TSA in Orlando?

[psimon]

Reports on the news said that Orlando was one of the worst airports for getting through TSA... reporting 3 hour waits!

Is that true? Is it really that bad?

Thanks..

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We flew home on May 3rd, and the night before our flight, we received an email from Jetblue directing us to be at the airport AT LEAST two hours before our scheduled boarding due to TSA capacity (or some similar wording). When we arrived, line ups were worse than they were when we flew home on Christmas week. There were some mighty panicky people in the line who didn't get a similar heads-up from their airline, and were definitely at risk of missing their flights.

 

[RAD]

TSA in MCO was one of the reasons DW and I spent the money to get TSA Precheck status, yes it's bad. Usually not 3 hours bad but can rival any WDW line for wait times.

 

[psimon]

TSA in MCO was one of the reasons DW and I spent the money to get TS status, yes it's bad. Usually not 3 hours bad but can rival any WDW line for wait times.

Is TS status the preferred status for the $85 pp?

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[gdrj]

Reports on the news said that Orlando was one of the worst airports for getting through TSA... reporting 3 hour waits!

Is that true? Is it really that bad?

Thanks..

---Paul in Southern NJ

Its bad but never that bad. Its kind of like cattle being moved to slaughter. The lines are long and it can awhile but it usually moves quicker than you would think when you first see the lines. On a side note we almost always take DME and they usually pick you up at your hotel 3 hours before your flight. We have never been close to missing our flight.

 

[ascardino]

Anyone have TSA pre check status that can share their recent experience gong through security at MCO?

 

[RAD]

Is TS status the preferred status for the $85 pp?

---Paul in Southern NJ

Sorry, it was supposed to say TSA PreCheck and yes that's the $85 per person. Beside the shorter line it's nice not having to take shoes off, belts off, laptops out.

 

[nacho113]

MCO has always been pretty bad as far as the lineup at security. We have seen 60-90 minutes fairly regularly but 3 hours seems kind of ridiculous.
In the past we have actually flown home from TPA, FLL or MIA just to avoid the long TSA lines at MCO, but then we quite often spend at least part of our vacation offsite so leaving from another airport doesn't bother us at all.

 

[bumbershoot]

We flew home on May 3rd, and the night before our flight, we received an email from Jetblue directing us to be at the airport AT LEAST two hours before our scheduled boarding due to TSA capacity (or some similar wording). When we arrived, line ups were worse than they were when we flew home on Christmas week. There were some mighty panicky people in the line who didn't get a similar heads-up from their airline, and were definitely at risk of missing their flights.

But...but but but...2 hours prior to a domestic flight is what we SHOULD be doing. 3 hours before international. Yes there are some people who feel that a person who has never missed a flight isn't doing things right (a paraphrase of something I've read here many times) but if I"m going to miss a flight it's because I've been voluntarily bumped and am getting $300+ per person, a flight the next day, some money for food, and a hotel room that night.

We've experienced NASTY lines at MCO, but it never interferes with us much b/c we ALWAYS are entering the building at least 2 hours before our domestic flight.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

But...but but but...2 hours prior to a domestic flight is what we SHOULD be doing. 3 hours before international. Yes there are some people who feel that a person who has never missed a flight isn't doing things right (a paraphrase of something I've read here many times) but if I"m going to miss a flight it's because I've been voluntarily bumped and am getting $300+ per person, a flight the next day, some money for food, and a hotel room that night.

We've experienced NASTY lines at MCO, but it never interferes with us much b/c we ALWAYS are entering the building at least 2 hours before our domestic flight.

I never suggested that 2 hours was outrageous .

I was merely reporting that for the first time in 10 trips, we received an email from Jetblue indicating that TSA was experiencing delays and to arrive earlier than normal to ensure you don't miss your flight as a result.

 

[jerseygal]

Anyone have TSA pre check status that can share their recent experience gong through security at MCO?

Didn't PAY for the annual TSA precheck, but for some great reason, the last two flights both DH and I have received TSA precheck assigned by the airline, the most recent was end of October, '15. Line was "not short" but MUCH SHORTER than the normal and it was nice to not remove shoes, belts, all required in the regular security line. When we return from MCO this month, we will be timing our return trip AFTER returning a rental car to allow a full 2 hours for security check. I always allow extra since we like to relax and have a "bite to eat" before boarding, rather than stressing that we will miss our return flight.

 

[kamik86]

But...but but but...2 hours prior to a domestic flight is what we SHOULD be doing. 3 hours before international. Yes there are some people who feel that a person who has never missed a flight isn't doing things right (a paraphrase of something I've read here many times) but if I"m going to miss a flight it's because I've been voluntarily bumped and am getting $300+ per person, a flight the next day, some money for food, and a hotel room that night.

