ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 29 September 2008 : by Bob Gross

Customer Rating : 1/5

Terrible airport as far as accommodating passengers. They have all the Hotel and Private Limo Pick - Up spaces on Level one way down at the end of the line on both sides. A very long walk if you have luggage to carry. Toward the end of the year 2008 Hotel and Rental Car buses and large vans will have to drop passengers off on Level One and not on Level 3 where curb side check in and ticketing is located. Passengers will be required to walk all the upstairs to the ticket counter. Another long walk with your luggage in tow.

ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 14 August 2008 : by Stephen Tait

Customer Rating : 3/5

I worked in Florida for a while and was a regular at the airport! I have seen it where everything is open, no delays and everything is quick and goes to plan - I've also seen the complete opposite! As for facilities, these are what you would expect in an Orlando airport - generaly a good choice and selection of near enough everything. The terminal (land side) makes for an interesting wander.

ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT review : 19 June 2008 : by T Hamilton

Customer Rating : 4/5

When we arrived from the UK from the back of a 747 I expected a long delay through immigration however I was pleasantly surprised to see all booths manned and the process only took about 30 minutes. However customs randomly x-raying baggage is a new one for me and one or two people were struggling to get their bags on the machine. Departure was good with plenty of choice for food at reasonable (for an airport) prices. Also there was plenty of room for passengers to sit.

Orlando International Airport review by Sam Healey

23 April 2008  Customer Rating :

Only 4 out of the 26 available desks for non US citizens (both US citizen desks were open and then closed once the US citizens were processed) were open on arriving into the immigration hall at Orlando. I appreciate there may not be full availability of staff as it was Sunday afternoon but overall I feel this is poor planning on the part of the authorities. There was a group of officers standing in one booth chatting and seemingly indifferent to the melee forming in this hall. They are undoubtedly aware of the number of overseas flights and should plan for pax arrivals accordingly. After a long wait two more desks were finally opened to process more people thus causing a mini stampede. No security search on arrival this time around (I have commented on this previously and wondered why this was). Pax are now permitted and actively encouraged by staff to put their suitcases on the train rather than use their slow belt system after clearing Customs. Orlando has a nice departures area which a wide range of shops and restaurants (particularly landside but airside is good too especially when compared with some other US airports). There are now a wheelchair line and a families line at the security checkpoints on departure. Lines move very slowly.

Orlando International Airport review by Mark Johnstone

8 April 2008  Customer Rating :

We recently flew into and out of MCO enroute to other destinations in US. Airport is undergoing some renovation. Facilities for an international airport are very poor. Very limited eating places. Airport was dirty. Flight information was limited and gates we flew into from Edinburgh and Newark were over congested with renovation work leaving area looking very unsafe.

Orlando International Airport review by C Silverstein

22 March 2008  Customer Rating :

We flew in and out of MCO this past week, on Jetblue from Syracuse. Departure from the plane to pickup of rental car took about an hour. We thought that was relatively quick considering some people have waited much longer. The airport is clean and looks beautiful. Of course, there are tons of children, but we weren't bothered at all. When we left Orlando, it took just about an hour from rental car drop-off to arrival at our gate. We recommend express check in curbside. It cost us $2 per bag - but it was so quick and painless and when we got inside the line for checkin was very long (it was about 3:30pm on a Wednesday). Security was fairly quick and really didn't take as much time as we thought it would. When we flew in and out of MCO last year we had the same good luck. All in all, MCO is an easy airport to deal with.

Orlando International Airport review by S Ryle

12 February 2008  Customer Rating :

It is ridiculous that after a 9+ hour flight (from DUB) one has to go through a 'full monty' departure type security check on arrival at Orlando (MCO). And only one security gate for nearly 300 PAX! Also, only 2 immigration desks (+ one for US citizens)! It can take 2 to 3 hours after arrival, if you are one of the last off an aircraft, to finally get your bags. On 7th Feb I experienced for the 2nd time in 3 years this type of 'welcome' at MCO. On both occasions I flew with EI direct from DUB. On two other occasions I used BA from LGW and did not have to go through any of this mindless security check on arrival. During the last 15 months I travelled to MCO from DUB via PHL with US Airways and there was none of this frustrating security check on arrival at PHL. (There was the ususal security check when checking in the bags again which is usual at all US airports). What is it with the TSA at Orlando with what I consider a mindless and useless security check for arrival PAX - and only one security gate.

Orlando International Airport review by Iain Murray

9 January 2008  Customer Rating :

3 hours from plane to car rental pick up! Unacceptable. Double baggage drop is also a real pain. Queues everywhere. Will avoid in future and fly into Sanford or Tampa instead.

