Question for those who travel around Thanksgiving - airports

[japanese maple]

I didn't even realize when we booked, but we fly out (evening) to MCO on 12/2, which happens to be the Monday after Thanksgiving because it's so late this year.

In general, how crowded do you find Mondays after Thanksgiving to be when flying? Just wondering if we should get to our airport early. We are staying at MCO Hyatt, so not worried about when we get there. Normally with pre-check we arrive about 1.5 hrs early, but we normally fly out early mornings.

 

[elvispursley]

I’d definitely get there early. Queues at precheck can be enormous during the holidays. Even with early morning flights, things can back up.

 

[sponica]

I'd be less worried about an evening flight than a morning one.

I once took the first flight back to school on the monday after thanksgiving, apparently everyone in southern NH was flying to Newark that morning. I know post pandemic has changed certain behaviors, but anyone who is trying to flight out the Monday after thanksgiving is usually flying out in the AM to get back to work on time.

It might be busy but won't be as chaotic as that first flight.

 

[japanese maple]

Thanks all! Yes, this would be an evening flight leaving from home airport to MCO. We do have TSA pre-check.

I think we will just get there 2 hours early instead of 1.5, just in case. And I'll keep my eyes on the news if they are reporting large airport crowds.

 

[Mle8308]

Thanks all! Yes, this would be an evening flight leaving from home airport to MCO. We do have TSA pre-check.

I think we will just get there 2 hours early instead of 1.5, just in case. And I'll keep my eyes on the news if they are reporting large airport crowds.

You can also Google "MCO Security wait times" and it will tell you the what the wait times are at the security gates.

 

[_19disnA]

I know that the Wednesday BEFORE Thanksgiving tends to be one of the year's busiest air travel days all over the country. Many people then travel back home on the Saturday/Sunday after Thanksgiving in order to be back at work/school on Monday. I don't think the Monday after Thanksgiving would be busier than normal regardless of which airport you are departing from.

I would still plan to arrive 2 hrs before your flight regardless of your departure airport. You can always eat/shop if you are ahead of schedule. Food on airplanes isn't very good, so it is a better plan to eat before boarding.

 

[sam_gordon]

Did anyone actually read the OP? They're going TO Orlando the Monday after Thanksgiving. All the talk about security at MCO has nothing to do with the OP.

To answer the question actually asked, I would expect slightly busier airports. Adding 30 minutes to arrival time probably isn't needed, but definitely can't hurt.