For a 6 a.m. flight out of MCO - time to be at the airport?

[U2_rocks!]

Here are our circumstances:
- our flight goes to Miami, and we have to get off there and change planes, but our luggage will be checked through to our international destination. i.e. we will be doing regular check in at the counter, no online and curbside check in.
- DH is an AA Gold member, which means that we usually get to check in at the First Class line
- we will have small children with us, there are 7 of us in all, and probably about 6 checked bags

What time do you recommend we enter the airport after dropping off our rental car? How much time do we need to drop off a Dollar car? Should we drop most of the party off to join the check-in line while the drivers (we'll have 2 cars) return the cars?

Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

The airport is quite busy at that hour of the morning. The first class line will help get you checked in but you will still have to deal with the line getting through security.

I would plan to be standing in the line at 5:00 AM or whenever AA opens its ticket counter. Plan to allow at least 30 mins to check in your rental car and get over to the terminal. All the people will need to be at the ticket counter to see the ID.

You realize they start boarding at 5:30 so you are really cutting it close. You want to be one of the first ones in the check in line.

 

[U2_rocks!]

I was thinking around 5. We're used to having to be there 2 - 3 hours ahead of time for international flights, which would have put us between 3 and 4 a.m.! I was really hoping an hour before would be enough. I know we'll have to hustle a bit, and in fact we might try for 4.45.

 

[bavaria]

I would actually call AA and see if they can look up what time the ticket counter opens. No point in standing there at 3am if it opens at 5am.

Yes, you do need to be there earlier for intl flights, but as you are not clearing customs at MCO the only 'extra' items to be concerned with are a check of your passport, which takes seconds, and baggage check in cutoff times.

 

[bavaria]

From AA's site

For international departures from a U.S. city, standard baggage acceptance cutoff time is 60 minutes.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My sibling's recent experience with AA indicates that "60 minutes" actually means 61 minutes or more; apparently, being right on the deadline minute is actually considered late.

 

[bavaria]

I had a similar experience with United - from 65 to 61 minutes the ticket agent was chit chatting with a coworker, and tried to deny me at 60 minutes prior.....

Definitely try and find out when the ticket counter opens, and plan to be there more than 60 minutes prior, or you may find yourself denied to check baggage, and needing to take a later flight.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Wow, I never heard of the 60 minute cut-off! It's never affected us before, but then we were probably always there more than an hour ahead of time. I think maybe we'll aim for 4.30, so we can make it by 4.45.

Anyone know what the First Class/Gold/Platinum line is like at MCO?

 

[safetymom]

If there are quite a few AA flights leaving early there may be a long line. I always allow plenty of time and would rather be sitting at the gate waiting then stressing I am going to miss my flight.

 

[CarolA]

The other problem is the last time I had an early morning flight at MCO, the TSA felt it was only necessary to open a FEW of the lines..... The hour long wait was the reason I am not paying some private company $100 a year to let me avoid the idiot line.

 

[U2_rocks!]

I always allow plenty of time and would rather be sitting at the gate waiting then stressing I am going to miss my flight.

If it were any other time of day I would thoroughly agree with you! I just dread the thought of getting the kids (and myself!) up at 3 a.m. (or before!), which we will have to do to allow the amount of check-in time that we usually allow ourselves! I think I will definitely drop the passengers off at departures before returning the car - that way they can hold our place in line if it's long; if the line isn't long, then it won't matter if they have to sit in the departures area and wait for me to come before we can check in.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

According to its website, the AA check in counter at MCO opens at 4 am.

I don't envy you your dilemma. We were originally scheduled to take that 6 AM flight to MIA, but switched to a later flight. Then again, we probably had more options than you since we are headed the opposite direction to LA.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[U2_rocks!]

According to its website, the AA check in counter at MCO opens at 4 am.

I don't envy you your dilemma. We were originally scheduled to take that 6 AM flight to MIA, but switched to a later flight. Then again, we probably had more options than you since we are headed the opposite direction to LA.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

Thanks Suzanne.

There are only 2 flights home a day from MIA, and we didn't want the evening one because it would get in so late for the kids! They would find it much harder to stand around in the Immigration lounge at home at 10 p.m. than to be in a departure lounge at MCO at 5 a.m. Still, the 3 a.m. wakeup is brutal!

 

[zurgswife]

The other problem is the last time I had an early morning flight at MCO, the TSA felt it was only necessary to open a FEW of the lines..... The hour long wait was the reason I am not paying some private company $100 a year to let me avoid the idiot line.

I thought you did have the express pass????

 

[CarolA]

I thought you did have the express pass????

And that trip was why I purchased it. LOL! Now I just whiz right through the line. It helps that we can now use the stupid thing at a few more airports and MAYBE it will come to ATL someday (Not holding my breath on that one!)

 

[U2_rocks!]

I'm now thinking we'll stay at the airport Hyatt for the last night - that way we won't have a car to return on our departure day, and no travel time! I figure we might buy ourselves an extra hour of sleep!

 

[bavaria]

smart idea. I hate early flights and now rather arrive late than get up at 3am etc..... For the little extra in room cost, you will get that extra time to sleep and less rushing around.