourse E, Door 10; flights depart from Concourse F
  • Iberia ticket counter is located at Concourse E, between Doors 13 & 14; flights depart from Gate E23
  • Qatar Airways ticket counter is located at Concourse E, between Doors 9 & 10; flights depart from Gate E10
  • WestJet ticket counter is located at Concourse E, Door 12; flights depart from Concourse F

Concourse F: Gates F3-F23
  • airberlin ticket counter is located at Concourse E, between Doors 9 & 10; flights to Dusseldorf depart from Gate E10 and flights to Berlin depart from Concourse F
  • British Airways ticket counter is located at Concourse F, Door 14; flights using Airbus A380 equipment depart from Gate E6 and all other flights depart from Gate E8
  • Finnair ticket counter is located at Concourse E, Door 10; flights depart from Concourse F
  • WestJet ticket counter is located at Concourse E, Door 12; flights depart from Concourse F

Concourse G: Gates G2-G19

Concourse H: Gates H3-H17
  • LATAM Airlines ticket counter is located at Concourse H, Doors 24-26; flights depart from Concourses H & J

Concourse J: Gates J2-J18
  • Delayed American Airlines international flights arrive at Concourse J when the federal inspection station at Concourse D is closed (generally between 11 PM and 3:30 AM)
  • LATAM Airlines ticket counter is located at Concourse H, Doors 24-26; flights depart from Concourses H & J

Checking in at MIA Link

Flagship Check-in: Yes

Arrival at the Airport

Longer security lines this spring & summer

The TSA recommends arriving at the airport 2 hours before your flight (3 hours for international). If you travel often, save time by enrolling in TSA PreCheck. Were working with the U.S. government to alleviate these delays.

Check-in Times

You must be checked in:

  • At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States (domestic flights)
  • At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to airports outside of the United States (international flights)

Arrival at Gate

You must be at the gate and ready to board the aircraft:

  • 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure

Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of your seat assignment and the removal of your checked baggage from the aircraft.

Doors close 10 minutes before departure.

Time to baggage delivery: 30-55 minutes

AA Ticket Counters Link

Concourse D
Charter 1: Cuba charter check-in only; open dependent on charter flight schedule, located across from Door 1

Kiosk 1: self-service check-in; located between Doors 1 and 2

Main: full-service check-in; located across from Door 2

Flagship: full-service check-in; located between Doors 2 & 3

Priority: full-service check-in; separate queues for First Class & AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Business Class & AAdvantage Platinum, and AAdvantage Gold & Priority; late nights Priority and Main are consolidated at this counter; located between Doors 3 & 4

Kiosk 2: self-service check-in; located across from Door 5

Kiosk 3: self-service check-in; located across from Door 6

Rebooking Center: missed connection assistance for customers arriving on international flights only; located across from Door 6

Cuba Check-in: self-service check-in for customers traveling to Cuba only; located between Doors 6 & 7

Future Ticketing: located on Arrivals (lower) level, next to Carousel 27 Permanently closed
Concourse E
Charter 2: Cuba charter check-in only; open dependent on charter flight schedule, located across from Door 10

Security at MIA

Link to security checkpoint locations map. All Concourse D and E gates are accessible from any D or E checkpoint. Connections to or from other concourses will require you to exit and reclear security.

If you do not have Priority or Pre✓, please allow at least 20-40 minutes to clear security. If you miss your flight due to security checkpoint wait times, you will be allowed to standby for the next AA flight to your destination.

Concourse D
Checkpoint 1: open 5 AM to 9 PM, best for Gates D1-D21, located across from Door 1

Checkpoint 2: open 24 hours, best for Gates D22-D24, available to Priority and Pre✓ passengers only while other checkpoints are open (4 AM to 10:30 PM), located across from Door 3

Checkpoint 3: open 4 AM to 10:30 PM, best for Gates D25-D29 & D41-D60 (via skytrain) and access to skytrain Station 2, located between Doors 5 & 6

Checkpoint 4: open 8 AM to 10 AM and 6 PM to 8 PM, best for Gates D30-D40, located across from Door 9

D FIS Checkpoint: open 4 AM to 9:30 PM, available only to passengers who have cleared customs at the D federal inspection station (non-precleared international flights arriving Concourses D, E & F), located to your left upon exiting customs
Concourse E
Checkpoint E: open 4 AM to 10:30 PM, best for Gates E2-E11 & E20-E33, located between Doors 11 & 12
Priority lanes available at Checkpoints 2 and E

