MCO Carnage !

After the tortuous experience of entering the USA via MCO 3 weeks ago I really didn't think it could be any worse coming home - wrong !

We came home on the 16 on Thursday evening, which was virtually full (449 pax) thankfully we aware at the airport early as a colleague had a season the BA flight at 18:30 an hour and half before us. Thankfully we had done OLCI, however still wasn't great as there were over 20 people in the queue, however considering the amount of people in the queue for normal check in this was a bonus , the queue was horrible ! The ground staff were very poor and completely disorganised.

After this disaster we then experienced security to leave, nearly another hour to get through security to exit.

I can't believe that this airport is so badly organised considering how much traffic it handles, I must say Virgin didn't assist on departure but the whole MCO experience was pretty poor. We may have to travel to FL a few times in the next few months and we a considering Miami and a longer drive just to avoid MCO in the future........

Is is always this bad ?

I've generally found MCO to be a very good airport, shame to hear you had a bad experience.

Security to leave is standard in the US. I've never really had to wait more than 15-20 minutes at MCO though.

20 people in the queue at check in doesn't sound that many when you consider the total number of passengers flying, perhaps try Downtown Disney Check In next time?

Miami is worse, avoid.

[Neil]

If you think MCO is bad, just try MIA once and you will be rushing back up North.

Sounds like you hit at a pretty bad time, with 4 or 5 VS flights leaving in such a short period and most people having to check out of their accommodation early in the day, you tend to find people get to the airport earlier, so with you arriving early for your friends BA flight you hit at peak time.

We try to arrive no more than 2 hours before our flight time, check in is usually dead, straight through security, which is usually about 20mins and then little time to wait for the flight to be called for boarding.

Sounds like we had a bad experience all round then, both on the way in and way out. Might give it another chance, don't think the Virgin experience helped at check in, there really did appear to be little organisation and all the ground crew seemed more interested in talking to each other than assisting customers

4th flight In 3 months with VS and I seem to be agreeing with a lot of people on here the only consistency within VS is the inconsistency !

we never had to much of a problem at MCO,they even handled a 24 hour delay ok,although always found ground crew not to friendly

Totally agree with Neil. MIA has been a disaster zone on the last couple of trips I have been on v( , although I have seen a couple of positive reports on here recently.

MCO has generally been good to us except on the odd occasion when we have landed amongst other 747's!!

If you want a civilised airport experience in Florida, Tampa is your friend.

MCO is a nightmare, it's the only route I won't touch Virgin (or BA) with a barge pole. I always use SFB it's a little further but stress free 25 mins max from seat to curbside. You may not get airmiles but for Economy/PE customers it is a clear winner...

PE passengers also get free lounge access that puts some business lounges to shame.

Seriously consider it next time, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I have to agree with what others have said - you were just unlucky with your timing at MCO. Believe me, one trip to MIA and you would be singing the praises of MCO.

I always do Downtown Disney check-in on the last day in Orlando. It gets rid of the bags early & means you can leave your car parked in a theme park car park with all remaining [hand] luggage safely locked away out of sight.

Security is always going to be a hit and miss experience in the USA, thanks to the TSA. The problem MCO have is that most of the wide-body long haul flights all go from the same airside terminal, in the space of a few hours. The security checkpoint that serves Airside 2&4 at MCO has about 15 screening lanes. 5 Virgin flights + one BA flight will dump close on 2500 pax on the checkpoint in the space of a couple of hours alone - before you add on all the other pax who use Airside 2&4. When you look at it in this context, the TSA at MCO do a pretty good job at keeping the wait time down.

we a considering Miami and a longer drive just to avoid MCO in the future........

Is is always this bad ?

It might be woth trying MIA the once to see if your viewpoint on MCO changes .
IMHO MIA =AVOID ( x 100). Horrendous place with vile staff !
DL

Can't help but agreeing with the previous comments, MCO is your better option. However as I scrape the ice from my car again this morning I wouldn't mind being in the queue at either of them right now! 8D

To be fair, I think the OP's recent experience of MCO is quite truthful.

Over the years the airport's exit security system has really deteriorated and the queues to get through have been horrendous each time I've used the airport in recent years. The introduction of the x-ray machine has had a slow down effect but more importantly the airport capacity has increased unbelievably from that one terminal building back in the 90's.

