Tia

Message: Has anyone flown in/out of Miami International Airport (MIA)? My husband and I are taking a flight from the Midwest into Miami (Miami is one place we have never been yet–go figure!) where we will catch a Cayman Air flight to Grand Cayman. However, I booked the tickets myself and not with an agent. I purchased tickets into Miami on Delta and out of Miami to Grand Cayman on Cayman Airways. Once we arrive in Miami, we have to claim or baggage and check in at the ticket counter with Cayman Air. We have two hours and 15 minutes between flights. As it is an international flight, we cannot check in less than one hour prior to departure. I’m a little nervous about the whole thing and somewhat regret not paying $100 more for a continuous flight on one airline. Just wondering if someone can ease my fears. I can see us running with all our luggage to get to a terminal miles away from the baggage claim area to check in for our next flight!!! This vacation is supposed to be stress free! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!<BR><BR>Tia

BeachBoi

Why can't you check you bags at your departure airport all the way to Cayman?It doenst matter how you purchased your tickets,or whether they are paper/etickets.Just show the agent you check in with the confirmations for the Cayman flights.I've done this many times and had no problems at all.That way you just go from the Delta flight to the Cayman flight and you'll have plenty of time.

Tia

Thanks for the info! Does it make a difference that the first leg of our flight is domestic and the second leg is international? <BR><BR>Tia

Andre

Tia,<BR><BR>I hope BeachBoi is right about your being able to check your luggage through, because 2 hrs 15 minutes is a very tight connection considering you have 2 separate tickets. If you miss your onward flight with Cayman Airways, they are under no obligation to reticket you on a later flight for free - they could request that you pony up the price difference between your original fare and the full walk-up fare. <BR><BR>I'm not saying you will definitely miss your connection (never been to Miami airport BTW) or that Cayman Airways won't be willing to bend the rules - just a heads up on what MIGHT await you.<BR><BR>In any event, I would call Delta and confirm whether or not they will check your bags all the way through - ask them if they have a &quot;bagage interlining agreement&quot; with Cayman Airways and if it also applies if you are holding 2 separate tickets.<BR><BR>Bear in mind that you wil need far more transfer time for your RETURN flight! You will need to clear immigration, pick up your luggage, clear customs, then check in again... Hope you have at least a 3hr layover scheduled for this.<BR><BR>Andre

BeachBoi

No, none at all.Any Delta ticket agent will know everything needed to get you where you want to go.Just be positive you have the documentation you need for your international journey--passport whatever.

susie2

Tia, Don't Worry-- You will have plenty of time. I fly out of Miami<BR>quite often. Since it is two different airlines, I don't know if Delta can check your bags all the way through. In any event - You will be fine. Don't worry and enjoy your trip.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

Could you travel light enough to do carryon only for the first leg? (Maybe purchase any needed items on vacation)<BR><BR>Or would shipping some luggage ahead be feasible?

aurelia

Only problem with Miami we have found is that almost nobody speaks English there. Really, we should give the entire state of Florida back to Cuba.

chfenton

The comment &quot;I don't know if you can check your bags all the way through since it is two different airlines&quot; is very disturbing. This is done EVERY day thousands of times per day. It is called interlining and can be done in most every case of Domestic to International (otoh International to Domestic is more dificult because you have to clear customs). <BR><BR> As someone said above make sure you have a printed Iinerary from the second airline (a confirm # or record locator for an e ticket won't work because although they can check the bags through they can't necessarily find you res since there are different systems in use). With that info it should be no problem-just be extra sure that when the bag tags come out of the printer they have your final destination correct with your flight numbers.

Tia

Good advice!! Thank you!<BR><BR>Tia

Tia

Just wanted to let everyone know we had no problems at all in Miami. Our close connection on the way back was a BREEZE! We got our bags and cleared customs in five minutes TOPS...even including getting our luggage! We had two hours to kill!! It worked out so well that we couldn't believe it!!! I worried for nothing!! Thanks for all the advice!!!<BR><BR>Tia

budg

just started looking through these boards and decided to reply, albeit late, to a reply that aurelia posted about no one speaking English at MIA. That shows a bit of ignorance. All workers speak English. If you feel that Florida should be &quot;given back to Cuba&quot; that shows your ignorance even more and I shouldn't have to explain. Speaking more than one language is a plus in this world.

rjw_lgb_ca

budg: Hear, hear!! Especially disappointing to hear such intolerance from people who love travel. Something you hear from the very old who have lost wanderlust and curiosity....

budg

I agree. If you expect a trip to be completely problem free, move to neverland.... It is like expecting nothing to go wrong at a wedding.

I have been reading other boards and am amazed at how travelers complain about EVERYTHING.... This said, if you start off you trip with a fight with the taxi driver on the way to airport and then encounter someone at the airport with a thick accent or less than perfect English, it may tarnish your entire trip. Travelers need to be a bit less uptight and remember they are going on vacation and laugh things off. Stuff happens, airport employees don't always communicate well, even when they were born and raised here and not just in Miami.

Just my thoughts....