How early to the airport?

[BalooFan]

Our flight from MCO home was at 5:00 pm last Saturday. DME was late and didn't leave our resort until 30 minutes after the pickup time. We arrived at MCO to find long lines at security that didn't seem to be moving. It took us 45 or 50 minutes to get through security, while listening to some jerk of a TSA agent yelling things at passengers like "take off your jackets and stuff them in your bags because it's 90 degrees outside and no one needs to wear a jacket" and "ladies don't pet the security dog because he is working." (No one, including us silly ladies, was touching the security dog.) He was pretty much blaming the passengers for the long lines. Anyway, if taking the DME, I recommend calling and rescheduling for an earlier time than the one printed on your transportation notice. I haven't found the DME timely enough or the MCO security lines short enough to feel safe with a pickup time three hours prior to my flight.

 

[maxiesmom]

Our flight from MCO home was at 5:00 pm last Saturday. DME was late and didn't leave our resort until 30 minutes after the pickup time. We arrived at MCO to find long lines at security that didn't seem to be moving. It took us 45 or 50 minutes to get through security, while listening to some jerk of a TSA agent yelling things at passengers like "take off your jackets and stuff them in your bags because it's 90 degrees outside and no one needs to wear a jacket" and "ladies don't pet the security dog because he is working." (No one, including us silly ladies, was touching the security dog.) He was pretty much blaming the passengers for the long lines. Anyway, if taking the DME, I recommend calling and rescheduling for an earlier time than the one printed on your transportation notice. I haven't found the DME timely enough or the MCO security lines short enough to feel safe with a pickup time three hours prior to my flight.

I can't really blame them for the yelling. SOOOO many people seem to be clueless when they get in the security screening lines. You still see people with giant pops, or with large liquid personal care products, arguing with the TSA agents. If more people had their act together the lines would move more quickly.

 

[mitsukoshi samurai]

Just try uber

 

[BalooFan]

SOOOO many people seem to be clueless when they get in the security screening lines.

I agree that there are a lot of clueless people in the security lines (and not just at MCO), but there was just no excuse for this guy. He wasn't being helpful; he was just making a bad situation worse.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I haven't had to go to MCO in a while so can't comment on that though I have heard recent horror stories..I think the one I remember the most was O'hare where like 400 people missed their flight on just one night due to the lines and that was less than a week ago.

I will however say that one of the most frustrating things as a passenger about security to me is lack of consistency. It's partially understandable because each airport has different security concerns (high-threat vs lower threat) as well as different passenger count.

At my home airport KCI (really MCI) early last month I didn't have to take off my belt and in the past years at times I haven't had to take off both my jacket and my belt (and no this is not for TSA-pre check-KCI just got pre-check March 2015) but most places you do and this procedure changes from time to time; I think they are on a higher alert though right now so it's probably stricter. WAYY back in the day Atlanta sometime after 9/11 had a device where it scanned your shoe so you didn't have to take them off (though this has been gone for a long while now).

I find it hit or miss at airports as far as advertising their expectations with enough time to prepare and as I mentioned from time to time they change their procedures (also understandable depending on the current events). I have no doubt that in some part this leads to longer TSA lines;though the most is probably understaffing and efficient process (I personally don't find the current process and security layouts efficient). I could be taking unnecssary time taking off my jacket or belt when I don't need to or I don't understand that at this airport I need to take off my jacket and belt.

FWIW KCI's website still says arrive 90 mins prior to your domestic flight and 120 mins for your international flight (that's usually wayy too much time but better be safe). Currently MCO's website says 120 mins for a domestic flight and 180 mins for an international flight (though there is a "check with your airline" notation). I don't know how often they actually update these times or if it's just via word of mouth that you get the whole "arrive earlier than what is currently posted" message.

