Has anyone flown into Miami

Dory15 · 31 Mar 17, 05:54 PM

What is special assistance like?

Had an awful experience in mco hoping Miami is better!

Young Pooh · 1 Apr 17, 03:55 PM

We flew into Miami last summer and are doing the same this summer.

Last year we flew with Thomas Cook and arranged special assistance through them. Our DD is mobile but uses a wheelchair for distances. We were met at the plane by a porter with a wheelchair and then taken the very long journey to immigration. I would suggest that if other members of your party may struggle with the distance then you ask for a golf buggy rather than a wheelchair. At immigration we were taken to a different lane and were through pretty quickly as only a few other parties in front of us. Then to the luggage belts. We had to wait quite a while for the suitcases to come through - maybe because we hadn't queued long in immigration. If you have your own wheelchair then this will come through on a different belt at the side of the hall - pushchairs and oversize baggage, golf clubs etc also come out here.

Coming home we kept our own wheelchair until we boarded. I was taken through a separate security lane with DD whilst DH had to go through the normal lane.

Just to warn you, the facilities at the gates in Miami are rubbish. We only had a tiny but very expensive bar and a pizza counter.

Dory15 · 2 Apr 17, 10:16 AM

So they do carts?

As I have two kids with additional needs that may just be easier 😏
We had the issue that because we asked for his chair to come to the plane door we didn't get anyone to help as we as parents are fully able

Young Pooh · 2 Apr 17, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Dory15

So they do carts?

As I have two kids with additional needs that may just be easier 😏
We had the issue that because we asked for his chair to come to the plane door we didn't get anyone to help as we as parents are fully able

On the long trek to immigration we were passed by an elderly couple from our flight on a golf buggy - both used sticks for walking so would have struggled with the distance. I am assuming you would need to request this when requesting special assistance from your airline.

I have stopped asking for DD's chair to be brought to the gate now that she is older. When she had a small chair we used to request it but found it was hit and miss if it was at the gate or luggage hall. We find it easier using an airport chair as the porter knows where they are going and we usually get there quicker

gismo1554 · 3 Apr 17, 07:51 AM

Miami do carts you pay for just to mention so aren't specifically for people with additional needs. You can just stop and ask them to take you. Not sure whether you can prebook or just have to wait for them to turn up.

I agree though it is a long long way to immigration. My sister has mobility issues and always struggles with it.