Onward to the Bahamas from Miami
Nonstop flights from MIA to Nassau and the Out Islands, where American and Bahamasair check in, and US preclearance on the way home from Nassau.
MIA has nonstop flights to eight Bahamian airports, from Nassau to San Salvador. American Airlines flies seven of them and checks in at Concourses D and E. Bahamasair flies to Nassau and San Salvador and checks in at Concourse G. Coming back from Nassau, you clear US Customs before you board, so you land at MIA as a domestic passenger.
MIA has nonstop flights to the Bahamas
The routes, from MIA’s list of nonstop cities:
| Island | Airport | Airline |
|---|---|---|
| New Providence (Nassau) | NAS | American Airlines, Bahamasair |
| Great Exuma (George Town) | GGT | American Airlines |
| Bimini | BIM | American Airlines |
| Grand Bahama (Freeport) | FPO | American Airlines |
| Eleuthera (Governor’s Harbour) | GHB | American Airlines |
| Abaco (Marsh Harbour) | MHH | American Airlines |
| Eleuthera (North Eleuthera) | ELH | American Airlines |
| San Salvador | ZSA | Bahamasair |
That list covers flights only. No airport or government page gives ferry ports or crossing times to the Bahamas, so get both from the ferry company before you plan a flight around a boat, and bring your passport for any crossing.
American and Bahamasair check in at different ends of MIA
| Airline | Where to check in | Flies from concourses | Curbside door |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Concourses D and E, counters 1 to 113 | D and E | Doors 1 to 8 |
| Bahamasair | Concourse G, counters 393 to 400 | F and G | Door 18 |
Our security page lists the checkpoint and its hours for each concourse, and if you drive, MIA points D and E passengers to the Dolphin garage and G passengers to Flamingo.
Coming back from Nassau, you clear US Customs before you board
US Customs and Border Protection runs preclearance at Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport. Its officers inspect you before you board the flight to the US. When you land, you skip the CBP and TSA lines and go straight to your connecting flight or out of the airport, so a same-day connection at MIA needs less time.
Nassau is the only Bahamian airport on CBP’s list of preclearance locations. Flying back from any other island, you clear Customs at MIA on arrival. International arrivals come out on Level 1 in Concourses D and E and on Level 3 in Concourse J. Our connections page explains the transfer if you’re flying on, and our terminal guide shows where each concourse sits. If a bag doesn’t come off an American flight, its baggage office is on Level 1 by Door 2, phone 786-591-3500.
Sources
- MIA Airport Guide: American Airlines, Bahamasair, security, connections and terminals
- MIA: cities served nonstop
- US Customs and Border Protection: preclearance