I’ve lived in Miami for many years, and I recently wrote about how Miami International Airport (MIA) is kind of awful (to acknowledge the obvious). However, I still go out of my way to fly out of there rather than Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), so I wanted to talk about that in a bit…
Continue reading: Why I Avoid Fort Lauderdale Airport (Vs. Miami)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I can relate since I live in Long Island, NY.
JFK is barely 30 min away from home. Meanwhile, LGA can take 1h.
So I book flights out of JFK, even it is means an extra stop.
I live up north from FLL, so the drive to MIA would take longer and require more time on the I-95, increasing my likelihood of premature death or disability. That aside, I like the smaller scale of FLL. Sadly AA pricing into and ex FLL prices it usually out of attainable. Ride share rides ex FLL are also less chaotic to be had than ex MIA.
Try PBI, its so enjoyable and you can show up to the airport 15 min before boarding and make it to the gate before they start.
+1 to this; I live between FLL and PBI and always opt for PBI if it’s a nonstop or the same amount of connections. Would be interested in a PBI review from Ben. Perhaps one of the Breeze flights?
I grew up and learned to drive in Miami. I grew up just south of the airport. The Palmetto and US 1 were on my driver's ed route. Now, my friends here in Tennessee say I use too many hand gestures and my horn too much when I drive. My father delivered mail in Hialeah and Overtown for 20 years. He treated I 95 like a slalom course. It was scary to ride with him.
Now that I am much older, when I am in S Florida, I try to avoid I95 as much as possible. So I would still prefer MIA. Plus, it was part of my childhood. My dad used to take us there to watch the airplanes land in the 70s. Including Air Force One and the Concorde when it made a special flight to MIA.
It seems that FLL is not so bad except for the location in relation to the author. I used to live a few minutes from FLL and found it better than MIA.
FLL is bad for indoor airplane spotting because the terminals are not connected.
Not counting location, I like Intercontinental over Hobby, SFO over Oakland, Gatwick over Luton.
A few comments on your comments.
“Living so close to a major global airport truly is one of my favorite things about living in Miami,” Well, you can live 10 minutes from the airport anywhere in the world as long as you pick a place that is 10 minutes from the airport so not sure what that has to do with Miami.
“Living so close to a major global airport truly is one of my favorite things about living in Miami,” That’s because the worst drivers (in terms of aggressiveness) are from Latin America and you got a full concentration of them all in Miami.
I may be a bit of a lead foot, but nowhere have I seen more reckless weaving in and out of lanes at 30 miles per hour over the speed limit, treating the highway as a slalom, more than Miami.
Yeah, kind of specific to your needs.
For those who don’t live in Miami (MOST of your readers), or are not loyal to American…this post is pointless.
MIA needs a serious reno.
And FLL is much easier to navigate, imo.
We usually fly SWA, and typically get better rates & flight times from FLL, but I do check both airports.
Only time I've come close to missing a flight was driving from Jupiter to PBI. I needed to drop off a rental car, so gave my myself way more than enough time (so I thought). What should have been a 20 minute drive took almost 2 hours because there were 3 huge accidents on 95 in that one small stretch that caused total gridlock. I do this drive every year and because of that one time I always am nervous about it. Have driven all over the country and internationally, and I totally agree South Florida has the absolute worst drivers.
There isn't really anything to "review" at PBI other than a delta Skyclub. It's a pretty no-frills little airport, but it's super convenient if you're north of Fort Lauderdale. I find that flights from NY are usually cheaper there or at least the same price as FLL, so it's a no-brainer when we go to PB or Jupiter.
The crazy driving is everywhere in Florida. Old people 20 below the speed limit. Lost tourists in rented minivans. People from third world countries who’ve never owned a car and think you just put your foot to the floor when driving.
The speed differential is crazy.
Fort Lauderdale is the better place to live, by far. The airport is just an added bonus but it's leaps and bounds better than Miami. If you lived equal distance from both your experience would be 30 minutes shorter at FLL. With parking or rental car, security, etc. Every process is faster.
How on earth is FLL better than Miami, traffic aside?
And the town? Fort Lauderdale is a giant suburb full of methed out homeless people and 80 year old gays in tank tops they’re too old to wear
If you’ve convinced yourself life is amazing in Fort Lauderdale, you should really move. You don’t have to be that tragic
Seriously. It could have been summed up as "Because I live less than 10 minutes from MIA. The end."