TSA Pre✓ available 24 hours at Checkpoint 2, available during peak times only at Checkpoints 1, E, and D FIS

CLEAR available at Checkpoint E

Tip: Upon exiting customs, you will be directed to the D FIS checkpoint. If you would like to use an alternate checkpoint, follow the signs to the Crew EXIT and Rebooking Center in order to avoid exiting on the Arrivals (lower) level and having to go back upstairs. Checkpoints 1-3 will be to your left and Checkpoints 4 & E will be to your right.

Security checkpoint operating hours may differ from published times due to TSA staffing constraints and security initiatives.



MIA Services, Shopping, and Dining

MIA VIP Services (expedited processing similar to AA Five Star Service): link.

Lounges: please see the Lounge Dashboard sticky for further lounge information at MIA
Concourse D: Admirals Clubs above Gate D15 and across from Gate D30; Centurion Lounge at Gate D12 (take elevator in rotunda to Level 3)

Concourse E: Premium Lounge (take elevators just beyond security checkpoint to Level 5)
Dining & Shopping: Link to MIA services, dining guide, and interactive map

On-Airport Hotel:
Miami International Airport Hotel (landside, Concourse E)
Currency Exchange: Coming soon!

Wi-Fi:
Paid WI-Fi service available throughout terminal. Link to pricing information and connection instructions
Charging Stations:
Coming soon!
Smoking: Smoking is permitted only in designated smoking areas across from terminal sidewalks and at:
TGI Friday's smoking lounge between Gates D34 & D36
Rental Cars: The Rental Car Center is located at 3900 NW 25 St, Miami, FL 33142 (across from the main entrance to the airport) and is served by 16 companies. Link. Access to and from the terminal is via the MIA Mover automated people mover.
Arriving Passengers: After collecting your baggage, follow the black and pink signs to the MIA Mover station on the third level of the terminal, accessible via moving walkway. From there, board the MIA Mover to the Rental Car Center. Trains generally depart and arrive on the right track and run 24 hours a day. From 5 AM to midnight, trains run approximately every 3 minutes; from midnight to 5 AM, trains run approximately every 7 minutes. The train will reach the Rental Car Center in approximately 3 minutes. After exiting the station area, the rental car agencies will be located to your right.

Departing Passengers: Please return your vehicle at the Rental Car Center before checking in for your departing flight. After returning your vehicle, follow the black and pink signs to the MIA Mover station on the fourth level of the facility. From there, board the MIA Mover to Miami International Airport. Trains generally depart and arrive on the right track and run 24 hours a day. From 5 AM to midnight, trains run approximately every 3 minutes; from midnight to 5 AM, trains run approximately every 7 minutes. The train will reach the airport terminal in approximately 3 minutes. After exiting the station area, moving walkways to AA ticket counters and gates will be located to your right.
Animal Relief Areas:
Coming soon!

MIA Parking

There are Valet and Garage parking options. Link for options, pricing, and maps

Accessible/Disabled Parking: Link

Cell Phone Waiting Lot: Link


MIA Transportation

Public Transportation: All buses and trains depart from Miami Central Station, which is co-located with the Rental Car Center and is accessible via the MIA Mover automated people mover. Link to map and directions to Miami Central Station
Metrorail Orange Line to Dadeland South, serving Downtown Miami

Miami Beach Airport Express bus to Miami Beach

Metrobus routes 7, 37, 42, 57, J, 238/338 & 297

Tri-Rail commuter rail to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach
Hotel Shuttles, Shared-Ride Vans, and Taxis: Link to area map and fare estimates
Hotel shuttles pick up and drop off on the Departures (upper) level at Doors 3 & 7 at Concourse D; there are no designated stops at Concourses E-J

Super Shuttle shared-ride van service. Stands located on Arrivals (lower) level at Concourses D, E, F, and H.

Taxi stands located on Arrivals (lower) level at Concourses D, E, F, and H. Blue "Airport Region Taxi Service" taxis serve areas immediately adjacent to the airport. Yellow taxis serve all other areas.

