Miami Airport

[UKPhil]

I posted a question a while ago about flying indirect to Orlando but in the end we got direct flights on Virgin from Gatwick to Miami, so a couple more questions to anyone who has used that airport :-

It appears that all car hire companies there are off site. How much is this likely to add to the overall journey time?

Does Miami airport have that 'double baggage handling' system like Orlando International?

Any other tips gratefully received, and many thanks !

 

[vernon]

I doubt that the car companies being off site will add much more than an half an hour to your journey, usually there are courtacey busses to take you to the offices that are near to the airports. I would say on your return to the airport, if you have a decent amount of luggage, it's worth dropping the rest of your party and all the bags at the airport and just you returning the car. It's a hell of a lot easier to get on a bus if your alone with no bags.

 

[neilybealy]

my last time in orlando was with parents back in 1990 and we flew with pan am into miami.....

my uncle had his wallet pinched from pocket and lost EVERYTHING

all his cash/cards etc

the police at miami airport said it was a common occurance (at the time)

things hopefully will have changed

 

[keith&carol]

Miami Airport is in a very congested part of town which is why you have to go offsite to collect a car.
We use Dollar which is about 5 minutes away, and the others are about the same.
Access to the main routes is pretty easy as a main beltway runs down the side of the airport.
IMHO it is a pretty awful place to fly into but we are using it again in Nov so it can't be that bad!
Most of the employees speak Spanish and you feel as if you are in South America. The "Have a nice day " Americans are conspicuous by their absence so don't expect a friendly welcome although the immigration people are usually ok.
There is no double bag drop but there are also fewer shops, places to eat etc than at MCO.
We found the worst bit was security on the way home because they pretend not to understand English and seem to take pleasure in finding stuff in your hand luggage which they forbid for no apparent reason. Hopefully this may have changed now as I read that Florida Airports had a new policy that all security people must be fluent in English and have at least a college diploma- if that is so it must have meant major staff changes at Miami!!!!!!!
Carol

 

[WDWfan uk]

We have used Miami several times, including last year - there is no double baggage handling system and we have found the airport efficient. It is a very busy major airport and used to handling a huge number of customers.

It is a bit of a scramble to get the courtesy busses to the car hire places but once on, it is a 5 minute ride. How fast you clear the carhire place depends on the queue, but BE SURE to ask all your questions at the desk as the guys caring for the cars are not good at giving directions etc.

Regards the busses, we have found that the best people to ask which line we should be in for whichever car company we are using are the people lining up.

Inside the airport, if you need to ask anything, ask uniformed airline staff.

Two points that also apply to MCO as well as Miami - Please please please make sure you have completed your visa waiver green forms and the white customs forms in accurately before you get off the plane.
And if you do not have pre-paid insurance don't be sucked into buying a policy you don't need.