has anyone flown this route recently we have never flown into miami before any comments. blue nose
Printable View
has anyone flown this route recently we have never flown into miami before any comments. blue nose
Flew it out in November and back in December. AA 'More Room' seats. No problem. Note that it is a seasonal service and doesn't fly in the summer months.
I've flown into Miami on a few occasions. I have to say that it is very busy and hectic so if you aren't flying on somewhere from there and aren't familiar with it, it might not be the best option. If you are OK with these things then you will be fine.
(Just an aside - Moyes needs to buy a good midfielder quickly!!!)
Likewise flew that route in Nov, and going again next week(and March). I fly on to Orlando each time - I hate driving in Miami.
The plane is a 767 - not the 777 they use from London. It has a 2-3-2 seating configuration and as KG states more legroom than BA/Virgin although unfortunately that is to change soon. Not seatback TV screens and you pay for all alcohol(£3/$5)
We have flown into miami a couple of times, the last time to drive up to Orlando as it was cheaper than flying into Orlando itself. AA were pretty good, leg room was better than BA or Virgin in economy and we thought the foor was better. The stewards/stewardesses were different than we were used too, a little older than on the UK airlines but very pleasant, even our 15 year old son commented on how pleasant they were.[msnsmile2]
We fly into Miami several times a year, before visiting our villa in Orlando. Its a great city, a melting pot of cultures, and most interesting - if you look beyond the airport. Busy? Yes, of course, and the driving is hectic - far more than in Orlando, but so it is in London! Just take care and stay alert, drivers tend to chop and change lanes and drive quite fast.
Of course, like most airports, it is busy, but you won't be in it long. They are making improvements all the time, which can only be beneficial. However, one of the main benefits of flying into Miami is the saving, as often fares are half the price or less of direct flights to Orlando, and the cost of the Turnpike will be less than $20, so if you are prepared to do the drive, then it can make you a considerable saving.
We take the Turnpike up to Orlando which, once you are north of Boca Raton is a straight, and fast road. There are good stopping points along the way, excellent service areas about 40 miles apart so you can stop and eat if you need to.
As you approach Miami you may be lucky enough to come in over Miami Beach and across the Port of Miami. Its a spectacular sight, especially if there are several huge liners in port. Its fascinating leaving Miami in the dark, too, as looking down you will see myriad twinkling lights spread out before your eyes, in a sparkling grid. Sheer magic.
I have flown into Miami a few times and did not find any problems. If you are going to Orlando maybe a sleep over in Miami one night as the drive to Orlando is about 4 hours.
I agree that a 1 night sleep over would be a good idea. As the service only operates in the winter and arrives late afternoon, it will usually be getting dark when you walk out of the baggage claim. As others have commented, driving in Miami for the first time in darkness won't be a lot of fun and a 4 hour trip to Orlando is a big ask.
There is a good and reasonably priced hotel actually within the airport and several within a few minutes cab ride.
Thanks for all the geat advice,nice to hear that AA seem to be ok never flown with them,good news about extra leg room as our eldest son is disabled.Katys grandad,how did you guess about the mighty blues i wonder,[msnwink]i agree we desprately need another Joe Parkinson do you remember him.We are staying overnight at a hotel near the airport
MRS.Bluenose will not let me drive too far[msnwink] after a long flight!
Have a great time.
'Blue Nose' from Liverpool - what else could you be? Of course I remember Joe Parkinson. I'm nearly old enough to remember Dixie Dean (Not really!)
We have never flown into Miami, but have driven the 4 long hours from there when we passed through coming back from the Keys.
If it is just saving money you are after have a look at Chicago or Atlanta ans fly down from there.
its not really about saving money Amy, we just thought to do something a bit different,we are staying in Miami for a couple of days then a week or so in Orlando then driving back down for three days in the keys.Never really fancied waiting in Chicago etc. for a connecting flight, when you think about it your travel time could end up being
16 or 17 hours.We thought £260 for direct flights from manchester to miami,with AA pick your own seats, and extra leg room was a good deal.
