Flying through Miami or Ft Lauderdale....and difference?

Nexus · Postby **Nexus** » June 5th, 2016, 10:12 am

Gentlemen,

The fares with CAL coming up about the same thing, the timings for Mia is slightly better as you reaching lunch time so and i can reasonably drive up to orlando one time, with fll i might have to night over somewhere on that side
It have any major diff between flying through mia or fll? I hear ppl saying how mia immigration more brutal and the airport itself harder to navigate. I aint travel to the US in a long while.

Thanks

fallen_angel · Postby **fallen_angel** » June 5th, 2016, 10:24 am

if i ship a package to u in d states u cud bring it back for me?

Postby **Duane 3NE 2NR** » June 5th, 2016, 10:37 am

FLL is much easier than MIA. But both are ok.
Have you checked fares with JetBlue?

JF.K · Postby **JF.K** » June 5th, 2016, 10:40 am

Miami Airport is definitely very very large compared to Ft Lauderdale Airport.

It was so large that you have to take a kinda Train Shuttle to get from one side to the other. It is called a Sky Train.
It also has some parts with a kinda convey belt to stand on instead of just walking just so that you don't have to hold your heavy bags and walk the entire distance.
It has endless duty free shops, food options etc.

Was a bit difficult to navigate due to its size but you can just follow the crowd from your plane and you'll eventually reach immigration.
Signs don't really help much due to the size and endless long hallways.
You really feel a bit overwhelmed on your first experience especially since we so accustomed to a backward parlor airport.
You can read up on the airport online and review some of the airport maps to familiarize if u want.

Ft Lauderdale airport is very small.
Hardly any eating options available.
Very few duty free shops.
It is also currently under renovations where they are planning to add a few more shops.
The section where you have to get the Trinidad flights though are very run down and low class compared to other parts of the airport (typical).
It will take you less than a minute to walk this entire section which they isolate you to be in.
Arriving there and getting out is a breeze because it is one corridor to pass through... then before you know it, out to the streets.
But leaving from Ft Lauderdale is dreary...
Limited seating, especially during busy times, walk with your own food while you wait 3 hrs after checking in.
One washroom that is always crowded etc.. It's just like Trinidad (or probably a bit worse).

Immigration treats you the same in both places (in my experience).
Only if it's your first time travelling to the US they will be a bit meticulous with your documents and their questioning.

The Spanish American people in the Miami Airport tend to ask you a bit more questions than Ft Lauderdale but seems to be routine not really brutal.
Prepare to answer the same questions at different check points though.

JF.K · Postby **JF.K** » June 5th, 2016, 10:53 am

Duane 3NE 2NR wrote:FLL is much easier than MIA. But both are ok.
Have you checked fares with JetBlue?

Fare rate are as follows... (highest to lowest):
1. American Airlines
2. Jet Blue
3. Caribbean Airlines

I personally hate flying with CAL though

shake d livin wake d dead · Postby **shake d livin wake d dead** » June 5th, 2016, 10:57 am

fiddle around with kayak.com and you would get the chepeast rates.

FeEL_tHe_hERtZ · Postby **FeEL_tHe_hERtZ** » June 5th, 2016, 11:06 am

You save about an hour drive time through fll then take the turnpike and u can be in orlando in 4 hrs

FeEL_tHe_hERtZ · Postby **FeEL_tHe_hERtZ** » June 5th, 2016, 11:07 am

You can also fly through Orlando MOC airport a little more expensive though...

tourniquet · Postby **tourniquet** » June 5th, 2016, 11:41 am

Only issue with Miami is because it's a higher traffic airport, the odds of spending more time in the immigration line is greater.

balljoint · Postby **balljoint** » June 5th, 2016, 11:54 am

Better hope you know spanish if you get in a jam in MIA!
Made the switch to FLL some yrs ago and never looked back...

JF.K · Postby **JF.K** » June 5th, 2016, 12:37 pm

balljoint wrote:Better hope you know spanish if you get in a jam in MIA!
Made the switch to FLL some yrs ago and never looked back...

All airport staff can speak English even though most of them are Spanish people.
There are less Spanish people in Ft Lauderdale but you can't get away from them entirely once you go to Florida lol.

Gem_in_i · Postby **Gem_in_i** » June 5th, 2016, 12:37 pm

Trinidad Airport is not a backward parlour Airport.

tourniquet · Postby **tourniquet** » June 5th, 2016, 12:52 pm

^^^ you know if they fixed the toilets upstairs yet, or do people have to leave and come back through security every time they need to use the facilities?

Postby **pete** » June 5th, 2016, 12:56 pm

Never flew through FLL but I've always been lucky at MIA with short immigration lines. CAL arrival area is a fairly long walk to the sky train to the rental car center but the last couple times I was out of immigration in about 15-20 mins. If the American flight is an A320 it is much nicer than the 737s that CAL use.

Postby **Team Loco** » June 5th, 2016, 1:14 pm

I always travel via fll hollywood international. Very easy airport. Small airport and friendly people. Easy to follow directions

JF.K · Postby **JF.K** » June 5th, 2016, 1:18 pm

Gem_in_i wrote:Trinidad Airport is not a backward parlour Airport.

