Any update on security improvements at MCO?

[Mickey_Maniac]

I remember reading an Orlando Sentinel article a couple months ago about a plan to improve the security checkpoint siituation at MCO. They were talking about hiring and training more checkers, rescheduling others, changing the passenger flow and a few other things to help reduce the wait time.

Has anyone seen any changes recently or have there been any updates in the local news?

 

[CarolA]

I got a report this morning from a friend fo mine who flew to MCO this weekend. No noticable improvment.... She said it took them about 40 minutes yesterday.

 

[ducklite]

Don't hold your breath.

Anne

 

[safetymom]

There was a article in the Sentinel last week or so talking about the same stuff. The only thing I have seen that has changed is the new signs directing you down the hallway to wait.

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

You folks are not giving me a warm fuzzy here... If there is anything I hate, it's having to rush through an airport just to wait, rush again, then wait again. Oh well, guess thats the price we pay for WDW...

 

[safetymom]

No we shouldn't have to put up with this!!! It didn't used to be this way. For those of us that fly quite often through MCO we have complained, readjusted our schedules and nothing seems to help. Something needs to be done and soon.

I can't tell you how many people I see running through the airport now because of the delays. I saw a Mom and small child running to their gate this morning in tears. She was almost hysterical because the door to the jetway was closed. She started banging on the door. I don't think that is the way you want to remember your trip to Orlando because of the long security lines. There were two gate agents there and they didn't handle the lady very well either.

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

I agree. On our last trip in Feb, the security lines were backed up along the miving sidewalk. We got to the airport 2 hours early and by the time we got to the actual entrance where they check your IDs, we knew we were ging to miss our flight. It got so bad, DW asked someone 2 lanes over if we could "cut" the line. I know, I know, this is not something we would normally do, but if we had not, we certainly would have missed our plane. As it was, we were the last family to board. On a lighter note, DD9 got a huge kick out of the fact that mom cheated and wouldn't let her live it down for the rest of the day...

I had even asked the people monitoring the line if they were going to pull out anyone whose flight was alomst due and they said, Nope, you just have to wait in the regular line.

I can tell you, I was steaming by the time we got through the check point. We didnt even have time to put our shoes back on, we just grabbed everything, jumped onto the tram and got regrouped there.

safetymom, you are right. It really was not the way we wanted to remember the end of our trip.

 

[jodifla]

So it's like this every day, with people missing their flights, and the TSA and airline's attitude is, oh well?

That's terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ameraumi]

Maybe ours was a fluke, but we had no trouble getting thru security. That was on 4/7 (a Friday) at around 6pm. There were TSA's just standing around waiting on passengers to come thru the security checkpoint. I was expecting to see the terrible lines that I saw when we landed earlier in the week. I guess it all depends on what time/day you leave.

 

[ducklite]

If people would follow what the TSA says and arrive two hours early to MCO there would be NO REASON for a missed flight. The longest I've waited in line was 50 minutes. I get there two hours early and have plenty of time to grab something to eat after I pass through security without fear of missing my flight.

I'm not saying something shouldn't be done to lessen the lines. But anyone who can't be bothered to pay attention to what the TSA is giving for arrival time before flight and misses their flight has NO ONE to blame but themselves. That's just a "duh" moment.

Anne

 

[CarolA]

So it's like this every day, with people missing their flights, and the TSA and airline's attitude is, oh well?

That's terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The airline is NOT responsible for the DISASTER called the TSA. Your elected officials are.

Don't blame the airlines, call your congress person and ask them why an agency that cares NOTHING about the public is allowed to harrass the public.

I fly all the time. I do NOT think I am ANY safer now that the TSA is doing the screening. I am however MUCH more harrasseed!!! I guess that was the goal "We will make flying horrid so no one wants to do it"

 

[bicker]

Don't blame the airlines, call your congress person and ask them why an agency that cares NOTHING about the public is allowed to harrass the public.

Then tell your Member of Congress that you feel that the TSA should be forced to accept whatever changes and resources necesssary to speed travelers through the airports, and that you're more than willing to pay higher taxes to make the TSA the most efficient operation in the government.

If it was free and easy to fix, you can be sure that someone would have done it already.

 

[Lewisc]

Anne--I don't think your 50 minutes includes the time to check luggage. SW is still quoting a 1.5 hour suggested time for MCO and the TSA site shows a wait maximum wait of less than 30 minutes for almost any day/time I put in.

http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/stateResolver?state=FL&submit=SUBMIT

I agree with your 2 hour rule but that's not the information that's being given out and frankly a 50 minute wait is unreasonable. Since Disney started FP I don't think I've waited 50 minutes for any attraction.

It almost looks like now that DME is getting Disney guests to the airport 2 hours in advance of their flight TSA sees no reason to staff for shorter lines.

If people would follow what the TSA says and arrive two hours early to MCO there would be NO REASON for a missed flight. The longest I've waited in line was 50 minutes. I get there two hours early and have plenty of time to grab something to eat after I pass through security without fear of missing my flight.