I find them to be quite similar, and generally go by logistics (ie am I going to Ft L or Miami). MIA does have infinitely better transit options, that much is indisputable. FLL does have Trirail, kinda, via a shuttle, but while Trirail is adequate for its designed purpose, it's not great for irregular trips... and MIA also has Trirail. If they ever build that Brightline commuter line, the tracks run in *front* of FLL so that could be a marked improvement.
"Admittedly not everyone lives in the same area" I am so glad that you are mature enough to admit this. As someone who lives in Denver, it just makes much more sense for me to fly out of Denver International rather than Miami. Thank you for acknowledging other perspectives here.
I live in DC and travel frequently to South America on AA. MIA is an excellent stopover because the airport has many shopping and eating options. AA has two Admiral lounges and one Flagship lounge in Concourse D. There are plenty of connecting flights, so you always have other choices if you miss your flight.
So you’re saying MIA is closer to you, that’s why you prefer it over FLL?!?
No sh*t Sherlock, since we’re playing the obvious game the sky is blue
I was expecting some in depth pros/cons on the actual airports that made your decision Miami not it’s just 10 min away
95 traffic between Dade/Broward is a rats nest most of the day,
MiA is my sentimental favorite. I have lived in Dade County for more than a decade and started flying Pan Am Eastern and then migrated to PMUA out of MIA when PMUA had a significant operation out of MIA in the 90s.
Now I am in South Palm Beach area, FLL is my default airport. No complain about its facility and much better access and exit to highway, but traffic is not much better.
What I do agree is the horrible highway traffic in South Florida regardless you are in Dade, Broward or Palm Beach county. Flying，lounged, airline options and airport are the major issues for me. Dealing with traffic to/from airports can be a deciding factor which airport to use.
PBI is my least favorite if I need to deal with rental cars.
I’m pretty equidistant from both MIA and FLL and would rather fly out of FLL any day. Way easier to get in and out of. Amex Escape Lounge has never had a line to get in for me. It isn’t the best lounge by far but I can always depend on it to be available. I only fly out of MIA if I can get a better price or flight time.
Time to give Florida back to Spain!
Then we could get an Iberia hub at MIA, Vueling can dominate at FLL and TPA, and Renfe (state rail) could take care of the ground transport improvements.
I agree about Florida drivers and especially I-95, but Massachusetts is even worse.
This article needs to be seen in the context that some readers posted regarding Ben’s report about the MIA airport a few days ago. Some readers commented that they prefer FLL.
While I generally agree with your assessment you neglected to mention that Tri Rail is a great option for both, and certainly bypasses I95
I live in Aventura and am closer to FLL than MIA.
Have always preferred MIA due to AA non-stop network and lounges. But leaving MIA after a trip has become a horrendous experience lately. Even express lanes are stop-go on a sunny day without an accident. And that is starting from 1pm onward and not during typical rush hour.
Might be time to give FLL a chance
One thing not considered given that you live in Miami is the rental car situation. While the trek to the rental car center at MIA is like a marathon (via the MIA mover), FLL really sucks with packed busses that move at a snail's pace. For that reason alone, I avoid FLL. Super unpleasant.
I know you like random stuff at airports... at some point you should go to the MIA rental car center. No matter what time (Day or Night), there are always tons of people there. Like what are they doing? I can understand family members waiting for one member to get a car... or maybe people waiting for off-site shuttles. But I've never seen such a random congregation of people sitting there kind of looking like they have camped out for the hell of it.
The only issue I have with this is Brightline to Fort Lauderdale - Tri Rail literally stops at Fort Lauderdale Airport itself, and if you're 10 minutes from Miami Airport, then you're 10 minutes (at most) from a Tri Rail station - that does at least make it a more viable alternative, as there ain't any traffic there.
I live in Cooper City. 30 minutes to FLL, 45 mins to MIA absent some traffic catastrophe. I usually pick Miami because of the route network offered by American or the international options. Domestically, FLL is uncompetitive because you have to rely on JetBlue, Southwest ir God forbid spirit. These budget airlines just have too many kinks in their operational reliability that it just isn't worth the aggravation even though it's cheaper. Plus I have platinum status with American and their benefits pretty much wipe out the financial benefit if flying a budget carrier
All you really had to say is that you have elite status on AA and they are an afterthought at FLL.
If you lived in west Broward, and the airports were nearly equal distance (yes, MIA is about 10 miles further), I can't imagine the average flyer would choose MIA over FLL on domestic routes.
'Aggressive' Latin American drivers wouldn't last a minute in Egypt/Lebanon/Pakistan etc etc.
