Connection question
 

We are flying AA to MIA from GCM on a Sunday afternoon, and then have two options for getting back home to SFO. The first, which we prefer if doable, is taking uber/shuttle/taxi to FLL and flying JetBlue (kids much happier on cross-country flight with DirecTV and reliable internet). The connection would be 3:55. Does this seem doable, given that we're talking Sunday afternoon/evening and thus no rush-hour on I-95? And if so, any recommendations for the best way to get up there (not interested in Tri-Rail)? Option two would be a United flight from MIA, connection time of 2:38. Is that a safe amount of time to get through immigration/baggage claim/customs, get over to the United terminal, and go back through security (we have TSA Pre but no GE)? Thanks.

Take the UA flight to SFO from MIA, 2.5 hours should be enough particularly if you are not checking bags. Traffic on 95 can be a nightmare any time of the day, weekends included. The Express Lanes ares sometimes closed on the weekends due to construction. If you are on the Express Lanes and there is an accident you are totally screwed. I would say normally just take Uber or Lyft, however, FLL is not Uber/Lyft friendly so you will need to find a driver that is willing to take you to FLL. Another option would be Go Shuttle which offers direct connections between the two airports.

Thanks, NYG
 

Now I'm wondering if you or any of the other S. Floridians on this board have experience with UA 583, the only daily nonstop MIA-SFO, leaving at 6:15 PM. I'm looking at a flight in January that says it's on a 738, but the generic seat map is still showing, meaning it might be a candidate for an equipment change. Anyone know if this flight typically remains 738, or is it often swapped out for a 319? If it stays a 738 there's a decent chance we'll have DirecTV or other in-seat entertainment; otherwise we still might chance it with the JetBlue flight.

Traffic is a nightmare on 95 all day every day of the week especially if you are not in the express lanes. The typical rush hour here begins at 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM not in the evening. There's also no really feasible alternatives if 95 is backed up heavily. All other highways require a significant amount of backtracking to get back east to FLL.

Your connection is doable if you want to do B6 provided that 95 is okay, and iit's not one of those days where the security line stretches down the ticketing hall, which is a common occurrence.

IMO children's preferences should take a backseat to practical travel plans.

-LPDAL

First, AA and B6 do not interline, so you cannot connect. Thus, two separate tickets. If you no show for your B6 flight, your tickets are cancelled and you deal with all of that mess. On the other hand, AA and UA do interline and if your AA inbound is delayed, it will be AA's responsibility to handle the reroute to SFO.

I would generally suggest doubling whatever it is that you consider sensible for a connection for a transfer between tickets. This allows for some measure of delays.

Second, if you like the B6 option, have you considered flying B6 GCM-JFK-SFO (even pricing MINT for the second segment)?

AA has an 8:15pm MIA-SFO flight which would most likely be much easier than trying to connect to OAL (other airline) on a 738.

Some of them have been refitted with IFE but IMO it really doesn't matter because children don't dictate airline choices to their parents especially if it involves a tight, risky multi airport connection which entails the inconvenience of having to arrange and pay extra for ground transportation, check in, and clear security at another entirely different airport almost 30 miles away just so they can have IFE. JMHO

-LPDAL

Do you have devices on which you can download content for them to view? If so, even buying/renting 2-3 movies of their choosing is a lot cheaper and less stressful and what you are proposing in order to take advantage of a seatback system which might malfunction.

Children's preferences? You sound like someone who's never had the responsibility of keeping kids occupied/quiet/not kicking the seat in front of them for six hours. It's not their "preference," it's ours.

Yes, this. What happens if you misconnect? Or you get on and the flight attendants announce the system will be INOP the entire time?

It is my experience that when traveling with young children the whole process must be streamlined and any unecessary add ons taken out. Driving on one of the most traffic jam prone roads in this area for an hour after having already been through the rigmarole of clearing customs and gathering belongings through one airport then going through the same, heaven forbid the TSA lane is backed up in T3 because it usually is, at another airport does not sound fun or easy for the kiddos or mom and dad at all.

-LPDAL

Have your GCM-MIA tickets already been issued?

Great idea! Can't believe this didn't occur to me. Thanks!

Gotta say, there ain't much "H" there in that "O." The children wouldn't be "dictating" anything. You really think telling me that I could connect on AA is helpful? I'm AA Lifetime Gold and coming in from GCM on AA. If I wanted an AA connection I wouldn't be here asking the question. The AA planes on this route stink, with horrible Gogo WiFi and no IFE whatsoever. All I was asking for here was local knowledge about the timing, because there are multiple GCM-MIA flights on AA. If you all think this timing is too tight, then I can simply take a GCM-MIA flight 2 hours earlier. You may disagree with the priorities that my family and I have, but you also have no idea what it's like to be the parent of a special-needs child who's difficult to keep entertained on a long flight. So please stick to the question asked rather than delving into parenting advice. Thanks.

No. Why do you ask?

Because if they had been, you would not be protected on your MIA/FLL-SFO leg on a carrier other than AA in the event of IRROPS on the GCM-MIA leg. ;)

MIA Immigration can take up a lot of time especially if you are arriving during a multitude of flights into terminal D customs which you are. The afternoon arrival time you are suggesting has most of the European International Arrivals coming in concurrently BA, IB, AF, LH (J) as well as the early arrivals of AA from South/Central America. We have many customers that arrive with reservations and it's usually a 90 minute transit time through ICE before we see them after arrival.

GoShuttle is the contracted Shuttle of FLL, they do not pick up in Miami on demand, only with a reservation.

Supershuttle in the contracted shuttle service of MIA (disclaimer-who I work for) and travel time on a Sunday Afternoon is typically 35-45 minutes on an exclusive van service ride. Shared-ride service (per passenger rate) may take longer as there may be other stops on the way for this 30 mile run between airports. Depending on the number in your party, the exclusive van may be the less expensive option and we always default to the least expensive option when booking.

Sometimes there is construction during the day on Sundays, but it is in the area between the Golden Glades and FLL, where our drivers are instructed to detour via the Turnpike/595 route which adds 5 minutes to the travel time, yet reduces delays if an accident/closures do occur.

Uber/Lyft are available, but can only pick up in designated zones, one of which is outside the customs area of terminal D (AA Int'l arrivals). However not many use mini-vans, so with a small family may not be the best option.