Orlando International Airport review by Peter Best

7 December 2007  Customer Rating :

For the international traveler, Orlando (MCO) is not a bad airport at all. It appears to be clean and relatively modern. Immigration queues are relatively light compared to eg Miami. The system of having to clear your luggage through customs and thereafter having to hand it in again and pick it up elsewhere in the airport is unusual. Unlike most of the European airports, no ATM machines could be found in the airport, so bring dollars with you or waist your time at the bank/moneychanger. Also foreigner unfriendly is the system of requiring three dollar notes (or a fiver?) for your luggage trolley. A porter if you can find one is an option but then what to do if you have to wait 45 minutes for your rental car? Departure procedures are relatively standard. TSA staff was ok. Security checking was not a fast process. Hopefully it is effective.

Orlando International Airport review by Steve Koenig

9 November 2007  Customer Rating :

Only transited MCO so cannot comment on anything before the waiting areas. Large array of restaurants (fast food, primarily) and shops. I have never seen an airport with so many children in it (not surprisingly, most wearing Disney gear). Heard parents complaining that they had not heard their flight called. Perhaps due to the noise. Keep your ears and eyes open, since if you miss your flight you could have problems at such a busy airport. Waiting areas semi-comfortable with, typically, too few chairs to accommodate the number of passengers there.

Orlando International Airport review by N Kessler

3 July 2007  Customer Rating :

I fly into MCO several times a year, and dread it. The Airport itself is quite nice, but a bit sprawling, and should have more moving sidewalks. The walk from shuttle to gate, and reverse is exhausting. The main concourse is beautiful, but again, makes for entirely too much walking to get to baggage and rental cars. Security is atrocious! I've been in much busier airports like LAX and DFW and it takes 1/3 of the time with much less stress to get thru security. They give the appearance of many lines (all long) but they converge into just a few, and make for very angry passengers. Of course, and due to the Mouse That Ate Orlando, many of these passengers are harried families with tired, crying children. And, the stress level carries over to the TSA agents, who clearly know they can be rude without reprimand. I would never try to take a large group through this airport.

Orlando International Airport review by Robert Dunford

6 June 2007  Customer Rating :

MCO is starting to look quite tatty these days, and especially airside (although NW gates were ripped open so looks like there might be something happening there). Doesn't compare to MSP Lindbergh or ORD (UAL terminal) at all. Which is a shame as otherwise it would be a nice, relaxing airport even with the theme parkers. Can't say I've had too many problems with TSA staff, found the ones at IAD much ruder. All in all, the airport needs to start reflecting the refurbishment around the Orlando/Haines City areas.

Orlando International Airport review by Aimee Bert

15 November 2006   Customer Rating : n/a

I'm surprised to see so many kudos for this airport. I fly weekly out of Orlando and find it the worst as far as getting through security. What a nightmare. OIA needs to take a few lessons from its neighbor, Walt Disney, for creating a peaceful and less frustrating method of getting through this mess. TSA converges 6 lines into 1, which allows some passengers who just arrived to cut in front of a number of passengers who have been waiting for 10-15 minutes. It is also very "close" making it a bit claustrophobic, and they need to turn the a/c up in there too! It would be nice to have a lane for "families" traveling with children that has more space. They also need to enforce the number of items rule--I see too many coming through with 3-5 bags. Lastly, the TSA staff might be overworked, but there is no need for them to be rude to the passengers. I have had several issues with patronizing, rude, and mindless agent's who need a few lessons from Ms. Manners.

Orlando International Airport review by Drew Cooper

18 May 2006

I travel through MCO 5-6 times a year on UA, and it manages the crowds of mostly vacationing passengers fairly well. The distance from curbside to check-in to security is short. However, crowds can overwhelm ticket counter space. Checking bags can be a hassle (at least at UA) because baggage is screened in the lobby, creating mountains of bags. UA carry- on only check in kiosks are underused and hence are very quick. Once past the ticket counters, signage is decent, and the two atriums make the crowds seem smaller . WiFi access is limited and I've not been able to find a business service area (perhaps in on-site Hyatt?). The shops are geared mostly toward the area's theme parks; the food court offers mall food. The security area is the one place that can be a little aggravating for the frequent flyer: there are no dedicated lines for elite/1st class. This may be why the registered traveler program CLEAR started here. The lines approaching security move along even at the busiest times, and wait times are marked. Once inside the screening area however, I find it claustrophobic as the machines and lines are jammed very close together with little room for removing laptops and shoes. One is confronted with families with small children trying to manage in tight quarters. Airport and TSA staff are civil if a little overwhelmed. Once past screening, monorails take passengers to the concourses. The concourse lobbies are open and airy with food courts and the standard airport shops. Distance to gates can be longish; no moving sidewalks. Gate areas are standard issue, sometimes standing-room only. Taxi times in and out are quick for the large size of the airport, and delays have been minimal for me. On arrival, bags are often on carousel before passengers get there. Overall, MCO is one of the best of large US airports.