Short answer:
- If you live closer to MIA, then ya fly out of MIA. If you live closer to FLL, then ya fly out of FLL. If you live equidistance to FLL/MIA, then fly FLL if domestic, fly MIA if you’re an AA Loyalist or if flying international. So that’s it, don’t over-think it, it’s that easy.
- Traffic in MIA/FTL/WPB corridor is hell on earth, I agree with Ben on that!!
Long answer:
- I live in Ft Lauderdale so I have a comfort level with FLL and it is a much easier airport to navigate vs. MIA. All 4 terminals are now pretty decent (worst is Terminal 3 AA/JetBlue), but terminals 1/2/4 have undergone renovations are nicer than many other US airports.
- FLL is more of a typical American airport pax mix. MIA to Ben’s past points is “Latin America extended”, whenever we’ve flown out of MIA especially on Latin American flights, people don’t line up at check-in + checked bags and there is general chaos. Plus, the TSA agents in MIA are rude, the security lines are long etc, and in the non-AA terminals, Pre-check doesn’t buy you much time savings.
- Getting in/out/around of FLL is fairly easy. Again to Ben’s points, getting in/out/around of MIA is a nightmare!!
- TIP: Avoid FLL (and probably MIA?) on Saturday mornings when cruise pax arrive/depart. Flights are more expensive and the terminals are crowded and chaotic!
"It's right next door and -- gosh! -- traffic scares me!" Not one of your best, Ben...
In Boston, it often seems like people are TAUGHT how to make a left turn from the right lane (or vice-versa) using only a hand gesture that does not, in and of itself, mean they're changing direction. In San Diego, people make a U-turn around the center divider on a main avenue or boulevard on a red light because they do it through the crosswalk (pedestrians be damned) and don't really therefore enter the intersection. And no one in the U.S. knows how to drive in a roundabout/rotary!
I understand the convenience of being close, and if AA is your main airline and they have a better route network from MIA (which they do), then for you, MIA makes sense. But to be scared of a little traffic is BS...every major urban area has traffic! Time to put your Big Boy pants on, and deal with it.
I live in the East Bay (i.e.: across the Bay from San Francisco). I mostly fly out of SFO because it was the main base of operations for VX and it's a hub for AS. That means dealing with traffic on the Bay Bridge, through San Francisco and down to SFO. In contrast, OAK is closer, but depending upon the time of day, it can take just as long to get there (or back). I can get on I-880, or I can even take surface streets. But I only fly out of OAK is I'm taking WN, or heading to Hawai'i on AS/HA...
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Life seems to always be a trade off. I have a vacation condo in Aventura which is closer to FLL and you can drive US1 and not get stuck on I95, but I fly in and out of MIA. Why, because AA has a non stop to my home airport, and no major airline does at FLL except a couple of low cost airlines who do not fly the route everyday. So I trade the horrendous traffic to not to have to make a connection which would make the trip at least double the traveling time. Fortunately the non stop home leaves in the evening so traffic is not always as bad. Coach fares are pretty reasonable from MIA, and as an EXP with AA, I usually get an upgrade, (be it now at the last minute - 100 seconds from boarding time instead of 100 hours ) since my home is not a major airport. Another reason for not taking the low cost airline out of FLL is that if/when there is a problem, they are not equipped to get you on a different flight back, so you just have to wait or be cancelled.
I use both and they are absolutely atrocious. They’re outdated and years behind most airports I go to. Tampa for example is by far superior to both and not even close.
I fly Delta and MIA is a breeze. Would not change it. I live in Kendall so I usually Uber over and can usually time it to get there 30 to 40 minures before departure time, and I can still get to the gate with plenty of time to board.
I guess if you live in Miami - MIA is better than FLL
I live in NYC and my preference Imis to fly to FLL - less walking and easier to rent a car
I live 7 minutes from FLL. I can leave my house, pick up an arriving guest and be home with their luggage in 30 minutes. It is so easy to get to, easy to leave from or pick someone up. It is cleaner, much less chaotic, and an all around much more pleasant experience.
Even when we lived in Dade we always chose FLL because the experience was much less hectic.
“Big boy pants”. Gees, patronising much? Ben didn’t say he never drives that route, just that he prefers not too because of not great drivers. Which is absolutely fine. He has other options.
I think it Jason that likes hysterics. Every major metro area has traffic issues, but the comment needlessly condescending.... trying to be the big boy?
But true, Americans have no clue about a roundabout.
A rare Nippon Cargo Airlines 747-8F is heading to MIA at this very moment. Just for your information!
