G Availability for MIA Sept - Nov and Econ Prices

Managed to book a pair of G reward returns to MIA in October for 100k miles each.

After recently posting that the best way to get to Orlando was via JFK we've decided to try this route!

Just wanted to mention that there appears to be a good number of UC reward seats available from Sept through Nov - certainly compared to some routes. Recently V-Flyers have commented that reward tickets have become particularly hard to come by so wanted to highlight some positive news! (On this route at least).

Still cost £848 taxes, surcharges etc... for both flights but not bad value all-in-all. Plus were taking the in-laws, who are flying Econ, which means we can treat them to the CH.

And the Econ fares are only £479 which I reckon isn't bad. Particularly as the plane is indicated as a 346, so V-Port hopefully.

The VS site says "MIA from £480" during June as a special offer - odd that there are cheaper seats later on in the year that aren't referred to. Slightly misleading? Seems like is always worth trawling the months with dummy bookings to get the best prices.

Maybe an option for people to consider to get to the Orlando region in the next few months....? Particularly with the uncertainty around the LGW 744 refits.

Craig.

[Nottingham Nick]

Thanks for the heads up.
We are looking to go to MIA in September and noticed pretty much the same as you have highlighted. There are 'normal' fares available for less than the supposed cheapest sale fares in PE too. ?|

They aren't exactly bargains, compared to previous years, but are slightly better than I expected.

Nick

Night before last, PE for mid Oct was £700 - checked again last night and they had gone up to £1150 - I guess not many K class tickets on the route due to there being one flight per day and the relative small PE cabin. My parents-in-law would've done PE at £700 but not £1150. They booked Extra Legroom for £30 each. Cheap way into Florida if you don't mind the back of the plane...
Which will now be us since we've blown all the FC Miles!

Thanks Craig, good info to share.

MIA is a bit of a nightmare, however, if there is money to be saved and v-port i'd probably consider it!

Thanks Craig, good info to share.

MIA is a bit of a nightmare, however, if there is money to be saved and v-port i'd probably consider it!

Am a bit concerned re MIA - I think it's DragonLady who particularly hates it?

It's just tricky getting to MCO on a reward seat- Even NYC was fairly sparse - meant getting in later which precluded the connecting flight.

Fingers crossed this works!

Am a bit concerned re MIA - I think it's DragonLady who particularly hates it?

I don't think it's only DL that hates it. From the TRs it appears that immigration can be on the scale of 'absolute breeze' to 'hell on earth'

But most people report their experience to be at the 'hell on earth' end of the scale,

Craig - my own advice for MIA is to allow plenty of time i.e. perhaps a long connection time or overnight stay in a cheapy hotel.

My experience was bad but I know others have had fairly "OK" experiences. It was mainly the questions at immigration, I felt like a mexican who had just jumped the border!

We're currently looking at doing a family trip to MCO next April for Easter. Y prices to MCO are in the region of £1500 PP which is sky high, so looking into JFK which is coming in at £550 - massively different and well worth it. MIA still coming in around £1200 for Y but will keep an eye on things.

We have done the MIA route 6 times with BA and Virgin in the past two years, we have always got through quicker than either MCO or Tampa. It's our preferred airport. I've probably just jinxed us for our August flight.

I must say we have never had a bad experience flying into miami its just the lounge flying out thats not the best.
Thanks Craig about the available G,s They certainly have turned up all at once!

cheers

alex

My experience was bad but I know others have had fairly "OK" experiences. It was mainly the questions at immigration, I felt like a mexican who had just jumped the border!

Strange, I have found MIA to have the nicest immigration staff, no silly questions, letting us go up as a group even though I'm not officially a family member and have my own blue card.
The problem I have had about half the times is just the queues, that are made worse by a priority queue for families with children...
Other times, have just walked through, barely stopping.

My experience was bad but I know others have had fairly "OK" experiences. It was mainly the questions at immigration, I felt like a mexican who had just jumped the border!

Strange, I have found MIA to have the nicest immigration staff, no silly questions, letting us go up as a group even though I'm not officially a family member and have my own blue card.
The problem I have had about half the times is just the queues, that are made worse by a priority queue for families with children...
Other times, have just walked through, barely stopping.

Lucky you!! 20 questions for me and very abrupt! Job role, salary, proof of ticket home and acomodation - wanted to see it all!

My dad and I had a bad experience there a few years back!

'Love-him-as-I-do-but....' & I have flown into MIA several times we've been fortunate & not waited toooo long.

Our last trip was a bit of a pain in the botty as there were renovations etc going on so no-one knew where they were supposed to be heading.

Having said that, in the rich pattern of a fab holiday, it paled into insignificance.

Have a great trip.

If you are planning on spending the first night at an airport hotel, then the hampton Inn, Blue Lagoon is as good as any for a good nights sleep & brekkie before picking the car up.

R-P

It improved somewhat last year as you can car drop in the terminal and just get the lift upstairs into it, before it was off airport plus im sure the new terminals are nearing completion, I cant comment on (bad/slow) immigration was its always been fast for me.

cheers

alex

Oooh Alex V!

I'd really like to know is that all the car hire companies or just some?

thanks R-P

When did you go Alex? I was there in Oct last year and you still had to get the car hire shuttle to the new car hire facility. I know they were in the process of building a monorail to link to the 2.

