Quick question about connection times

Question

Never flown in/out of Miami. Flying American LAX to Punta Cana in October. We have a connection time in Miami of one hour and 21 minutes. Carry-on only ~ doable?

Return on American, connection time of one hour 41 minutes. We have Global Entry and carryon only ~ doable?

TIA

Answer

Miami International Airport (MIA) is a large and busy airport with multiple terminals and concourses, so connection times can vary depending on the terminals involved and whether you need to clear security or customs. Since you mentioned flying American Airlines with carry-on only and having Global Entry on your return, here’s a breakdown:

Outbound: LAX to Punta Cana, 1 hour 21 minutes connection

This is tight but possible, especially if your arriving and departing flights are both in Terminal D (American’s main terminal).
With carry-on only, you won’t need to wait at baggage claim, which saves significant time.
Be prepared to move quickly between gates; MIA is a large airport, and walking between some gates can take 10–20 minutes.
If your inbound flight is delayed, you may risk missing the connection, so having a backup flight option is good.

Return: Punta Cana to LAX via Miami, 1 hour 41 minutes connection with Global Entry

Global Entry significantly speeds up U.S. customs and immigration processing, which is crucial since you are arriving internationally.
Since you have carry-on only, you avoid baggage claim, further saving time.
1 hour 41 minutes is doable, but you’ll want to move efficiently through customs, re-clear security, and head to your gate.
Be aware that flight delays, long security lines, or gate changes can impact your connection, but overall this is a reasonable connection time.

Tips for smooth connections at MIA:

Check your arrival and departure terminals in advance and familiarize yourself with the layout using the airport map.
Keep your boarding pass accessible and use mobile check-in if possible.
Use priority security lanes where available.
Walk briskly but safely, and ask airport staff for guidance if needed.
Consider notifying your flight attendants that you have a tight connection—they can sometimes advise on gate changes or deplaning quickly.

In summary, both connections are doable with carry-on only, though the 1 hour 21-minute connection is tight. Your Global Entry on the return leg makes that connection far less stressful, and 1 hour 41 minutes should be plenty of time.

Quick question about connection times

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