 

[bicker]

Disney's more profitable than the DHS.

 

[bavaria]

Anne--I don't think your 50 minutes includes the time to check luggage. SW is still quoting a 1.5 hour suggested time for MCO and the TSA site shows a wait maximum wait of less than 30 minutes for almost any day/time I put in.

http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/stateResolver?state=FL&submit=SUBMIT

I agree with your 2 hour rule but that's not the information that's being given out and frankly a 50 minute wait is unreasonable. Since Disney started FP I don't think I've waited 50 minutes for any attraction.

It almost looks like now that DME is getting Disney guests to the airport 2 hours in advance of their flight TSA sees no reason to staff for shorter lines.

Lewis, just an FYI on that site (I posted a link to it myself a few months ago) - I've been 'testing' the times by comparing my wait to the estimate on the site. Recently at MCO I had about 48 minutes vs 20-35 minutes posted on the site. While it may be more accurate at other airports (most other ones have a frequent flier line so I can't comment, except for IAD, which is accurate) it is not for MCO, based on anecdotal evidence from some of our frequent MCO fliers (Safetymom, Anne, CarolA, to name a few)

DME picks up 3 hours prior to flight time, based on what I read here, so there is no reason to miss a flight if you take DME. (I don't) At my home airport (a large international airport) I need to clear customs as well as security; using my passes etc I can go from the front door of the airport to my gate (always the very last one!) in 12 mintues. Now, I will admit that is very unusual, and only works due to my Nexus cards, but the same exercise can take me an hour at MCO. That is just not acceptable.

(actually, it's NOT the same exercise because at my home airport I also need to clear customs, which I don't need to do at MCO)

 

[ducklite]

Anne--I don't think your 50 minutes includes the time to check luggage. SW is still quoting a 1.5 hour suggested time for MCO and the TSA site shows a wait maximum wait of less than 30 minutes for almost any day/time I put in.

http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/stateResolver?state=FL&submit=SUBMIT

I agree with your 2 hour rule but that's not the information that's being given out and frankly a 50 minute wait is unreasonable. Since Disney started FP I don't think I've waited 50 minutes for any attraction.

It almost looks like now that DME is getting Disney guests to the airport 2 hours in advance of their flight TSA sees no reason to staff for shorter lines.

No, the 50 minutes was just to go through security. I haven't checked a bag at MCO in a couple years now. Most of my trips are 24-72 hours, so I can get by with a 19" roll on and my gear bag.

Anne

 

[Lewisc]

No, the 50 minutes was just to go through security. I haven't checked a bag at MCO in a couple years now. Most of my trips are 24-72 hours, so I can get by with a 19" roll on and my gear bag.

Anne

SW suggests 1.5 hours, USAir 60 minutes off-peak and 90 minutes peak. The TSA website is claiming a maximum wait of under 30 minutes for almost any day/time combination I input.

It sounds like passengers who rely on posted information, and have to check luggage, might not have enough time.

You and other experience flyers have been suggesting allowing 2 hours but 1 to 1.5 hours is the official information and passengers have a right to rely on published information.

Bicker--We're all paying a 9-11 security fee, the fee is a flat amount and is even paid by passengers flying on money losing, deeply discounted fares. I don't think there is a valid reason for not being staffed to handle the demand. Almost all passengers have advance reservations so TSA should have a good idea as to how many passengers to expect.

 

[bicker]

Bicker--We're all paying a 9-11 security fee, the fee is a flat amount and is even paid by passengers flying on money losing, deeply discounted fares. I don't think there is a valid reason for not being staffed to handle the demand.

Yup, we're paying the fee. However, I don't think you or I are in a position to state that there isn't a valid reason for not being "staffed to handle the demand." Neither of us really knows what goes into running a governmental operation, subject to political and media scrutiny. To assume that the people running TSA are idiots without first-hand hard evidence is hubris.

 

[Lewisc]

Yup, we're paying the fee. However, I don't think you or I are in a position to state that there isn't a valid reason for not being "staffed to handle the demand." Neither of us really knows what goes into running a governmental operation, subject to political and media scrutiny. To assume that the people running TSA are idiots without first-hand hard evidence is hubris.

I understand there are empty lanes, that's enough evidence for me. I might have a different opinion of the lanes were fully staffed and the problem was building additional screening lanes.

I believe the experiences of posters like Ducklite and Safetymom yet the TSA website is showing maximum wait times of under 30 minutes. It's the ultimate in bureaucratic arrogance to think they can solve a problem by denying it exists. As a start they can change the suggested arrival time at MCO to 2 hours before our flight.

 

[bicker]

I understand there are empty lanes, that's enough evidence for me.

Empty lanes with TSA agents sitting idle? No, of course not. Equipment and space doesn't equal security. People are required. People are the most expensive part of most every operation. "Evidence" would have to include demonstration that substantial available resources are unquestionably being squandered on activities or expenses that have no value, within the context of the objectives set for the agency by the President and Congress.