Traveling through South Florida airports during Thanksgiving week? You’re not alone.
MIA and FLL are expecting record numbers of passengers during the holiday crunch.
Miami International is undergoing $9 billion in renovations that include upgrading most of the airport by 2039 while staying open 24/7. So, be aware of signs and detours that alert work in progress.
For arriving travelers, note that signs for baggage claim may put you on the same floor as ticket counters for departing passengers. You’ll then have to take an elevator or escalator to go down one level to get your luggage.
If you get lost or have questions, or complaints, look for airport employees with blue vests that say “Lightning Crew” on the backs. They double as customer service representatives located throughout the airport, are friendly and can help you immediately.
But travelers should also notice some already made improvements.
More escalators, elevators and moving walkways will be operating compared to prior years: 94% of the 616 MIA has are working as of Nov. 20, according to a spreadsheet sent to the Miami Herald by Greg Chin, communications division director of Miami-Dade Aviation Department. Of those out of service, 14 are having maintenance work and 25 are being replaced, part of the renovation plans.
Passengers exit the terminal to take the train to the car rental hub at Miami International Airport on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
MIA in November said it added automated passport screening capabilities that will reduce wait times. Customs and Border Protection’s Enhanced Passenger Processing added 12 face pods across three passport control areas in concourses D, E and J. Photos are taken and images are matched with CBP’s records within three seconds, they say.
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And the Skytrain is working, serving travelers and airport and airline employees who use gates D1 to D60 in the North Terminal’s Concourse D. That’s the home of American Airlines. The shuttle returned to full service in August.
The MIA Skytrain arrives to the recently opened Concourse D’s station 1, as the Skytrain system service was fully restored ahead of Labor Day weekend in Miami, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
If you’re worried about wait times at TSA checkpoints, MIA has a tool that gives real-time answers.
And whether you’re flying out of MIA or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, keep up with the weather for possible delays. South Florida weather will be sunny and hot, but connections up North may be affected by bad weather.
Travel delays are likely on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, according to AccuWeather. That’s due to rain and fog in the East, wintry weather in parts of the Midwest and Rockies, and fresh snow along mountain passes in the West. AccuWeather cited airports in Seattle, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh where flights could be affected. And all that could have spillover effects in Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Here’s what else to know at each of South Florida’s major airports during Thanksgiving travel:
Passengers
Passengers walk by a World Cup countdown clock and holidays decorations in Concourse D at Miami International Airport on Friday, November 21, 2025. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com Passengers in Concourse D, at MIA on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
MIA expects 1.96 million passengers at MIA, a 4% increase over last year and a new record.
The busiest days are projected to be Nov. 21-22 and Nov. 29-Dec. 1, when travel at the airport is expected to reach or exceed 170,000 passengers daily. The airport’s 12-day Thanksgiving travel period goes from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2.
From Florida, almost 299,000 people will hit the skies, a report from AAA said. The organization warned though that number could drop due to canceled flights or travelers making other plans.
Lots of people across the county want to fly to Florida. Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando are the three most popular destinations in the U.S. for people traveling during the holidays, according to AAA.
This comes as recent flight disruptions due to FAA orders have decreased the appetite many Americans have to travel.
Beginning Oct. 31, booking momentum nationwide slowed sharply in a sample from online travel agencies examined by aviation analytics firm Cirium. Year-over-year growth was up 1.56% on Oct. 31, but by Nov. 14 it had fallen to a negative 3.33% growth over two weeks, the company said.
“This is likely due to travel uncertainty due to the government shutdown,” an email from Cirium said.
Still, the firm found that bookings from MIA are up 4.86% over the Thanksgiving holidays. At FLL, they were up 11.92%. Nationwide, they were down 3.3%.
If you are flying, AAA advises that going on Thanksgiving Day can result in cheaper fares but returns on Sunday and Monday are often the costliest. Over the holiday period, domestic airfares are averaging $700 round-trip, AAA found.
