Evening check-in lines at MCO

[rontu78]

I have heard that lines can be quite long at the Orlando airport. We have 5:20 p.m. ADRs at Boma on 5/11, then are planning on returning our rental car at the Alamo desk at MCO by 7:30 p.m. and catching an 8:50 p.m. flight to Atlanta. We are two adult travelers, no children. We'll already be checked out of the hotel and have our luggage in the car so we can go straight from Boma to top off the gas tank and then to the airport. Is this timing going to be too tight, or are we OK? I wondered how long the lines were at that time of day.

 

[epcotfan]

Hi,
I think you are really cutting it close. Even if you have ADRs you still may have to wait to be seated. If there is traffic you could be in trouble. The drive to MCO from AKL takes about 30 minutes without traffic. It has also taken us 30-40 minutes to get through security off season at MCO. Will you have checked in online before heading to the airport, or will you need to check in to get your boarding passes? Checking in can also add a substantial amount of time. You might want to check with your airline to see the cut off time for check in. This is also to allow enough time for your luggage to scanned and if necessary hand checked to make it onto your flight. We always arrive 3 hours before our flight to ensure we will have enough time to check in and make it through security. I would reconsider your dining plans. Good luck and have a great trip

 

[safetymom]

You haven't allowed enough time! They start boarding 1/2 hr before departure so you are allowing less than an hour to check in the car, check your luggage and get through security. Unless you like running to your gate or possibly missing your flight I would allow more time.

I flew out of MCO weekly and it is busy getting through security all the time now.

 

[ducklite]

I fly fairly often on Thursday nights, and have waited in security lines for about 45 minutes at that time.

Anne

 

[CarolA]

I have heard that lines can be quite long at the Orlando airport. We have 5:20 p.m. ADRs at Boma on 5/11, then are planning on returning our rental car at the Alamo desk at MCO by 7:30 p.m. and catching an 8:50 p.m. flight to Atlanta. We are two adult travelers, no children. We'll already be checked out of the hotel and have our luggage in the car so we can go straight from Boma to top off the gas tank and then to the airport. Is this timing going to be too tight, or are we OK? I wondered how long the lines were at that time of day.

Plan to miss your plane. Last night it took a friend of mine over 40 minutes to get thru security (and had she checked luggage she said it would have been worse)

My consistent note over the past several months is that at ALL times and ALL days MCO has managed to make a NIGHTMARE out of security. You MIGHT get lucky, but based on my unscientific review the odds aren't with you.

As a solo traveler who does carry on etc. I recommend a minimum of two hours at MCO (and I only do ONE hour at Atlanta....)

 

[Lewisc]

Plan to miss your plane. Last night it took a friend of mine over 40 minutes to get thru security (and had she checked luggage she said it would have been worse)

My consistent note over the past several months is that at ALL times and ALL days MCO has managed to make a NIGHTMARE out of security. You MIGHT get lucky, but based on my unscientific review the odds aren't with you.

As a solo traveler who does carry on etc. I recommend a minimum of two hours at MCO (and I only do ONE hour at Atlanta....)

Is the problem staffing, not all the security lines are open? It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to match staffing to the flight schedules. Does MCO have enough security lanes for the number of passengers? That would be a harder problem to solve.

They really should go back to only giving the passenger one pass through the metal detector than pull them for screening.

 

[safetymom]

According to the articles in the paper, they are going to contract out the baggage handling and screening freeing up those TSA agent to work the security checkpoints. They just don't have enough staff to go around at MCO.

 

[rontu78]

Thanks for the information!