8 Hacks to Successfully Navigate Miami International Airport

The Miami International Airport saw 36.2 million passengers travel through it in 2017, making it one of the busiest airports in the country. It welcomed 17.8 million international passengers, surpassing 2016’s numbers.

With so many people flying to and from the city, it can be an intimidating and overwhelming place for first-time visitors. To help you out, here are 8 tricks for successfully navigating Miami International Airport.

Book a flight more than 3 weeks prior to traveling
To get the best price, be sure to book your flight well in advance. A CheapAir.com study showed that the best time to book domestic flights is seven and a half weeks in advance. For international flights, the study indicated that it’s better to start monitoring the price fluctuations at the earliest possible time.

Book a night flight
If you wish to avoid long queues and waiting times, consider booking a flight that departs at night. Although the airport is still busy at night, it’s not as hectic as during the daytime, which is when most families take their flights.

Weigh in Your Luggage At Home
If you need to pack several items for your trip, Lifehack suggests weighing your luggage at home to make sure they’ll still be within your airline’s limit. You won’t have to take out anything important and you’ll be wasting less of your time in the very busy airport.

Check Options for Transfers
Having your transport ready as soon as you arrive saves time. Miami International has an in-house taxi service, but it may entail queuing given the number of flyers passing through the air hub. A good alternative is to use transport apps. Wingz includes Miami International Airport as an option, making your trip from the airport to your hotel or anywhere else hassle-free.

Install ‘My TSA’ app
TSA’s rules may apply differently among many states. For example, the security checkpoint wait time in the Chicago O’Hare International Airport may take longer than in Miami International. To be aware of the exact TSA protocols, install the ‘My TSA’ app on your phone so you have a quick reference.

Examine the layout of the airport
Getting familiar with the entire building’s layout is especially helpful for first timer visitors to Miami International Airport. Like many international air hubs, this massive complex houses multiple terminals, as well as an extensive array of shops and restaurants. You can easily get lost if you don’t know your way around, which might lead to unnecessary delays. Check out the map on the airport’s offical website; or better yet, save it on your smartphone so you can easily take a look when needed.

Use the nearest lounge to your boarding gate
Miami International Airport has numerous lounges, which are helpful if you need to unwind before a flight. That being said, you have to be mindful of its location relative to your boarding gate, and make sure you can get there easily.

Store your luggage
In case your flight is delayed or canceled and you have to stay in the airport, you don’t need to lug your luggage around the entire time. You can head to the baggage check of Concourse E in Central Terminal, which allows flyers to store their stuff from 5 AM to 9 PM daily.

One of the most stressful parts of any trip is navigating an airport, especially if it’s as large and crowded as Miami International. Thankfully, it doesn’t always have to be the case, considering there are hacks which could help you have a relatively hassle-free experience.

 

Discover Wingz’ go-to travel apps before the Holiday Travel Bonanza

With Thanksgiving and the Holidays coming up, we wanted to share the best travel apps used by Wingz Team members. Each of the following apps, divided by category, will be valuable to you whether you are a business or leisure traveler.

Booking and Organizing Trips

TripIt

Founded in 2006, TripIt has long become the go-to app for both leisure and business travelers. It puts all of your booking details in one place and is very easy to use. Simply forward your emails with confirmation information for hotels, flights, and even restaurant reservations to TripIt, and the app pulls all the relevant details from the messages and compiles an itinerary for your trip.

Business traveler tip: The pro version sends you text messages with gate information for your flights and other important updates, such as cancellations and delays. You can also use the pro app to track all your rewards programs and receive notifications regarding upgrades and other benefits.

Seat Guru

Being on an airplane is an annoying experience to start with but not as irritating as being assigned a terrible seat on the same plane. So if you don’t want to be near the bathroom or stuck in a middle seat, SeatGuru is your savior. Check your flight on their app and make sure you have the most advantageous spot on the plane for your particular needs. Every seat on the map is marked with potential advantages or disadvantages using a color coded system and individual notes.

Google Trips

Another favorite for business travelers, Google Trips allows you to combine organization and exploration into one easy-to-use app. In addition to storing your itinerary information (complete with details about flights, hotel bookings and car reservations), Google Trips offers built-in travel guides to more than 200 cities around the world, so you can step outside your hotel and explore with ease.

Wifi Finder

You just landed in a foreign country and are beyond excited, so you pull out your phones to tell loved ones you reached your destination safely but find you have no network and no wifi. What do you do?

Wi-Fi Finder takes the guesswork out of finding service by showing users free and paid public spaces with Wi-Fi available. This handy app works in a whopping 144 countries worldwide, and each Wi-Fi location is accompanied by a phone number (if there is one available) so you can call from the app to confirm locations, rates and hours.

