Miami International Airport (MIA)

Common Complaints

• Poor Terminal Layout and Navigation: Many travelers find the airport's design "laughably stupid and pointlessly confusing," with difficult-to-find signage and terminals that are not well-connected airside, making transfers challenging.
• Lack of Seating and Uncomfortable Spaces: A widespread complaint is the severe lack of seating, forcing many to sit on dirty floors, and a scarcity of comfortable resting areas.
• Cleanliness and Maintenance Issues: Despite modernization, many reviews consistently mention dirty restrooms, litter-strewn floors, and issues with broken infrastructure like non-functional escalators, elevators, and the Skytrain, which was not fully operational in parts of 2024.
• Long Security and Customs Wait Times: Security wait times are estimated at around 11 minutes, but international arrivals, immigration, and customs often involve "massive" and "unreasonably long" queues, with average waits of 23-28 minutes and frequently up to 45-60 minutes during peak season, sometimes leading to missed connections.
• Subpar Food, Retail, and Amenities: The selection of dining and duty-free options is often described as "low end," with "garbage concessions." Furthermore, there's a universal complaint about scarce and often non-functional charging ports and a lack of modern water bottle filling stations.
• Unhelpful or Rude Staff: Numerous accounts describe airport and airline staff, including those in restaurants, as aggressive, rude, condescending, or uninformed, offering little resolution to customer issues.
• Parking and Transportation Challenges: While some off-site parking services are praised for convenience and rates, others receive complaints about poor customer service, uncoordinated shuttle schedules, and vehicle handling.

Overall, Miami International Airport is undergoing significant changes that are positively impacting traveler satisfaction. However, many passengers still experience considerable frustration due to navigational difficulties, inconsistent cleanliness, and long wait times at critical checkpoints, suggesting that while improvements are being made, the airport still has a way to go to consistently provide a smooth and pleasant experience.