I’ve lived in Miami for a few years, and I not too long ago wrote about how Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) is sort of terrible (to acknowledge the apparent). Nonetheless, I nonetheless exit of my option to fly out of there relatively than Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport (FLL), so I wished to speak about that in a bit extra element on this put up.
Admittedly flying out of Fort Lauderdale can usually broaden choices by way of airways, fares, and so forth., nevertheless it takes quite a bit for me to decide on to fly out of there. On this put up I wished to share my tackle why I take that method.
Why I desire flying out of Miami over Fort Lauderdale
I’ve a powerful desire for flying out of Miami relatively than Fort Lauderdale. It’s not that I’m unwilling to fly to or from Fort Lauderdale, however relatively there must be a compelling motive for me to decide on to fly out of FLL over MIA. Why? Let me clarify…
Miami is a lot extra handy
I dwell 10 minutes from MIA with out site visitors (and I normally fly early within the morning, when there’s no site visitors). In any other case, by no means in my life have I lived lower than half-hour from an airport, and I can’t even start to say how handy that’s. It’s one a part of my journey journey that causes zero stress.
I can go away for the airport an hour earlier than departure, and nonetheless get to my gate earlier than boarding begins. If I’m choosing up Ford from the airport, I normally go away house a couple of minutes after he touches down to choose him up, after which it’s timed completely.
Dwelling so near a significant international airport actually is considered one of my favourite issues about residing in Miami, and for that matter, is considered one of my favourite features of the airport. From the place I dwell, it’s an additional 20 miles to get to Fort Lauderdale, and that’s fairly a distinction by way of comfort issue.
For instance, as I write this put up, my telephone says it might be 10 minutes to MIA, whereas it might take 34 minutes to get to FLL. Throughout busier site visitors intervals, that distinction might be considerably larger.
Admittedly not everybody lives in the identical space, and a few folks dwell to the north of Miami, the place FLL might even be equally handy. However for those who dwell within the south of Miami, or in Brickell, Downtown, Midtown, and so forth., there’s an enormous comfort issue.
Driving to Fort Lauderdale scares the heck out of me
One factor I don’t love about Miami (and Fort Lauderdale, and the complete space) is the drivers. I’m satisfied this area has the worst drivers of anyplace on the earth I’ve ever been.
Right here’s the factor — I can completely adapt to only about any driving fashion, however the issue with South Florida is the number of drivers. It’s like combining the driving fashion of The Villages with the driving fashion of Bogota or Caracas. It’s simply terrible.
Specifically, I-95 between Miami and Fort Lauderdale must be one of many least nice stretches of freeway on the market. The drivers are horrendous, there’s not correct separation between lanes, and as a rule I really feel grateful to get off the freeway alive.
It’s uncommon I don’t see a significant accident or a significant equipment falling out of somebody’s pick-up truck on this stretch of freeway. Actually, driving to Fort Lauderdale offers me nervousness, and I’m a lot extra relaxed if I can keep away from it.
Lastly, there’s no sensible public transportation various. I am keen on the Brightline, however that may require first attending to the Brightline station in Miami, after which getting from the Brightline station in Fort Lauderdale to the airport. All the course of in all probability triples journey time.
American has an awesome community out of Miami
Whereas I’m hardly a cheerleader for American, there’s no denying that American has a strong community out of Miami, whether or not you’re seeking to fly domestically, to Latin America, and so forth. The airline has turn into fairly operationally dependable, and at the very least affords excessive velocity Wi-Fi, that are actually the 2 issues I in all probability worth most.
Moreover, these days I keep away from connections each time doable, so American can get you nonstop nearly anyplace. I additionally recognize how American operates fairly a couple of extensive physique jets on home flights, which is a good way to get a cushty experience even on a shorter flight.
Moreover, not like another fortress hubs, pricing out of Miami usually isn’t that loopy, as there’s nonetheless a good bit of competitors.
Miami has higher lounge choices than Fort Lauderdale
Miami’s lounge choices are removed from nice. In case you’re departing from Concourse D, there’s the Amex Centurion Lounge, American Admirals Membership, American Flagship Lounge, and Turkish Airways Lounge (nicely, in Concourse E, nevertheless it’s linked airside).
Frankly I barely ever use these lounges, and that’s as a result of when departing from Miami, I can simply time my arrival on the airport in order that I get there shortly earlier than boarding.
Site visitors as much as Fort Lauderdale is way much less predictable, so I’d have to go away extra of a buffer. Sadly the lounge scenario there isn’t fairly nearly as good.
There’s a Delta Sky Membership and United Membership if flying with these airways or their companions, however the one accessible lounge when flying American is probably the Escape Lounge, the place there’s usually a line to get in. So I do desire how I can at the very least fairly reliably entry lounges in Miami.
Once I’ll think about flying out of Fort Lauderdale
Like I stated, it’s not that I’m unwilling to fly out of Fort Lauderdale, however I simply strongly desire Miami. So, below what circumstances will I fly out of Fort Lauderdale? Listed here are some common issues:
- I’m extra more likely to think about flying out of Fort Lauderdale for a really early morning flight or on the weekends, when site visitors to get there isn’t as unhealthy
- The financial savings would should be substantial (let’s say $100+) for me to contemplate it, with out sacrificing comfort (if an additional connection is required, the distinction would should be larger)
- I primarily think about Fort Lauderdale in conditions the place there’s award availability from that airport, or the place I can safe firstclass at an affordable worth, however the identical isn’t accessible from Miami
Backside line
It’s not that I’m unwilling to fly out of Fort Lauderdale, however to me there’s one thing so good about being simply 10 minutes from a significant international airport, the place you may hop on a nonstop flight to many locations. Not solely does it take extra time to get there (and is dearer if utilizing experience share), however I-95 additionally scares the hell out of me.
To different 305ers, the place do you stand on this? Underneath what circumstances do you select FLL over MIA?
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