Uber and Lyft rideshare services are technically illegal at MIA but will accept pick-ups and drop-offs. There are no designated stops; however, rideshare drivers will generally pick up on the Arrivals (lower) level.
Intercity Bus: Buses depart from Miami Central Station. Link to map and directions to Miami Central Station
Greyhound bus service throughout continental United States

megabus low-cost express bus service to Orlando and Tampa

Things to Do

Is there anything to do at MIA? Coming soon!

Do I have time to go to Miami or Miami Beach?
Downtown Miami Due to increased security checkpoint wait times, you should allow yourself at least 3 hours between connections if you do not have Priority or Pre✓. A taxi to the city center should take approximately 12-17 minutes and will cost approximately $22. Because traffic to and from the airport can be unpredictable, consider taking the Metrorail Orange Line in lieu of a taxi. It is a 15-minute ride from the airport to the city center and trains run every 10-15 minutes except late nights. A roundtrip is $4.50.

Miami Beach Allow at least 3 hours between connections due to the possibility of heavy traffic on the highways between the beach and the mainland. A taxi to the beach should take approximately 22-27 minutes and will cost $35 (flat rate) if going south of 63rd Street. For reference, South Beach and most of the tourist spots are south of 23rd Street. Consider taking the 150 Miami Beach Airport Express bus from the airport to the beach. It is a 31-minute ride from the airport to the Lincoln Road Mall and buses run every 20 minutes. A roundtrip is $4.50.
Posts from 2015-2017 have been archived here.
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ARCHIVE: 2015-19 AA Guide: MIA / Miami International Airport, MCT / Connection, etc.

Old Mar 11, 2019, 10:49 pm
  #556  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,975
Originally Posted by arlflyer
I take it you haven't run into one of the evening MIA pre check lines that snakes 100 yards into the terminal? Oh, maybe you have CLEAR? Perfect, just head a few minutes north to the E checkpoint. But wait, there is no pre there. So have fun in the island time security line with every other bag getting a manual inspection. Point being, nothing is ever certain in MIA...
...
No. Have not.

I fly out of MIami all the time and while I have heard the stories of the dreadful pre-check line, I have never experienced it. Just flew out a few days ago and there was no line - 6pm flight.

Sure, bad things can happen, but, objectively, this is the exception not the rule.
Global321 is offline  
Old Mar 12, 2019, 3:05 am
  #557  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,761
Originally Posted by Global321
No. Have not.

I fly out of MIami all the time and while I have heard the stories of the dreadful pre-check line, I have never experienced it. Just flew out a few days ago and there was no line - 6pm flight.

Sure, bad things can happen, but, objectively, this is the exception not the rule.
How often is "all the time", and how "objectively" are we talking? I go through 2x a week myself, and I'm certainly not making this up.
arlflyer is offline  
Old Mar 12, 2019, 5:53 am
  #558  
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Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
The precheck line tends to be bad in the AM, the one out of D. There is also a precheck line at the other end of D near E but hours of operation tend to be sporadic. The most I've stood in the main TSA Pre Check line is about 15-20 minutes. At certain times of the day the Security Entrance at E can be non existence. I generally will use E. You will however be required to take electronics out of your bag.
MiamiAirport Formerly NY George is offline  
Old Mar 12, 2019, 9:45 pm
  #559  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,975
Originally Posted by arlflyer
How often is "all the time", and how "objectively" are we talking? I go through 2x a week myself, and I'm certainly not making this up.
Never thought for one minute you or anyone else is making it up. Sorry if it came off that way.

"All the time" for me is around 4x a month for years, so not nearly as often as you.

