American Airlines Via Miami to Orlando?

[Twinks]

Has anyone travelled to Orlando via this route?

It looks as though we are travelling indirect in view of BA and Virgins prices for December and we are just deciding which airline and route to go for.

Experiences good and bad would be greatly appreciated.

Donna

 

[Pootle]

I've travelled with American Airlines to Orlando via Chicago, Miami and Boston in the past. The Miami route was fine with obviously one very short flight and one long one. I used to be a great fan of theirs but now they have reduced their seat pitch I'm having a rethink.

The seat configuration is 2-5-2 and until last year they had a 'More Room Throughout Coach' slogan but no longer. If the seat pitch is not important to you - and they are no worse than BA or Virgin in economy - then I'd say go with them if the price is right and you don't mind the extra time it adds to your journey. Booking online with them is easy, or via Expedia for instance, and you can book your seats at the same time.

Normally (unless it's changed very recently) the food is just okay but they do have a very nice cheese and tomato pizza which they serve about an hour before you land in the USA.

The only thing that really matters to me is the comfort factor and when I travel economy; AA used to be a good choice. Hope this helps.

 

[kristieuk]

AA are a decent enough airline. I haven't flown with them to Miami, but I have to Chicago and NY, and the planes were modern, with seatback tv's etc. Our last flight with them was last February, and they still had the extra pitch then (it's a few inches in front, but that didn't half make a difference to the feeling of space all around you) - I know they were scaling this back, but I don't know whether this is now fully completed.

The inflight movies were good - and because it's an American airline, they were even newer films than say BA or Virgin. Food was just as you expect on an aeroplane, and like most, if not all, American airlines, you do pay for alcohol ($5 per drink, soft drinks are free).

Your flight between Miami and Orlando may well be on a much smaller plane, with no tv etc, but that flight should only be an hour or so.

One thing I do know about Miami International is that it's not the nicest airport in the world - it is huge, and needs updating, although that may have been done in the past couple of years - and it's busy busy busy. It just seems less organised than other US airports somehow, buat least you can clear customs here, and it's usually straightforward to recheck your bags - you are usually checked straight through if it's the same airline, so you just collect your bags, and then put them on another carousel, and go straight to your gate.

I wouldn't hesitate to travel indirectly if the savings were substantial. It's really no big deal.

Hope that helps

 

[Pootle]

... Our last flight with them was last February, and they still had the extra pitch then (it's a few inches in front, but that didn't half make a difference to the feeling of space all around you) - I know they were scaling this back, but I don't know whether this is now fully completed.

I travelled with them in November - LHR-LAS-DFW-MCO-ORD-LHR (my friend and I did a 2-centre trip to Las Vegas and Orlando) and the 34" pitch was gone on all of them and I was told that the change to 32" pitch was all but complete.

One thing I do know about Miami International is that it's not the nicest airport in the world - it is huge, and needs updating, although that may have been done in the past couple of years - and it's busy busy busy.

The last time I travelled home from MCO via MIA the best thing was that the gate for the LHR flight was immediately opposite. Often if you fly indirect you have to change terminals too so this was a big plus. I can't guarantee that this is always the case though

 

[Dabbler]

Great Airline we've flown with them a number of times

 

[Twinks]

Thank you for your feedback. Just waiting for tomorrow now to see what we can get when our departure date is released

 

[Dabbler]

Have you tried booking direct with AA they won't be beaten on price and you can pick your own seats online?

 

[Halo]

A word of warning - I would go another route rather than via Miami if you have a choice, as you have to go through US Customs and Immigration at your first entry point to the USA. Customs and immigration at Miami are horrendously busy - a colleague had a 3 1/2 hour wait on her last trip! On my last trip to the US I flew US Airways via Charlotte, and as Charlotte was a much smaller airport I cleared customs and immigration in 1/2 an hour or so.

 

[Cochise]

Miami was the subject of the program on the tv wasnt it? Our version but in the US. They wouldnt pick Miami for no reason as it draws in from everywhere in South America. Might be a good one to avoid.

 

[Twinks]

Thank you. I had heard from another source that this was the problem with Miami, but wanted to see if anyone else had experienced it before we made our choice.

We have gone via Charlotte also with U S Airways before and you are right it is a very easy journey.

Thank you all for the feedback it has really helped

 

[Dabbler]

Last trip took us only 20mins to get through customs in Miami. Most time we've every waited was nearly an hour.

 

[Halo]

Last trip took us only 20mins to get through customs in Miami. Most time we've every waited was nearly an hour.

It's luck of the draw - it depends whatever flights arrive at the same time. Generally I would categorise Miami as an entry airport rather than a gateway airport - IMHO gateway airports appear more geared up to getting passengers through and on to their connecting flight.

 

[dc1964]

flew this airline into Miami and then stayed a couple of days before driving to Orlando, customs was trouble free, Miami was great and the drive to Orlando very easy( 4 hours max). If it is a good price do it!

 

[rosiejo]

Twinks - where abouts in the country are you? We're going to try and fly out of Bristol this year - with continental via New York (newark) November flights are coming up at £350 return in econimy - cheaper than Virgin out of Gatwick for the same dates

 

[Amyrlin]

I agree with the advice to go another route is possible due to the immigration at Miami being very busy, there are a few that go via New York and some Via Charlotte or Atlanta

 

[Twinks]

We are only about 10 mins from Birmingham International Rosiejo. We did enquire about Continental via Newark, but the TA advised us that it may be a bit dodgy in December if it is snowed in. Virgin are apparently now £900.00 for the 16th and BA £638.00, so way up on previous years, and BA's prices don't increase for the Christmas week until the 17th!

Because of the time of year, we are inclined to go via Charlotte or Dallas. Far enough South not to be affected by any snow!

 

[rosiejo]

hmm that probably does sound wise actually - DH is worried about it being icy in NY in November so December could be a problem

 

[Miffy2003]

Rosie - if you do try flying from Bristol would you mind letting me know how it goes? We are only an hour from Bristol airport and the convenience of that would I think make up for an indirect flight

 

[Twinks]

Well after all that we have picked up a great price with Delta via Atlanta which gets us into MCO at 16.29pm. Just got to wait for confirmation of the inbound now.

Only 48 weeks to go