In general, how crowded is MCO for an 8pm Wed flight (SW)?

[mom2mikel]

Just trying to figure out how much time to allow at the airport. I'm normally one to allow a good 2 hours, but thinking it's a later, mid week flight with no checked bags -- I'm wondering if we can get by with 1.5 hours instead.

I know it can change in a heartbeat, but just looking for some basic guidance.

Thanks

 

[mb187143]

i find that security at MCO can take a while - we got there 2 hours ahead of our 7:30 PM flight and got to the gate a full hour later. and all we had was 1 carry on each, no souveniers or anything, no liquids in our bags. The lines were super long that day. I think it's a crapshoot at MCO whether the lines are long or short, and there's really no way to predict how it's going to be. You may be fine, or you may be sprinting to your gate. We, like you, were flying SW, and we like to be there early since it does no good to get an A boarding pass if the plane is already boarded, its not like they're going to move someone from their seat if you end up at the gate after boarding.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Just trying to figure out how much time to allow at the airport. I'm normally one to allow a good 2 hours, but thinking it's a later, mid week flight with no checked bags -- I'm wondering if we can get by with 1.5 hours instead.

I know it can change in a heartbeat, but just looking for some basic guidance.

Thanks

I've often flown out of MCO weeknights around 7:30 p.m. The airport is not particularly busy in the evening, but staffing at airline tickets counters and at the TSA checkpoints tends to be lower than at peak periods; the lines are no shorter. I don't think you'll make it from the curb to the gate a half hour faster than earlier in the day.

Actually, with a boarding pass in hand and no checked bags, 90 minutes should be fine any time of day. I still try to arrive 2 hours before departure anyway. One of the variables (and one with the greatest chance of unforeseen delays) is the time it takes to get to the airport, regardless of how you're getting to the airport.

Remember that boarding begins 30 minutes before scheduled departure.