Objectively means that based on open to close time, the long line are there for only a short time.
Global321 is offline  
Old Mar 12, 2019, 10:24 pm
  #560  
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,607
Originally Posted by coolcoil
No - you have to go through security. There is a security line, usually with PreCheck open, dedicated to int'l arrivals..
Translation so he doesn't get his hopes up: almost never with Pre-check open.
ricktoronto is offline  
Old Mar 13, 2019, 6:50 am
  #561  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,761
Originally Posted by Global321
Objectively means that based on open to close time, the long line are there for only a short time.
I would say that this falls in the category of a high standard deviation event. Maybe the average length of the line isn't long, and maybe the really long lines don't persist for a high percentage of the day, but when they're bad, they're really bad.
arlflyer is offline  
Old Mar 13, 2019, 7:19 am
  #562  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,975
Originally Posted by arlflyer
I would say that this falls in the category of a high standard deviation event. Maybe the average length of the line isn't long, and maybe the really long lines don't persist for a high percentage of the day, but when they're bad, they're really bad.
Absolutely. And if you depart consistently at the same time and the lines are bad at that time, then the lines in MIA are always bad for you.
Global321 is offline  
Old Mar 14, 2019, 5:29 pm
  #563  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
Originally Posted by ricktoronto
Translation so he doesn't get his hopes up: almost never with Pre-check open.
Fair enough. I've had good luck for the last six months or so, but as noted by others it may indeed be just luck.
coolcoil is offline  
Old Mar 24, 2019, 11:59 am
  #564  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 234
I have about 6 hours in between flights at MIA and the flights are on different itineraries/airlines/alliances/terminals so I need to go landside anyways. Usually when I visit the USA I buy home a few packs of powdered zero-calories pink lemonade. Would it be possible to purchase some during my transfer somewhere? I don't want to use an expensive form of transportation (taxi, Uber, pre-order a van, etc) but I don't mind using public transportation as long they accept credit card since I will have no cash. Any advice?
drvb is offline  
Old Mar 24, 2019, 12:32 pm
  #565  
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Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Originally Posted by drvb
I have about 6 hours in between flights at MIA and the flights are on different itineraries/airlines/alliances/terminals so I need to go landside anyways. Usually when I visit the USA I buy home a few packs of powdered zero-calories pink lemonade. Would it be possible to purchase some during my transfer somewhere? I don't want to use an expensive form of transportation (taxi, Uber, pre-order a van, etc) but I don't mind using public transportation as long they accept credit card since I will have no cash. Any advice?
You could take the 37 bus South to the Fresco on the corner of Douglas Rd (NW 37th Avenue) and NW 7th Street. Just take the train to the rental car center but follow signs to Miami Metrorail, Miami Metro Bus and TriRail. It's about a 5-10 minutes bus ride.
MiamiAirport Formerly NY George is offline  
Old Mar 24, 2019, 12:59 pm
  #566  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 234
Originally Posted by newyorkgeorge
You could take the 37 bus South to the Fresco on the corner of Douglas Rd (NW 37th Avenue) and NW 7th Street.
But does that bus accept credit cards (Mastercard or Visa)? I do have contactless cards.

If not, I see on google maps that there's a Publix at Airpark Plaza, right next to Pullman/Homewood Suites by Hilton/Hyatt hotels. Do those hotels perhaps provide free shuttle to/from the airport?

Last edited by drvb; Mar 24, 2019 at 1:38 pm
drvb is offline  
Old Mar 24, 2019, 10:14 pm
  #567  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,975
Originally Posted by drvb
I have about 6 hours in between flights at MIA and the flights are on different itineraries/airlines/alliances/terminals so I need to go landside anyways. Usually when I visit the USA I buy home a few packs of powdered zero-calories pink lemonade. Would it be possible to purchase some during my transfer somewhere? I don't want to use an expensive form of transportation (taxi, Uber, pre-order a van, etc) but I don't mind using public transportation as long they accept credit card since I will have no cash. Any advice?
Amazon?
Global321 is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2019, 3:23 am
  #568  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 234
Originally Posted by Global321
Amazon?
I'm Europe-based so the shipping costs wouldn't be gentle on my wallet, and I won't die if I don't get pink lemonade but I certainly do enjoy drinking it.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 3:28 am
  #569  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,975
Originally Posted by drvb
I'm Europe-based so the shipping costs wouldn't be gentle on my wallet, and I won't die if I don't get pink lemonade but I certainly do enjoy drinking it.
Got it.

What if you call the Sheraton Miami Airport (at the transportation center)... see if they will accept a package for you? Amazon could ship it for free there. (Or maybe someplace close to there.) If you have status with Marriott, they just might do it for you.

The whole bus thing seems like a lot of work for pink lemonade. Being able to walk out of security and a short tram/walk to the Sheraton would be very easy.
Global321 is offline  
Old Mar 25, 2019, 4:37 am
  #570  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 234
I will arrive in Miami in 4 hours... But a walk to Fresco doesn't seem too bad, should be about 30 minutes oneway.
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