Are there car rental places in the main airport too?

All the big ones are based at the off site car rental centre.

Hi Luke
I was dropping off last oct 11th or thereabouts and i was suprised when the freeway signs sent me straight into the terminal high rise car park where we duly dropped the car off (dollar) rather than drive around a dusty industrial estate or what seemed like! just to find the drop off car park.

cheers

alex

Hi Luke
I was dropping off last oct 11th or thereabouts and i was suprised when the freeway signs sent me straight into the terminal high rise car park where we duly dropped the car off (dollar) rather than drive around a dusty industrial estate or what seemed like! just to find the drop off car park.

cheers

alex

Thanks Alex, I wonder if I missed the lift . I know I drove into the big multi story and then had to get the lift upstairs and got the shuttle bus to the terminal.

I do like the big modern service centre though!

When did you go Alex? I was there in Oct last year and you still had to get the car hire shuttle to the new car hire facility. I know they were in the process of building a monorail to link to the 2.

The automated people mover is due to start running on 12th September 2011 I believe. The bus is very easy to get though.

It is so much better now all the car rental companies are located in once place, with one shuttle bus.

Thanks for all the MIA perspectives; seems as if there is a good chance that it won't be too bad.

I'll be sure not to be wearing a poncho, sombrero, eating a taco or drinking a Corona just in case!

I reckon I'll be doing the car via VA/VHol again; Luxury for 2 weeks is about £426. This is slightly more than other places but there will be double miles from the VS site, 4 x miles from the Black AMEX, plus 1000 miles from Alamo.
And Alamo MIA does the online check-in thing which worked really well in MCO - no queueing at the desk - straight to the garage to get the car.
VS/VHol are doing a deal at the mo adding on an extra driver for no extra cost with the Silver package - could be useful?

Oh, does anyone know if the lounge at MIA allows guests in the same way as the LHR CH? If not - we wont aim to get to the airport too early, we aren't going to leave the in-laws outside!

Thanks,

Oh, does anyone know if the lounge at MIA allows guests in the same way as the LHR CH? If not - we wont aim to get to the airport too early, we aren't going to leave the in-laws outside!

Thanks,

Yes you do get to take 1 guest each, make sure the check-in agent knows you want to take guests in, as they write "+guest" or something similar on your invite. If you all check in at UC desk it makes it obvious, and sometimes they check all luggage in under the UC passengers, so all comes off together back at LHR.

Oh, does anyone know if the lounge at MIA allows guests in the same way as the LHR CH? If not - we wont aim to get to the airport too early, we aren't going to leave the in-laws outside!

Thanks,

Yes you do get to take 1 guest each, make sure the check-in agent knows you want to take guests in, as they write "+guest" or something similar on your invite. If you all check in at UC desk it makes it obvious, and sometimes they check all luggage in under the UC passengers, so all comes off together back at LHR.

Hamster,

Brilliant. Thanks for the info.

Will it be OK for all 4 of us to check-in at the UC desk as LHR? And would we all be able to use the lift to the right to get through the private security channel?
We won't use this route to the CH if we can't go together but it would be nice to take the in-laws this way if possible.

Thanks,

Craig.

Hamster,

Brilliant. Thanks for the info.

Will it be OK for all 4 of us to check-in at the UC desk as LHR? And would we all be able to use the lift to the right to get through the private security channel?
We won't use this route to the CH if we can't go together but it would be nice to take the in-laws this way if possible.

Thanks,

Craig.

Yes you can use the UC desk, but often our guests have been checked in at the PE desk next to us, as it has been quicker (they were traveling PE anyway). Yes you can all go through the private security, just scan one of your purple BPs at the magic door.

Talking about this is making me excited for my next trip to MIA

Am a bit concerned re MIA - I think it's DragonLady who particularly hates it?

I don't think it's only DL that hates it. From the TRs it appears that immigration can be on the scale of 'absolute breeze' to 'hell on earth'

But most people report their experience to be at the 'hell on earth' end of the scale,

Yes, Dragonlady loathes MIA ! ! . I merely hated it until a very unpleasant/ unsettling/ frightening experience at the hands of the immigration bods there nearly 3 years ago .
Vile place (and vile officials) .
DL

Hamster,

Brilliant. Thanks for the info.

Will it be OK for all 4 of us to check-in at the UC desk as LHR? And would we all be able to use the lift to the right to get through the private security channel?
We won't use this route to the CH if we can't go together but it would be nice to take the in-laws this way if possible.

Thanks,

Craig.

Yes you can use the UC desk, but often our guests have been checked in at the PE desk next to us, as it has been quicker (they were traveling PE anyway). Yes you can all go through the private security, just scan one of your purple BPs at the magic door.

Talking about this is making me excited for my next trip to MIA

You and I both! y)

Thanks again for the info; suspect I'll be No.1 Son-in-Law after this trip. :w

(Unless they have a "DragonLady Experience" at immigration the other end!) :0

MIA is a TSA training station and one of the primary routes to the Caribbean and South America (aka drugs). These do not help enjoyment of the immigration process, in an airport never built for the level of questioning and queues, and where for many English is not their first language.

I hate it with a passion.

That and the gross Club America lounge.

BUT, don't let that spoil your flight and holiday, hopefully you'll get one of the good days y) .