MCO Terminal A - Horrible TSA

[MS_Warrior]

I use a motorized wheelchair. I am ambulatory, but fall easily and frequently. I've fallen trying to go through security and multiple times in the airport. - At the gate, walking down the jetway, etc.

We flew out of San Antonio and TSA here was a breeze. We have the TSA precheck and they asked if I could go through the scanner. When I told them not safely, it was no problem. Coming home, the TSA agent yelled at me to take off my jacket (not usually done with TSA precheck, but OK). Then she motioned me through with my wheelchair, asked if I had metal on me. I told her no. She told me to stand up because my cushion had to go through the scanner. Once she took it, I sat down and she told me to get up that I had to go through the scanner. I told her I couldn't. She didn't believe me and griped for a while finally said I had to have a pat down. I told her that was better than falling on my face. She gave me the roughest pat down I've ever had.

Another time flying out of MCO terminal A I had a woman argue with me for about 45 minutes that I could go through the scanner. I told my husband after this time that maybe I'll start saying, I can go through, but I'm holding you personally liable if I fall.

I've never had this issue in our airport. San Antonio is a large airport (6th largest city in the US) and they are super nice. I've also flown out of Honolulu, Kona, LAX, San Diego, Seattle, Victoria, BC - I've had to wait until they had a female who could pat me down, but only at MCH have I had them treat me like I was liar.

 

[elvispursley]

So sorry—I’ve had a fairly rough history with TSA, although usually it’s flying out of Seattle but they’ve been better if late. I’ve had agents argue with me that it’s perfectly fine for me to go through a body wanner wearing my insulin pump (most certainly is not), yelled at me for requesting a had inspection of my pump (precheck when I’d remove it so I could go through metal detector and not set it off). Maybe it’s the time of her, but I flew back from Honolulu last week after moving my son home to the mainland and wore the exact same thing through precheck as I did a few days prior and I was told to remove my sweater. shoes. And then when I still failed the metal detector, I was told to do the scanner, which I can’t do due to wearing a cam. Then a full pat down and all my bags searched! It was very odd.i feel your pain.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Just a reminder….At least 5 new major flight updates for the 2026 year for airport travel concerns … obviously SouthWest but also Real ID fee for non compliance and restrictions for traveling with lithium batteries and their size due to fire risk .
Some airports are enforcing reduced noise pollution and will not be making frequent announcements so be sure you keep updated in case of last minute gate change, etc…

 

[MS_Warrior]

I'm aware of a lot of changes you mentioned. As of now, FAA says lithium batteries installed in the frame of the wheelchair are the safest. I've still had to remove mine a few times. However, they could still treat people decently.

 

[MS_Warrior]

So sorry—I’ve had a fairly rough history with TSA, although usually it’s flying out of Seattle but they’ve been better if late. I’ve had agents argue with me that it’s perfectly fine for me to go through a body wanner wearing my insulin pump (most certainly is not), yelled at me for requesting a had inspection of my pump (precheck when I’d remove it so I could go through metal detector and not set it off). Maybe it’s the time of her, but I flew back from Honolulu last week after moving my son home to the mainland and wore the exact same thing through precheck as I did a few days prior and I was told to remove my sweater. shoes. And then when I still failed the metal detector, I was told to do the scanner, which I can’t do due to wearing a cam. Then a full pat down and all my bags searched! It was very odd.i feel your pain.

Crazy isn't it? They didn't make my husband or son take jackets off but did tell my husband to put his wallet through the x tray.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Our home airport MHT is great. They are respectful and patient. We do have PreCheck. I was asked to take off my shoes the last few times, but I wear HOKAS and there might be rigid, metal side pieces in them? MCO is a different story. I was told I wasn't disabled when I was in that line when using my cane! I was using a SWA w/c last time through and they were not nice, made me take my shoes off and gave me a humiliating pat down in front of all the other people in line. My hands were checked and swiped. I used to just dread the flight, now I dread TSA AND the flight.

 

[MS_Warrior]

Our home airport MHT is great. They are respectful and patient. We do have PreCheck. I was asked to take off my shoes the last few times, but I wear HOKAS and there might be rigid, metal side pieces in them? MCO is a different story. I was told I wasn't disabled when I was in that line when using my cane! I was using a SWA w/c last time through and they were not nice, made me take my shoes off and gave me a humiliating pat down in front of all the other people in line. My hands were checked and swiped. I used to just dread the flight, now I dread TSA AND the flight.

