Miami International Airport sits about six miles north-west of downtown Miami and is run by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. In 2024 it handled close to 56 million passengers — the tenth-busiest airport in the United States and the busiest international-cargo hub in the country.
MIA is built around three terminals — North, Central and South — linked airside, with six concourses lettered D through J and 131 gates in total. American Airlines dominates with roughly 62% of all passengers, followed by Delta, United, Frontier and Southwest.
Because MIA is the main U.S. connecting point for the Caribbean and Latin America, it is organised largely by airline alliance — which is exactly what you need to understand to find your gate, your check-in counter, or your bag.
01 Terminals & concourses
Used exclusively by American Airlines (51 gates) — its largest hub outside Dallas/Fort Worth. Admirals Clubs, a Flagship Lounge and an Amex Centurion Lounge are here.
Concourse E: American’s international flights & Oneworld partners plus Caribbean/Latin carriers (A380-capable). Concourses F & G: other U.S. domestic and Canadian carriers.
Concourse H: Delta and non-Oneworld international carriers. Concourse J: most non-Oneworld international airlines flying widebody aircraft.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
| Airline | Terminal · Concourse |
|---|---|
| American Airlines / American Eagle | North Terminal D intl & Oneworld also E |
| British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Finnair & other Oneworld | Central Terminal E |
| United, JetBlue, Southwest, Frontier, Spirit (U.S. domestic) | Central Terminal FG |
| Delta Air Lines | South Terminal H |
| Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Turkish, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, LATAM, Avianca, Copa, Aeroméxico, Air Canada | South Terminal HJ |
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
03 Airline contacts — reservations & lost baggage
The fastest way to chase a delayed bag is your airline's app, but here are the main U.S. phone lines. Ask for Baggage Service and have your file (PIR / WorldTracer) reference ready.
| Airline | Customer service (US) | At MIA |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 1-800-433-7300 | North Terminal · D |
| Delta Air Lines | 1-800-221-1212 | South Terminal · H |
| United Airlines | 1-800-864-8331 | Central · F/G |
| JetBlue | 1-800-538-2583 | Central · F/G |
| Southwest | 1-800-435-9792 | Central · F/G |
| Frontier | 1-801-401-9000 | Central · F/G |
| Spirit | 1-855-728-3555 | Central · F/G |
Contacts maintained/verified · Last updated: 2026-09-11
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at MIA
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
04 Getting to & from MIA — and what it costs
| Option | To Downtown | To South Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi (metered · $15 min · +$2 airport) | ~$28–35 | ~$35–45 |
| Uber / Lyft (+$3 pickup) | ~$16–22 | ~$25–40 |
| Metrorail (Orange Line) | $2.25 | — (not direct) |
| Miami Beach Bus · Route 150 | — | $2.25 |
Transport fares · Last updated: 2026-09-11 · always check for the latest
Parking
| Parking | Rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Dolphin & Flamingo Garages (at terminals) | $25 / day | Short trips, convenience |
| Economy Park & Ride (shuttle) | $12 / day | Cheapest, longer stays |
| Valet | $39 / day | Door-to-door |
| Cell Phone Waiting Lot | Free (2 h) | Picking someone up |
Parking rates · Last updated: 2026-09-11 · prices may change
From the airport to the cruise port
Flying in for a cruise? Here's the distance, drive time and typical fare from MIA to the nearest cruise terminals.
| Cruise port | Distance | Drive time | Taxi | Rideshare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PortMiami (Downtown Miami) | ~8 mi | ~15 min | ~$35–45 | ~$25–40 |
| Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) | ~29 mi | ~42 min | ~$110–130 | ~$50–70 |
Rides to the cruise terminal · Last updated: 2026-09-11 · fares vary by traffic and time of day
05 Shops & dining — before vs. after security
Here's the landside/airside split — what you can reach without a boarding pass, and what's waiting at your gate.
Open to everyone
- Café Versailles & Café La Carreta — Miami’s iconic Cuban (Central Terminal)
- Chef Creole — Bahamian/Creole seafood (departures, L2)
- Air Margaritaville · Burger King · Starbucks
- Hudson News / newsstands, pharmacy & essentials, currency exchange (arrivals & departures halls)
At your concourse / gates
- Concourse D: La Carreta (D37), Café Versailles (D5/D20/D44), Corona Beach House (D23), Ku-Va, Sushi Maki, 24-h Dunkin’
- Concourse E: Sergio’s Cuban (E5), Samuel Adams Bar
- South H/J: La Pausa (sit-down), Island Chicken Grill
- Duty Free Americas, Britto, designer boutiques (Hugo Boss, Ferragamo), Swarovski, InMotion electronics, sports & souvenirs
06 Lounges & amenities
American operates three Admirals Clubs and a Flagship Lounge across Concourses D and E, plus an American Express Centurion Lounge in Concourse D. MIA also has an airside hotel, and a multi-billion-dollar modernisation is adding two more on-site hotels along with new retail and dining throughout the concourses.
