V-Flyer

Dear All,

Carried out a search and got some detail regarding immigration but not a lot else.

Heres the trip - flying into Miami on 005 - scheduled arrival 16.15. Have checked the Miami arrivals website and often it is early - however, best not to reply on that.

Then transfer to AA625 to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos - flight leaves at 18.44.

Therefore approx 2 & half hours to transfer.

VS arrives at concourse E ( E8 today) and the AA flight goes from either D or E - was (D43 today)so the walk doesnt seem too far!!

We are flying PE so should get off the plane in reasonable time.

My questions are:

1.Can our baggage be checked through from LHR to PLS (Providenciales) or do we have to reclaim and re-check it in Miami?

2. If we have to re-claim bags then will we have enough time?

3. If the bags are checked through do we still have enough time?

4. Are we considered as "Transferring passengers" and therefore do not have to go through US immigration? I know at LHR and LGW transferring passengers are kept "airside" and dont reach UK immigration - this would obviously speed things along!!!

On the way back we have the same sort of time - so I guess once again will the bags be checked thru to LHR from PLS?

Anyone done a similar trip or can anyone offer any advice, tips or help. I have seen that immigration at MIA can be slow and unhelpful although Highflyer did once explain that she had a connection and they helped her through!!

Thanks in advance

Mark:)

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news Mark, But Miami immigration is very slow. The fact that you get off early in PE is not relevant. It is more to do with what flights have come in. We were in AA busines class from LHR last Feb and it took 90 minutes to get through. I know this is very un PC but try to avoid any lines where people look
none English speaking. They have either filled in their forms wrong or they don`t understand the questions being asked at the booths. We have decide to try Virgin this year thru Orlando because for the last three years we have had this problem.
I just hope you are classed as transferring passengers and can avoid immigration. It does sound logical, but with the new security I am not too sure. I would mention it to the crew on board and the ground staff a soon as you land to try to speed things up.

Mark, to reply to your questions at your point of entry, regardless if you have checked them all the way through, you have to claim your baggage and go through customs. Usually there is a place before you exit the customs area to drop your bags rather than going through check-in all over again if they have been checked through. I can't answer for Miami but when I had onward flights in both IAD and SFO there was no problem (or rather, there wouldn't have been in SFO if I had brought along the itinerary with a change of flight number on UA which prevented my bags being checked through to RNO [:(!] My fault not theirs)

Unfortuantely in the US transferring passengers still have to go through US Immigration and there have been instances of people being sent back to their place of origin because they did not have the requisite visas when transferring. America doesn't seem to be able to handle passngers using its country to transfer [:0]

I can't answer your question about the return flight but I assume that if you enter the United States, even as a transfer, no matter what direction you clear customs

Others may be able to answer these queries more specifically as I have no experience of the Caribbean

Ta for the info so far guys - I migth drop and email to the Airport Manager and get his view!!!

If anyone else has a steer on thsi then I am all ears!!!

Mark

Mark, I found Virgin's Premier Team very helpful when I had a similar problem with transfers at MIA - might be worth giving them a ring.