“With recent flight reductions and the potential for last-minute cancellations, we encourage air travelers to build flexibility into their plans,” Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said in a statement.
Here’s what to know about getting around Miami International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International during Thanksgiving week:
Departures
A flight arrivals and departures board at Miami International Airport. Miami Herald File
When to get to the airport: The airports recommend arriving three hours before your flight departs to give yourself enough time for parking, check-in, and the security screening process. The airports also suggest checking in online before arriving. If your flight gets delayed, be patient with airline employees as they work to reschedule, and remain in contact with your airline for flight updates.
Checking your flights: MIA has several ways to check flights, including a list of airlines, their door number, departure concourse, check-in counter location and baggage claim area. The airport also has a mobile app. FLL’s flight tracker works by flight or route. You’ll need to know the date, along with the airline carrier and flight number or the departure and arrival airport. The tool also gives people the option to see a list of all expected arrivals and departures and details on the flight’s terminal and baggage claim, too.
Parking
A long line of vehicles are bumper-to-bumper heading into MIA on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
MIA
MIA encourages travelers to take ride-sharing vehicles or get dropped off by family or friends. It expects parking lots to fill up.
Reserved Parking: Since June 2025, travelers can pre-pay for reserved parking inside MIA’s Flamingo or Dolphin garages. For more information, visit the Reserved Parking web page.
Remote Lot: Half-price parking is available at MIA’s remote Economy Park and Ride lot. The 460-space lot provides monitored parking and a free shuttle service to the MIA terminal every 15 minutes for $12 per day – less than half the $25 maximum daily rate at MIA’s Dolphin and Flamingo garages. Located at 1350 NW 45th Ave., the Economy Park-and-Ride lot is accessible from either Le Jeune Road or Perimeter Road. Credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PaybyPhone are accepted.
Parking shuttles: Shuttle service pick-up and drop-off locations are on the Departures level across from doors 3, 11, and 26. For more information, visit the MIA Parking web page.
Valet parking: The valet lot is across from the check-in area at doors 4 and 20 in the Dolphin and Flamingo garages. Valet parking attendants take a driver’s vehicle and park it in one of 225 dedicated spaces on the Departures or arrivals level. Rates are $25 for under three hours, $39 for the first three to 24 hours and $39 each day after. Maximum stay is 20 days.
Electrical vehicles: Parking for electrical vehicle charging is available 24/7 at Arrivals, First Level, inner loop between Terminals E and G. And Departures second level, valet parking at the Dolphin and Flamingo Garages.
Nearby parking: MIA’s website lists several “off-airport” options. Read those sites carefully. One site called Cheap Airport Parking lists nearby hotels and parking lots that offer parking for travelers. You make a reservation, just like you would for a rental car. Most hotel parking lots you’ll find on this site are generally open around the clock, have security and offer a free shuttle to the airport, plus cancellations, according to the website’s FAQ guide. Parking prices and shuttle times vary.
Picking up a passenger: MIA’s Cell Phone Waiting Lot has 60 free parking spaces for non-commercial users waiting to pick up travelers. It’s just off Le Jeune Road and Northwest 31st Street, accessible from Le Jeune heading north or south.
Airport garages: MIA’s two biggest garages are expected to fill up early. Dolphin Garage serves Concourse D and E. Flamingo Garage serves Concourses E-J. If you park in one of the garages, expect to pay $2 every 20 minutes. If your car is parked for more than four hours, you’ll be charged the maximum daily rate of $25, according to the airport. Your car can stay in the garage up to 45 days, except where “no overnight” is listed. After 45 days, your car will be towed. Accepted payments: cash, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover), Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. The airport no longer uses SunPass.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Onsite: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has three garages and an overflow lot that opens at peak travel times during the holidays or when the garages are full. Follow the orange signs when going to that offsite lot.
