Connecting flights at Miami international

[sam_rogers]

Just when i thought i'd sorted my flights i've come up with another question for everybody!!! I'm looking at flying LHR to MIA where i'll have 2 hours to make a connection for my flight to MCO. i didn't realise that i'd have to go through immigration pick up and recheck my bags! is 2 hours enough to do this or would you recommend getting the next flight and having a 4 hour stop over?

 

[ben1993]

I'd do the 4 hour stop over. You never know what could delay you even more, better safe than sorry.

 

[sam_rogers]

i was thinking 4 hours would probably be better, knowing my luck i'd miss my connection! do you know if you have to go through the hassle of collecting bags on the return flight to the uk because im in the same predicament with a 2 hour stop at JFK but there arent really many good alternative options!

 

[wayneg]

Outbound 2 hours is usually enough, airlines allow you to book anything above 1 hour, I prefer 90mins-2hours, only hub I would prefer more than 2 hours is Atlanta, slowest/busiest I have used.
There is always a chance 2 hours is not enough, if you have a transatlantic delay for example, the airline would get you on the next available flight so try go for flights where there are more connections after your scheduled connection otherwise you would have to wait for next day.
Its not something that worries me, done about 15 indirect flights without problem.

You do Immigration and bag check at your 1st US airport outbound, coming home you don't see you bags til your final destination.

If you want to post your dates, airports and best price you have I will look for best options.

 

[sam_rogers]

That would be a huge help! thank you so much!

were looking at 14th-18th of may but ideally we don't want to be getting into MCO really late.
Currently looking at flying with American airlines, leaving LHR at 9.50am, arriving in MIA at 2.30pm, departing MIA at about 6.30 then getting into MCO at around 7.30pm

Return - Dep MCO at 3.50pm, arrive JFK at 6.35pm, Departing at 8.45pm and getting back into london at 9am
i've priced it up as £1297 for the 2 people

 

[wayneg]

Found direct flights 14th May with Monarch.co.uk Gatwick to Sanford Total price: £939.00 (extra £36 if you want pre-book seating, not something I would pay for) includes meals & 20kg pp luggage.
Leaves Gat 9:10am ~ arr Sanford 2:10pm
Return 4:10pm ~ arr 5:30am

at £469pp seems better value than flying indirect

Virgin from Gatwick going 15th May £1,310.60

15th for 13 nights Miles and Money if you have 4,000 miles to use 552.30pp

Price you have seems very expensive for indirect. Gatwick looks far better value than Heathrow.

 

[sam_rogers]

thank you so much! i'll talk to dbf later and see how he feels about flying into sanford instead!

 

[Kath2003]

I'd gamble on the 2 hours. MIA is dull. as. hell.

 

[paulh]

stupid question why not drive up from Miami?
Paul

 

[wayneg]

stupid question why not drive up from Miami?
Paul

That was going to be my next suggestion Paul if the Direct flights into Sanford are not acceptable. Don't see point in waiting 4 hours then flying upto MCO, I would drive it myself. All down to prices though, I have seen recently it being more expensive into Miami then cheaper if adding the internal flights into MCO

 

[sam_rogers]

unfortunately although dbf is more than happy to drive around the disney site and to universal etc, more long distance stuff like driving from miami doesnt appeal to him (he generally looks like this ) i've just found cheaper flights connecting at DTW, but back to the same situation of whether 2hrs 24 will be enough to make a connection

 

[wayneg]

2 hours 24 is more than enough IMO.
Did you not like the idea of Monarch? or going direct with Virgin for similar price? or have you found a better price via DTW?

 

[sam_rogers]

unfortunately i'm reluctant to use monarch as i've had bad experiences with them in the past, and we can't be flexible with the dates so direct with virgin's out of the running as well, i found cheaper indirect flights with delta but the cheapest option involves leaving from gatwick and returning to heathrow

 

[sam_rogers]

i've also got a cheaper indirect option with aer lingus connecting in dublin