Miami International Airport Departures

Departures at Miami Airport

Miami airport departure time should be known in advance. Before arriving at the airport, our clients should check the relevant information about their flights. Make sure to know the airline, the concourse, and the gate. This will help you to avoid unexpected issues at the airport. Check your departure details below.

How early to arrive at the airport before the flight?

MIA is one of the busiest airports in the USA. It is a big hub that has a high number of travelers annually. Congestion and plane traffic make MIA one of the most used airports for foreign flights. Because of that, it might be hard for passengers to get around the facility. It takes about 19.6 minutes to go through the security checkpoints. Baggage claims and flight pass checks also take a significant amount of time. That is why you should arrive plenty of time ahead of your Miami International Airport flight.

The standard time is to arrive two hours before departure. This is a good recommendation for flights within the country. If you are traveling abroad, arrive three hours before your flight.

You will need plenty of time to be ready for cancellations or delays. Avoid stress because of unexpected delays at Miami airport by checking the relevant information in advance.

Miami International Airport departures directions

• South Terminal (Red Terminal or Terminal S). There is Concourse H, which is for domestic and worldwide flights. At the same time, Concourse J serves international arrivals and departures only. Delta Airlines is in charge of the efficient number of flights there.
• Central Terminal (Yellow Terminal or Terminal C). It has E, F, and G Concourses, which possess 52 gates. JetBlue Miami airport departures and arrivals are held in this Terminal most of the time.
• North Terminal (Blue Terminal or Terminal N). It manages international and local transportation. At Miami Airport, the departures of American Airlines take place in Terminal N. Use the MIA airport departures directions list to orientate yourself within the airport.

Where to park before departure at Miami International Airport?

Main Parking Lots

Passengers can use two main parking lots:

• The Dolphin Garage. Use this lot if you need to park close to the D and E Concourses. We recommend Dolphin Garage for passengers of JetBlue, Qatar Airways, and American Airlines.
• The Flamingo Garage. If you need to park near the E-J Concourses, then parking here is a good option.

Valet parking at Miami Airport

This parking area is in the Airport Miami Departures. Look for the second level of the Flamingo and Dolphin Garages. Vehicles are allowed to be kept there for no more than 20 days. The Maximum Daily Rate is only $30. Unfortunately, a valet parking service is not available currently.

Free Waiting Lot at Miami Airport

Before using this lot, you should know the Miami airport departures schedule. The Free Waiting Lot is used for not-for-profit vehicles. About 60 spaces are provided for staying there while waiting for someone arriving at MIA. The parking lot is close to NW 31 Street and LeJeune Road.

Lyft / Uber parking at MIA Airport

Lyft and Uber parking is allowed at MIA Airport. Our clients can easily find the appropriate area at McLaughlin Road’s northwest part. This parking lot is close to Northwest 20th Street, which makes it even more convenient.

Important pre-departure documents

Before using the services of MIA, you must prepare all the mandatory documents needed for your flight. This is why you should read the following list to avoid unexpected issues before Miami airport flight departures.

Identification documents

• Firstly, passengers can bring national ID cards, passports, and driver’s licenses. Our recommendation is to make several copies of all the needed documents. They will come in handy if you lose your mandatory papers. Having extra document copies can help in particular cases where you must prove your citizenship.
• Before taking your mandatory papers, check if they are valid. This is especially important if you are traveling abroad. Some countries have their own rules for passports. If you are planning a foreign tour, please pay attention to the requirements of document validity. Having this knowledge in advance decreases the likelihood of you encountering various issues at the airport.
• If you are traveling abroad, check if your destination requires visa usage. Most countries have agreements that provide free transportation with no visa. Still, some countries have no visa policy between them and your native land.
• For domestic flights, persons under 18 years of age can travel without identification.

COVID-19 travel documents

Make sure to have these documents sorted several days before departure from Miami airport. If you travel abroad, check what kind of papers you should prepare for your journey. The list differs depending on your destination country. Moreover, some documents must be accompanied with translated versions. Most countries require tests for COVID-19 or vaccination documentation.

Travel medical insurance

International health insurance covers urgent medical treatment when you are abroad. It has developed to help travelers who face unexpected circumstances while traveling internationally.

Travel insurance is divided into two types:

• Medical expenses insurance. It includes such health care as medical consultations, drug prescriptions, surgery, and hospitalization.
• Trip cancellations insurance. This one covers various trip expenses, such as accommodation rental, transport, or food and drink supply. It might help you in case of Miami airport flight cancellations.

For both kinds, you should have copies of your certificates prepared. Some insurance companies provide applications where your documents are stored on your mobile phone.

Baggage rules at Miami International Airport

With our guidance, you can arrange your luggage wisely, and avoid any unnecessary difficulties when traveling.

