How early do you need to get to MCO?

[Janis]

Have read a few posts on another site about how bad it's been checking in and going through security at MCO. Can anyone tell me how bad it's been lately? I have an upcoming 8:15 am flight and don't want to have to get to the airport at 5:15. By the way, I'm flying USAir.

Thanks!

 

[MouseGirl]

When we flew out of MCO last month, they were only allowing you to go through security if you had a flight within the next two hours. We were there about three hours early to be on the safe side, given the horror stories we had heard, and it only took a few minutes for us to check in with our airline, so we were left twiddling our thumbs (actually, spending money in the gift shops!) for about 45 minutes until we were allowed to get into the security line-up. It looked worse than it was though, and we were through security within about 20 minutes. I would think 2 1/2 hours would be more than enough...

 

[jctwizzer]

Last week, the carrier we used recommended an hour and half at MCO.....it was more than adequate.

 

[wdwfam]

We flew out of MCO this past Saturday evening. We got to the airport about 4 hours early, hoping for an earlier flight out on stand-by. We didn't get to leave earlier; but we didn't have to wait to go through security. I was asked if they could do a body scan on me. I had no problem with that. I was the only one around to have it done. Guess it is a random number. Also, our laptop computer was scanned. I asked what they were doing, and they said that it was checking for explosives. They used a little wand thing with a piece of some kind of paper and went around all the edges of the computer and then put the piece of paper in a machine to read if there was anything on the piece of paper. It didn't take hardly anytime at all. We were through checkin and security within ten minutes. No problems whatsoever.

 

[sue Z]

FLew out of MCO on Saturday on Southwest there were no lines at the security entrance for SWA but if you were flying out on Delta,united ETC. Boy was there a line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It went from the beginning of the security line and went down both hallways and looped back! the security people would not let you block any walkways that were! i heard that the wait times were upwards of 3-4 hrs. This was for gates 1-59. gates 60-12? had no waiting!!!!!!!!

 

[Janis]

Thanks, all, for the info. We will be using yourride and I'm also hoping Rabittz will be able to advise us!