A disadvantage of picking up a rental car from Miami airport is that I believe they have just introduced an additional tax for just that location(the ones a short way from the terminal are classed as the airport.) It does not apply to other airports in Florida.
My pal got 'stung' for this a couple of weeks ago. Can't remember how much he said it was - $5 a day??
i think the charge is $3:25c per day.:(
I understand that this is no longer operating, and there is no extra fee for picking up the car from Miami.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:I understand that this is no longer operating, and there is no extra fee for picking up the car from Miami.[/quote]
Thats good - when did it stop?
My pal was charged last month.
It's quite a while since I flew into Miami, (maybe 11 years or so), but the one thing I remember very clearly was getting lost every time we did it. The directions out of the airport were terrible; we always seemed to be driving around very scary areas late at night trying to find the toll road, which we could see, but not quite reach. It was either above us, or off to the side somewhere, but the entrance ramp was nowhere to be seen.
I assume from the other posts that it has changed and is now better signposted. I was going to suggest that while you were there, you go to my favourite restaurant in all of Florida - "Wolfie's", but I've just looked it up on the web and discovered it closed two years ago. A real pity.
Tonish
When we look at the connection times we only book if it's between 2 and 3 hrs, on our last transfer we got off went through immigration and bagage straight to the gate and boarded and took off within 2 hrs didn't notice a wait. If we had to wait much longer i wouldn't book it. Doing it this way we can go back an extra time each year!
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Tonish
It's quite a while since I flew into Miami, (maybe 11 years or so), but the one thing I remember very clearly was getting lost every time we did it. The directions out of the airport were terrible; we always seemed to be driving around very scary areas late at night trying to find the toll road, which we could see, but not quite reach. It was either above us, or off to the side somewhere, but the entrance ramp was nowhere to be seen.
I assume from the other posts that it has changed and is now better signposted. I was going to suggest that while you were there, you go to my favourite restaurant in all of Florida - "Wolfie's", but I've just looked it up on the web and discovered it closed two years ago. A real pity.
Tonish
[/quote]
We got lost coming out of the airport the first time we visited Miami, ended up going miles out of our way, in totally the wrong direction.[:I]
Last year when we went, we managed to get from Miami airport to our villa in Davenport without getting lost once. Must be true what they say practice makes perfect.:D
Amy i have just looked up Expedia, flights Manchester to M.C.O. 9 march-23 march
Delta connect in Atlanta total flight time 24 hrs 30 min plus 4 hour waiting time to connect total 28 hrs 30 min if no delays.£330
A.A. connect Miami total flight time 26 hours 40 min plus 2hrs 30 waiting to connect total 29 hrs 10 min.£330
Continental connect Newark total flight time 23 hours plus 2hrs 30
waitng to connect total 25 hrs 30 min.£334
Our flights for the same dates A.A. manchester to miami direct total
flight time 18 hours 5 min. £260 [msnwink]
I know which flight i prefer .[msnwink]
Which way are you going? the way we go only takes around 9 hours.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blue nose
Amy i have just looked up Expedia, flights Manchester to M.C.O. 9 march-23 march
Delta connect in Atlanta total flight time 24 hrs 30 min plus 4 hour waiting time to connect total 28 hrs 30 min if no delays.£330
A.A. connect Miami total flight time 26 hours 40 min plus 2hrs 30 waiting to connect total 29 hrs 10 min.£330
Continental connect Newark total flight time 23 hours plus 2hrs 30
waitng to connect total 25 hrs 30 min.£334
Our flights for the same dates manchester to miami direct total
flight time 18 hours 5 min. £260 [msnwink]
I know which flight i prefer .[msnwink]
[/quote]
These flight times seem very long??[msnscared][msneek]
I didn't realise you where staying in Miami and woulndn't have to do the 5 hour hard drive to Orlando after such a long flight.
Amy lets do the maths,Manchester to M.C.O.total 17 hours 20 min.
This is the the nine hour flight, but you have to pay £458 for it.
[msnwink]
I think Miami to kissimee area is more like a scenic three and a half hours on the turnpyke.[msncool] better watch my speed.[msnwink]