Miami International Airport

Three travel tidbits

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Miami International Airport’s MIA Galleries and the Deering Estate’s Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program have joined forces to host The Deering Estate AT MIA: AIR Archive at the airport.

This is a screening of four short films highlighting past and present Deering Estate AIRs John William Bailly, Andrés Cabrera-García, Giannina Dwin, and Tony Fernandez. The films, produced by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Jorge Gonzalez Graupera, are being screened until January 2026 at the airport’s MIAmi (moving images) video wall near gate J7. 

(images courtesy MIA airport)

Airline loyalty programs ranked

The world of gathering airline loyalty points – and spending them wisely – is complicated and potentially rewarding, If you pick your programs wisely and do it right.

This new ranking of airline loyalty programs from point.me may help. The site ran the numbers and identified the best programs against eight categories, including ease of earning points (even without being a frequent traveler), ease of redemption, redemption rates, award availability, customer service, and policies around award holds, changes, and cancellations.

You can geek out for hours with the World’s Best Airline Rewards Programs 2025 report, but in the meantime, here’s their report’s list of Top 10 Airline Reward Programs Globally.

TSA’s big teddy bear advice

Airport amenity of the week? MIA memory lane

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A temporary art mural at Miami International Airport (MIA) offers a trip through time.

The mural is a collection of images and video content spanning from the 1920s to the present and includes home movies, travelogues, promotional films and news footage documenting growth and events that changed South Florida.

Images include photographs of the original Miami Daily News building (now Freedom Tower) and Flagler Railroad construction to more recent images of the Miami Marlins’ first World Series run and the Miami Grand Prix.

Local influential figures, historical personalities, and key events that have shaped Miami-Dade County and the state over the last century are also featured.

The images and videos are from the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, a collection of film and video related to Florida, with a particular emphasis on television news and home movies from the twentieth century.

The exhibition, Wolfson Archives: Celebrating 40 Years of Collecting, Preserving, and Sharing South Florida’s Visual History is on view at Miami International Airport until September 2025 at the Concourse E arrivals level near Door 11, pre-security. 

All Images Courtesy of The Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives & Miami International Airport.

Travel tidbits to kick off another wacky week

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JetBlue plans a makeover for T5 at JFK

JetBlue opened its flagship Terminal 5 (T5) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in 2008 with a bevy of cool amenities and lots of hip design features. The facilities expanded in 2014 and an outdoor deck with a pet relief area for dogs (the “Wooftop”) was introduced in 2015.

The facility now serves 165 JetBlue flights and more than 35,000 customers per day.

So it’s time for a makeover.

JetBlues newly announced plans include adding more than 40 new concessions along with new amenities, including art installations, a permanent art collection and a redesigned center concourse that will take inspiration from New York’s iconic parks, with greenery, park benches and concrete chess tables. There will also be a spot for pop-ups, interactive events and live performances.

The first new concessions are expected to open throughout 2025, with the terminal improvements completed by the end of 2026.

The new offerings and brands include local and national favorites, including Eataly, The Halal Guys, Shake Shack, Jacob’s Pickles, Tiki Chick, Serafina, Benetari’s, Gotham Burger, Birch Coffee, Nom Wah, Devoción, Mister Paradise, the Blind Barber, Leon’s Bagels, DiFara Pizza, Neir’s Tavern and more.

We can’t wait!!!

Private suites coming to MIA Airport


And it looks like the promised private luxury terminal at Miami International Airport is getting closer to reality. PS already operates at LAX and ATL, and the last we heard the MIA venue was supposed to open sometime in 2025.

Airport art & amenities to look for during Thanksgiving travel

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Exhibition celebrating public art at Miami Int’l Airport

From now until July 2025, Miami International Airport (MIA) is celebrating local public art with a photography exhibition in the Gate D31 Gallery.

Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places: Celebrating 50 Years features 23 images of large-scale, integrated art commissions located countywide, from MIA to PortMiami, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and several private-public partnerships on county land.

Santa’s mailbox at Lehigh Valley Int’l Airport

Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) in Allentown, PA has a mailbox set up where kids can drop off letters to Santa.

The mailbox is in the Wilfred M. “Wiley” Post, Jr. Concourse (beyond the TSA Checkpoint) until Tuesday, Dec. 3rd.

Festival of Trees at Charlotte Douglas Int’l Airport

Those 20 decorated trees on the Concourse A Expansion at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) aren’t just pretty. They’re doing some good.

