Allow plenty of time at MCO

[katallo]

Just a quick note. We returned from our trip tonight. We arrived at MCO 3:15 this afternoon. Our flight was scheduled for 5:25. We just made it! Long, long security lines (40 minutes).

BTW, great flight on Air Tran (no schedule changes) and very good experience with Alamo!

 

[Mark P.]

Thanks for the heads up on the lines...We're not flying with Airtran, but are using Alamo. Seems to be more and more positive Alamo reviews lately, which is good to see.

Thanks again,
-Mark

 

[ducklite]

It took me 50 minutes to get through security last Saturday morning. That made it so worth it to spend the $80 for a CLEAR card! Hopefully I'll be approved and it will be a lot quicket next time.

Anne

 

[AnOtHeRdIsNeYfReAk]

Ok Hope this isn't a dumb question, but what is a CLEAR card?

 

[Servants of Evan]

The clear card is the new program set up by the government/tsa. Basically, you fill out paperwork and agree to submit to an in-depth background check. You pay your money on applying and provided you're deemed not a risk, you get a card which allows you to bypass the security lines. It's designed for business travellers who happen to fly in and out of larger airports (which always seem to have the slower tsa lines).

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Yes, that's a great warning. We also had one of those near misses, after waiting so long in the security lines, for our flight home last time. In the mad dash, we "lost" our dd for a split second (the longest seconds of my life). This makes me glad we're driving home next time.

 

[safetymom]

The Fly Clear program is wonderful. It only took me minutes yesterday to get through security. The line was back across the terminal. Right now it is only at Orlando but is coming to several other airports.

 

[PolyPal]

Flew out of MCO on 3/24 on Song. The security lines were the longest I've ever seen at Orlando. The line on both sides of the atrium snaked way past the Disney Store and down the hall to where the other shops are. We arrived 2 hours before our flight and only had a 20 minute wait at the gate before we boarded. so about 1 hour 10 minutes from arrival at the terminal until we were at our departure gate. Get there early everybody! Especially if you are flying in the next 2 weeks around Easter.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Are these crowds just relative to spring breakers and Easter crowds or due to an increase in travel? I have a 7-ish am flight on a Friday morning at the end of the month but luckily I'm staying at the Hyatt the night before we fly out.

 

[DebbieB]

Were all these experiences at the security line near the Hyatt? I'll be using the one on the other end near Magic of Disney when I fly USAir on May 1. My flight is 5:15, I need to judge when to leave WDW.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I've read way too many posts about long security lines at MCO. Airports all over the country have figured out how to keep security lines short through proper staffing and efficient processing. I don't understand why MCO should regularly have 40-minute lines when waits elsewhere seldom exceed 5 minutes.

I really can't see paying almost $320 for one year for a family of four to use the Clear registered traveler program at MCO two or three time per year. (If I were a business traveller flying out of MCO several times per month, I could see spending $80 on Clear.)

 

[Showe]

just a quick reminder for those not using the clear card...we came home in Feb and went through long security line as well, only to get to the front and the woman checking IDs would not let my dh through becuase his boarding pass said JIM and not JAMES as his license did,.....long story short - after a few minutes of looking in his wallet he found of all things one of his real estate business cards with his name printed as JIM. We would have had to go all the way back to NW and get him a new boarding pass if he wouldn't have found this and then go through security all over again ....and from what i understand NW would have had problems issuing a new boarding pass too.....anyway, lesson learned...make sure everything is in your legal name or have proof otherwise.

 

[Mystic7070]

Totally agree. Asked various employees and got different answer. (Traffic, special group, delays yesterday, sick employees....etc.) Probably whatever.... just look when you get there and allow yourself enough time so you don' get crazy on line. Disney triip was great...hopefully the airport will improve their security without compromise.

 

[loveFL]

we have a 6pm flight out of MCO on a Friday (holiday weekend/Mem Day). what time should we arrive? i'd think most people would be flying in that day, not out, but I'm not sure.

 

[katallo]

we have a 6pm flight out of MCO on a Friday (holiday weekend/Mem Day). what time should we arrive? i'd think most people would be flying in that day, not out, but I'm not sure.

I thought the same thing. We left MCO on Friday evening. Sounds crazy but I would arrive 2 1/2 - 3 hours before flight time.

 

[Gary M]

On Dec. 30 our security line wait was 40 plus minutes at MCO and on Feb. 6 it was no wait at all. I guess you never know for sure the wait times. Both flights left MCO a little before noon.

 

[Jaynerita]

Do you think the lines are longer because they now have to have people and space for all the Clear Card people? Sort of like the fast pass line???

 

[ducklite]

Do you think the lines are longer because they now have to have people and space for all the Clear Card people? Sort of like the fast pass line???

No. In fact last Saturday they were overflowing non-Clear passengers into the Clear screening lane. So if anything the extra TSA manhours made available by the fees paid by CLEAR customers were helping everyone else.

What I saw holding things up were people with way too many carry on's who were unable to read the signs and listen to the TSA agents asking them to empty all metal objects out of their pockets, etc. I saw one woman have to go through four times--cell phone, keys, pocket of change, and I'm not even sure what the last thing was... ::::heavy sigh::::

Anne

 

[CarolA]

There is NO good excuse for the MESS at MCO besides TSA incompetence.

As Horace pointed out, ALL over the country we have gotten the lines way down but at MCO they are going the WRONG WAY!

I agree that if you don't fly out of MCO a LOT the Clear program is not going to help. (Keep in mind that you have to apply in person and mine took three weeks to arrive)

I would suggest that if you see anyone in authority at the airport you complain I do!

 

[vellamint]

There is NO good excuse for the MESS at MCO besides TSA incompetence.

As Horace pointed out, ALL over the country we have gotten the lines way down but at MCO they are going the WRONG WAY!

I agree that if you don't fly out of MCO a LOT the Clear program is not going to help. (Keep in mind that you have to apply in person and mine took three weeks to arrive)

I would suggest that if you see anyone in authority at the airport you complain I do!

I wonder if MCO is making a big profit on Clear Card customers........