djbenedict

Just wondered if anyone could advise on how long it will take to get from a BA flight landing at MIA, via Global Entry immigration (NB no checked bag) and then back through security for a domestic US departure on American (specifically American 'Eagle'). I understand the BA flight will land at terminal E and the gates for American Eagle can be D53, D55 or D60 (the latter from the AA Guide to MIA here on FT).

I have found GE to have minimal wait times, even at such execrable airports as ORD, so I am not too worried about that aspect, more the transit time between the terminals and the security time in D. Will be landing from LHR on a Saturday at 3pm.

Mwenenzi

AA thread on MIA connections:--->AA Guide: MIA / Miami International Airport, MCT / Connection, etc.

srbrenna

UKtravelbear

Op said they won't have bags. In anycase ITI is only for an onward international destination and the OP states they have a domestic connection so even if they did have bags they would have to collect them as MIA is their port of entry

srbrenna

djbenedict

Time traveller

It depends on how long the customs line and the security line getting back into the domestic terminal area. With GE, immigration should be a breeze. Then when you get to the baggage claim and customs, there may be huge lines of people flying in from Central and South American flights. Technically GE should be able to bypass the regular customs line, but at MIA, anything can happen. Also once you are landside, there are several entrances to get back airside to board your AA/AE flight. Choose wisely as some have TSA Precheck and some don't. Assuming you have TSA Precheck with GE, you should look to use one of those entry points.

This transfer can be done as fast as 30 minutes, but I would allot at least 2 hours between the 2 flights, similar to how much I would allot when connecting at LHR from I to D.

eefor jfp

Since you have Global Entry you also have TSA pre-check. Hopefully you can enter your KTN in AA's system so that your boarding pass will have pre-check on it.
Coming out the main exit from baggage claim the entry back into the terminal is on the right and IF pre-check is open, it shouldn't be more than 10-15 minutes to clear the lines and security. But pre-check at that entrance is closed about half the time, unfortunately. If it is, you may have to go upstairs and then find security if the normal lines look long.

Here is how I would time it:
Gate to immigration: 15 minutes (more if you are in the back of the plane. BA usually parks at the far end of E)
Clearing immigration with Global Entry (including time at the kiosk): 5 minutes
walking through baggage claim to entrance to re-clear security: 5 minutes
re-clear security with pre-check- 15 minutes (this lets you out in the middle of D around gate 24 IIRC
get to the end of D (American Eagle gates: 15 minutes
Buffer (in case you need to go upstairs): 15 minutes.
So all together, you probably need to allow 70 minutes from scheduled arrival time to get back to your AA gate at the far end of D.

Having said that, I think I was back in the lounge 35-40 minutes after stepping off the plane from LHR the last time I went through Miami and that was with claiming and re-checking luggage. But I was first off the plane, caught a shuttle immediately from the end of D to immigration, didn't wait at all for a GE kiosk, and my luggage was one of the first on the belt (and AA was quicker than they ever have been). Since they are separate tickets, you have to also allow for BA to be late. And that's the hardest thing to predict.

djbenedict

Thanks eefor, that is really helpful. I am looking at a time from scheduled landing to scheduled takeoff of 160 minutes. Which appears "ok" given your guidance above: there are some puts and takes, because I won't be first off (nor anything like last); but equally not waiting to claim or check at all.

So I will have some buffer for delayed landing of the LHR-MIA flight. Not huge, but c. 1hr maybe. I am also not trying to catch the last flight of the day to my US domestic departure so perhaps that is one more possible recourse if things go wrong. Good enough for me!

I'll report back...

eefor jfp

AA is also pretty good about protecting you on oneworld itineraries (even with separate tickets), so they should allow you to go stand-by if your original flight is late. 2.5 hours will be more than enough time unless your flight is over an hour late.

By the way, as I was re-reading my first post, I realized my directions were off. The entrance to security (back into the terminal from arrivals) is on the left as you exit baggage claim and agricultural inspection, not on the right. But in any case, there are signs.

FlyerTalker39574

Often1

One can (must) do that at all US POE's. The point is that if one has a checked bag, the bag must clear Customs at the initial POE. If the bag is already tagged to its final domestic destination, the passenger simply drops it with AA. If not tagged, then the passenger waits 2-3 minutes while AA tags and accepts it.

djbenedict

armouredant

Tiny thread hijack; I'm travelling DUB-AA-PHL-AA-MIA-AA-CUN in a few weeks, with a fairly short connections in PHL and MIA; is it still possible to have my bags ITI tagged through at DUB in this case (with two US domestic transfers), or will I have to collect and recheck at PHL because of the itinerary? I also have Global Entry, fwiw.

Andriyko

You will clear immigration and customs at DUB and arrive at PHL as a domestic passenger. Your bags will follow you to CUN and you won't have to recheck them at any connection point.