MCO Security Delays, TSA say allow 3 Hours to get through the airport!

[Darwen Bird]

Amazingly we got through security at MCO yesterday within 5 minutes!

I always aim to arrive at MCO 4hours before the flight departure time but was running about 45 minutes late yesterday. When I got to the Virgin check in desks I was directed to the Upper Class check in desk despite travelling Economy this time. I noticed that the posted wait times for security were showing as 35 minutes, but when we were given our boarding cards we were told to use the fast track “TSA Pre-check” lanes.

It was a breeze going through as there were only about 6 people in front of us in our lane. The only hold up we had was the security agent wanted to see the contents of Mr Darwen Bird’s bag (he always brings back a bag of dry cat food in his hand luggage and we know it looks a bit odd on the X-ray - they wanted to look at it coming back last year so we were expecting the agent to ask about it)

I have no idea why we ended up with the TSA Pre-check marker on our boarding cards, but it did speed things up and gave us more time in the Club@MCO lounge.

[Bal]

MCO is quite possibly the worst international airport in the US according to some locals.

I like Sanford and Tampa.

[Puddle5]

We were at airport three and a half hours before flight a few weeks ago. Plenty of time you think.. no we ended walking straight onto the plane. The Delta check in was a nightmare well over a hour and a half and the an hour queue for security by time we got train over e walked to boarding gates and they had started boarding. No time for any last minute shopping or the meal we were going to have!

Last year we did DS check in, about 15 minutes first thing in the morning and arrived at airport, three hours before. Took about 15 minutes to get through security and time to shop and eat. This year such a different experience.

[Redsnapper]

Originally Posted by Bal

MCO is quite possibly the worst international airport in the US according to some locals.

I like Sanford and Tampa.

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Is nowhere near the worst - have been held up in Miami, New York and Chicago - never had an issue in Orlando apart from airport closure due to storms.

[dking2001]

Originally Posted by Bal

MCO is quite possibly the worst international airport in the US according to some locals.

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I agree with this 100%. Have flown into and out of MCO, Miami, Fort Myers and Tampa and MCO is far and away the worst for speed of security lines. Last time we went through there we arrived in plenty of time and due to the security channels taking so long ended up running through the airport to just make our flight. It would be my last choice of exit airports in Florida.

[Bal]

Originally Posted by Redsnapper

Is nowhere near the worst - have been held up in Miami, New York and Chicago - never had an issue in Orlando apart from airport closure due to storms.

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Just repeating what we got told in two separate conversations over a beer in the bar in Disney. It’s a sore subject locally for some. People in the US tend to use air travel far more regularly than us. At the end of the day you only have to plan for it, so not huge for us, but a nightmare if you need to use it regularly.

[gavvy]

Originally Posted by Bal

MCO is quite possibly the worst international airport in the US according to some locals.

I like Sanford and Tampa.

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LAX MIA And JFK are way worse than MCO IMHO

I don't rate Sanford at all, terrible security there that took me ages to get through despite there being no queue, dirty airport that has not been updated since it was built and of course the location is rubbish.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

We have literally just come through security at MCO.
My Wife and I have TSA Pre so were through in under 5 minutes. Would have been 2 minutes if the couple in front of us weren't fussing about!
My Son went through the normal lanes. Signs said 35 minutes to get through. Took him about 8 minutes.

[rosiebun3]

A positive to travelling with Virgin is that they are participating in the TSA pre service. My DH and I had this last week. Through in about 15 mins. Didn't notice it on our boarding cards and only realised when a TSA officer came down the lines.
Really thought the Virgin check in would have pointed this out to us

[Lindy15]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

We have literally just come through security at MCO.
My Wife and I have TSA Pre so were through in under 5 minutes. Would have been 2 minutes if the couple in front of us weren't fussing about!
My Son went through the normal lanes. Signs said 35 minutes to get through. Took him about 8 minutes.

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Wow! That's fab, you were so lucky! Took us an age, and cut very close to us missing our boarding time, although the two factors of this were the stupid family at the front that despite many announcements of checking pockets etc before going through scanner, they must of re-done it 4times, I think they should of been sent to the back of the que to sort themselves out rather than holding everyone else up! Oh and the Disney magical express obviously thought that picking us up 2.5hrs before flight was adequate!.. Shan't be using them again 😂!