Quickest way to get through customs/car hire?

[TOONMADLAD]

That's precisely what we always did, TOONMADLAD, until they did away with the requirement for the second baggage reclaim.

All good ideas get scuppered I'll have to think of another idea for next time we go.

 

[Claire L]

With Virgin now being in Terminal A the luggage second claim is right by the car hire desks so you can get the car sorted and by then the luggage should be coming off

Claire

 

[jns]

order a sat nav and betend that it came free with the car

he will never drive without one again

 

[katytrott]

That's precisely what we always did, TOONMADLAD, until they did away with the requirement for the second baggage reclaim.

What's the requirement for the second baggage reclaim?

 

[Funky_dino]

you used to have to put it through before u went onto the train, but u can now take it on with you, eliminating the second pick up at the second carosel, unless they have changed back since OCT 08 that is.

 

[wickesy]

you used to have to put it through before u went onto the train, but u can now take it on with you, eliminating the second pick up at the second carosel, unless they have changed back since OCT 08 that is.

We took ours on the monorail with us a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Funky_dino]

Thats good then, it's so much easier taking it on the train. not going until Oct and alot cant change in that time lol

 

[SammieG]

we run like hell when we get off the plane... and are usually one of the first in immigration (preferably beating the virgin flight).. if u are on the virgin flight behind BA youre in for a long wait usually.
We use Avis preferred for the car. It takes approximately 2 minutes to pick up the car

 

[penlanspice]

this thread made me laugh, this is the one part of the whole holiday that kind of stresses me out, my husband always gets annoyed at me why he has to walk so fast and get in the right que at immigration. LOL.

First you've got to manoeuvre all the slow walking people in front of you to get into the immigration hall and then the right que is crucial!! and if I'm in the wrong que and the ones around us go faster I keep saying "we should of gone it that que".... it' so funny to hear it's not just me. LOL

Since the second bag claim has gone getting to the car rental desk has become so much quicker..

 

[SammieG]

this thread made me laugh, this is the one part of the whole holiday that kind of stresses me out, my husband always gets annoyed at me why he has to walk so fast and get in the right que at immigration. LOL.

First you've got to manoeuvre all the slow walking people in front of you to get into the immigration hall and then the right que is crucial!! and if I'm in the wrong que and the ones around us go faster I keep saying "we should of gone it that que".... it' so funny to hear it's not just me. LOL

Since the second bag claim has gone getting to the car rental desk has become so much quicker..

yep.. we do that too...
we should have been in that queue!lol
i dont know why they dont have one long line like they do at other US airports
and then the person goes to the next available desk. its much more fair...

 

[wayneg]

i dont know why they dont have one long line like they do at other US airports
and then the person goes to the next available desk. its much more fair...

Thats why we don't mind going indirect, Immigration is so much better at other airports. No idea why MCO is so bad, surely they could do it better.

 

[UKDEB]

Thats why we don't mind going indirect, Immigration is so much better at other airports. No idea why MCO is so bad, surely they could do it better.

Not my experience at all (and presumably why MCO consistently comes top of the polls). Although I concur that the "one line" thing is fairer it simply doesn't seem to work at other airports and MCO is much more on top of everything than any other US immigration point I've ever encountered (well, maybe with the exception of Maine, but then that is a military installation). Miami... NYC... Washington... all nightmares (disorganised, looooong lines, overly-basic to the point of being depressing. Give me Orlando any time.

 

[UKDEB]

this is the one part of the whole holiday that kind of stresses me out.

In writing my "Idiot's Guide", I meant to mention that, if all else fails, just chill out and remember that you are about to start your holiday. It'll all be over in a heartbeat and nothing is worth getting worked up over. This holds true for any lines (or other situations) you find yourselves in.

 

[Red-Snapper]

Thats why we don't mind going indirect, Immigration is so much better at other airports. No idea why MCO is so bad, surely they could do it better.

Didnt know it was "so bad" - never had a problem at MCO - other than waiting 20 mins once for the bags because there was a thunderstorm overhead and they suspended baggage operations till it had passed over.

 

[wayneg]

Didnt know it was "so bad" - never had a problem at MCO - other than waiting 20 mins once for the bags because there was a thunderstorm overhead and they suspended baggage operations till it had passed over.

Totally depends on how many planes land together, with experience its nowhere near as bad, but if sat back of plane and don't know about staying right in the early years we have had upto 45-50 mins in Immigration at MCO. Maybe just luck but never a problem at any hub 10 mins max, they just seem better at it to me. Like I say probably just luck.

 

[Funky_dino]

We were literally last off the plane in Oct and we waited maybe 10 min if that at customs. I think it's a physchological thing, If you see one massive long winding queue you get depressed and think it's a long wait. least with loads of queues it doesn't seem as bad hehe, at last thats what I think.

 

[fairytale]

Thank you all for your previous posts and all the little tips you guys share, its amazing how much time can be saved by following peoples advice.

Can I just ask, last October once through Immigration we had an option of going to either side A or B once we had got off the monorail, I believe that as we were flying with Virgin we had to go through to Side B. Once through there some how we got lost , and before even getting to the second Baggage reclaim, we had gone up and down in the elevators from Level 2 to ground to Level 1 back to 2. Now some 6 months after we have returned I cant actually remember where we go.

Am I right in thinking we go down to Level one to the second baggage reclaim and to collect our car docs from Dollar.

Although I am a super planner, ie all ADR's are already set ready for my 90 day window to open up in July, we got so lost last year from getting off the aeroplane to getting to FWC it took us 4.5 hours baring in mind we flow PE and was through immigration in 15 minutes.

Thank you again

 

[UKDEB]

Virgin has moved its ground operations from Landside B to Landside A. If you've booked car hire with Virgin Holidays (be it separately or as part of a package) you should go to the dedicated desk on side A. Should you opt to relinquish your bags after customs, you'll need to head to side A for the second reclaim (rather than side B as in the past). If you take your luggage with you on the monorail and you've booked car hire independently, it doesn't make a difference which side you choose.

Second baggage reclaim is on level 2, car hire on level 1 (ground floor).

 

[fairytale]

Thank you, but this is what has confused me.

Last October I feel sure we went through side B, and whilst DH was collecting our baggage from the 2nd Baggage reclaim carousel I was stood at the Doller Express desk getting our hire car sorted as he kept bringing a case to me one by one whilst I was at the desk, (I remember thinking to myself at the time, "why you bringing them to me"

Do you mean that you collect your vehicle from Level one but level 2 for second baggage reclaim and Car Hire desks.

Thank you again

 

[UKDEB]

No, second baggage reclaim is on level 2 and the car hire desks are on level 1 regardless of which side you use.