SAT is great, too. The only issue I've ever had here was the precheck line was curvy and the TSA agent told me I couldn't take my chair through it. It just happened that they were doing surveys that day and I was asked about my experience. She called her supervisor over the issue and a couple of months later we flew out of SAT and they had rerouted the precheck lane so it was completely accessible.

I know going in that I will be patted down and have my hands swabbed. At every airport except MCO, they are very quick and gentle on the pat down. At MCO they try to force me through the scanners when I tell them I've fallen going through them. Every other airport, when I say I have a history of falling trying to make it through them, they don't want me to try.

It's hard enough for us to travel when we are disabled, but when they add arguing and calling us liars in front of others, it makes it not worth it.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I use a motorized wheelchair. I am ambulatory, but fall easily and frequently. I've fallen trying to go through security and multiple times in the airport. - At the gate, walking down the jetway, etc.

We flew out of San Antonio and TSA here was a breeze. We have the TSA precheck and they asked if I could go through the scanner. When I told them not safely, it was no problem. Coming home, the TSA agent yelled at me to take off my jacket (not usually done with TSA precheck, but OK). Then she motioned me through with my wheelchair, asked if I had metal on me. I told her no. She told me to stand up because my cushion had to go through the scanner. Once she took it, I sat down and she told me to get up that I had to go through the scanner. I told her I couldn't. She didn't believe me and griped for a while finally said I had to have a pat down. I told her that was better than falling on my face. She gave me the roughest pat down I've ever had.

Another time flying out of MCO terminal A I had a woman argue with me for about 45 minutes that I could go through the scanner. I told my husband after this time that maybe I'll start saying, I can go through, but I'm holding you personally liable if I fall.

I've never had this issue in our airport. San Antonio is a large airport (6th largest city in the US) and they are super nice. I've also flown out of Honolulu, Kona, LAX, San Diego, Seattle, Victoria, BC - I've had to wait until they had a female who could pat me down, but only at MCH have I had them treat me like I was liar.

I've never had that issue at MCO Terminal A. If they tried to make me go through the scanner, I'd definitely fall also. I always get a pat-down. It varies as to how "complete" it is. Sometimes it's just the swabbing of my hands, sometimes the attendant feels virtually everywhere. The last one was so "complete" that the wheelchair attendant joked afterwards, "Gee, she could have at least taken you out to dinner first!" In reality, maybe it was because we were in the Rio Grande Valley, right near the border, and they look for drug smuggling sometimes.

 

[MS_Warrior]

I always have a pat down and like you said, it varies on the extent. This is twice at MCO that they've basically called me a liar about saying I can't walk through the scanner. I look pretty healthy and if you don't see me walk, you probably assume nothing is wrong with me, but I have MS and I'm so very unstable and certain situations make it worse. MCO is the only airport that has ever tried to force me to go through the scanner.

 

[leebee]

They have tried to get my sister to remove her ostomy bag and when she said no, they wanted to squeeze and massage it. OK gross, not the job I'd want to have, BUT she can't let them do that, as if anything backs up into her intestines, she's gonna be in trouble. Usually they do a pretty invasive, embarrassing body search; at least she knows now to demand it be done in a secluded area.

 

[OurBigTrip]

MCO is the very worst for departures...arrivals are fine, but departures are a nightmare.

We've already decided that on trip next year, we'll budget time & money for transportation to Tampa, and we'll fly out from there.

 

[MS_Warrior]

Sounds like a wise move!

 

[MS_Warrior]

They have tried to get my sister to remove her ostomy bag and when she said no, they wanted to squeeze and massage it. OK gross, not the job I'd want to have, BUT she can't let them do that, as if anything backs up into her intestines, she's gonna be in trouble. Usually they do a pretty invasive, embarrassing body search; at least she knows now to demand it be done in a secluded area.

Retired RN - they're crazy on wanting to massage her ostomy bag. It's dangerous for her but they also risk causing the bag to burst. Bet if that happened and they were covered with the contents, they would treat the next person with an ostomy with more respect.

 

[Evita_W]

MCO is the very worst for departures...arrivals are fine, but departures are a nightmare.

We've already decided that on trip next year, we'll budget time & money for transportation to Tampa, and we'll fly out from there.

There is also Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) and they may be a better choice.

 

[MS_Warrior]

There is also Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) and they may be a better choice.

Thanks. I'll have to remember that!