Carry-on baggage at MIA Airport

Here are some tips on luggage for comfortable departures from Miami airport:

• Check the categories of items you can take on your trip in advance. There are restrictions for specific items (weapons, aerosols, dry cell batteries, etc.)
• To make your luggage compact, pack it as neatly as possible. You can put some of your clothing on the bottom, followed by portable electronics. Cover the electronics with light clothes and other items. Laptops, DVD players, and cameras are checked through x-ray scans. If certain items are not allowed through security, (a) leave them, or (b) in specific cases, you can put the items in your checked bag.
• Pack an extra change of clothes in your unchecked luggage. This will help in case of baggage delays at Miami International Airport.
• Make sure your luggage is the appropriate weight and size.
• Research the airline you are flying with and their rules about luggage. Every company has their own restrictions, which you must follow in order to pass through airport checkpoints.

Airline baggage restrictions

MIA baggage restrictions allow passengers to take a single carry-on bag and personal item. In general, it should be easily placed under your seat. Typically, it can be the size of a compact rolling suitcase or backpack. Here is a list with examples of permitted personal items:

• Small backpack
• Purse
• Diaper bag
• Briefcase
• Camera bag
• Jacket
• Pillow

At the same time, each airline company sets specific baggage restrictions. Passengers should check them in advance and follow them to pass through security. We have collected information on some of the major airline companies’ restrictions here:

Alaska Airlines

Passengers of Alaska Airlines flights can take personal items and carry-on bags free of charge. Still, there are some restrictions:

• Your bag can reach a maximum of 9 inches in height, 14 inches in width, and 22 inches in length. There should be no more than 45 inches in total.
• Among the personal items allowed are briefcases, purses, and laptops.
• There are no specific restrictions connected to weight. Alaska Airlines asks clients to take easy-to-elevate items. Items should also fit in the overhead bin.
• Extra tip – use identification tags. Passengers can fill in a form and get a free downloadable identification tag.

American Airlines

The category of your flight does not influence the general rule about items to bring with you. All passengers should take only one carry-on and a personal item when traveling with American Airlines at Miami Airport. This also applies for members of the elite category.

Further rules are as follows:

• Your luggage should be 9 inches high, 14 inches wide, and 22 inches long. Wheels and handles are counted.
• Personal items should not exceed 8 inches in height, 14 inches in width, and 18 inches in length.
• There are presently no rules for the weight of carry-ons. However, always make sure to check the relevant info for any rule changes before your trip.

Frontier

If you are a passenger of Frontier, be ready to pay for checked and carry-on bags. Their fees depend on the route you take.

Like the other companies mentioned above, Frontier Airlines at Miami Airport has its own list of restrictions all passengers should follow (members of the elite category included):

• The weight limit is no more than 35 pounds for a carry-on bag.
• Your bag can reach 24 inches in height and 16 in width. However, it should not be more than 10 inches deep.
• Carry-on bags should fit easily into the overhead bins.
• Checked bags’ weight must not exceed 40 pounds. There are additional fees for baggage that is heavier. If your bag’s weight is 41-50 or 51-100 pounds, you pay an additional $50 and $100 accordingly.
• Your carry-on should fit easily under the seat in front of you. The allowed parameters are 14 inches in height, 18 in width, and 8 in depth.

JetBlue

JetBlue passengers have different rules for carry-on bags. The difference is in the type of fare you buy. For example, if you purchase a Basic Blue flight, you are allowed one personal item. Blue Plus, Extra Blue, and Blue fares allow you to bring both personal items and a carry-on.

Further restrictions:

• Your carry-on should not exceed 9 inches in height, 14 in width, and 22 in length.
• A personal item can reach 17 inches in length, 13 in width, and 9 in height. It should be small enough to be placed under the seat.
• No weight limits.

Travel Tips at Miami International Airport

If you want to make your journey as pleasant as possible, follow our top travel tips:

• Check if there are any delays at Miami International Airport in advance. Also, prepare your mandatory papers several days before your flight.
• All your items should be with you. Carry-on bags, electronics, briefcases, or purses must not be left unattended.
• There are areas you should not enter in MIA. For example, restricted or authorized zones.
• Keep your documents on-hand, ready for any checks. This will save you time when handing papers to security.
• Be prepared for an additional x-ray screening of your electronics. Such examinations work for laptops, DVD players, cell phones, etc.
• Before passing the metal detector, make sure your coins, cell phones, keys, or other metal items have been removed.
• While waiting, monitor Miami International Airport departure information in real time.
• Choose simple, easy-to-wear clothes. All passengers should reduce the amount of jewelry or metal in their outfits in order to make the security check much easier and faster.
• If you have a stroller or a baby checker, be ready to leave it for a separate check. Our passengers should take their children and pass through metal detectors with them.

Miami Airport facilities for animals

If you take pets on a trip with you, then you should know about the restrooms available at MIA. Use any of the 4 pet-friendly spaces which you can find near the security stations:

• North Terminal. You can find it not too far from the D34 gate;
• Concourse G. This one is located close to the G5 gate;
• Concourse F. The area is just near the F7 gate;
• Concourse J. Head to the J3 gate, and you will see the restroom straight after it.

Our clients can visit areas for animals located close to Flamingo and Dolphin parking lots on the first levels.