Miami International Airport

Miami International is American Airlines’ gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, and it has some of the densest connectivity to that region of any airport in the world. It is a single large terminal bent into a horseshoe, with concourses lettered D through J running around it.

The layout

Because it is one continuous terminal, you can move between most concourses airside, though the horseshoe is long and a walk from one end to the other is a real distance — an automated Skytrain runs along the upper level of the busiest section (Concourse D) to help. Connections between American’s flights are generally straightforward, but international-to-domestic transfers include immigration and a bag recheck, so leave time.

Getting into the city

The key piece of infrastructure is the MIA Mover, a free automated train that connects the terminal to the Miami Intermodal Center just east of the airport. That center is the hub for everything: the rental cars, city buses, the Tri-Rail regional train, and Metrorail, whose Orange Line runs into downtown Miami. So the route into the city is: MIA Mover to the intermodal center, then Metrorail. The airport is about 13 km northwest of downtown; taxis run on a flat fare to some zones, and rideshare is widely available.

Worth knowing

MIA is busy and international, and immigration halls can back up when several long-haul arrivals from Latin America land together. If you are connecting onward, don’t assume a quick clearance during those peaks. For the beaches, note that Miami Beach is a further trip across the causeways from downtown — factor that in when you plan the ground leg.