I live in Panama and make frequent trips to visit my mom in West Palm Beach. Copa flies to both MIA and FLL. I always choose Miami for a reason you completely skipped in your review: TriRail service. While FLL is obviously closer to West Palm Beach than MIA, TriRail has a station right at MIA adjacent to the rental car center and easily accessible via the MIA Mover train. At FLL, I have to find the bus stop (sometimes trudging through the rain), wait for the bus to take me to the TriRail station, then wait for the train. Because of those factors, it generally takes me about the same amount of time from touchdown to arrival in WPB from both airports, but MIA is less stressful.
Ben's article on CAI has garnered a big media attention in Egypt, with government officials making comments to defend the airport in response.
@ Andy -- Lol. Do you have a link, by chance? Hard to search this stuff since I assume it's not in English, but can of course use Google Translate if I know where to look. Thanks!
I appreciate the article, but I think you could sum up the entire thing by saying the author prefers MIA over FLL because they're closer to MIA.
You can take a shuttle at FLL to tri-rail, obviously not as convenient. If both airports could connect to Brightline I think it'd make a world of difference.
I'm going to let you guess why I prefer to fly out of Newark Liberty International rather than FJK or LaGuardia. You guessed it. I live a lot closer to EWR, not to mention the traffic.
How do people make a living writing crap like this?
Agree very much about the Miami I-95 traffic. Oh I remember it well, lunatic driving decisions. Where do they come from, how can they drive like that.
Another is New Jersey 78, 287, Rt 1 & 9, NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway all coming together.
But there are crazy driving places in the world, and surely can understand Ben's decision.
Not only the Ft Lauderdale airport, but we didn't like the hotels there as well. So Miami it is.
There is only one reason, you live 10 minutes to MIA. It shows that the convenience is always the top priority.
My reasons:
1. FLL is a PITA to get to if you don't live in FLL, most of other areas of Broward or North Miami. Tri Rail is a joke. Has an ontime reliability that would embarrass Frontier management
2. No AA AC and other than the small DL SC not sure of others, including 3rd party lounges
3. Massive ULCC presence and the people that go with ULCCs
4. More need to do connections
This has got to be the most ridiculous review and post you have made. You prefer MIA because you live closer? Is the sky blue? Come on man. Seriously, how silly.
MIA airport is awful and FLL is much easy to get in and out of.
Guess what? Those of us who live in FLL feel the same way about Our airport vs. Miami. If you even mention MIA people say no way Jose!
From Miami, live close to MIA and select it for the same reasons.
That said, when I lived away from Miami and traveled with frequency I would 100% prefer to fly into FLL because of the convenience and time savings in car rental. MIA adds an hour. FLL, depending on the terminal, you just cross a pedestrian bridge and hop in the car.
As a visitor, I prefer FLL, though I am flexible. My reasons:
1) Renting a car is easier at FLL, as many of the rental car companies are right at the airport.
2) Maybe I have just been unlucky, but taxiing to the gate after landing at the Miami airport seems like it can take a really long time. Last time I landed there, I received multiple texts from a friend asking me if I was almost to the hotel and I kept having to text back "Nope. Still not even at the gate."
I will also say that I haven't flown into either in a few years, so conditions may have changed.
Driving from Fort Lauderdale to Miami is an experience, but I have definitely seen worse. I do not understand how people drive in Cairo. Even as a passenger, I was on edge.
@ Andy -- Hahahaha, oh my. Wait, so if Google Translate is correct, then this was said:
"He explained in an intervention on the Al-Hekaya program on MBC Misr that the ministry will publish, today, Sunday, a video supported by facts to respond to these false rumours."
So is there some video I've missed supporting the false rumors I supposedly put out there? This is... something.
Blogs that discuss driving to the airport should also discuss parking availability and costs. Unless, of course, you are being dropped off or hiring a ride.
@ Andy -- Please let me know if you do come across these videos. I'll have a follow-up post as well, because this is absurd. Hah. Thanks for bringing it to my attenetion!
This link details the government response.
https://m.elwatannews.com/news/details/7687065
Yes. Travel distance from home to the airport is a factor along with flight availability. We live 20 minutes from Fort Lauderdale, and 45 from
Miami. We also fly Delta and United to (mostly) the NYC. Both airlines have numerous flights to EWR, JFK and LGA. LGA is especially convenient to our family in the NYC area, and the Delta lounge is outstanding at LGA.
I never go to MIA anymore - South Beach just isn't what it once was. MIA is not really a town for a gay couple. The Gay crowd goes exclusively to FLL/Wilton Manors.
