TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin question MIA to SXM om AA

Our trip this year (in Dec) on AA takes us through MIA on our way to SXM. Haven't flown this route in years.

If AA generally flies from the same concourse on the MIA to SXM flights, does anyone know which one that is?

TIA

It is typically concourse D.

AA flight use both Concourse D and Concourse E at MIA. While flights to/from SXM usually arrive/depart from Terminal D it is possible that on occasion they could be using Terminal E. If your flights to/from your home airport are on American they too could use either Terminal D or Terminal E. Those two Terminals are connected by a walkway inside the secure area which can be used on your flights TO the Caribbean. On your return flight, you'll have to clear US immigration & Customs after which you'll exit the secure area and clear the TSA Security Checkpoint before proceeding to the departure gate for your connecting flight.

On our return through MIA last week after customs we had to cart our bags up to the departure terminal to recheck our bags and go through TSA as the recheck for connecting flight area which is usually just outside customs wasn't operational. Was a big confusing hassle and long walk with poor directional signage. After that I've already booked my return for next trip through CLT.

We have always gone to and from using the D Concourse, that will be the most likely.

Just a suggestion to all that have Precheck or Clear when arriving at Miami on an international flight. They have the baggage recheck area right after you are leaving baggage claim, recheck your bags there unless you are carryon like us. Then noting the line to go through security right there is normally long and does not have Precheck or Clear. We don't use that line, instead we go like we are exiting the airport and then when we get to the counter level and if facing the airline counters or the security line right there go to the left to the next security entrance that does have Precheck and Clear. We have saved a lot of time doing this, hesitated the first time because if feels like you are not following their plan for you and it is a bit more walking but very much worth it to us.

Miami to us has been on average with all the other airports, the worst we ever had was coming back through Atlanta. Best was IAD, but that might have been a fluke and only through there once.

"They have the baggage recheck area right after you are leaving baggage claim, recheck your bags there"
Not last week. That area is closed off. Have to go all the way to departure check in area to recheck bags. It was a real sh*t show.

But that's rare. Not something I would base a plan on.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone! The reason that I was asking is that we snagged Business Class tickets for a great price and I was reading that the Flagship Lounge (located on concourse D) is a step above the Admirals Club and was hoping that our flight would be leaving from D. So I guess that most likely I'm in luck!

We have Global Entry/Nexus (includes Pre-check) which we have always found to be a huge time saver on our return flights to/through the US.

Flagship access rules are picky. Be sure that your flights qualify before you get your hopes up.

I’ve only been to one, and that was because a Five Star Service agent escorted me into it. Just being ticketed in First/Business isn’t always enough.

Yes, it’s nicer than an Admiral’s Club, but it can be just as full.

I don't believe any flights to the Caribbean qualify as a flagship business class seat (so no access), if you have AmEx Platinum the lounge is also at D14.

Keep in mind there is no PRE check as you leave the customs area at MIA. You have to go around and come in through the normal Departure area check in to find PRE. You'll pass by that on the way to the baggage drop off.

If your flying from Canada hopefully its one of those Pre-Clearance airports!

I was going to say don’t come back through Miami and instead return through CLT but it seems like you already bought your tickets. I just purchased AA tickets in First/Business for a great price yesterday. Going down through MIA and returning through CLT. I will never come back through MIA again.

Thanks for telling me to look further! I just read "international" (Get access if you’re traveling in First or Business on a qualifying same-day international) and got excited - too early as it turns out........

I googled around further and found this:

Qualifying international
Flights with seats ticketed as Flagship® between the U.S. and:

Asia
Australia
Europe
Middle East
New Zealand
South America (excluding Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela)

You'll still be able to use the Admirals Club with your First Class/Business ticket which we just did.