Airport TSA

[daytondisney]

Anyone have info on timeliness of security checkpoint? We have 8:00 am Friday departure w/2 kids and rental return. Wanted to get idea on what to expect.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Anyone have info on timeliness of security checkpoint? We have 8:00 am Friday departure w/2 kids and rental return. Wanted to get idea on what to expect.

You can try this website: http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/ (specifying MCO as the airport if you're asking about Orlando Int'l). You need to know whether your airline's gate use the East or West TSA checkpoint. Ignore entries for Pre-Check unless you qualify for expedited screening (usually only for very frequent air passengers).

However, I don't know how useful the website really is.

The short answer is that lines for any TSA checkpoint at any airport can be from 0 to 45 minutes. Orlando tends to have longer-than-average lines, regardless of the time of day.

Plan to arrive at the airport about 2 hours before your scheduled departure. Boarding usually starts 30 minutes before departure. With 90 minutes, you should have time for the airline counter line, the TSA line, getting to the gate, using restrooms, eating something, and a margin for unexpected delays anywhere in the process. You might find yourself with an hour at the gate to read a book, of you might get to the gate right when boarding begins.

 

[bumbershoot]

For any domestic flight, any airport, we are walking in the door 2 hours before our flight. That means returning our car about half hour before that, especially at MCO b/c that can be a mess.

Assuming you're leaving from MCO, with an 8am departure I would look into renting a room at the Hyatt Regency in the airport the night before, to allow for a bit more sleeping-in.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

For any domestic flight, any airport, we are walking in the door 2 hours before our flight. That means returning our car about half hour before that, especially at MCO b/c that can be a mess.

Assuming you're leaving from MCO, with an 8am departure I would look into renting a room at the Hyatt Regency in the airport the night before, to allow for a bit more sleeping-in.

This is good as gold that early in the day. That security line is a tru killer in our past experience. Two Saturdayscago at 2:00pm it was crazy back logged!
Then you have o get to foreign gate half way across the state, kids need potty stops, a drink or a break from charging forward.

I am rethinking the longer drive from smaller airports if flights are a buy! Much easier for security and gate trekking!

 

[CPT Tripss]

This is good as gold that early in the day. That security line is a tru killer in our past experience. Two Saturdayscago at 2:00pm it was crazy back logged!
Then you have o get to foreign gate half way across the state, kids need potty stops, a drink or a break from charging forward.

I am rethinking the longer drive from smaller airports if flights are a buy! Much easier for security and gate trekking!

Was 2 hours enough, or did you allow more time?

 

[goofy4tink]

I really like to get to MCO at least 2 hrs before flight departure. I want to be in that security line at the 2 hr mark. Lately, it hasn't taken me more than 25 mins to get through. Most times, a bit less. I don't think that's bad at all.

 

[daytondisney]

Thanks for all of the replies! The advice for most airports is 2 hours, but I know that my airport (DAY) takes 15-25 minutes tops. Just looking for a little anecdotal sample for MCO.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If you have TSA Pre✓, you will sail through security.

 

[goofy4tink]

If you have TSA Pre✓, you will sail through security.

When we flew out of Boston's Logan Intl a few weeks ago, we found ourselves in a line that was testing a new boarding proceedure!! As I removed my shoes, as usual, the TSA agent told us no shoes had to be removed! And to put those little plastic baggies back in our carryons...and laptops didn't need to come out either. It was incredible!!! So quick!! I would be thrilled to do that more often!!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Thanks for all of the replies! The advice for most airports is 2 hours, but I know that my airport (DAY) takes 15-25 minutes tops. Just looking for a little anecdotal sample for MCO.

There are a number of times when the TSA security line and screening at MCO has taken me less than 15-25 minutes.

The reason to allow 2 hours is not because it always takes exactly 2 hours. It's because it might take up to 2 hours if several steps in the process take longer than they should.

"2 hours" really means 90 minutes before boarding, because boarding is 30 minutes before departure.

Also, just because your goal is to arrive at the airport 2 hours early doesn't mean you really will. Traffic or construction can slow you down. The extra cushion of time can be useful here too.

The consequences of getting to the gate 30-60 minutes too early are that you have time to relax, read, grab a meal, and use the bathroom. The consequences of arriving at the gate 1 minute too late are that you won't be on the plane -- and you might not be on the next plane if it's already full.