Airports increase capacity but perhaps they need to look at increasing arrivals and departures security buildings too - and keep them staffed

Totally agree Miami airport is the pits and to be avoided at all costs v(

Tampa is a great alternative to MCO and its not a bad drive up to the Orlando area if you're visiting theme parks. This airport is on a par with RSW (Fort Myers), both are brilliant in comparison to the extremely busy MCO y)

I can only echo some great points

MCO isnt brillaint but compared to MIA its paradise. Avoid MIA (quite appropriate that also stands for Missing In Action !!!) like you would the plague.

Tampa is excellent. Fort Myers even better. And although it doesnt get many routes Sarasota is also really nice.

I generally use MCo just for timings and the fact its direct but the RSW-New york-LHR option is tried and tested. just the timings dont work brilliantly

If you want a civilised airport experience in Florida, Tampa is your friend.

I agree actually, great airport.

Have recently returned from MCO and they have just introduced what they call the "Preferred Lane" for BA CW and Virgin UC passengers and it was wonderful as it was empty and we were through in the time it takes to scan the bags.

After the tortuous experience of entering the USA via MCO 3 weeks ago I really didn't think it could be any worse coming home - wrong !

We came home on the 16 on Thursday evening, which was virtually full (449 pax) thankfully we aware at the airport early as a colleague had a season the BA flight at 18:30 an hour and half before us. Thankfully we had done OLCI, however still wasn't great as there were over 20 people in the queue, however considering the amount of people in the queue for normal check in this was a bonus , the queue was horrible ! The ground staff were very poor and completely disorganised.

After this disaster we then experienced security to leave, nearly another hour to get through security to exit.

I can't believe that this airport is so badly organised considering how much traffic it handles, I must say Virgin didn't assist on departure but the whole MCO experience was pretty poor. We may have to travel to FL a few times in the next few months and we a considering Miami and a longer drive just to avoid MCO in the future........

Is is always this bad ?

MCO at its worst is heaven compared to MIA on a normal day. What you experienced in MCO would be a dream experience in MIA.

I absolutely hate MCO. Even for a 6AM departure it's a disaster with their single line for security. Part of the problem is the passengers, I don't wish to sound mean, but the majority of pax going through MCO don't fly often and really slow everything down.

Ummmm... Ok so I seem to of been fairly lucky then although payback was got at HAV last month were it took two hours to get through security. Arrived at MCO in May ths year and cleared immigration in 20 minutes. Same coming home. Flew to Tel Aviv for 24 hours in country for a three hour meeting, got through in about 40 minutes and back out in 25 which given all my work colleagues in UAE region was a major feat as was expecting three hours and all sorts of nastiness

I have to chime in by saying that both times I've been through MIA we waited less than 5min at immigration but appreciate that doesn't sound like the norm! The thing that did hack me off there was the complete free-for-all for the rental car shuttles, though I understand this is probably no longer an issue with the new system they have.

MCO was less good last year at about 45min... But still a cakewalk compared to LAX or JFK which we've done in the last couple of years (both ~2hrs)

Perhaps I was just unlucky. Maybe the experience was somewhat worsened by the terrible VS ground crew !

Sounds like MIA is no better, just have to accept that travel to the USA is bad !

Immigration coming in is always going to be 'fun'...some of the CBP officers are fine, others are power crazy. having entered via a number of US airports I can attest MCO is far from the worst. Security leaving is of course in the hands of the dreaded TSA. there has been talk here recently of doing away with them and making it private !!!

I also happen to know someone who is well connected at RSW and they are looking to invest large sums , including adding a second runway and to try and attract more international traffic, especially from the UK !!That would be a great route giving good access to Miami (2 hours) Naples (less than an hour) and all the way up to Tampa (2 and a half hours). Would be great if VS picked that route up

From a regular flyer through MCO we have never suffered to much arriving on the VS15 and only had to wait max about 30 mins but that is usually when the flight is late !!
On leaving yes virgin check in area for econ pax is very poor have seen the queues at least 100/150 long.
One tip when leaving check in area don't join the first set of security gates pass to the other side of the lifts these queues are sometime less but they do have an expert traveller lane for people who travel regularly just remember to be ready laptops out belts and jewellery removed and shoes off it does move fairly quickly... Maybe shouldn't. Give this secret out next time I travel through there in feb it will be full of v-flyers

the expert flyer lane has gone....replaced with some scheme you have to pay for !!

the expert flyer lane has gone....replaced with some scheme you have to pay for !!

Was still there 6weeks ago alongside the new fast trax for USA military and those who have been pre registered and declared low risk

Another Tampa fan here y)