Post MIA C&I Pre Check

Not that there's really anyting I can do about it other that take a few chill pills, but after you clear C&I in MIA, do they now offer a Pre Check line? Our last two trips through there just disgorged everyone into the same re-entry line, with no Pre Check or Elite lines. Absolutely only a First World problem, but its just MIA tends to be a too sudden jarring return from a relaxing vacation.

Hi. I moved this here, as unfortunately the SXM People Talk forum gets almost no reads these days. Don't know the answer to your question, as when we fly to Miami, that is our final destination. I'm sure someone here will know though.

They do funnel you into a security recheck but it is a lot better than it used to be. It appears this line is only for those that have cleared C&I. It used to be you had to walk much further and get in security lines for all passengers (both those clearing C&I and all other passengers). It was a zoo. Because the numbers are smaller (C&I only), they apparently don't see the need for a dedicated precheck line (and I tend to agree). However, for those with precheck, they handed us red cards to hand to security so we didn't have to remove shoes, belts, etc. We made it through very quickly. Hope this helps.

When you exit the Customs Hall at MIA and follow the signs for "Connecting Flights" you'll be directed to a TSA Checkpoint for Terminal D that DOES NOT have Pre-check. Our experience has always been that if you ask one of the attendants or airport personnel where the nearest "Pre-check line is located they will plead ignorance or tell you it is not operating that day.

Don't believe them. You have two options: You can exit the terminal and proceeds to the upper level and walk (toward your left) to the TSA Checkpoint for Terminal E - it's right opposite the registration desk for the MIA Airport Hotel and only about a 3 minute walk from where you exit the the Customs Hall - it's a little confusing because they have the direct route closed off but you can get there quickly by going down one level and back up again. We've hardly ever encountered any long lines for Pre-Check at this checkpoint. Your other option is to go to Checkpoint 2 in Terminal D (just passed the ticketing counters near Gates 23 and 24 if I remember correctly). It's about a 10 minute walk (to your left) when exiting the Customs Hall. The TSA pre-check line there moves relatively quickly but can be crowded.

Fletch--not sure when you last cleared customs at Miami but the experience I related above was less than a month ago (May 8). This was the first time they had ever handed us a red card if we had precheck (perhaps something they have recently started). Even without precheck, the lines were very short and it would have taken longer to walk to the dedicated precheck line than go through the C&I security checkpoint. Admittedly, this was on a Wednesday and perhaps weekends could be worse. But the two or three times I have gone through this checkpoint, it has never been much of a wait. I would only go elsewhere if you encountered long lines at the C&I checkpoint.

<<...Fletch--not sure when you last cleared customs at Miami...>>

My last pass through I&C at MIA was on a Friday (around 6:00PM) in mid-September - the line at the TSA Checkpoint just to left of the Customs Hall was "out the door" and even though there was a TSA Pre-Check sign at the entrance the attendant said it was closed (and feigned ignorance of other locations). The so called "red card" line was only slightly shorter - had to be close to 50 or 75 people in front of us. We went to the TSA Checkpoint at Terminal E (took us less than 3 or 4 minutes) and were the only ones there besides the TSA officers. Went through in a flash. Have done this numerous times before with similar results.

Glad you had a better experience. Making an International Connection at MIA can sometimes be a nightmare.

As someone mentioned before, the last time I went through Miami, the first set of check in points did not have pre-check. We kept walking to the next check in area and there was pre-check there. It wasn't that far of a walk, but it would've been nice to have pre-check at all check in points.

Miami is the worst airport for people arriving from out of the US . We used to fly through Miami all the time now we avoid it . It also would help if some of the people who work there spoke English

Wish I could answer that but we didn't go through security till next morning yesterday for out return. D terminal does have pre at the entrance.

Thanks for the inputs--I'll take a chill pill, and play it by ear. Our first pass through last year had numerous C&I exits leading after a short walk to Security. Last time though, I seem to recall exiting C&I and immediately being in the security line. Not having pre-check then didn't matter as we had received the dreaded SSSS and couldn't avail ourselves of PreCheck in any case. While I could have booked via CLT instead of MIA, we get an extra 2 hours in SXM returning via MIA, so the extra time on island is worth the hassle of MIA.