 

[kdisser]

We use the magical express which picks us up about 3 hours before our flight. PLENTY of time. We usually get there, eat and take our time and then go through security and wait at the gate for another 30 minutes or so. Maybe I've been lucky, or I'm just used to crazier lines at NY's LGA and JFK but the MCO security lines aren't that bad. Was there in January and February

I do not know what happened on our last trip with the return ME... Our info packet a in our room said 3:20am to leave for our 5am flight.. We called and asked if we could leave at 2:20 so we could have enough time, they said sure it won't be a problem. We get to the bus stop and the driver looks at our papers and said "nope, not taking you" because they would have a full bus..I get this, but we were left in the dark over this matter. So we finally get our bus to go to MCO...we get to MCO at 4:30am. On top of that still needed to go through checking bags and security. I was furious about being stressed out on missing a flight. The bag check was slower then a slug, we were the ONLY people in line, but the man had no fire underneath him. We managed to book it to the terminal right at 5am (good thing there was no security line!). This time I will be beyond adamant to get on the ME a minimum 3 hours before.

 

[Huff]

Disney quite often over books ME. Twice we were told we couldn't go at assigned time. Had to wait 30 minutes for next bus.

 

[kdisser]

As for the original question... I take my mom's advice of always being at the airport a full 2 hours before your flight (when you are in control over transportation). But needing to rely on ME I say 3 hours before flight to get picked up by them.

 

[kdisser]

Disney quite often over books ME. Twice we were told we couldn't go at assigned time. Had to wait 30 minutes for next bus.

Nothing more frustrating then having to leave the World and possibly fluster over making/missing your return flight...

 

[Lesverts]

I haven't had to go to MCO in a while so can't comment on that though I have heard recent horror stories..I think the one I remember the most was O'hare where like 400 people missed their flight on just one night due to the lines and that was less than a week ago.

I will however say that one of the most frustrating things as a passenger about security to me is lack of consistency. It's partially understandable because each airport has different security concerns (high-threat vs lower threat) as well as different passenger count.

At my home airport KCI (really MCI) early last month I didn't have to take off my belt and in the past years at times I haven't had to take off both my jacket and my belt (and no this is not for TSA-pre check-KCI just got pre-check March 2015) but most places you do and this procedure changes from time to time; I think they are on a higher alert though right now so it's probably stricter. WAYY back in the day Atlanta sometime after 9/11 had a device where it scanned your shoe so you didn't have to take them off (though this has been gone for a long while now).

I find it hit or miss at airports as far as advertising their expectations with enough time to prepare and as I mentioned from time to time they change their procedures (also understandable depending on the current events). I have no doubt that in some part this leads to longer TSA lines;though the most is probably understaffing and efficient process (I personally don't find the current process and security layouts efficient). I could be taking unnecssary time taking off my jacket or belt when I don't need to or I don't understand that at this airport I need to take off my jacket and belt.

FWIW KCI's website still says arrive 90 mins prior to your domestic flight and 120 mins for your international flight (that's usually wayy too much time but better be safe). Currently MCO's website says 120 mins for a domestic flight and 180 mins for an international flight (though there is a "check with your airline" notation). I don't know how often they actually update these times or if it's just via word of mouth that you get the whole "arrive earlier than what is currently posted" message.

Completely agree with you about security in most airports being inefficient. The best airport I've been to for security has been DIA. It is one big area for the entire airport in the main terminal before you go off to your concourse.

 

[Dis703]

To the person who is picked up 2 hours before their flight, congratulations, you have been lucky. DW and I were dropped off exactly 2 hr. 5 minutes before our flight and barely made it through security. The plane was 1/2 boarded as we rushed to the gate. DW barely had time to use the bathroom quickly before we boarded. BTW, we had carry-on only and knew exactly where to go as we walked in the door so there was no delay on our part at all. Security was an absolute hot mess and it looked like 5,000 people were waiting when we first walked in. The flight was for 2:45 PM. I will always arrive at this particular airport at least 2.5 or 3 hrs. before my flight from now on. I can always grab a bite to eat at any of the many restaurants after you are through security and have taken the monorail over to the gate area.

