How long did it take to go through security?

[TammyC]

I see that Delta posts wait times for check-in and security lines on their website. Depending on days of the week, and time of day, I see up to 1 hour waits listed for MCO (and up to 90 minutes at TPA). The last couple of times I've flown, I don't think I waited more than 5-10 minutes for check-in or security. Have any of you really waited this long? DH hates it when I drag him to airport 2 hours before flight, then we just sit around!

I'm considering trying TPA for better fares (and we're visiting relatives in St Pete before Disney) but don't want the extra wait time. And, what about that bad traffic on I-4? Maybe it won't be too bad if it is not rush hour??

Thanks all..

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TammyC
I see that Delta posts wait times for check-in and security lines on their website. Depending on days of the week, and time of day, I see up to 1 hour waits listed for MCO (and up to 90 minutes at TPA). The last couple of times I've flown, I don't think I waited more than 5-10 minutes for check-in or security. Have any of you really waited this long? DH hates it when I drag him to airport 2 hours before flight, then we just sit around!

I'm considering trying TPA for better fares (and we're visiting relatives in St Pete before Disney) but don't want the extra wait time. And, what about that bad traffic on I-4? Maybe it won't be too bad if it is not rush hour??

Thanks all..

I have been in security lines up to 45 mins. Have been in check in lines for up to 15 mins. curbside (we won't even talk about the counter lines). The times they post are accurate. This was on a Sat. Weekends and Mondays are longest waits.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

We just got back, Friday night. We arrived at Philly airport around 9:30am for our 11:20am flight, on Sunday. We used the self serve kiosk (only because I screwed up onling checkin). Security had a small line which took maybe 5-10 minutes tops to go through. We arrived at Orlando airport around 7pm for our 8:30pm flight home and there were no lines at check in or security.

 

[safetymom]

It depends on when you would be going to the airport. Weekends are terrible and the lines are longer.

I-4 is still under construction so allow plenty of extra time.

The planes are flying at capacity these days also so if you miss the flight you might have a hard time catching another plane.

 

[ducklite]

I agree, it depends on what airport and what time of day.

Newark is almost always less than five minutes.

TPA took me almost 15 minutes for a 6:00am flight on a Sunday morning, mostly because of the idiots in front of me who didn't have ID. Why does the TSA allow these people to hold up the line while they dig for their ID? They should just make then get out of line, find their ID, and get into the back of the line again. Duh!!!

Philly can be out of control, I've seen lines that were over an hour there, but the last couple times we've gotten through in about ten minutes.

MCO is another that can be horrendous, but it can also be fast--two weeks ago we were through in under three minutes midday on Sunday.

Las Vegas can be really long also as an FYI.

Anne

 

[airhead]

So if my flight time home is noon, getting to MCO by 9:00-9:30am is good?

 

[crisi]

We got off our cruise on a Thursday morning and were checked in at MCO by 10:00. I'd almost booked at 11:00 flight, be we thought it would be tight, so we weren't leaving until almost 3:00. My husband said "gee, we could have made the earlier flight." Then we looked at the security line. They were giving a wait time of an hour and a half (which actually seemed like it was probably more like 45 minutes).

I think that's pretty unusual (and by the time the hour and a half was over, the line remained between 5 and 15 minutes until we went through at 2:00.

 

[CarolA]

Delta's wait times are NOT valid.

They post an hour for Nashville and I have NEVER waited an hour. The time they post also allows for you to stand in their line, etc. Plus, I don't think they have updated these things in the past year.

I do not get to any airport including MCO until one hour to 90 minutes in advance.

Now there are exceptions. Atlanta on the day after a holiday weekend comes to mind and the end of holiday weekends always are hard.

The only time I hear MCO is backed up is Saturday when the cruise ships drop off.

 

[ducklite]

When we arrived at MCO at around 11:00 a couple Friday's ago, security lines looked to be about 30 minutes long in our best judgement.

Anne

 

[CarolA]

Another suggestion. The Delta wait times (which I noted have been updated) show that it can take an hour to check your luggage at MCO. Use the Kiosk. It never takes that long there. Usually the most you have to wait is one person and the baggage check in is fairly quick too (unless the person in front of you is over their limits)

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Originally posted by airhead
So if my flight time home is noon, getting to MCO by 9:00-9:30am is good?

I would arrive at MCO by 10:00 - 10:30.