Time for MIA transit with CBP

[RooFlyer]

I'm planning a transit through MIA - in from Jamaica, out to LAX with AA in May.

AA use North Terminal at MIA, right? I see CBP average wait times of between 15 and 25 minutes for the same time of day and time of year last year at North terminal, with max between 75 and 100 minutes. Adding customs clearance, and re-clear security, I think my scheduled transit time of 3.5 hrs should be OK. I'll have OW Emerald but probably not TSA Pre check and travelling whY on one ticket.

Anyone disagree ... if so, what are the sticking points?

I have another MIA transit with AA, arriving from Bermuda and departing for Jamaica on one ticket, and this transit time is 90 minutes, but BDA has US CBP pre-clearance. Again, I think the 90 mins will be OK in those circumstances ... any disagreements?

 

[RooFlyer]

Apologies for bumping my own thread ... but any comments, before I finalise bookings?

 

[Mattg]

I'd say it depends on the time of day, but 3.5 hours should be fine. On my last visit to MIA I arrived at around 7am on AA and was already in the Admirals Club waiting for my onward domestic connection within about 40 minutes of arrival. There were kiosks that Australian passport holders could use, so the whole process was pretty efficient.

For the Bermuda-Jamaica connection, I'd also say 90 minutes is OK if you clear inbound immigration in Bermuda. There's no outbound immigration in the USA so it should be the same as connecting to a domestic flight in that regard.

In any case, you'd be protected against delays if both flights are on the same ticket.

 

[Boca68]

I'd agree with Mattg, largely depends on the time of day.

Miami is notorious for horrendous immigration delays, although I have not been through there in about 3 years. Most international flight from South America (Colombia, Peru, Brasil etc,) tend to arrive mid/late morning to early afternoon (9am to 1pm) inside those times, can be dreadful.

Customs and check-in, I've never had much isue. Always seems to be passing inbound immigration. Hope this helps in some way.

I would think 3.5 hours is fine most of the time.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks, both. I went ahead and booked both.

It is an approx. 10am arrival in MIA on the flight KIN-MIA-LAX, but I think 3.5hrs should be OK. They are both AAward tickets (I'm quite chuffed that I used all my miles, almost to the nearest 1,000 miles ). Yes, I'll be 'protected' on AA, but not on my UA flight out of LAX back home, which departs later that evening :shock: .