Orlando international Airport -PICK-UPS

[duke6979]

I am a senior currently in FL. I have to pick up some grandkids at the Airport . I have never been to this airport so am looking for advice on where one goes to meet guests coming in on Air Canada.And is there a meeting place there if we don't connect right away e.g an airport info desk near the arrival gate/luggage retrieval area?

 

[Northstar]

Here's the link to the airport guide info page, with maps and all:

http://www.orlandoairports.net/guide.htm

For meeting up, do both you and the grandkids have cell phones? If you do, if I were you, I would tell them to pick up their baggage, then call me, and then go out to the street on the same level as the baggage claim and wait for pick up.

You, meanwhile, drive to the cell phone lot around the time you expect them to arrive. The lot is on the south access road for Orlando International Airport and it is fairly easy to follow signs to it. You don't have to pay to park there but you can't leave your car... it's just for people waiting for a call to pick up arriving passengers.

When they call you to say they're through the baggage claim, drive from the cell phone lot and follow signs to Arrivals - Terminal A. They will be waiting for you there.


If either side doesn't have phones, you'll need to park and go in to Terminal A. You could either go down to baggage claim and meet up by the carousel where their flight is unloading, or arrange a meet-up point using the maps from the website.

I remember the days of trying to meet someone in a big crowded airport before cell phones... ugh, hope you both have phones! In a pinch, they still can page people from a help/information desk if you miss each other in the crowds.

 

[duke6979]

This maybe a repeat. I would prefer to go to the baggage area rather than trust myself with a cell phone.How close is the parking lot/ ?Walking distance/? I still would like a back-up place just in case! is there any rent-a-car booths just outside the baggage hall for Air Canada?

Thanks

 

[Northstar]

Me again, just happened to be on and saw your question (I don't actually live on the Disboards most of the time!)

The parking lot is a huge parking garage. Air Canada is in Terminal A, so follow signs for Parking - Terminal A. The parking is just across the pickup/access road from the terminal, and you can easily walk . Just remember, both the terminal and the garage have many levels, so elevators might be involved and you need to remember what level you're on.

The baggage carousel area is a good place to meet, since they have to go there to pick up baggage anyway. It's on the lowest level in the terminal. Unpredictable which carousel will have their flight's baggage... check the flight numbers flashing on the carousel.

Car rentals aren't on the same level as baggage carousels... I think they're one level up. You could say "meet me in front of the Alamo rental booth inside the terminal if we miss each other at the baggage carousel."

Not a good idea to try to meet them farther into the terminal, nearer their arrival gate. The farther you penetrate into the terminal, the more chance to miss them. There's a monorail and a looong tunnel and a few escalators to change levels within the terminal... the signs are geared to help people coming the opposite direction, from an arrival gate to baggage claim and surface transport, and you will get lost going the other direction.

Good luck and have a good visit with family!

 

[hockeymomNS]

I have picked my brother up a few times and agree that parking and going to the baggage carousel is your best bet.