Flying out of MCO on Dec. 24

[John's Mom]

Our flight leaves Orlando for Philadelphia around 4 p.m. on December 24. Has anyone traveled the day before Christmas before? I was wondering how crowded the airports would be. Any information would be appreciated. TIA

Kathy

 

[safetymom]

Allow plenty of extra time. The airport last year was very very crowded. Daughter and son in law flew out and there were long lines at curbside checkin as well as the counter. Then another long line to get through security.

 

[John's Mom]

Anyone else?

 

[dznyacct]

My son and I flew home to Indy from MCO on 12/24 2 years ago (we had a late evening flight). The airport was totally deserted. It was like a Twilight Zone episode . No line at the airline check in counter or at security. We chatted wuth the security person and she said that the day before (12/23) was a complete zoo. I made a mental note of that for future travel plans .

 

[localdriver]

Anyone else?

MCO is a MAD HOUSE at Christmas, BE PREPARED,BE PATIENT, BE EARLY>

 

[PlutoPony]

Depends to some extent on the how the weather's been a few days before that. Last Christmas Eve Day, Dulles was a MADHOUSE and every flight was oversold and then some. There had been a major snowstorm the day before with lots of flights cancelled and people were obviously trying to get on any flight they could. Even a major storm in another part of the country can and will affect your flights. So you might want to watch the weather map a day or so before you leave, just in case....
Have a good trip!

 

[MamaQuack]

My ds then 12 and I flew out on Dec 23 in 03'. It was a 2 p.m. flight and the airport was a complete zoo - lines to check bags (thank goodness we only travel with carry ons); lines for security - took 30 minutes and a lot of pushing and shoving was going on - and then it took 10 minutes for the train because so many folks were trying to board - we had to wait for the 3rd one to get on. Getting our usual hot dog before the flight was not happening. Then our flight was overbooked and people were getting upset with the Delta folks. Again, thank goodness we were 1st class and ready to roll when they began boarding - which was 1 hour before departure - flight attendants kept walking the aisles asking for folks to bump. We held our ground until they came thru and asked for a seat for a soldier back from Iraq trying to make it home - we, and half the plane got up He ended up in 1st class with us thanks to a grandmother who insisted she wanted to go back and stay some more days with her family in Orlando. We arrived in Atlanta 90 minutes late but the airport was very quiet and almost empty and it was late afternoon. Skycap told me it was a zoo earlier but would now remain calm until the 26th. I would never willingly fly on Dec 23 again but probably would on the 24th.