Going to FLL I go either to FLL or PBI - somethimes PBI has a better arrival time for AA flights . The drive from PBI to FLL is much better now that the high speed express lines are open - crazy drivers tend to use those.
I live 20 mins from FLL, but the more I go in and out of it, the less I like it. It's horribly designed (long treks to get an Uber/Lyft; unless you come in via Terminal 1, you are doomed to the slow, infrequent buses when the garage is literally on the other side of the street from the terminals; no airside connecting from one terminal to another), parking sucks (and is only going to get exponentially worse, as they're demolishing one garage to rebuild it), the Broward Sherriff is too inept to ticket the massive number of people who literally park right in front of the terminal on arrivals level, and unless you are going to NYC or a major hub city, you almost can never get a nonstop to where you're going unless you want to suffer through the WN experience (bad), the NK experience (worse), or the F9 or G4 experience (not in this lifetime). Yes, 95 and the Turnpike are not fun, but I agree - having a major hub and decent lounge options are why I seem to end up going more and more through MIA.
You prefer airport X because its really close to you. And airport Y is so much further away, and the road there is scary.
Deep stuff, man. Deep.
I’ve driven MIA to West Palm beach before. Yall drive like sweethearts. Texas is wreckless.
Houston airports are inconvenient ; 45 minutes outside of the city center. I can’t believe I gave up living just 5 miles south of LAX on PCH. I could even take the bus down the street and save a hundred bucks on parking.
Getting to the rental cars is a major hike! Prefer the proximity of Ft Lauderdale
Tri-rail goes to FLL from Downtown Miami.... at the station its a quick and free shuttle to the airport.
Your preference is based solely on how close you live to MIA. For the 2 million plus people who live closer to FLL, it is the obvious choice because, as you point out, driving in the Miami area is frightening. In addition, MIA is often a nightmare with much larger crowds than those at FLL for both departures and arrivals. Finally, Delta’s FLL Sky Club is one of the best airport lounges in the country and the brand new Delta FLL terminal adds to the overall experience. For me and many others, FLL is by far the better choice except when flying to Latin America or Europe.
Blah,blah,blah...scary roads and inconveniences...I think it's called South Florida
I feel the same way about DCA and IAD...DCA is $2.75 via metro or ($20 and 15 minutes via lyft).. which is just outside my door and across the street...it's a crowded, compact airport but the convenience factor. IAD is more for my international journeys but it's nearly $80 for ground and 30 minutes via metro...not dreadful but it's still a long haul to/from the station with golf clubs and bags to terminal.
FLL works perfect for me to get in and out of my home there...but picking up or drop off is dreadful.
Have to agree with you on 95 I have learned that driving on 95 around Miami and FLL is truly the wild west. The non commercial truck drivers love to pull right on your bumper and then pull out like their Lewis Hamilton over taking me. I've seen quite a few that simply give up on the regular lanes and think nothing about jumping into the express lanes. Signalling is purely an after thought if at all. I'm happy every time i get off 95..unfortunately when you live in Fort Lauderdale you have no choice to get around.
100% Agree with you. I frequently leave my house at exactly one hour before departure, and arrive at the gate just as boarding starts.
IMO, it's the most convenient global airport in the world. It's right by the actual city, has fantastics throughout the US, Europe, and Latin America (pretty much everywhere except for Asia and smaller cities past Dallas in the US). I totally agree, it takes me about $150 or more difference in airfare to get me to go to Fort Laurderdale
I agree that American has a wonderful nonstop series of flight from Miami. Also, I agree on the much better lounges in MIA vs. FLL. A little trick I use if picking up a rental car is to take a taxi, rather than the long walk and tram, to and from the Rental Car Center. Well worth the $20 each way and a big time saver.
the author of this is a complete moron. People who live i miami HATE THAT AIRPORT!!!! it sucks its horrible traffic is horrible in miami everyone flies out of fort lauderdale
As soon as I saw the headline, I answered to myself "because you're and idiot"? 🙂 Just joking but seriously, MIA is my most hated airport out of the hundred plus I have been to and FLL is a top 10 easily.
I fly United so I prefer the United CLub in FLL. The only Lounge I have access to in MIA is the Turkish and the don't let me use it when I land (only departure)
I once flew to MIA to rent a car and drive to Ft Myers. BUt then I realized when I got to the rental car facility I was already in Ft Myers (just kidding but it is ridiculous.
I always fly FLL when I can.
FLL seems to be very dependent on which airline you fly. I have flown both SW and United there (usually United) and since they go to T1, it is great for me. I have heard the other terminals are not so friendly