Anyone ever had a MIA connection from Toronto ???

[la_barbie]

Flying with American Airlines for the first time and I got a Miami connection... anyone every go on this flight from Toronto-Miami-Puerto Plata... did you have to change terminals and did you have to get your luggage in Miami ?

I dont want my luggage to show up 2 days late just like Angel_04 just did

Toronto (YYZ)06:59 Miami (MIA) 10:10
Miami (MIA) 12:03 Puerto plata (POP) 14:03
Return: Puerto Plata to Toronto
Airline Flt# Departure Arrival
Puerto plata (POP) 15:15 Miami (MIA) 17:24
#646 Miami (MIA) 20:18 Toronto (YYZ) 23:28

I just read ricktoronto's post about Miami airport being bad..... will i have enough time you think ???

 

[bob saunders]

IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 4-5 YEARS since i did the miami connection, but if my memory serves me correctly. You check in at one terminal then go upstairs and get a train to the international side. It took 5 minutes or so. Airport was very crowded with many latinos from south and central america, but I didn't find the airport as bad as NY or Chicago, but not as nice as Dallas either.

 

[bob saunders]

IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 4-5 YEARS since i did the miami connection, but if my memory serves me correctly. You check in at one terminal then go upstairs and get a train to the international side. It took 5 minutes or so. Airport was very crowded with many latinos from south and central america, but I didn't find the airport as bad as NY or Chicago, but not as nice as Dallas either. You should have plenty of time to get to your flights and ask at your check-in at Toronto, but saince you are flying AA all the way you shouldn't need to collect your luggage in Miami as it will have gone through American customs in Toronto.

 

[PeachezNcream84]

The security is different since 4 or 5 years ago...9/11 changed everything.

2 hours is just about the time she will need to go through customs. I hope you can make it ok barbie. I'm glad you will make it for our August 5th party

I usually only fly with Canadian airlines..and they basically don't care how late you are as long as you are there. Not so with American Airlines..you actually need to be there a full 2 hours ahead.

Barbie, did you book through a travel agent? If you did, ask your travel agent to call American Airlines and get a note put on your file that you have a close connection for your POP flight.

They have done that for me before and held the plane.

Maybe you won't need it, but it's always good to be on the safe side.The connection from Miami to POP is the most important one

 

[ricktoronto]

OK here is actual advice more recent than when we all had afro's. E.g. from yesterday. I fly through MIA every month, most recently yesterday at noon.

Important unless you are an AA elite and/or flying in First Class you will need to be at the Terminal 3 Toronto at 4:30 or so a.m. as the queues are HUGE at that time of day for the 6-7 a.m. flights. Just to get your boarding pass - then the queue for the US preclearing can take over an hour at that time of day. Heed this advice - they routinely lose passengers stuck in the lines. Be early and have a coffee vs. fretting as the clock ticks.

Going down from Toronto you preclear US INS/Customs here and thus are a domestic flight at that point and the only issue with connecting in MIA is the walk from where you land (usually A1) to where you fly from (usually D47) .

In MIA that can take 20 minutes - but you are already behind security and thus it is just a walk. Looooooooooong walk.

Coming back - your bags are checked through to Toronto, so you ignore the announcement that says pick them up at the luggage area and recheck them - that is only for domestic flights. At the airport in SDQ or POP the AA agent will and should put a large red ITI luggage tag on the bag - ensure they do.

If you are lucky and land at the D/E area after 12 noon you will use the ITI (International-to-international) facility - that's INS, Customs and TSA security all in one room and I have zoomed through there in as little as 5 minutes. You exit that room and are still inside the secure area of the airport right where D and E meet.

If not, e.g. you are at D/E but ITI is closed or at A, it can take from 12 minutes to 2 hours depending on the #'s of other inbound flights.

Unlike Chicago and Dallas, MIA does NOT allow Canadians to use the US queues even though we don't need to be fingerprinted/photographed. So you are going to be behind a lot of Mexicans, and Dominicans etc., thus prepare to wait longer than at other airports. Yesterday it took 35 minutes from landing to being at my departure gate and 10 was walking and 25 was INS with about 1 minute for customs and security.

