Tight connection through Miami - doable?

[meanies]

Hi all. After some advice please.

I've booked a flight from London to Cancun, via Miami. BA209 to AA2492. Points in J. All one ticket.

Flight in arrives at 6.05pm and flight out at 7.45pm, leaving 1hr 40mins to connect. What's the chance of actually making it? Just on a regular ESTA.

It's leisure travel, so not too worried if I miss it, assuming we get accommodated. Would you change it or just see what happens?

Thanks!

 

[RooFlyer]

I think you would want to open out the time between flights to 3 hours at least. Miami, in my experience, is an appalling airport to clear immigration and customs; huge crowds and very poor people-flow. So much so I simply won't go there any more.

Also, remember that after you clear immigration and customs, you then have to go back through security AND be at your gate about 30 mins before departure. Security can be another nightmare.

You might be 'accommodated' if you miss the flight, but the question then is - when? What if the next flight isn't available? etc.

 

[meanies]

Thanks for the feedback!

I'm a bit stuck in my circumstance. I'm actually going AMS-LHR-MIA-CUN in one day. So I need to either do an overnight in one of those places or change the routing entirely.

The Cancun flight is the last one of the day but they look to have multiple a day, so if we get stuck the night in Miami, hopefully we'd be out the next day.

I haven't been to the US in 30 years, so not sure what to expect. The thought of dealing with security and rushing might be all too much.

 

[RooFlyer]

I haven't been to the US in 30 years, so not sure what to expect. The thought of dealing with security and rushing might be all too much.

Entering the US these days is not the nightmare its sometimes made out to be, but you must always budget enough time for immigration, customs and re-enter security as well as a possible delay in arrival.

Have a look here - you can enter the airport, day and time (in the past) to see how long wait times are for immigration ONLY - customs and re enter security are in addition.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - CBP Airport Wait Times (AWT)

As long as you are flexible re timing (sounds like you are) and its on the one ticket, it won't be too bad.

Personally, with that itinerary, I would automatically book the night in Miami and take a flight the next day; I dislike stress on my holidays!

 

[meanies]

Personally, with that itinerary, I would automatically book the night in Miami and take a flight the next day; I dislike stress on my holidays!

Thanks RooFlyer for the very useful information and that link! I'm going to schedule the night in Miami... just too much stress.

Cheers!

 

[Anna]

So you have to clear immigration and customs if you are doing an international transit through USA? How inconvenient

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes, there is ( usually) no such thing as transiting the USA. Always have to clear immigration and customs.

I did it once, going Buenos Aires - Houston - Calgary. Very surprised and not sure how accomplished. But that's the only case.