Mco Security Wait Times

[bavaria]

But that is Customs and Immigration; different than airport security. And I don't have sympathy for that either - in one example I gave above, the Customs/Immigration line was 2 hours, and someone arrived at the airport 1 hour prior. I would recommend THREE hours for International travel, including Canada to US (now, for me it takes 12 minutes from airport door to gate to check in, clear Customs/Immigration, clear security, etc due to my status, but that is NOT normal!)

 

[ducklite]

This is a big reason the sercurity lines are getting so bad..more and more people flying who have no idea what to expect.

The company I work for recently sent 40 people to a conference, half of them had never flown before and some of the tohers hadn't flown in over ten years. I wrote up some basic information, such as how early to get to the airport, what they could and couldn't pack in their carry-ons and checked bags, how many carry-ons were allowed, what to expect at security--including having appropriate ID, etc.

A lot of the people were glad for the info, as they had zero idea about the 3-1-1 rule and such. Even though this has all been all over the news, most of them had no idea.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I must fly during the slower parts of the day, I don't think I've ever waited more then 10-15 minutes for security at MCO. The airlines should be staffing to accomodate load factors, based on how long it actually takes to screen passengers. Airlines and the airport may need to do a better job educating infrequent fliers.

A week ago yesterday I had to pick up DH at MCO. His flight was delayed. it was 9:45 at night. There was one, maybe two more flights scheduled that night from the A side. They had one security line open, that's really all they needed if people had any common sense.

A party of three went to the ID checker--there was no one in front of them. There was some sort of issue with their ID's and tickets--they had to dig through waayyyy too many carryon's to find the documents they needed. A line was begining to form behind them. Why the TSA agent didn't shoo them away and tell them to get back in line when they ahd thier act together is beyond me.

It took them probably three minutes to get it all together--by this time there were ten people behind them.

They went into the screening area, and there was one lane open. Again, for the number of passengers that should have been more than adequate. This trio then took almost FIVE MINUTES to get through security. The one person kept setting off the metal detector--change in the pocket, cell phone, etc. They had so much carryon that it took them forever to get it all sorted through and on the belt. It was just ridiculous. Eight minutes for three people to clear security. By the time they were through there were at least 30 people behind them.

Frankly there was no excuse for their idiocy. And the TSA should have pulled them out of line, told them to get it together, then get back in the back of the line. My 74 year old mother flies once ever five years, and I can guarantee that she doesn't hold up the lines like that.

Anne

 

[Lewisc]

People in your workplace didn't even know about the 3-1-1 rule. It stands to reason a lot of infrequent fliers don't know the drill.

You're making my point. MCO has a lot of infrequent fliers. There should be a procedure to let them know what they need to do and a procedure to get them out of the que until they get their "act" together.

I don't blame the passengers for being nervous and not knowing the procedure. I blame MCO for not having a system on how to handle those passengers. Something as simple as asking them to step aside until they find their BP and ID.

Why the TSA agent didn't shoo them away and tell them to get back in line when they ahd thier act together is beyond me.
....... And the TSA should have pulled them out of line, told them to get it together, then get back in the back of the line. .....
Anne

 

[safetymom]

I think every passenger that flies should know the rules. Maybe the airlines need to do a better job but ignorance to them shouldn't hold everyone up.

Just because you haven't flown before doesn't mean you can't read what happens at the airport on many web sites. You can go to the TSA site for the information.

 

[ducklite]

People in your workplace didn't even know about the 3-1-1 rule. It stands to reason a lot of infrequent fliers don't know the drill.

You're making my point. MCO has a lot of infrequent fliers. There should be a procedure to let them know what they need to do and a procedure to get them out of the que until they get their "act" together.

I don't blame the passengers for being nervous and not knowing the procedure. I blame MCO for not having a system on how to handle those passengers. Something as simple as asking them to step aside until they find their BP and ID.

My point is that they need to inform them BEFORE they get to the airport. I'm not sure how that can be done, it's already all over the news, and people just disregard it because they think it doesn't apply to them.

Maybe each ticket should come with some disclamier material, but people won't read that either. Look at the idiots that book a cruise, get the cruise docs and don't bother to read them, and think that a pair of Daisy Dukes and a bikini are all the clothes they'll need for a week long cruise with two formal nights.

Unfortunately we can't legislate common sense. I see being in line a tthe airport as the same thing as being in line at Home Depot. If you don't have your act together, step out of line until you do. But just like at Home Depot, people don't think that common sense and common courtesy applies to them.

