5 hours between flights in Miami, not on same ticket?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1
5 hours between flights in Miami, not on same ticket?
Should 5 hours be enough time to change planes at Miami airport? I'm about to book a flight from Orlando to Miami and one option is a American Airlines flight that lands at 12.45pm and our already booked AA flight from Miami to London leaves at 6pm. It's Tuesday. I realize it would be on two different tickets and we'll have checked in luggage. Travelling with European passport. There are flights with longer transfer times available, should I book one of those or is 5 hours enough?
Do you know if AA would be able to check us in in Orlando to the Miami-London flight so that our luggage would go all the way to the final destination? Can reservations be compined like that?
Do you know if AA would be able to check us in in Orlando to the Miami-London flight so that our luggage would go all the way to the final destination? Can reservations be compined like that?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,020
Should 5 hours be enough time to change planes at Miami airport? I'm about to book a flight from Orlando to Miami and one option is a American Airlines flight that lands at 12.45pm and our already booked AA flight from Miami to London leaves at 6pm. It's Tuesday. I realize it would be on two different tickets and we'll have checked in luggage. Travelling with European passport. There are flights with longer transfer times available, should I book one of those or is 5 hours enough?
Do you know if AA would be able to check us in in Orlando to the Miami-London flight so that our luggage would go all the way to the final destination? Can reservations be compined like that?
Do you know if AA would be able to check us in in Orlando to the Miami-London flight so that our luggage would go all the way to the final destination? Can reservations be compined like that?
Great Circle Mapper
AA Guide: MIA / Miami International Airport, MCT / Connection, etc.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,481
5 hrs is plenty of time. As mentioned AA will not check your bags through, but that still gives you ample time to grab your bags and check in again. Nothing to worry about at all.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
5 hours - more than enough time.
Through checked luggage - not allowed by AA. Collect your bags from the baggage claim and then go to the check in counters to check your bags for itinerary #2 .
Through checked luggage - not allowed by AA. Collect your bags from the baggage claim and then go to the check in counters to check your bags for itinerary #2 .
#5
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: AA : EXP / AR : ORO
Posts: 55
5 hours Domestic>International at MIA is more than ok, even with checked luggage.
Also, through checking of luggage in 2 different reservations is not allowed.
For personal experience, even if check-in agent at MCO offers to do it, I would decline and pick it up in MIA and check it to LHR.
In 3 ocassions agents said they could do it, tags showed final destinations, but when I got to those places (PTY, SJO & EZE), lugagge didn't show up (ended up coming 2~3 days later).
Also, through checking of luggage in 2 different reservations is not allowed.
For personal experience, even if check-in agent at MCO offers to do it, I would decline and pick it up in MIA and check it to LHR.
In 3 ocassions agents said they could do it, tags showed final destinations, but when I got to those places (PTY, SJO & EZE), lugagge didn't show up (ended up coming 2~3 days later).
#8
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AA EXP & Life Plat; AA 4MM; TWA Life Plat; HH Diamond
Posts: 1,109
It's possible to have two different tickets in a single pnr. I've not done it personally, but it would interesting to call AA - assume they issued the award, and ask if they can book the mco-mia leg in the award pnr and issue the revenue ticket from there. If the answer is yes, then they will be able to check luggage through.
#9
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,315
The issue is potential weather which is why 5 hours is a good idea. Depending on time of year. Thunderstorms could stop MCO but not effect MIA.
I always like to know that there is a flight after mine that would still get me in on time in a case like this in case of mechanical.
There's another thread that says you would be protected if you miss your flight due to AA not getting out of MCO on time, so that may not be an issue (that thread suggested that having the old policy wording guidance with you in case of misconnect helped - not the newest one, which doesn't apply to separate PNRs). Here's that thread:AA Protection on separate oneworld tickets / PNR (read the Wiki for the languange).
I've done what you did once, and next time I'm spending the night before in Miami, enjoying a day there first.
I always like to know that there is a flight after mine that would still get me in on time in a case like this in case of mechanical.
There's another thread that says you would be protected if you miss your flight due to AA not getting out of MCO on time, so that may not be an issue (that thread suggested that having the old policy wording guidance with you in case of misconnect helped - not the newest one, which doesn't apply to separate PNRs). Here's that thread:AA Protection on separate oneworld tickets / PNR (read the Wiki for the languange).
I've done what you did once, and next time I'm spending the night before in Miami, enjoying a day there first.
Last edited by beachfan; Feb 2, 2020 at 9:38 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Should 5 hours be enough time to change planes at Miami airport? I'm about to book a flight from Orlando to Miami and one option is a American Airlines flight that lands at 12.45pm and our already booked AA flight from Miami to London leaves at 6pm. It's Tuesday. I realize it would be on two different tickets and we'll have checked in luggage. Travelling with European passport. There are flights with longer transfer times available, should I book one of those or is 5 hours enough?
Do you know if AA would be able to check us in in Orlando to the Miami-London flight so that our luggage would go all the way to the final destination? Can reservations be compined like that?
Do you know if AA would be able to check us in in Orlando to the Miami-London flight so that our luggage would go all the way to the final destination? Can reservations be compined like that?
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,585
Since this is an AA-AA situation, if MCO-MIA gets cancelled, AA can rebook the OP at MCO, such that he might be routed through a city other than MIA.