We've experienced NASTY lines at MCO, but it never interferes with us much b/c we ALWAYS are entering the building at least 2 hours before our domestic flight.

I have never missed a flight. (well technically does it count if a snow storm delayed my first flight to after my connection time? in that case I did once) and I have flown more then most due to work.

However 2 hours is a guideline and is airline and traveler dependent. at MCO it is extremely important and won't even guarantee you enough time to get a snack, look at the shops, and move at a very leisurely place. At most airports 2 hours early is enough time to do all of these things. At my tiny home airport (where all of baggage claim would fit in the space that is used for magical express) 90 min really is sufficient. I still generally have at least 15 min to sit and relax after doing all of those other things.

 

[Disneylvr]

I just got back from WDW yesterday and the TSA line at MCO was worse/longer than I ever seen. I used Disney's Magical Express with an 8:25am pickup for an 11:10am flight. Because of boarding pass issues, I still had to visit the airline counter AND then go through TSA security check. If I had to take that 8:25am bus I would have missed my flight. Luckily a ME driver was able to get me on an earlier bus (8:00 am pickup) that left my resort (POP) around 8:15am. I had only 15 minutes to spare at the gate before boarding started.

 

[maxiesmom]

Its bad but never that bad. Its kind of like cattle being moved to slaughter. The lines are long and it can awhile but it usually moves quicker than you would think when you first see the lines. On a side note we almost always take DME and they usually pick you up at your hotel 3 hours before your flight. We have never been close to missing our flight.

I have been close to missing my flight using DME. Which is why now I don't use DME back to Orlando.

 

[TXMemaw]

Anyone have TSA pre check status that can share their recent experience gong through security at MCO?

We have TSA PreCheck and flew home last Tuesday, May 3rd. We got to the airport around 4 pm for our 6:50 flight. The TSA PreCheck line was much longer than I've ever seen it (even for Orlando). It extended about halfway across the lobby area. Everyone in line was saying that they'd never seen a TSA PreCheck line that long. It did move fairly quickly and we were through security in about 15 minutes. It was hard to tell when we were lining up, but there were actually three PreCheck lines so once we got closer to the front, we just moved over to the second line that no one seemed to be using.

 

[MouseyMin]

I have been close to missing my flight using DME. Which is why now I don't use DME back to Orlando.

You can arrange for Magical Express to pick you up earlier than their standard time. I usually do that because I like to have time to eat before my flight - and l also like not being stressed at the airport.

 

[Disneypeach]

My friend had a rental car, made it to MCO 2 hours ahead of her flight but still missed the flight due to the TSA lines. She said there were many people in line with her that also missed their flights. It was the first time she'd ever missed a flight. Don't know if the timeframe makes a difference but it was a Saturday and her flight was around 1pm.

 

[gdrj]

I have been close to missing my flight using DME. Which is why now I don't use DME back to Orlando.

I'm sure it can happen, but for most people, they are not going to arrive any earlier if they drive themselves. I know I won't. But if someone wants to leave Disney 3.5 or 4 or 5 hours before their flight that's up to them. When I do drive to MCO I will leave 2 1/2 hours prior to flight. If its backed up that much oh well.

 

[goofy4tink]

I am always at MCO at least 2 hrs prior to travel. My last time there was the end of January. It was actually fairly good that time. I have TSA precheck, but because I was traveling with my dd, I stayed with her in the regular security line. The TSA guy thought that was pretty odd!!! I think it took about 20 mins from getting to the line to walking away.

With the TSA cutting back the number of people working, and there being families that aren't used to flying (or anyone else for that matter), things get tied up to a fair thee well, easily. I have seen security where they had lines for families and other lines for 'experienced' flyers. Well.....I got into the 'experienced' flyer line, with my then 11 y/o dd. The people behind me took a nutty, saying we needed to go to the family line, not this line...not the experienced flyer line. I paid no attention to them. But I have to say, when I watched them go through the line, behind me? They took longer than we did. My dd is an ace when it comes to flying. She's been flying, and in charge of her own stuff, since she was 4! She knows the drill!! Sadly, that line configuration doesn't work because everyone thinks they are experienced.

Others have noted that they have seen various instances of people arguing with TSA employees.....don't want to take off shoes, don't feel then need to take off belts, or jackets, liquid over 3.4ozs. It's amazing. I've seen it too! And it slows everything way down, and causes things to bog down.

 

[MinnieMSue]

You can take a child 12 or younger through precheck if you have it. At least they let me do that when I was given it (I didn't pay for it).