Miami airport terminals: North, Central and South, which airline is where, and how to move between them
MIA's three terminals and six concourses, which airlines check in where, every security checkpoint with its hours, and how to get between them.
En corto
- Layout: One horseshoe building: North (D), Central (E, F, G) and South (H, J) terminals.
- American Airlines: Checks in at D and E; Concourse D is about a mile long with its own Skytrain.
- Moving between: The Skyride walkways on level 3 link all terminals; South to North takes about 15 minutes.
- Always-open checkpoint: Checkpoint 9, South Terminal, is open 24 hours.
- Levels: 1 baggage claim and taxis, 2 check-in, 3 Skyride and MIA Mover.
MIA is one connected building: American Airlines lives in the North Terminal and Concourse D, most foreign airlines in the South Terminal at H and J, and the level 3 Skyride links them all in about 15 minutes.
Terminals, concourses and who checks in there
| Terminal | Concourses | Airlines checking in (examples) | Security checkpoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | D | American Airlines (counters 001 to 113, D and E), British Airways (D) | 1, 2, 3, 4 and DFIS |
| Central | E, F, G | Iberia and Alaska (E), Frontier and Volaris (F), Southwest (G) | 5, 6 and 7 |
| South | H, J | Delta, United, Aeromexico and Turkish (H); LATAM, Avianca, Copa, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates and Air Canada (J) | 8, 9 and 10 |
The check-in area is not always the departure gate: airlines can move, and the directory lists counters, not gates. Check your boarding pass and the departure screens. JetBlue, Spirit and Azul were not in the directory text we could read.
MIA airline directory, ground transportation map and security page (miami-airport.com), checked October 2026
How the building works
Miami International is a single horseshoe. The North Terminal holds Concourse D, the Central Terminal holds E, F and G, and the South Terminal holds H and J. The parking garages, Dolphin and Flamingo, sit in the middle of the horseshoe: Dolphin serves Concourses D and E, Flamingo E through J.
Three levels matter. Level 1 is baggage claim, with taxis, shared vans, public buses and the Tri-Rail shuttle area outside. Level 2 is ticketing and check-in, with hotel shuttles and the economy park and ride shuttle at the curb. Level 3 has the Skyride, a chain of moving walkways that connects all three terminals and the garages, and the MIA Mover station between the two garages.
Allow about 15 minutes to walk from the South Terminal to the North Terminal on the Skyride. Concourse D on its own is about a mile long, and the airport says walking it end to end takes at least 30 minutes, which is why it has the Skytrain: four stations about a quarter mile apart, each with a domestic and an international lobby, and a train about every 3 minutes.
Security checkpoints and hours
| Checkpoint | Terminal | Hours | TSA PreCheck |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North (D) | 4:00 am to 8:15 pm | Yes |
| 2 | North (D) | 3:30 am to 11:45 pm | Not listed |
| 3 | North (D) | 4:00 am to 9:45 pm | Not listed |
| 4 | North (D) | 4:00 am to 8:15 pm | Not listed |
| DFIS | North (D) | 5:15 am to 9:30 pm | Not listed |
| 5 | Central | 4:00 am to 10:45 pm | Yes |
| 6 | Central | 3:30 am to 10:45 pm | Yes |
| 7 | Central | 4:00 am to 8:15 pm | Yes |
| 8 | South | 4:00 am to 8:15 pm | Yes |
| 9 | South | Open 24 hours | Yes |
| 10 | South | 4:15 am to 7:15 pm | Yes |
PreCheck lanes run during checkpoint hours. Checkpoints 1 to 3 also have an American Airlines priority lane. MIA posts live wait times on its website; the TSA asks travelers to arrive two hours before a domestic flight and three before an international one.
MIA airport security page (miami-airport.com), checked October 2026
Where to go if you are
| Landing from abroad | U.S. Customs is in the Central Terminal at E (level 1) and in the South Terminal at J (level 3); connecting bags are re-checked at the Interline Lobby just outside |
| Renting a car | Level 3, MIA Mover to the Rental Car Center; it is free |
| Taking the train or bus into town | MIA Mover to the Miami Intermodal Center for Metrorail (Orange Line, $2.25), Tri-Rail and Metrobus 150 to Miami Beach |
| Going to a cruise | Carnival, Holland America and Princess counters are at Concourse F baggage claim, Norwegian at G; Carnival and Norwegian also near Door 3 of Concourse D |
| Stuck with bags for the day | The Baggage Checkroom, Central Terminal E, level 2, open 5 am to 9 pm; there are no lockers |
Small things that save time
- Look at the concourse letter on your boarding pass, not just the airline: the walk from J to D is long
- Early flight from the North Terminal: checkpoint 2 opens at 3:30 am, the others at 4:00 or later
- After about 11:45 pm, checkpoint 9 in the South Terminal is the one listed as open 24 hours
- Taxis wait on level 1 outside baggage claim; ride apps pick up on level 1 and level 2
- The Tourist Information Center is in the Central Terminal at E, level 2, open 6 am to 10 pm daily
- Airport information line: 305-876-7000
Lo que pregunta la gente
How many terminals does Miami airport have?
Three, all in one connected building: North (Concourse D), Central (Concourses E, F and G) and South (Concourses H and J).
What terminal is American Airlines at MIA?
American checks in at counters 001 to 113 in the D and E area, at the North Terminal end of the building, according to MIA's airline directory. Your gate letter is on the boarding pass.
Can you walk between terminals at Miami airport?
Yes. The Skyride moving walkways on level 3 connect all three terminals; MIA says to allow about 15 minutes from the South Terminal to the North Terminal.
Which TSA checkpoint at MIA is open 24 hours?
Checkpoint 9 in the South Terminal, according to the airport's security page checked in October 2026.
Is there luggage storage at Miami airport?
Yes, the Baggage Checkroom in the Central Terminal at E, level 2, open 5 am to 9 pm. MIA has no lockers.
Más guías
Parqueo en el aeropuerto de Miami (MIA): garajes, lote económico, valet y cuánto cuesta cada unoAeropuerto · Estacionamiento · 4 min de lecturaRenting a car at Miami airport: the Rental Car Center, the MIA Mover and the returnRental car · Airport · 5 min de lectura
Del aeropuerto de Miami a South Beach: el bus de $2.25, taxi o Uber, y el tren a BrickellSouth Beach · Aeropuerto · Transporte · 4 min de lecturaTerminal layout, levels, Skyride and Skytrain, airline counters, customs, checkpoints and hours, baggage checkroom and information center from miami-airport.com (FAQ, airline directory, security, Skytrain pages and the MIA Mover ground transportation map); Metrorail fare from miamidade.gov; checked October 2026.