Alternatives: There’s a cellphone parking lot where people can park for free while waiting to pick someone up from the airport. FLL has curbside valet, too. With the ongoing high demand for curbside valet service and self-parking options at FLL this year, especially during the holidays, airport leaders recommend getting dropped off by family, friends, or a ride-share service (Uber, Lyft, etc.) because the airport’s onsite garages are likely to be filled.
Trams: FLL has inter-garage trams that operate from stops in the Hibiscus and Palm garages to transport passengers between terminals 1 and 4.
Helpful tools:
▪ Use the FLL app to see real-time parking availability and to help locate your car if you forget where you parked.
▪ To find the closest parking location to your terminal, visit FLL’s website.
Use Space Finder to check available spaces in the garages.
Off-site parking if airport lots are full: Park ‘N Go, 1101 Eller Dr. in Fort Lauderdale, and Self Park FLL, 901 Old Griffin Rd. in Dania Beach, are self-parking lots that offer shuttles to and from Fort Lauderdale’s airport. Park ‘N Go’s website notes that during peak times, the lot may occasionally switch to valet parking. To check prices, availability and cancellation policies for Park ‘N Go, visit gator.bookparkngo.com/. For Self Park FLL, visit selfparkfll.com
TSA screening
Employees guide passengers as they enter a checkpoint in Concourse D at Miami International Airport ahead of the holidays in Miami on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
The following advice comes from TSA:
Since July 8, 2025, passengers traveling through domestic airports are allowed to keep their shoes on while passing through TSA checkpoints.
Pack essential items such as medicine, travel documents, a phone charger, and a change of clothes in your carry-on instead of your checked bag. That’s in case your flight gets delayed, and you can’t quickly retrieve your checked bag.
To expedite TSA checkpoint screening, follow the 3-1-1 rule for liquids or gels in your carry-on, and avoid accessories that resemble weapons and other prohibited items. For more TSA tips, visit the TSA website.
Find the fastest TSA checkpoint for your flight with MIA’s real-time updates on checkpoint wait times online.
According to data MIA’s Chin provided to the Miami Herald, from Nov. 16 to Nov. 19, average wait time across all TSA checkpoints at at the airport ranged from 3 minutes, 51 seconds to 5 minutes, 44 seconds.
Lost and Found
Miami International Airport’s Lost and Found center is in North Terminal D – Level 4 and is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. All items found in the airport terminal, parking garages, drive areas or employee shuttle are stored securely for 30 days.
Special needs and accommodations
Lili Portmann tests out the WHILL autonomous wheelchair in Concourse E of Miami International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2024 in Miami. Sophia Bolivar sbolivar@miamiherald.com
Miami
Requests: To request materials in accessible format, Sign Language interpreters, CART services and accommodation to participate in any Miami-Dade Aviation Department public meetings and events, email the ADA Office at ADAcoordinator@miami-airport.com or call the office in 305-876-7747 five days in advance to initiate your request. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).
Sensory rooms: The Miami airport also has multisensory rooms, dedicated spaces for passengers with cognitive and developmental disabilities such as autism. The room includes sensory aids that reduce agitation and anxiety sometimes caused by the hustle and bustle of airport travel. The rooms are located in post-security in Concourse D, next to checkpoint 4 and post-security in the H-J connector.
Visually impaired travelers: MIA uses Aira, a service and app that connect the visually impaired to a real-time remote, digital assistant. With a smartphone camera, the passenger provides a live feed of his or her location. Voice talk capabilities allow the assistant to guide the passenger through the airport, describing what is in his field of vision.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Visual help: FLL provides access to Aira, the app that helps guide the visually impaired through the airport by connecting through their smartphones and providing a digital assistant.
Hidden disabilities: The airport participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, which provides a discreet way for adults and children with hidden disabilities to show they need additional support or more time with the airport process.
Employees guide passengers in Concourse D at Miami International Airport on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
Vinod Sreeharsha
Miami Herald
Vinod Sreeharsha covers tourism trends in South Florida for the Miami Herald.
