Orlando Airport...Ugh!!!

[inkkognito]

Last time we went to Orlando was Thanksgiving weekend, and that Sunday wasn't bad at all at MCO for our return. This week, we left Chicago on Thurs. and things weren't too bad (although they search a couple pieces of our luggage and checked my husband's shoes). But when we got to MCO on Sunday, it was a JOKE!!! We got there around 10 a.m., and even the curbside check-in had a mega-line. Thanks goodness we had e-tickets and were able to use the check-in kiosks, as the regular check-in line might have taken up to an hour. Security moved SLOW, although we didn't get searched like in Chicago. Our bags did get searched when boarding the plane, but they started boarding early, so it didn't impact the take-off time. But beware...leave for MCO EARLY and be prepared to be amazed at the lines!! I've never see it that bad, even on holidays.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[scal]

Thanks for the heads up! We fly out of Chicago on Friday on United. Which airline did you use?

 

[n2mm]

It's amazing how different travel experiences can be. We traveled in November and it took less than 5 minutes checking our bags at the counter of Delta and it took less than 3 minutes to get through security. We left on a Saturday evening out of MCO. So after that we had 1 hour and 50 minutes to waste. Now that there have been some new changes this weekend regarding checking checked on bags, I assume there will be some delays. We leave again this Sunday and plan again to arrive 2 hours before like requested.

 

[cigar95]

I flew out of MCO last Thursday on Delta, arriving at the airport at about 4:50pm. Ten minutes at the check-in line, about seven or eight to go through security. My wife, flying three days earlier, waited about the same to check in, but spent 50 minutes at security.

It would pay, it seems, to find out when different airlines' peak travel times are at different airports. Delta flat out tells you on their web site. I'm not sure what to do with the other carriers.

 

[DebbieB]

If the check-in line in the terminal is long, check how long curbside is outside. When we arrived at MCO for our trip home on 12/7, there was no one in line at the curbside at USAir.

 

[atigeg]

This is Barb again (posting under hubby's ID). We had NO wait at MCO the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I suspect the mess this time was because of the new security procedures, which started a couple days before our return trip. The check-in for our flight out (from O'Hare) was quick, other than the time it took for the bag searches. We flew American, and while the curbside check-in line was shorter, it was still VERY bad. Thank goodness for E-ticket check-in! I have no idea why that had no line. Our flight was at 12:20 on Sunday, and we had arrived a couple of hours early (thank goodness). We'll be flying again the weekend of Feb. 7th, around the same time and days and on American again, so I'll be sure to post an update!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[melindaandrob]

We flew from Orlando to Buffalo on Sunday (Jan 20-10:40am flight arrived about 7:30am) with Southwest. We had no problems. Yourride (Rabbit) called the day before and said he would pick us up half hour earlier because of increased security the day before. We were expecting long delays. Security was very quick and they did check some passengers carryons before we boarded the plane but again that was random. A family in front of us all had to stop and open bags but we were waved on the plane.

 

[pajamommy]

We flew out of MCO on Jan. 12th (before the new security procedures started) and it was no problem. We were worried, too, because the week before when we flew down there from Hartford, it was a nightmare at Hartford!! The lines were incredible, so when we left Orlando, we got there real early, and it was a breeze, hardly any lines, and we waited around for a while until it was time to leave. We were on Delta.