We are happy to present an Op-ed by Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González


Airliners.net Introduction:
https://www.airliners.net/aviation-articles/read.main?id=164


The Op-Ed

https://www.airliners.net/aviation-articles/read.main?id=163

Please feel free to give feedback.

On Twitter @

https://twitter.com/airliners_net/status/446748502496772096

The lack of Customs agents is not only a Miami problem but an LAX and JFK one too. ITs disgusting that the first impression tourists get of our country is a line for 3 hours. People flying from Europe or Asia should not be subjected to hours in customs after 8 to 16 hour flights. I hope the Obama administration doesn't blame the " sequester in Washington" for this problem.

Proud to call Miami my home. Glad that Emilio is fighting for the best of MIA!

My last trip back to Sydney (considered a bad airport in Australia IMO), returning back from KUL via SIN, from the time the plane stopped, deplaned, went through immigration, collected luggage, went through customs and quarantine and out of the secure area in 15 mins flat (and I was travelling Y Class). This was in the evening with lots of other planes arriving around the same time from overseas.

A cross section of the more recent passenger experiences going through the MIA's CBP area.

User"pincheflower" on March 19th 2014 at 2:54pm via Twitter for iPhone
"@iflymia @DHSgov @CStevensDHS Miami is a nightmare and it's getting worse!#3hrsflight3hrsline seriously?"

at 12:30pm via Twitter for iPhone
"3 hrs flight and 3 hrs line #welcometomiami#shameonyoumiami @[email protected]/WVZXboQ88r @MiamiHerald"

at 12:27pm via Twitter for iPhone
"3 hrs flight and 3 hrs line #welcometomjami#shameonyoumiami @[email protected]"


User:"Cessiec" on March 17th 2014 at 2:18pm via Twitter for iPhone
"As per usual @CustomsBorder at @iflymiaare the rudest, laziest & most miserable.#miamiinternationalairport "

User:"ebarteldes"on March 17th 2014 at 7:40am via Twitter for iPhone
"#Miami Airport International arrivals is a mess... We waited so long on line at#customs that we almost missed our connection ##understaffed"

User:"KiteDreams21" on March 16th 2014 at 8:29pm via Twitter for iPhone
"@iflymia Worst international arrival experience ever!! Seriously MIA, get it together. That was true insanity. Almost missed our flight."

user:"_ShelleyBelly" on March 14th 2914 at 8:38pm via Twitter for iPhone
"@iflymia No luggage, nothing to declare, Global Entry not avail (again!), more than 2 hours to get through. Why must it always be like this?"


User:"iheartmiami305" on March 11th 2014 at 8:30pm via Twitter for iPhone
"@RosLehtinen @CustomsBorder @[email protected] wrap around line to get through customs 2 weeks ago! Please fix! ✈️pic.twitter.com/wecHWz7VvG"

User:"ryanbello" on March 05th at 11:27pm via Twitter for Android
"Agreed. RT @oppenheimera: Miami airport customs line is a nightmare. 1st world city, 3rd world airport. (cc: @valentinavitols)"

Great to see our Director make this a priority. People underestimate just how vital MIA is to Miami's economy. It really is a shame so many people have such a bad experience whether transiting or entering Miami. They will say shame on you Miami but it has absolutley nothing to so with Miami.

Shame on you U.S government. Which is a fairly common thing to say. Hope they get the officers they need.

The last time I traveled via Miami, it took me 4 hours to get through immigration and customs, more time than my flight from CCS. In my other flights via JFK and ATL, immigration clearance was swift, even during rush hours.

Even so, I consider Miami Airport as the main Gateway to Latin America and they are doing their best to raise their standards, at least during the last 2 years I've been to Miami, the airport has improved in many aspects.

Cheers,

Quoting Miami (Reply 2): Proud to call Miami my home. Glad that Emilio is fighting for the best of MIA!

Yes, and glad to see our Representatives / Senators from both parties supporting this!

Quoting flymia (Reply 5): Shame on you U.S government. Which is a fairly common thing to say.

Dare I say it - should CBP be privatized?

I was thinking of visiting MIA next month but not now. I shall probably go to DXB instead. They know how to welcome your money to their country!

Quoting rleiro (Reply 6): Even so, I consider Miami Airport as the main Gateway to Latin America and they are doing their best to raise their standards, at least during the last 2 years I've been to Miami, the airport has improved in many aspects.

That is indeed the case.

Off peak arrival times are the best way to get by until the CBP issue is sorted out.

Quoting jfk777 (Reply 1): The lack of Customs agents is not only a Miami problem but an LAX and JFK one too.

It's an issue at a great number of US gateways. Almost a universal problem, really. MIA is handicapped all the more with an inadequate facility which, on its best day, is a real hellhole, IMHO. I avoid intl flights there as much as possible.

Quoting Slider (Reply 10): It's an issue at a great number of US gateways. Almost a universal problem, really. MIA is handicapped all the more with an inadequate facility which, on its best day, is a real hellhole, IMHO. I avoid intl flights there as much as possible.

Not sure when the last time you were there was. It is by no means inadequate and the immigration processing facility is the size of two football fields. Too bad the federal government doesn't staff it appropriately. It's wasted space.

It's been like that every time I've flown into EWR too. Massive lines and hours of waiting at immigration.

Despite the challengers which seem to be quite insurmountable, MIA succeeds in being #8 worldwide according to Skytrax at the The World's Best Airports serving 40-50 million passengers category!

Press release from MIA on this recognition:

MIA NAMED ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST AIRPORTS BY SKYTRAX

Airport Ranked Among Best Serving 40-50 Million Passengers

(MIAMI, March 28, 2014) – Miami International Airport on Wednesday was voted one of the world’s best airports serving 40-50 million passengers at the Skytrax 2014 World Airport Awards, held during the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Barcelona, Spain. According to Skytrax, the World Airport Awards are voted by customers from more than 160 countries in the largest, annual global airport customer satisfaction survey, covering 410 airports worldwide.

“This is a tremendous honor for Miami-Dade County’s leading economic engine and is proof-positive that the hard work and dedication of our Aviation Department and our airport business partners is resonating with our customers,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. “The entire MIA community should be very proud.”

The 2014 World Airport Awards are based on 12.85 million survey questionnaires completed by 110 different nationalities of airline customers during the survey period in 2013 and 2014 (completed February 2014). Established in 1999, the World Airport Awards is renowned as the leading global airport passenger satisfaction study. The survey is totally independent and evaluates traveler experiences across 39 different airport service and product key performance indicators - from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration through to departure at the gate. For more information, go to http://www.worldairportawards.com/Aw...14/best_airport_40to50million.htm.

MIA ranked eighth among airports serving 40-50 million passengers, behind Incheon, Kuala Lumpur, San Francisco, Shanghai Pudong, Charlotte/Douglas, Las Vegas McCarran and Phoenix Sky Harbor.

“MIA’s ranking in the 2014 World Airport Awards is especially meaningful because it is based solely on the feedback from our passengers,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González. “As we continue to pursue new and innovative customer service enhancements, my goal is that MIA will improve its position among the world’s elite airports.”