One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
MIA6.5
PBI8.4+1.9
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
MIA6.8
PBI7.4+0.6
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
MIA7.6+1.0
PBI6.6
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
MIA7.4+0.6
PBI6.8
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
MIA6.8+1.0
PBI5.8
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
MIA7.6+2.0
PBI5.6
Best for
MIA
Latin America and Caribbean connectionsAmerican Airlines and Amex lounge access in DCheap Metrorail or Beach bus via the MIA Mover
PBI
Palm Beach / downtown West Palm Beach trips that should skip MIA or FLLAmex Platinum or Delta Reserve holders who can use Escape LoungeDrivers who want $8 economy parking three miles from downtownTravelers who value a short ticket-to-gate walk over hub connections
Watch out for
MIA
Skytrain does not run to H or JWeekend Metrorail transfer at Earlington HeightsPriority Pass rooms fill; DragonPass has no MIA lounges
PBI
IATA is now DJT (18 Aug 2026); older tickets and this page still say PBI — same airport2025 long-delay rate was among the worst at U.S. majors — pad Newark/JFK/LGA banksPriority Pass does not work here; aggregator Sky Club pins are unverifiedNo rail in the terminal; Brightline is downtown and Route 2 is not 24/7
Amenities and tips
MIA
AA Flagship LoungeMIA MoverTSA PreCheck and CLEAR+MIA Airport Official appMIA-WiFiPosted bottle refill stations
TSA asks 2 hours domestic, 3 hours international
Checkpoint hours vary: South Terminal Checkpoint 9 is 24 hours; several North Terminal checkpoints close in the evening.
Skytrain does not go to H or J
Skytrain only runs the mile-long Concourse D. Walking D end-to-end takes about 30 minutes; trains run about every 3 minutes.
Order ahead in the official MIA app
The MIA Airport Official app includes MIA2GO contactless food pickup plus live checkpoint waits and indoor maps.
PBI
Escape LoungePalm Tran Route 2Free high-speed Wi-FiCentral post-security foodPutting green and pet relief
Compact terminal, unforgiving Northeast banks
Ninety minutes is enough on a quiet midday domestic; give yourself two hours for morning JetBlue/Delta banks, holidays, or any connection that has to survive Newark/JFK/LGA weather.
One building, three short concourses
After security, A and B peel left/west and C goes east — no train, no people-mover, just walking.
Eat before you walk to the last gate
Grab a sit-down plate near the central post-security hall or Escape Lounge rather than the last newsstand on C.
MIA · Huge oneworld hub with a real Flagship and Centurion — but Skytrain only serves Concourse D, most terminal changes reclear security, and BTS 2025 on-time departures were 73.8%.
PBI · Compact, close-in South Florida alternative with one walkable terminal and a real Amex/paid Escape Lounge — traded against a 2026 PBI→DJT code change and stubbornly ugly Northeast-bank delay stats.
