I hate Miami International Airport!

February 27, 2008 8:16 PM

I Missed my flight at Miami Int'l again. 1 hour and 45 minutes to get my baggage. To whom should I complain to? I want to file some kind of formal complaint but I don't know where I should start.

I have been working in South America for the last year and a half. Of 5 trips South in the last year I have missed two of my connections due to extremely late baggage amongst other things. One flight was through Dallas making half my connections in Miami missed.

Tonight, 1 hour 45 minutes for my bags to arrive this evening and then I was questioned as to why I couldn't make my connection with 2 hours between flights. Apparently they did not have enough baggage trucks to get our bags in time.

I want to file some kind of formal complaint on behalf of all traveler's. I understand that I am one small voice but I really want my voice to be heard. MIA is truly the worst airport ever. To whom should I direct my complaints? FAA? American Airlines? Mayor's office? Governor's office?

posted by 4Lnqvv to travel & transportation (9 comments total)

Ask Christopher Elliot. He routinely fields questions like this and ends up getting them media attention.
posted by nitsuj at 8:21 PM on February 27, 2008 [1 favorite]

2nding Elliot. And Miami is, in my experience, the worst city to fly or cruise out of in the US.
posted by misha at 8:35 PM on February 27, 2008

I think MIA is beyond mere complaints-- I've have to connect there about three times each year, and every time while I'm in the ridiculously understaffed immigration queue, people miss their connections.

And for some weird reason, you always seem to have to walk about four miles to make your connection.

Miami International-- we love you.
posted by Static Vagabond at 8:48 PM on February 27, 2008

I'm confused.. shouldn't the airlines be handling the baggage transfer from one plane to another? Or are you booking them as completely separate tickets with separate locators?
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 3:47 AM on February 28, 2008

Dirtynumbangelboy, i think the transfer problem occurs when you arrive back in the states from overseas - in your first point of entry back into the States, you have to wait to collect your bag, take the bag through customs, then re-check it to go onto the next plane. I've never done it in MI, but i've had similar nightmare experiences at Dulles.
posted by ukdanae at 4:01 AM on February 28, 2008

As a Canadian who until this year had to regularly travel to the Caribbean for business, I can say that there is little you can do but complain to the Federal agency in the US. They'll then say that all the construction at the Airport will fix all of your problems one day.

Words cannot describe how much I hate Miami International. It's worse than Heathrow, which is at least really really big. American customs policies compound the problem even more. When travelling THROUGH the US, I have to still check OUT my checked in luggage, go through US customs, then check it back in, never mind the fact that my luggage is going straight to Canada from the third country. After that, you leave your luggage in a huge pile of luggage that's 50M by 20M. Then you get to run across the entire linear airport (i've even been stopped by security for this!). I've at least never actually missed my flight, but I always knew my luggage would never be there when I got home.
posted by hylaride at 5:08 AM on February 28, 2008

MIA is by far the worst-run most no-sense-of-urgency airport in the entire country. It's awful. Rude staff on the ground. So glad I know longer live there. You might try contacting someone over at the Miami-Dade County Commission. They have some authority over the aiport and appoint the airport commissioner. There was a woman there who used to run the airport commission but she was doing a good job so they fired her.
I would write a form letter to all the commissioners and mention your experience and why you plan to never fly through MIA again ... and will tell your friends the same.
Might also be worth a call to a guy named Larry Lebowitz at the Miami Herald. He used to coer transportation. Not sure what his beat is now but he might be able to help with a story...though MIA's horrible reputation is hardly news anymore.

FWIW, fly through Fort Lauderdale next time. 40 minutes up the highway and like being in a whole 'nother country.
posted by notjustfoxybrown at 8:31 AM on February 28, 2008

I soooo second FLL as the airport of choice. Luckily for me I live much closer to FLL than to MIA, but even if I lived in Homestead (South of Miami) I think I would drive to Fort Lauderdale for the peace of mind! Of course, it's likely that MIA has better looking options coming in from South America, but late by two hours is your current lived reality, not the appearance.
posted by bilabial at 2:23 PM on March 1, 2008

There are few things I hate about going on a cruise, but first and last on my list is Miami International. Sadly, I think there's little to be done.

Two pieces of advice to make the situation a little less painful:
- Pack carry-on only. That way they can't lose or delay your luggage, and you get first crack at the taxis
- Join the American Airlines Admiral's Club. Yes, it sucks to pay $450 a year, but if you fly through there often, especially on red-eyes it can save your sanity to have a nice hot shower (with fluffy towels!) when you arrive. And it's nice to sit somewhere quiet and pleasant rather than on the dirty floor of a delay-crowded terminal

And yeah, FLL is the way to go if you can.
posted by CruiseSavvy at 12:50 PM on May 23, 2008