 

[grimley1968]

At bigger airports, I try to be there the full 2 hours early. However, I usually fly out of Lexington (LEX), which is about as small an airport as you can imagine that would have commercial flights. I get there 90 minutes early, and usually still end up waiting a full hour at the gate, even if TSA is slow. Dayton's airport is a little busier than LEX, I think, but 90 minutes should well be sufficient for it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

When we flew out of Boston's Logan Intl a few weeks ago, we found ourselves in a line that was testing a new boarding proceedure!! As I removed my shoes, as usual, the TSA agent told us no shoes had to be removed! And to put those little plastic baggies back in our carryons...and laptops didn't need to come out either. It was incredible!!! So quick!! I would be thrilled to do that more often!!

Yes, that is what it is like going through TSA Pre✓. No taking off shoes or belts, no taking out 311 bag, no removal of laptops from your bag. It is great.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Yes, that is what it is like going through TSA Pre✓. No taking off shoes or belts, no taking out 311 bag, no removal of laptops from your bag. It is great.

The TSA Pre✓ program normally requires being invited by the airline based on frequent flyer status and then opting in.

Some passengers are given the option of using the TSA Pre✓ even though they're not in the program. But there's no way to count on it.

I'm in the TSA Pre✓ program. Once, when I tried to use the TSA Pre✓ line at Orlando International in the afternoon, it was closed. Another time, I was randomly selected for additional screening despite being in the program. And another time, I was was randomly required to go through a regular line.

Bottom line: TSA Pre✓ can save time, but it's not an option for most passengers -- certainly not one that can be counted on.

 

[dis_guy]

Many people like to cut it as close as they can. Who knows, for business travellers who are on the clock, this may be the was they have to roll?

I like to get to the airport and through security with a couple of hours to spare because we like to get some food, shop and look around a bit before wandering off to the gate to chill for a bit before boarding. Totally stress free. If the unthinkable happens with huge lines, etc, we'll still probably make our flight.

It's a vacation, after all.

 

[bumbershoot]

The TSA Pre program normally requires being invited by the airline based on frequent flyer status and then opting in.

Some passengers are given the option of using the TSA Pre even though they're not in the program. But there's no way to count on it.

I'm in the TSA Pre program. Once, when I tried to use the TSA Pre line at Orlando International in the afternoon, it was closed. Another time, I was randomly selected for additional screening despite being in the program. And another time, I was was randomly required to go through a regular line.

Bottom line: TSA Pre can save time, but it's not an option for most passengers -- certainly not one that can be counted on.

"Interested passengers who are not eligible through their airline and are not already a member of a CBP Trusted Traveler program may still be able to opt into TSA Pre" by applying for one of CBPs eligible programs. Click here to learn more: www.globalentry.gov."

My SIL paid the $100 and had the 3 minute interview for Global Entry, and now she gets Pre. I'm thinking of doing the same. Because DH has it, so he and DS can go through together, but I'm left out.


ETA: even with Pre DH (on his business trips) wants to be walking in to ANY airport 2 solid hours in advance for a domestic flight, and 3 solid hours internationally. You just never know.

My family would rather be bored out of our skulls at the gate than be like we were when we should have missed a flight out of LAX*...running down the hall, pants falling off, shoelaces flapping, etc! Especially with a kid; DS was around 4 for that flight, and he absolutely hated that experience, HATED it. The only reason we made the flight was because it had been delayed at some point while we were in line for security and it hadn't even started boarding yet.



*my fault entirely; they were looking to me to time it all (it was before DH started traveling for work and during the time he didn't take much responsibility for our travel stuff), and I mistimed everything from getting up in the morning, and it snowballed from there.

 

[CPT Tripss]

When we flew out of Boston's Logan Intl a few weeks ago, we found ourselves in a line that was testing a new boarding proceedure!! As I removed my shoes, as usual, the TSA agent told us no shoes had to be removed! And to put those little plastic baggies back in our carryons...and laptops didn't need to come out either. It was incredible!!! So quick!! I would be thrilled to do that more often!!

This is exactly how Airport Security Screening should be conducted as a routine. No extra fees, no additional personal disclosures or interviews with government functionaries (as pre check requires).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

"Interested passengers who are not eligible through their airline and are not already a member of a CBP Trusted Traveler program may still be able to opt into TSA Pre" by applying for one of CBPs eligible programs. Click here to learn more: www.globalentry.gov."

My SIL paid the $100 and had the 3 minute interview for Global Entry, and now she gets Pre. I'm thinking of doing the same. Because DH has it, so he and DS can go through together, but I'm left out.

Yes if you have Global Entry, you also get TSA Pre✓. If you are a United Airlines 1K, UA pays your $100 application fee (they give you a credit card number to use in the application).