Expenses

Concur

Just like TripIt, which it acquired in 2011, Concur is a must have for the road warriors of the world. Its free app is widely considered the gold standard for travel expense tracking. You can snap photos of receipts and file them directly through the app, sending information for reimbursements while you travel.

Business traveler tip: Concur also offers a variety of business intelligence, travel, and invoice-related solutions.

Airport Survival

LoungeBuddy

Whether you travel once every blue moon or multiple times per month, LoungeBuddy is for you. Their free app identifies airport lounges near you, pointing out which ones require membership and which ones you can access for free or a small fee. You can also book lounge space (when available) through the app and browse lounges at various destinations.

Gate Guru

Another guru you can add to your roster of travel apps! GateGuru will keep you posted in real-time on any updates to your itinerary such as security wait times, flight delays, gate changes or layover time adjustments. Tapping the airport code will also bring you to airport specific information such as shops, restaurants and other amenities in both domestic and international airports.

Business traveler tip: you can connect it to TripIt.

Mobile Passport

Going through customs can be brutal even if you have all your documents ready. Mobile Passport, an app built in partnership with US Customs and Border Protection and the Airports Council International, helps you breeze through Customs. Create your profile and you are set! Forget about having a pen and filling out documents, everything you need will be in the app. It is currently available in 24 airports and 1 cruise port.

 

Loyalty Program

Award Wallet

Playing the rewards program game can be as complicated and time consuming as playing fantasy football or keeping up with Kardashians. Award Wallet does all the work for you by tracking points and miles for all your loyalty programs. They also notify you when your balances change and before your points expire.

Transporation

Wingz

When traveling, as highlighted by the nine apps above, you need all the help you can get and that’s exactly what we are here to do. At Wingz, our only goal is to give you peace of mind both while you are planning your trip and on the day of. We let you book your ride in advance without surge pricing and create a favorite driver list so you can have a familiar face picking you up. Does it get any better?

 

“Measured Thoughts” radio show hosts Wingz CEO, Geoff Mathieux

Last week, our CEO was a guest on “Measured Thoughts”, a radio show hosted by David Reibstein on Sirius XM Channel 111, a Business Radio Powered by The Wharton School.

Hear what Geoff had to say about Wingz and the evolution of the ridesharing industry.

 

Nasdaq takes a look inside Wingz

A few weeks ago, Nasdaq came to our Regus office to learn more about what we do. Here’s the result.

We recently launched in a few East coast cities, so if you live or travel in Boston, New York, Miami, Orlando or Tampa, give us a try!

 

Wingz mobile apps just got a makeover!

After the recent upgrade of our website, it was time to turn our attention to our iOS and Android mobile apps. Our goal was to make the user experience as easy and streamlined as possible.

Along with a redesigned user interface and booking flow, we added a few features to facilitate how you interact with the app. It is now much easier to book a return ride or the same ride over and over, without having to re-enter your pickup and drop-off locations. You can also reach your driver directly through your ride recap screen.

Wingz mobile apps

The process for managing your payment methods has been revamped and you can now effortlessly add or delete a credit card. In the near future, you will also be able to download a PDF version of your receipt through the mobile app, a feature already available by logging into your account at Wingz.com and clicking on “My bookings”.

We hope these brand new versions of our mobile apps meet your expectations and if you have not done so yet, please head to the App Store or the GooglePlay to download it and book your next ride!

 

Wingz is coming to the East Coast!

You can now request rides to & from the following airports:

NEW YORK
JFK Int’l Airport (JFK)
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Newark Liberty Int’l Airport (EWR)

BOSTON
Boston Logan Int’l Airport (BOS)

FLORIDA
Miami Int’l Airport (MIA)
Orlando Int’l Airport (MCO)
Tampa Int’l Airport (TPA)

 

Taking Off in San Antonio!

San-Antonio

Today we’re thrilled to announce our latest Lone Star landing—starting immediately, we’re beginning full service in San Antonio, TX!  

New Wingz users can book their ride for 50% off in San Antonio (with a maximum discount of $20) from now until the end of March. We’ll also be donating $2 of those rides to the local Meals on Wheels chapter; this time, we’ll be teaming up again with the Christian Senior Services group down in Hillcrest.

“We are thankful that Wingz chose to support Meals on Wheels San Antonio,” said Vinsen Faris, Chief Executive Officer, Meals on Wheels San Antonio. “Their donation will directly impact the lives of seniors in need within the San Antonio community.”

We’re already doing our first pick-ups and drop-offs out of San Antonio International Airport, which should be helpful for those needing to access the sprawl of the nation’s seventh largest city. We’ve also already added a crew of drivers unique to San Antonio who are ready to give rides and be added to your personal list of favorite drivers

Trips around the city are in full swing too—meaning if you’re headed to a Spurs game, a night at the Majestic Theater, a big business meeting, or an important doctor’s appointment, we’ll be there for you with our scheduled and surge-free rides.

