Delays and cancellations at MCO

[Girl of the South]

I have been reading about flights into MCO being curtailed, the airport shutting down for a few hours. About to get in the TA cruise tomorrow - getting to London was a bit worrisome (delays at EWR) but I made it!

Has anyone had any issues flying in or out of MCO due to the shutdown? Maybe I should reserve a car and consider driving home from FL if this is not resolved in 2 weeks.

Google says 10 hours . .

 

[OKW Lover]

Not that it will really help until you are actually in transit, but this website is interesting:
https://www.flightaware.com/miserymap/

 

[gottalovepluto]

If you absolutely must be home I’d reserve a refundable car. If not I’d let it ride since 2 weeks is forever from now and hope the threat of an impacted thanksgiving is enough to cause an outbreak of common sense in DC.

 

[Girl of the South]

Thanks for the FlightAware link! I assume it updates? When I looked it was for 4 - 8 am. Sett re ms to me when I flew over here, that the likelihood of delays increased later in the day.

The only thing about “must” being home is the added expense of a hotel room in FL and increased mass of angry people!

Really thought it would be over by now. But I thought that about Covid every week . .

Thanks!

 

[OKW Lover]

Thanks for the FlightAware link! I assume it updates?

I believe it updates every minute. Click on the arrow at the bottom to see how the "misery" changed over the past 1-2 days.

 

[Doingitagain]

Not that it will really help until you are actually in transit, but this website is interesting:
https://www.flightaware.com/miserymap/

Interesting, I read about issues at MCO and I don’t see it listed.

 

[DCLMP]

I have been reading about flights into MCO being curtailed, the airport shutting down for a few hours. About to get in the TA cruise tomorrow - getting to London was a bit worrisome (delays at EWR) but I made it!

Has anyone had any issues flying in or out of MCO due to the shutdown? Maybe I should reserve a car and consider driving home from FL if this is not resolved in 2 weeks.

Google says 10 hours . .

I don't think anyone can predict that. There will probably be continued ground stops and cancellations throughout the shut down. Having a back up plan is probably a good idea.

 

[Chuck96]

We flew home yesterday from MCO (to DCA ["Washington National Airport"]). Four gate changes and took off three hours late, but I counted my blessings. Massive Kudos to the airport and JetBlue staff. I won't fly again until the ATCs are getting paid.

 

[LuvOrlando]

DH flew around to multiple cities when all this started and it helped a lot to have both Amtrak seats reserved as a backup with good cancellation policy (I think it was 2 hrs before) and a rental car reserved from way back when the trip was originally booked. Once the shutdown happened there were no rental cars available to be reserved from EWR - not a single one - but we have friends and family in the area as backup. In the end the flight worked ok with a few hours of delay so he canceled the train tickets but it was totally worth the effort to have peace of mind, the refunds came though no issue and I doubt Amtrack had any trouble selling the tickets to people with flights later in the day.

If I was to book travel right now I suppose I would book the earliest possible flight and a red eye train as a backup because the delays can be quite lengthly but I would still rather a plane to a long train or drive so I'd be a hold out - yikes to all that.

 

[lanejudy]

Interesting, I read about issues at MCO and I don’t see it listed.

If you click on "all cancellations today" in the upper right you can search by airport. It looks like today (11/3) so far there have been 108 delays and 3 cancellations both inbound and outbound. For outbound it's 60 delays and 1 cancellation.

 

[DCLMP]

I guess another alternative would be to book two flights on different airlines and hope one of them takes off. Most rates are refundable. Even a better strategy if you can use miles.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Interesting, I read about issues at MCO and I don’t see it listed.

MCO has stabilized from the 10/30-10/31 issues- for the moment. It’s just gonna be unpredictable.

 

[AquaDame]

Makes me glad we switched to the earlier nonstop to LAX later this month... our 40 min layover through SFO was removed and we'll have an 8 hour layover before our flight to London now, which is hopefully enough to deal with just about any delay.

 

[dreamer17555]

The transportation secretary said that they might need to close parts of the US airspace next week if the shutdown continues. I know not many people have refundable flights but if at all possible give yourself plenty of time extra time to get through security and book non stop if possible. IAH was a mess yesterday for flights leaving Houston (security waits were insane).

 

[DCLMP]

Makes me glad we switched to the earlier nonstop to LAX later this month... our 40 min layover through SFO was removed and we'll have an 8 hour layover before our flight to London now, which is hopefully enough to deal with just about any delay.

When booking my Flight to Rome next summer I had a choice between a 2 hour layover in Charlotte or a 5 hour. I went with the 5 hour. Even in normal times I'm still super paranoid, and a little unlucky for some reason.

 

[DCLMP]

According to flightware there are around 12k delays today and 600 cancellations. If you have a cruise booked this weekend I would try to fly in a few days early if you can.

 

[RedHead0186]

When booking my Flight to Rome next summer I had a choice between a 2 hour layover in Charlotte or a 5 hour. I went with the 5 hour. Even in normal times I'm still super paranoid, and a little unlucky for some reason.

For a transatlantic flight like that, I'd definitely take the longer layover. More peace of mind and more 'wiggle' room if something goes wrong.

 

[RedHead0186]

I guess another alternative would be to book two flights on different airlines and hope one of them takes off. Most rates are refundable. Even a better strategy if you can use miles.

That might work, but I wouldn't bank on it. If it's an ATC staffing issue and the FAA issues a ground stop (or whatever it was called that they did at MCO a few nights ago), then no planes are getting out.

 

[DCLMP]

That might work, but I wouldn't bank on it. If it's an ATC staffing issue and the FAA issues a ground stop (or whatever it was called that they did at MCO a few nights ago), then no planes are getting out.

I was thinking more of if some flights got cancelled completely. They have said they will have to reduce the number of flights. Maybe have a back up flight booked the following day. When multiple flights cancel sometimes it's days before you can find another flight.

I'm glad I'm not going to Florida this month I live on the west coast no way would driving be an option.

 

[Genie+]

We flew EWR to MCO early Oct 30th 6am, and MCO to EWR yesterday Nov 3rd 1pm. I wasn’t sure what to expect but everything went smooth.

Security line at MCO was kinda long (45mins maybe?) but seemed typical. TSA pre-check was posted 0-3 minute wait. We also have Clear and they took us through immediately. EWR was so early lines hadn’t built up yet.

Both flights landed very near schedule. Carousels were loaded in a timely manner.

The one and only hiccup encountered was a bar not getting its deliveries on time so they were out of 70% of food menu and draft kegs. No biggie all things considered

It’s smart to have a back-up plan. Things can change the longer this all goes on - but hopefully you won’t need it! Good luck and hope all goes smoothly.