Anne

 

[bavaria]

I think that a lot of people live in a shoebox and honestly don't read or otherwise learn about current events. That is the only may I can rationalize the lack of knowledge in so many Americans on the subject (and yes, I am saying Americans as I don't seem to encounter this elsewhere ie the broad lack of knowledge of flying restrictions and regulations)

But lack of knowledge is not exclusive to 3-1-1 - when I was checking in for my Mumbai flight a few months ago, the person next to me didn't have a visa for India. He asked the Lufthansa agent to 'get him one'. She just stared. I turned to him and explained that he needed certain documents, had to go to the Indian consulate between certain hours in the morning to apply, and return the following day in the afternoon to pick up the completed Visa. He didn't believe me, and last we saw he had called his assistant to 'go get him one at the consulate' and 'bring it to the airport so that he could board the plane'.

Perhaps airports need to do what mine did - put up posters with full size products and a big 'NO' in red. Or what they do in Germany - police ask people well before they ever reach security if they have liquids etc.

I STILL can't figure out how people can spend hours and hours and days online on Disney planning sites and never go to www.tsa.gov or their airline website or similar, but people are all different, and apparently the shoebox is pretty common, sorry to say.

 

[Lewisc]

This thread has come full circle. It started when the OP told us about the wait times listed on the tsa website. A couple of frequent fliers told posters not to rely on those numbers. Posters bascially said the TSA lies so they look better.

Now posters are suggesting fliers research the TSA website before they fly.

Bavaria has it right, airports need large posters and employees, maybe not police, who talk to passengers who are on line.

 

[goofy4tink]

Flying out of Logan earlier this month, I stood in the security line, watching a woman who had a hissy fit because she had to throw her bottle of water away. Now, understand...there were several agents, along the line, telling everyone, repeatedly, that no liquids of any kind, larger than 3 oz, would be allowed. There had to be at least 3 agents making this statement from the time you got into the line, almost in the main terminal area, to the xray scanner. But, did this lady think that applied to her? Evidently not. She told the TSA agent, with quite a bit of attitude, that her water was very expensive and there was no way she was tossing it out!!!! The agent told her that she was free to stay right where she was and drink it, then go through the scanner. Well, lady came back with, 'but I'll miss my flight. the water goes with me!' Obviously, the water did not go with her, she was peeved to say the least, but at least most of the rest of us got quite a chuckle out of her.
There are signs as to what you can bring through. People just don't think it's a hard and fast rule. As the saying goes...they think it's 'more of a guideline'!!!

 

[bavaria]

. But, did this lady think that applied to her? Evidently not. She told the TSA agent, with quite a bit of attitude, that her water was very expensive and there was no way she was tossing it out!!!!

She was quite obviously one of the 'special' people!

I wanna be special, I wanna be special

Well, Missy, for only $99.95 a year you too can be superspecial... www.flyclear.com

- 'bacaria'

 

[kileybeth]

boy, you guys are a tough crowd!

did you ever travel with 4 kids? how about 2 in diapers? how about one on a heart moniter? how about we don't travel very often (you can be thankful!) since it cost an arm and a leg for a family of 6.

all that said, I am one who scours the TSA website for days to make sure I know what I can /can not do/bring/etc. I also read this forum and a few others also for extra help.

I just have to say, my DH flies alone often for buisness worldwide (carry on only)and it is still a hard thing for him to fly with all of us. He can never understand why 6 people vs. 1 person takes longer despite two strollers (or that nasty heavy double stroller thing we are finally free) 4 carry on back packs (you gotta put those diapers and bottles and sippy cups someplace even when they are empty, and I promise, you do not want us to show up without my DD blankie or my DS bear-bear, it would not be a happy flight for you or me!, etc. etc.)

Is my id and bp out? yup. are our shoes off? yup. no jewelry, no belts, no cells, no ipods, etc. no sweatshirts, no hats (despite we often leave cold weather to travel to warm temps and back again), you get what I am saying.

I think we do pretty well but you just can't educate someone on how not to touch your childs chest (had to be hand checked as her moniter and her could not go through scanners) or they indeed will set off her very loud moniter thus making it necessary to stop and reset it

oh, and we always move to the side as quickly as possible to free up those who need to get by quicker than we can. also always arrive minimum 2 hours ahead . . .

but to some, I bet we still look pretty inexperienced and slow and uninformed. I promise you, we are not, so a little patience is also a very good thing to pack when you travel to a popular kiddie destination!

I'm just saying. . .