And while it’s always important to remember the Alamo, don’t forget: we still give around town rides in every other city we serve. Our list of cities and airports is continuing to grow, but if we still don’t serve your favorite destination now, do let us know!

 

We’re here to help

You’ve certainly heard about the recent closure of our borders to the incoming flow of travelers from seven different, predominantly Muslim, countries. One of the fundamental missions at Wingz has always been to create and foster lasting relationships between our riders and drivers, regardless of their faith, values, or nationalities. We at Wingz support the tenets of inclusivity that America was founded upon and want to assist those adversely affected in these precarious times.

That’s why throughout the month of February, we’re offering free rides from airports to those who were directly affected by the travel ban and are now able to re-enter the country (in any market where we offer service). Please contact us directly at ask@wingz.com and we will help you—or someone you know who is impacted—set up a ride home.

As the “stress-free” ground transportation solution, it’s our hope that we can truly ease the travel stress of those who need it most.

We’re in this together.

The Wingz Team

 

Wandering With Wingz: San Francisco

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We’re super excited to share our first edition of Wandering with Wingz, where we’ll cover some of the most exciting, charming, and accessible spots and activities in the cities we serve.

First up is our hometown of San Francisco, but stay tuned for more cities to follow!

Whether you have a few hours or a full day to kill, we’ve got a stack of options that fit every budget and level of energy. While there’s plenty to see in Oakland, Berkeley, and the North/South Bay, we stayed close to home with our recommendations.

Top picks for everyone:

  • Go for a mini-hike at Land’s End (if it’s walkable weather) for some beautiful seaside views and glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • Check out the panoramic views of the city from Twin Peaks, the highest point in San Francisco proper.
  • Experience a piece of transportation history by riding a cable car, available in many spots downtown, including Powell at Market St.
  • Explore the Ferry Building and all of the divergent food-themed options available on the Embarcadero.
  • Navigate the 8 hair-pin turns of Lombard Street (at Hyde), then take a left and head to Buena Vista Cafe for a cup of Irish Coffee (where it was originally invented!).

On a Budget

  • Get a limb-sized burrito at La Taqueria, which was deemed the best place to get one in all of the US.
  • Slurp down some noontime dumplings at one of the city’s plentiful dim sum spots (we like the Richmond district’s Dragon Beaux and Shanghai Dumpling King).
  • Grab a beer at the divey but well-appointed Toronado Pub in Lower Haight.
  • Head to the top of the De Young Museum’s Observation tower in Golden Gate Park—for free—and see another stunning view of the city.
  • Admire the beautiful architecture of the Palace of the Fine Arts—one of the few surviving structures from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition—at the edge of the Marina district.

With Some Spending Money

  • Pounce on the juiciest—and in our opinion, best—burger in the city at NOPA on Divisadero Street. Indulge in their late-night hours (until 1 am) and impressive wine list as an added bonus.
  • Try a tableside tea leaf salad—and a lot of other tasty Burmese specialities—at Burma Superstar in the Inner Richmond. Tip: if they’re too busy, head to sister restaurant B-Star just down the street, which boasts a similar menu.
  • Wash down the day with a rum cocktail at Smuggler’s Cove, a pirate themed tiki bar that’s always a fun and quirky time.
  • Go (window?) shopping during a walk down Valencia Street in the Mission, between 15th and 24th St.
  • Visit the newly redesigned SF MOMA for striking architectural features and fascinating modern art.

The Sky’s the Limit

  • Line up early to put your name in for State Bird Provisions, one of the most decadent and inventive meals the city has to offer.
  • Cut into a slice of the old San Francisco with a hearty, old-school feast from House of Prime Rib in Nob Hill.
  • Go wild with Japanese whiskey at Nihon Lounge and taste through a menu of over 500 selections.
  • Swing at a few golf balls and hope for the best at the Presidio Golf Club, a unique public course in the middle of the city.
  • Soak in the sounds of some of the best musicians in the world during a show at the San Francisco Symphony.

 

 

Happy Holidays from the Wingz Team!

We want to wish all our riders and drivers a very happy holiday!

We’ve had a wonderful time here at Wingz this year, during which we’ve grown our business substantially, expanded beyond airport rides, and brought more drivers into the Wingz family. 2017 will no doubt be an important time for us as we take the next step to expand our reach across the country — because everyone deserves a personal ride with a trusted driver at an affordable price.  

We hope that you are able to spend these final few days of the year with the folks who mean most to you. Here’s to a promising year ahead!

The Wingz Team

P.S: In case you forgot, we still have $5 off rides for the rest of 2016 — just make sure to use the promo code HOLIDAY16 at checkout!