CLT’s Festival of Light features trees decorated in various themes including, “Tis the Season to Travel,” “Christmas Around the World,” “White Christmas,” “Queens Court,” “A Few of Our Favorite Things,” “Construction Fit for a Queen” and “Bon Voyage.”

The tree display is coordinated by HMS Host, CLT’s food and beverage concessionaire and each tree has a QR code that passengers and employees can use to donate to a charitable organization, including Second Harvest, Big Brothers Big Sisters, American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish and Autism Speaks.

A second QR code lets everyone vote on their favorite tree through Dec. 28. The winning team will receive a trophy.

“Made in Miami” film posters on exhibit at MIA Airport

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Love movies?

Then be sure to look for this film-related exhibition the next time you visit Miami International Airport (MIA).

MIA Galleries and Film Miami are presenting a selection of film posters spanning seven decades of motion pictures shot in Miami and surrounding areas.

And Now, Our Feature Presentation (great title for an exhibit about movies, right?) celebrates Miami and the Miami area as both an inspiration for filmmakers and as a popular filming location.

The exhibition is at the Gates D31 Gallery and features 33 Hollywood film posters spanning eight decades of motion pictures shot in Miami-Dade County from 1941 to 2024.

Here’s a flipbook preview of the new exhibition at MIA: And Now Our Feature Presentation: Miami Film Posters, 1941 – 2024.

Check to see if your favorite films or actors are included. You may be surprised.

Images in concrete at Miami Int’l Airport

Art,

If you’re traveling to or through Miami International Airport (MIA), take a minute to visit the airport’s CameraWork Gallery at Gates D22 and D25.

A new exhibit in that gallery features photographs of concrete structures in Miami and Havana that were designed by Cuban architects who fled the island after the Cuban Revolution.

The photographs are by Miami-based Cuban photographer Silvia Ros and portray sites such as the Miami Marine Stadium, Miami Dade College’s North and South campuses, and Havana’s legendary Nautical Club (Club Náutico).

Parque Jose Marti Stadium (1959-60). Photo courtesy of the artist.

On display through June 10, 2024, Connecting Concrete: Modernist Architecture from Havana to Miami is a collaboration between Ros and art director, designer, and writer Tim Hossler.

The exhibition features 12 architectural photographs taken in Havana, Cuba, and Miami, Florida, from 2015 to 2023. The photographs are grouped by city, with Havana images from Ros’s project Cuba Modern at D22 and Miami images from Concrete Miami at D25. 

“Miami is well known for its beachside Art Deco, famous landmarks, MiMo motels, and the vital residential areas, but the relationships between Miami and Cuba are reflected in many significant buildings and environments,” said Ros. “These buildings deserve the honor of being acknowledged and documented, not only for their storied pasts but for future generations who may not have the opportunity to interact with these buildings as we have.”

Miami Marine Stadium (1964). Photo courtesy of the artist.

“Concrete architecture in Miami and Havana exudes a poetic beauty that transcends the utilitarian nature of the material,” said Hossler. “Though distinct in their cultural and historical backgrounds, these cities share a common thread of embracing concrete as a canvas for artistic expression.” 

Fresh new airport amenities

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The Stuck at the Airport team is always on the lookout for cool new amenities.

Here are a few we’ve spotted so far this week.

Bunnie Cakes Vending Machine at Miami International Airport

Bunnie Cakes, a popular vegan, kosher, and gluten-free bakery in Miami now has two cake-vending machines at Miami International Airport (MIA). Find them at Gates D21 & G15.  

@msbunniecakes

Have you seen us at the airport? ✈️ Your favorite vegan treats are now at the Miami International Airport at gates D21 & G15!!! Grab a treat for yourself or to surprise someone at your final destination 🤩💗🥳🎂

♬ BANANA SHAKE (SPED UP) – HUS

Halloween Story Time at Tulsa International Airport

Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and Tulsa City-County Library (TCCL) host a free, monthly aviation-themed Storytime events at the airport. But October’s Storytime event on October 19 will be Halloween-themed, of course. This a great community-minded airport amenity.

John Wayne Airport Celebrating 100 Years

John Wayne Airport (JWA) will be holding a Community Celebration Day on October 19, 2023, to celebrate 100 years of flight in Orange County, CA. On tap in the terminal: live music, goodies, and giveaways.

Airports not giving up on Twitter just yet

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Hundreds of airports around the world use Twitter as one of their tools to share news and updates with the public.

