Virgin Moving Terminals at MCO

[Goofyish]

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

Seems from March 18th VA baggage claim and check in will move to terminal A froom terminal B.

 

[mikki.young]

Well that's a pain! Thanks for spotting that Tim.

 

[daipp]

That means a longer walk to the Disney Magical Express

David

 

[mikki.young]

That means a longer walk to the Disney Magical Express

David

Just what I was thinking!

 

[UKDEB]

Thanks to Simon V for this update:

Virgin's check-in desk and baggage handling is now on the A side of the main terminal, the opposite to where they have always operated in the past. They actually have more check-in space here, so it should be a better situation for those waiting in line at the Virgin desks. However, this does mean there is a change in the arrival process. Virgin will STILL use the arrival gates at Airside 3 (Gates 60-99), which goes against established OIA practice (airlines using Landside A are supposed to operate from Airside 1 or 4, Gates 1-29 and 100-129), BUT, because the only international arrivals terminal is Airside 3, Virgin will continue to arrive at their normal gates but then direct people to Airside A (Level 2) to retrieve their baggage, NOT Airside B as in the past.

It will certainly cause confusion for Virgin regulars who will automatically assume they still need to go to baggage retrieval on Airside B when they arrive. Virgin say they will have plenty of staff to direct arriving passengers to the new baggage retrieval on Airside A, but it may catch some people out.

The bottom line is Virgin was getting increasingly cramped for check-in space on Airside B, and, with their extra summer flights likely to kick in soon, they have found this compromise to try to give passengers a better check-in service. It's not ideal, but hopefully it will work better for dpearting passengers.

This change has been implemented as of this week, so it will affect all Virgin flights henceforth. And, for check-in, you need Airside A, not B.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks to Simon V for this update:

Virgin's check-in desk and baggage handling is now on the A side of the main terminal, the opposite to where they have always operated in the past. They actually have more check-in space here, so it should be a better situation for those waiting in line at the Virgin desks. However, this does mean there is a change in the arrival process. Virgin will STILL use the arrival gates at Airside 3 (Gates 60-99), which goes against established OIA practice (airlines using Landside A are supposed to operate from Airside 1 or 4, Gates 1-29 and 100-129), BUT, because the only international arrivals terminal is Airside 3, Virgin will continue to arrive at their normal gates but then direct people to Airside A (Level 2) to retrieve their baggage, NOT Airside B as in the past.

It will certainly cause confusion for Virgin regulars who will automatically assume they still need to go to baggage retrieval on Airside B when they arrive. Virgin say they will have plenty of staff to direct arriving passengers to the new baggage retrieval on Airside A, but it may catch some people out.

The bottom line is Virgin was getting increasingly cramped for check-in space on Airside B, and, with their extra summer flights likely to kick in soon, they have found this compromise to try to give passengers a better check-in service. It's not ideal, but hopefully it will work better for dpearting passengers.

This change has been implemented as of this week, so it will affect all Virgin flights henceforth. And, for check-in, you need Airside A, not B.

 

[Goofyish]

Thanks Deb - if a little late

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1755436

 

[granmaz]

I'm not too much of a regular through MCO so forgive my numptyness. Will car hire pick up be as close from A as it was from B?

 

[tartangirl]

I'm not too much of a regular through MCO so forgive my numptyness. Will car hire pick up be as close from A as it was from B?

Dollar have car rental sites in both terminals - I would imagine Virgin will just start using the terminal A site rather than the terminal B site.

 

[Netty]

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

Seems from March 18th VA baggage claim and check in will move to terminal A froom terminal B.

will it make alot of difference going to A instead of B? I don't really take alot of notice of anything in the airport, when I get off the plane I'm on auto pilot!! I can do the route from the plane to baggage to dollar in my sleep! So will it be vastly different?

 

[Goofyish]

will it make alot of difference going to A instead of B? I don't really take alot of notice of anything in the airport, when I get off the plane I'm on auto pilot!! I can do the route from the plane to baggage to dollar in my sleep! So will it be vastly different?

As you get of the monorail thingy you need to turn right instead of left

Not sure how it would effect access to car rental companies etc. as we never have a car.

Also, if you are booking a Towncar transfer it may be worth telling them you need picking up from terminal A not B just incase they are not aware of the change

 

[Netty]

As you get of the monorail thingy you need to turn right instead of left

Not sure how it would effect access to car rental companies etc. as we never have a car.

Also, if you are booking a Towncar transfer it may be worth telling them you need picking up from terminal A not B just incase they are not aware of the change

great thanks for the info, Tim

 

[UKDEB]

Well, in my defence, I was in St Lucia when this was posted!

I've followed the link to the OIA website, but all I can see is the following on the home page:

March 18th - Virgin Atlantic relocated Check-in and Baggage Claim to Terminal A

It appears to be a link to further information, but clicking on it doesn't seem to do anything.

 

[wilma-bride]

Deb, for the thickies among us (mainly me) can you just put this into plain English. When you talk about Airside baggage retrieval is this before you get on the monorail, ie the first baggage collection?

 

[SammieG]

to be honest.. i didnt notice anything different from when we usually travel with BA... it was very easy to collect luggage from just through immigration - and we kept it with us and went straight to our car...
much easier than the days when you had to let it go through the double drop off!

 

[UKDEB]

Joh, now you mention it, I'm confused too. I'd assumed Simon was referring to the second baggage retrieval, but that's Landside.

 

[wilma-bride]

Oh well, I'll find out in a few days won't I

 

[DISNEYPARS]

Hi

Think it must be the second baggage collection unless you take it with you of course! Assume you collect the car from that side too as it appears that both A and B are identical. Might make departing the airport a little bit different as well.

Just have to think of the airport as one big roundabout then.

Lucky Dw is navigating

 

[gavvy]

Am I right in thinking that A and B are the same building, just different ends so all that has changed is a long walk on level 1 to the A side to collect the car from Virgin. (or on level 2 if I do the double bag claim- which I wont!)

Also when coming home do we drop the car off at A or B. Never seen a dollar sign for A before, but then I havent really looked

 

[wickesy]

Am I right in thinking that A and B are the same building, just different ends so all that has changed is a long walk on level 1 to the A side to collect the car from Virgin. (or on level 2 if I do the double bag claim- which I wont!)

Also when coming home do we drop the car off at A or B. Never seen a dollar sign for A before, but then I havent really looked

Apparently A and B are only about 300 yards apart in the same building. The car hire companies have desks on both sides so you would drop off on the A side. All the signs on approach to the airport now indicate that Virgin is on side A.

A and B sides are only relevant AFTER the monorail. Terminal map