Lol... you only realize this when you visit other airports around the world.
I am sure tobagonians (who don't travel) think their airport is world class with their rusty fans and roadside floor sitting.

shake d livin wake d dead · Postby **shake d livin wake d dead** » June 5th, 2016, 1:20 pm

pete wrote:Never flew through FLL but I've always been lucky at MIA with short immigration lines. CAL arrival area is a fairly long walk to the sky train to the rental car center but the last couple times I was out of immigration in about 15-20 mins. If the American flight is an A320 it is much nicer than the 737s that CAL use.

this

Xplode · Postby **Xplode** » June 5th, 2016, 1:45 pm

If i'm traveling alone to FLL I go tru MIA , using CAL one way ,cheapest day possible plan, low as $128 us or use my miles .

can save couple hundreds ,take the train out of MIA or free bus ride out of MIA to the TRI station in Hialeah then pay less than $6 USD to go pass FLL,enjoy the train ride and scenery ,friends always pick me up @ Boca Ranton.

A lot of ppl don't know about this cheap train service large seating area with power outlets ,a/c,toilets and free wifi .

JF.K · Postby **JF.K** » June 5th, 2016, 2:03 pm

shake d livin wake d dead wrote:
pete wrote:Never flew through FLL but I've always been lucky at MIA with short immigration lines. CAL arrival area is a fairly long walk to the sky train to the rental car center but the last couple times I was out of immigration in about 15-20 mins. If the American flight is an A320 it is much nicer than the 737s that CAL use.

this

There is no comparison here..
The CAL has back breaking horrible cloth seats that are not properly cleaned between flights (experienced this many times)...
With a reclining feature that is less than recognizable, yet if the person in front you "reclines" then your knees might get crushed.

While the AA has standard leather fully adjustable seats with back support..
touch screen headrest displays showing real time flight map etc. Very spacious between seats even when the person infront you is fully reclined.

You get what you pay for.

Xplode · Postby **Xplode** » June 5th, 2016, 2:08 pm

Jet blue has the most comfortable seats and leg room .

Nexus · Postby **Nexus** » June 5th, 2016, 2:15 pm

Thanks very much for the replies and advice.
Yea CAL just working out the cheapest hence my choice, dont mind cheaping out on the flights and splurging a lil more up there.
Still have some time to decide, driving out of MIA was more confusing from memory though.

JF.K · Postby **JF.K** » June 5th, 2016, 2:25 pm

Xplode wrote:Jet blue has the most comfortable seats and leg room .

Beg to differ... can't be compared to AA.

btw Jet Blue doesn't fly to Miami
and American Airlines doesn't fly to Ft Lauderdale...
So options available based on which airport you want to go to.

shake d livin wake d dead · Postby **shake d livin wake d dead** » June 5th, 2016, 2:31 pm

JF.K wrote:
Gem_in_i wrote:Trinidad Airport is not a backward parlour Airport.

Lol... you only realize this when you visit other airports around the world.
I am sure tobagonians (who don't travel) think their airport is world class with their rusty fans and roadside floor sitting.

The main airport in St.Lucia also fits that description.

JF.K · Postby **JF.K** » June 5th, 2016, 2:33 pm

Nexus wrote:Thanks very much for the replies and advice.
Yea CAL just working out the cheapest hence my choice, dont mind cheaping out on the flights and splurging a lil more up there.
Still have some time to decide, driving out of MIA was more confusing from memory though.

I used to think the same way at one time - cheap out with flights - spend more there - plane ride can't be that bad etc..
But when you have to endure whatever they give you... that 4 hrs feel like forever.

Wrt to driving...
waze is your best friend in a Rental.
Roaming Data is not that expensive and waze don't use that much.
I think you can also sign up for a sim card over there (once your phone is international unlocked) and use their data at an even cheaper rate.

rookie · Postby **rookie** » June 5th, 2016, 2:47 pm

Alright
So here is what you do @Nexxus fly into FLL cause MIA is much bigger an a longer drive to Orlando. I flew direct to Orlando an still had to drive to FLL to visit some folks an its a 3 hr drive with about 20$ or so in tolls from FLL to ORL don't forget keep cash handy DO NOT use the EZPASS from the rental car, once you turn it on its 14$ per day regardless if you use it or not.
Yeah obey the speed limit your not in Kansas anymore

you havent been in the states in a while so pay attention to the signs WAZE is your friend if your rental car does not have navigation.
Oh one last thing Immigration is Immigration in all airports in the states just be straight up with them an your gonna get through dont listen to ppl with all kinda crappy stories about it being harder in one airport to the next they all are highly trained so just come correct the first time .
Be Safe Enjoy :lol:

rookie · Postby **rookie** » June 5th, 2016, 2:49 pm

Go to TMOBILE get a prepaid unlimted data plan an WAZE it

Gem_in_i · Postby **Gem_in_i** » June 5th, 2016, 3:09 pm

JF.K wrote:
Gem_in_i wrote:Trinidad Airport is not a backward parlour Airport.

Lol... you only realize this when you visit other airports around the world.
I am sure tobagonians (who don't travel) think their airport is world class with their rusty fans and roadside floor sitting.

OK.

Gem_in_i · Postby **Gem_in_i** » June 5th, 2016, 3:10 pm

Xplode wrote:Jet blue has the most comfortable seats and leg room .

Yes, nice legroom when compared to cal

Gem_in_i · Postby **Gem_in_i** » June 5th, 2016, 3:12 pm

tourniquet wrote:^^^ you know if they fixed the toilets upstairs yet, or do people have to leave and come back through security every time they need to use the facilities?

Last i travelled, they completed one side and working on the other side now.

Gem_in_i · Postby **Gem_in_i** » June 5th, 2016, 3:16 pm

shake d livin wake d dead wrote:
JF.K wrote:
Gem_in_i wrote:Trinidad Airport is not a backward parlour Airport.

Lol... you only realize this when you visit other airports around the world.
I am sure tobagonians (who don't travel) think their airport is world class with their rusty fans and roadside floor sitting.

The main airport in St.Lucia also fits that description.

Might as well go sit on the beach while waiting because no waiting space there.