If you wind up missing ITI then here is a tip - when you exit the secure area after customs you are in the terminal - at D or A depending on the arrival customs - head towards B - there is no B terminal any more but there is a B security station. Or to C as well - there are only 4 C gates but a full security station. Passengers, the sheep that they are, will stand in line with 500 people at A or D if they leave from A or D even though you spend 1 minute entering at B and 2 minutes walking to A inside the secure area. Let the sheep stand in line.

Do not accept a return connection time under 2 hours unless you are a thrill seeker or like to sleep in airports. On a busy day you will miss the connection. That is coming back only - going down 45 minutes is OK.

Also seeing who was asking - always travel with your American Express traveler's cheques bought at a BANK.

 

[ricktoronto]

IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 4-5 YEARS since i did the miami connection, but if my memory serves me correctly. You check in at one terminal then go upstairs and get a train to the international side. It took 5 minutes or so. Airport was very crowded with many latinos from south and central america, but I didn't find the airport as bad as NY or Chicago, but not as nice as Dallas either. You should have plenty of time to get to your flights and ask at your check-in at Toronto, but saince you are flying AA all the way you shouldn't need to collect your luggage in Miami as it will have gone through American customs in Toronto.

It has been a long time - this is incorrect information and should be ignored. No train, no upstairs, no internationals side. Not as crowded. Really Bob 5 year old recollections are little help to people.

 

[ricktoronto]

Barbie, did you book through a travel agent? If you did, ask your travel agent to call American Airlines and get a note put on your file that you have a close connection for your POP flight.

They have done that for me before and held the plane.)

Look: she has nearly 2 hours in MIA for a domestic connection - it is not tight and I can tell you AA will not hold the plane for one person, so don't waste your time with this advice.

45 minutes is a minimum legal domestic connection and she arrives on a domestic flight with nearly triple that.

If the flight is so late that she cannot connect then they rebook to the next flight - thus taking the early flight there is a good idea as it leaves you with options if the flight is late. Forget all this travel agent and notices hooey.

 

[caro]

I take many time a connection at mia but from montreal and never had problem to take my connection or lose my luggage . it s was close to the same hour of your. so don t worry ......be happy

 

[la_barbie]

Important unless you are an AA elite and/or flying in First Class you will need to be at the Terminal 3 Toronto at 4:30 or so a.m. as the queues are HUGE at that time of day for the 6-7 a.m. flights. Just to get your boarding pass - then the queue for the US preclearing can take over an hour at that time of day. Heed this advice - they routinely lose passengers stuck in the lines. Be early and have a coffee vs. fretting as the clock ticks.

Going down from Toronto you preclear US INS/Customs here and thus are a domestic flight at that point and the only issue with connecting in MIA is the walk from where you land (usually A1) to where you fly from (usually D47) .

Coming back - your bags are checked through to Toronto, so you ignore the announcement that says pick them up at the luggage area and recheck them - that is only for domestic flights. At the airport in SDQ or POP the AA agent will and should put a large red ITI luggage tag on the bag - ensure they do.

If you are lucky and land at the D/E area after 12 noon you will use the ITI (International-to-international) facility - that's INS, Customs and TSA security all in one room and I have zoomed through there in as little as 5 minutes. You exit that room and are still inside the secure area of the airport right where D and E meet.

Unlike Chicago and Dallas, MIA does NOT allow Canadians to use the US queues even though we don't need to be fingerprinted/photographed. So you are going to be behind a lot of Mexicans, and Dominicans etc., thus prepare to wait longer than at other airports. Yesterday it took 35 minutes from landing to being at my departure gate and 10 was walking and 25 was INS with about 1 minute for customs and security.

Also seeing who was asking - always travel with your American Express traveler's cheques bought at a BANK.

OK..... my first reaction when I read this ..... WWWWWWWWOOOOWWWWW !! I'm thinking that rick that you should come and fly with me cause WOOOWW !!!!! I've only in my life had direct flights with Skyservice, Lot, Lufthansa, Malev .... I've had stops in Puerto Rico and St. Maartens but they weren't "connections"...

For morning flights like that I'm always at the airport at around 3 am the latest (sometimes earlier, I like to be early)... my aim is to be one of the first in line to sit near the front.. So let me see if im getting this right ...

1. Check into AA in Toronto.... They take my luggage and I shouldn't worry about it until POP, right ?

2. I go through some sort of U.S "Customs" after I check in with AA in Toronto... this part is what I didn't understand ...

