What time to leave for airport?

[Scooterbritches]

We are staying at the Galleria Palms Hotel on Maingate. Our flight leaves at 5:50 a.m. on Sunday, April 3. We will have to return a rental car. Should I plan on being at the airport two hours before my flight leaves or is that really necessary since it is so early in the morning? Also, how long will it take me to get from the hotel to the airport at that early hour?

 

[maxiesmom]

Unfortunately the airport will still be busy that time of the morning. I would plan on it taking at least 40 minutes to make it to the airport. So at the latest leave 2 1/2 hours before your flight.

 

[adamlatham smith]

i world get to the airport 3 hours before

 

[tjmw2727]

I follow the suggested arrive 2 hours prior for domestic flights rule especially at Orlando - even first thing in the am the security lines can be really long. Unless you have TSA pre (global entry etc. ) and carryon only I wouldn't allow for any less!

I would rather have extra time at the gate than miss my flight.

 

[leebee]

I always figure on leaving my hotel 3 hours before flight time... maybe 2.75 hours, depending on hotel location- and make sure you filled the gas tank to overly-full the night before, so you don't have to make a stop on the way to the airport. The traffic might not be bad, but there will be plenty of travelers at MCO, even at that early hour, and I have always found security there to be painfully slow. Plus, you possibly have to check bags, go through the terminal, clear security, take the shuttle tram, and then go to your gate. It takes time, even at the crack of dawn.

If it were my family, I'd Hotwire a cheap airport hotel with a shuttle. On the night before your flight, drop the family at the hotel/check in, return the rental car, and take the hotel shuttle from MCO to the hotel and GO TO BED. In the morning, take the hotel shuttle directly to MCO.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I've had early morning flights out of MCO ...but not before 6:45am. It is still very busy at that time. I would plan to leave the hotel no less than 2.5 hours prior to flight time. If you have to gas up the car I would leave another 15-20 minutes earlier. I doubt there will be any traffic at all so it will be a quick ride to the airport. From the car rental you will have a bit of a hike to get to the check in area.

 

[Minnesota!]

We have flown out at that time and it was, very surprisingly to me, super busy. I would leave no later than 3 hours before your flight.

 

[Scooterbritches]

Thank you guys. I would have never thought it would be so busy at the crack of dawn. I'm so glad I asked.