Paul, I hope you realize that my comments were all tongue-in-cheek. I've been a "Resident Alien" for the last eighteen (18) years myself and I detest the designation just as much as you do - but what can I do about it? On the brighter side, at least they can't call you for "Jury Duty;" and who wants to do that anyway??? Well, you can't vote either but the last time I checked they are planning to bribe the whole country with a new holiday just to try to get people in the polls, so voting can't be all it's cracked up to be also.

I share you feelings about MIA and have also used FLL when and where I can. I recently got one of those $100 US Air Boston-Miami Summer Sale fares and will be using it soon for a long-weekend mileage run, and for the first time I'll be using West Palm Beach as another alternative gateway to South Florida .

God bless you all.
God save the Queen.

Being from Cayman, MIA is effectively my "home" airport too, and it ain't so bad if you manage it right.

A few hints and thoughts :
- Get an INSPASS to avoid the lines. Even if the INSPASS machine ain't working, at least you can then use the special services line.
- Even though the lines can get long, in general the INS officers in Miami are excellent and customer focussed, great ambassadors for Miami and the USA for arriving visitors.
- Take carry on baggage only, baggage claim at MIA Concourse E is a nightmare and can take forever.
- With an INSPASS and carry on bags, you can normally be out of the airport 20 minutes after wheels down, so no problem.

On the other hand....the other week I flew in from LHR on AA and they landed us at concourse B and we had to walk in all the way to Concourse E....that is some walk with two small kids in tow !

I've been thru LAX....which was hell....and I'm sure that they take some sadistic pleasure in making it that way too.

I just went thru MIA for the first time last week and found the experience painless to say the least. Maybe it was the 5am arival from GIG and the fact that I was sitting up front with just 2 carry on's that made it easy for me to wisk past everybody and thru INS and Customs. I had a very pleasant brief chat with the inspectors and was out of there in less than 15 minutes.

Now.....walking back to United's "F" concourse for my connection was a hike I'd like to forget. It's definitely a dark and gloomy airport in need of something....and what that is I don't know.