3. Land in Miami in one piece !

4. Get off and run like hell to the next gate.... I don't have to go through customs again, right ?? Just run or "walk" like crazy..

5. Get to the gate and just wait till they board ?? ... but ill be asking whoevers there if im at the right gate...

6. When I get into POP do I just get off, grab my bags, and go .... just like Skyservice or do I have to go through any other customs crap besides the usual Dominican stamping of the passport so then Toronto can hassle me ?

7. Way back..... Do I go through US Customs in Miami or in Toronto....??

Rick, as helpful as you are for this post... "thanks" ... but I still ain't taking travellers cheques.... I know you work at a bank but I still say no to them..

And Peachez.... Considering I am comming early cause your making me ... I am holding you responsible if I get stuck in Miami.... you better get a boat ready and paddle your *** to come and get me ..hahaha You'll know if I made it all in one piece when you call me !

 

[ricktoronto]

Note- arriving at 3 a.m. is pointless. 4:15 to 4:30 or so is about right, 3 a.m. there won't be anyone there. Your questions, even the redundant ones:

1. Check into AA in Toronto.... They take my luggage and I shouldn't worry about it until POP, right ?

Well they tag it, you take it past the US guys then put it on a belt - after that it goes to POP without you doing anything.

2. I go through some sort of U.S "Customs" after I check in with AA in Toronto... this part is what I didn't understand ...

Not some sort of anything - you go through actual US INS and Customs before you go on the plane instead of when you land. When you are done with them you are in a sterile area that you cannot leave without going through Canada immigration. So they treat that area as if you were in the US.

3. Land in Miami in one piece !

Usually, why would you say differently?

4. Get off and run like hell to the next gate.... I don't have to go through customs again, right ?? Just run or "walk" like crazy..

No customs as I plainly and clearly said, or TSA security - you are landing "airside" inside the secure area. In 2 hours you can walk with ease and not run anywhere.

5. Get to the gate and just wait till they board ?? ... but ill be asking whoevers there if im at the right gate...

Well there are 1,000 overhead monitors with all of the cities and gates and of course at the gate are 8 inch high red letters that say the city and flight number. If you still think you need confirmation the gate agents love to be bothered with such questions as they ignore you and point to the sign behind them.


6. When I get into POP do I just get off, grab my bags, and go .... just like Skyservice or do I have to go through any other customs crap besides the usual Dominican stamping of the passport so then Toronto can hassle me ?

Just like arriving with any airline. Except AA will not have free or for sale tourist cards. Same arrival in the same immigration hall, why would it be different? No idea what you are on about that Toronto can hassle you - for what reason?

7. Way back..... Do I go through US Customs in Miami or in Toronto....??

You arrive as I pointed out meticulously in MIA and clear INS and Customs there at ITI, or in non ITI near D or A depending on where you land.

 

[la_barbie]

6. When I get into POP do I just get off, grab my bags, and go .... just like Skyservice or do I have to go through any other customs crap besides the usual Dominican stamping of the passport so then Toronto can hassle me ?

Just like arriving with any airline. Except AA will not have free or for sale tourist cards. Same arrival in the same immigration hall, why would it be different? No idea what you are on about that Toronto can hassle you - for what reason?

7. Way back..... Do I go through US Customs in Miami or in Toronto....??

You arrive as I pointed out meticulously in MIA and clear INS and Customs there at ITI, or in non ITI near D or A depending on where you land.

Sorry rick... just not understandin what all this "INS" and "ITI" terms are... I've never flew to US nor had i ever stopped there... that's all..

I also have another option of flying with Jetsblue from Buffalo-JKF-Santiago with arrival time at 4:30am and it's about $200 CAD cheaper .... is that good, or just stick with AA ?

And as for getting hassled in Toronto.....If you only knew what I go through EVERYTIME!! .... I get my bags checked inside out .... they ask me the most stupidest questions ... "How much you make at your job", "how did you book time off", "how do you know the people down there that your staying with" "what do you take in school"
and than they get on my *** as to why i dont use my Polish passport cause i have dual citizenship.....when they asked me that i was like .... you gotta be f*ing kidding me ...

.... a girl came to my work (currency exchange) exchaning the rest of her money and she said that she went to POP for the 3rd time this year and this time when she came back they took a swab of her check in Toronto...

Craziness.... I've heard other stories too..