4 Things I Wish I Knew Before Waiting 45 Minutes in Line at the Orlando Airport

Orlando Airport is one of the busiest airports, and as someone who flies there often, it can be brutal waiting in the TSA line.

TSA PreCheck at MCO

Travel days can feel hectic, and the airport is often one of the most stressful parts of the journey. Fortunately, there are a few ways to make your experience at Orlando International Airport (MCO) a little easier. While long lines can sometimes be unavoidable, there are steps you can take ahead of time to reduce how long you’ll spend waiting in security or sitting at your gate during a delay. Here are some helpful tips to know before flying out of MCO.

MCO Reserve

TSA lines at MCO are known for being lengthy. For those travelers who DON’T have TSA PreCheck, the Orlando International Airport offers the MCO Reserve service, which “allows travelers to reduce stress by planning ahead and reserving a dedicated time slot for their party to go through TSA security screening.”

©Orlando International Airport

On arrival at the MCO Reserve lane, flyers scan their MCO Reserve QR code and move directly to TSA to screen their boarding pass and ID, and then proceed through the standard TSA security screening, cutting a considerable amount of time from the process on most days. MCO Terminals A, B, and C all have dedicated MCO Reserve lanes with a limited number of slots available each day, and travelers may book their time slot up to 7 days in advance. Screening times are available from 5 AM to 5 PM for flights departing between 6:30 AM and 8:30 PM. You can reserve your timeslot here.

MCO Airport

TSA PreCheck

While TSA PreCheck is not exclusive to MCO, it’s a great investment for those who fly often. For those unaware, TSA PreCheck is “an expedited screening program that makes risk assessments about passengers before they arrive at an airport checkpoint,” which “enhances aviation security and provides a better travel experience.”

Those eligible for the program include:

U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents enrolled in TSA PreCheck.
Members of Global Entry.
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who are members of SENTRI.
U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and Canadian citizens who are members of NEXUS.
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those serving in the National Guard and Reserves, as well as government employees from select agencies.
Cadets and midshipmen of the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Air Force Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy.
Passengers 12 and younger traveling with an eligible passenger.
Passengers who are selected using existing Secure Flight system requirements while traveling on participating airlines.

PreCheck signage

Passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck do not need to remove shoes, belts, compliant bags, light jackets/outerwear, and laptops from their bags and can take advantage of exclusive, quicker lanes at participating airports.

How to Get TSA PreCheck For FREE

MCO TSA Precheck

Check Ahead of Time

There are two ways you can cut down on MCO delays before even leaving for the airport! The airport’s website — flymco.com — provides official, real-time tracking data for each terminal’s security checkpoints, and you can check your flight status. This will give you an idea of how long it could take you.

©MCO

Different TSA Points

At MCO, there are specific TSA checkpoints depending on your gate number. This is unlike my home base airport in Charlotte, where you can go to any TSA security checkpoint and get to your gate. This is important to remember because what will make a 45-minute wait at TSA even worse is doing it for the wrong set of gates and having to do it all over again. Be sure to double-check your gate number before heading to security.

TSA lines at MCO

If you’re flying out of MCO anytime soon, be sure to keep these tips in mind to save yourself some stress! Stay tuned to DFB for more travel tips.

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