www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I had to walk from "H" to "J" at MIA last Saturday for my Avianca flight.

"J" is very nice, all new and sparkling but it is a long walk from the rest of the terminal and the only food was a stand they sat up with sandwiches. They also have their own "Passport Control" for incoming international flights.

The only people in "J" were about halfway down waiting for a US Airways flight. Of course my flight would leave from "J16", the last gate in "J".

I had about 3 1/2 hrs to kill to I went over to "J11" and plugged my laptop into one of the many floor outlets and watched a movie (no wi-fi, the closest right now is at gate H15, and no TVs in "J" to watch college football).

There was a Duty Free kiosk in the hallway leading to "J" with a basic selection of booze, cigarettes and perfumes. Patron Silver was $35.
They also had Old Parr, Chivas, Stoli, Smirnoff, Grey Goose, Johnny Walker Red, Black & Blue and other selections. I don't buy a lot of perfume or cologne but I didn't see any brands that I recognized. They also had Godiva chocolates.

"J" doesn't show up on many of the MIA maps. I found it by accident as I was walking from "H" towards the main terminal and looked down a long hallway. Fortunately there was a sign hanging from the ceiling about 20 yards down that said something about "J Concourse".

I didn't even know there was a "J" until I saw on the TVs that my flight was leaving from there. Plan ahead and be prepared if you have to fly in or out of there.

Miami-Dade County had a lot of problems (cost escalations/change orders) getting that one open but glad to see it finally on-line.

Here was my experience upon returning from Medellin on Avianca.

We came into concourse "J". The Passport Control is great and fast. Very short lines. Try to find one without a lot of non-native U.S. citizens (even in the Citizen line). It took one old lady about 10 minutes to navigate the finger-print machine.

When you enter baggage claim grab a free cart. There are signs from the ceiling and at each baggage carousel itentifying which flight will unload on which carousel.

After getting your bags there are a choice of two small booths with 1 person sitting there to show your customs form to when you exit. Take the one on the far left side of the large room opposite from where the herd is heading.

One note. When trying to get OUT of "J" there is a sign that says "H Concourse" with an arrow. If you follow it you will go around the elevators and end up right back where you started. What they failed to mention was you are supposed to take the elevator down one level to "H" main level. I pointed this out to the grandmother working the information booth in "J" and she acted like it was my fault that I didn't know I was supposed to take the elevator. Nothing tells you that or which floor of 4 possibles to take.

It's still a long walk to the main terminal and some FOOD!

I had to recheck my bags at Delta, not just hand them off like usual since I was using two different airlines. That adds time to the process, too. Fortunately I had a 3 hour layover.

Also don't delay about going thru security if you have a connecting flight. Miami security lines seem to be incredibly slow. You will also be in line with people who just came in from outside who may or may not have their shit together.

My wingman said when he was leaving there was a TSA "lady" yelling at the crowd "If the lines aren't moving fast enough it's your fault. We are ready but if you don't have your documents ready that's not our fault."

This is very true. Yesterday, I returned from the Dominican Republic. I had to pass through security going and coming as though I walked into the airport from the street. I found this extremely annoying. The lines moved, but like Witling, I had three hours to kill. It took 45 minutes to clear security, though.