The social media site is in flux (to say the least) at the moment. But for now, it’s still a great way to find out at a glance what some of our favorite airports are up to.

On Monday, for example, we learned:

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) has installed a cool, new eyeglass-cleaning machine;

Miami International Airport (MIA) has a new art exhibit;

Santa is scheduled to stop in at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) on November 26;

Tampa Executive Airport (VDF) hosted a cool fly-in;

Two former Detroit Red Wings spent time at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) signing hockey pucks and meeting fans;

An oh-so-cute member airport therapy dog posed for harvest-time photos at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX);

And, as part of its 60th anniversary year, Dulles International Airport (IAD), reminded us of the mobile lounges that were used to transport passengers between the terminals and their planes.

Some airports ease travel. Others make it harder

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Now you can reserve a checkpoint slot at Miami Int’l Airport

One of the newest, and most welcome airport amenities are free programs that allow passengers to schedule the time they go through TSA checkpoint screening.

Examples include the Spot Saver program at Seattle-Tacoma Internation Airport (SEA), the LAX Fast Lane at Los Angeles International Aiport, the EWR Virtual Line at Newark Liberty International Airport, MCO Reserve at Orlando International Airport, PHX Reserve at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and JFK T4 Reserve at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

There are also a few other checkpoint reservation programs operating at airports around the country.

Some are limited to certain airlines, specific checkpoints, or concourses, and may be offered during limited hours. Be sure to read the rules and directions on your airport’s website.

Miami International Airport (MIA) just joined the list

MIA Reserve is a six-month pilot program for passengers flying from MIA airport on American Airlines.

During the trial, passengers may reserve a checkpoint screening time, for free at MIA TSA Checkpoint 4 from 5 am to 7 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Reservations are limited and can be scheduled up to 72 hours before a flight.

Amsterdam Schiphol reduces passenger capacity. Again.

Citing a shortage of security workers in the coming months, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) will once again reduce the number of passengers allowed in the airport.

This time the airport is reducing the number of daily passengers by 18%, through at least October 31. In a statement released last week, Schiphol officials said they expect to continue applying limits on the number of daily passengers until at least the end of the year.

That’s bad news for passengers and for airlines.

AMS had set a limit of 67,500 departing passengers per day during September and 69,500 during October.

The new maximum will be 54,500 per day for the rest of September and 57,000 per day in October.

London’s Heathrow Airport and several others also have passenger capacity limits in place at least through the end of October.

Airport news from Miami and Albany Int’l Airports

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Flying somewhere this week?

If you are, it’s a good bet you may find yourself stuck at the airport somewhere longer than you intended.

But we’re here to keep you up-to-date on some of the on-the-ground amenities that might keep you informed and entertained.

Miami Int’l Airport has a LEGO Store

Salt Lake City International Aiport (SLC) was the first US airport to have a LEGO store. one. And now Miami International Airport (MIA) has one too.

MIA’s 742-square-foot LEGO® store opened in May and is located near gate D14. Hours: daily from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Planting Utopia at Albany International Airport (ALB)

New York’s Albany International Airport (ALB) and its neighbor, the Shaker Heritage Society are jointly presenting work by artist Julia Whitney Barnes.

Barnes spent a year photographing and collecting specimens from over 150 plants growing in the Sharker Heritage Society’s herb garden, which is on the site of the first Shaker settlement in the United States.

The herb garden, and historic Shaker ‘gift’ or ‘spirit’ drawings, are the inspiration for the images and prints Barnes created during her year-long project going on view at Albany International Airport on July 16. There’s also a companion site-specific installation at the Shaker Heritage Society, which is a short walk from the airport.

At the Shaker Heritage Society’s 1856 Drying House, Barnes’ installation includes temporary murals on the exterior of the historic brick building. The images are stark blue and white silhouettes of herbs in bloom climbing the outside of the red brick walls. Inside, there are prints on fabric and hanging bunches of herbs from the garden. The murals and the installation will remain on view through summer 2023.

For the installation at Albany International Airport, Barnes made eight cyanotype paintings on paper with plants collected from the Shaker herb garden. (Cyanotype is an old photographic printing process that creates dark greenish-blue prints.)

These paintings are reproduced on aluminum panels that will be on view for three to five years in the pedestrian corridor linking the new south parking garage with the ticketing area.

On July 16, ALB Airport will also debut a six-month-long exhibition, called Planting Utopia, in the post-security Concourse A Gallery with artwork, preparatory sketches, and a documentary video about the collaboration.

(All images courtesy Albany International Airport)