This was us yesterday. Although we were picked up just under 3 hours prior with additional stops we didn't make it to the airport until 1 1/2 hours before our flight. I rushed to quickly check in and went straight to security. We needed to eat but didn't have much time. Took maybe 15 minutes to get DS fed and ran to the gate arriving as they made the final boarding call.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Completely agree with you about security in most airports being inefficient. The best airport I've been to for security has been DIA. It is one big area for the entire airport in the main terminal before you go off to your concourse.

You know I haven't been to Denver yet...actually I don't go west of Kansas other than I went to CA when I was 2. I almost always go east and sometimes south or southeast.

I just googled an image of Denver's airport look's pretty unique they were def going for something eye catching.

KCI's security looks like this:

You enter security in gate areas in your specific terminal (there are 3 terminals but only 2 are used).

I would call KCI's pretty efficient but we also have a much lower passenger count than MCO's. The 2015 stat for KCI is 10,472,461 and the 2015 MCO stat is 38,809,337 so basically KCI has around 27% of the passenger count of MCO as an approximate amount since it can vary from year to year. Denver's 2015 stat was 54,014,502 just as a comparison.

I think though that I'm going to have to watch and see how the TSA issue unfolds throughout the next year. We're not going to FL until Sep 2017 so who knows what it will be like then. I would really hate to have to get to the airport soooo many hours ahead JUST because of security.

 

[Bullseye]

MCO has this silly system where all the initial lines where they check your I.D. & ticket feed into one line that moves to the right. So, if you're in the left most lines they keep feeding people in front of you from the other lines to the right. It's annoying. I always try to get in the right most line that I can.

 

[Anal Annie]

MCO in January looked like a mosh pit. There was a huge mob of people trying to find the actual roped off lines. It was like a concert hall letting out. NO organization. Mid-day at MCO seems to be the worst timing. Late night not as bad.

 

[ibob52]

On a few occasions, I have been forced to get to airports over 3 hours early, only to be told that they would not check the luggage in until 3 hours before. Does MCO have this policy?

IIRC .. it is 4 hours for Southwest @ MCO .. I usually have a flight 4+ hours after

I escort my kids to their Gate etc .. After they are off .. I return the Rental Car and check in to my flight home.

Maybe it depends on which airline you are using.

 

[sam_gordon]

My parents just flew from MCO on Thursday. Because of the horror stories, they showed up 3 hours before. It took them 15 minutes to get through security (they are TSA PreCheck).

 

[Laz]

IIRC .. it is 4 hours for Southwest @ MCO .. I usually have a flight 4+ hours after

I escort my kids to their Gate etc .. After they are off .. I return the Rental Car and check in to my flight home.

Maybe it depends on which airline you are using.

It must depend on the airport. I flew Southwest out of Denver and they would not take my bags until 3 hours prior.

 

[Carriemel]

In February it was bad so summer I predict will be worse. i am TSA pre checked so I went through that line but my co worker wasn't and I waited 35 minutes for her. The only time I've seen MCO with no line was when I got in at like 10pm.

Good luck! I leave in 19 days and I'm glad I'm pre checked and that my cousin traveling with me can go with me thru precheck.

Realize that unless your cousin is under 13 years old (has not reached their 13th birthday), they will not be guaranteed to get pre check even if you have it. PreCheck is only for the person designated on the boarding pass, not for the whole group traveling.

 

[JonUK]

I think these are "that was then" experiences. Based on news reports over the past week or so, It's A Whole New World now. (Hey! That would be a catchy title for a song.)

Mine was only 2 weeks ago, I don't think that qualifies as 'back then'...

 

[ibob52]

IIRC .. it is 4 hours for Southwest @ MCO .. I usually have a flight 4+ hours after

I escort my kids to their Gate etc .. After they are off .. I return the Rental Car and check in to my flight home.

Maybe it depends on which airline you are using.

It must depend on the airport. I flew Southwest out of Denver and they would not take my bags until 3 hours prior.

As far as my statement that "it is 4 hours for Southwest @ MCO"

I am unable [at this time] to find a confirmation of that info on the Southwest Airlines website.