Orlando International Airport review by Stephen Gallagher

6 March 2006

To answer a previously asked question: the logic at MCO for requiring all passengers to go through a security checkpoint after clearing US customs but before they leave the airport is simple. Passengers clearing customs at MCO are no longer "sterile" from a security point of view because they've been given access to checked baggage, which might contain items not allowed in the secure area. Since these arriving passengers can't make their way from the customs area to the main terminal without passing through the secure area of the airside terminal (to reach the automated shuttle train) they have to go through a security inspection after clearing customs. Their checked baggage does not accompany them while they go through the secure area (passengers place the bags on a moving belt when leaving customs and reclaim them a second time in the main terminal's baggage claim), but there's nothing to stop them from removing a prohibited item from their checked bags and bringing it with them through the secure area. So, the security inspection upon exiting customs is necessary. To eliminate the inspection, the airport would have to find a way of transporting arriving international passengers from the customs area to the main terminal without passing through the secure area of the airside terminal.

Orlando International Airport review by Dennis Morkert

18 January 2006

Orlando MCO is one of the best airports I've used. It ranks high in cleanliness, with a great shopping mall, an excellent hotel inside the complex, and good variety of restaurants. The layout is nice, although it may be a little confusing. I didn't find that the walk was too far. Try Portland, Chicago, San Francisco, Denver, etc. if you want a good walk. Orlando is a piece of cake compared to those. I've been through all of them many times. Also, the Hyatt has an excellent staff; friendly and very helpful. The extra cost is worth it, especially if you have an early flight. They will take your bags to the check-in desk for you, which is very helpful.

Orlando International Airport review by  Michael McGearty

1 May 2005

One of the nicest airports I have flown through. Great shopping, but the food court is a little too fast food for me. Seemed to walk for miles from aircraft to baggage belts, I was one of the first to arrive and they were already up and running. On my return we sat on the tarmac for 2 hours!

Orlando International Airport review by  Stephane Gallon

4 March 2005

Sam Healey wonders why all arriving international passengers have to go through a security arch and their hand baggage x- rayed after arrival through Immigration and Customs (does it exist at any other US airport) ? I am glad to explain the logic behind this, and sorry to tell that ATL airport works exactly as MCO regarding internationally arriving passengers. Whether Orlando is your final destination or not you have to get screened again on arrival because connecting passengers won't meet any other security checks before boarding their connecting flights, and because US authorities do not trust security checks made abroad, and because connecting passengers are not sorted out from the other passengers. What a waste of time when you do not take connecting flights and just want to leave the airport ! Both Atlanta and Orlando also require very long walks or shuttle rides before exiting the airport. Conclusion: avoid such airports.

Orlando International Airport review by  Sam Healey

9 January 2005

Nice airport overall but you do feel like you've walked miles by the time you finally reach ground transportation! Wearing comfortable shoes is certainly advisable! Signage is certainly better than at some US airports. I saw confusion amongst some pax particularly when it came to them having to put their suitcases (not hand baggage) on another carousel regardless of the final destination immediately after clearing customs and immigration. Then you start walking again. All arriving international passengers have to go through a security arch and their hand baggage x- rayed after arrival through Immigration and Customs. I do not know of any other US airport who does this to their arriving international passengers so if anyone can explain the logic behind this decision I would be glad to hear it. Once you've gone through here, you head for the monorail to take you across to Terminal B. You then have another walk and a ride on an escalator down to ground level where you collect your suitcases. Actually the bored looking lady at the carousel where we dropped our luggage off initially did tell us which carousel in terminal B our bags would arrive on so she was helpful.

Orlando International Airport review by  Mark Foster

3 December 2004

Couldn't agree more with comments. First time I've flown into other airport other than PHL. MCO has fewer wireless hotspots than PHL though, but then again, I suppose it's less business geared than PHL? Shame about the lack of shops/food stalls open airside at around 9pm. Would have been good seeing as US Airways don't give you anything larger than a squirrel sized bag of pretzels.

Orlando International Airport review by  Steven Glynn

16 August 2004

Fantastic airport! No delays the five times I've been there. Very friendly and helpful staff, and as much information as you could possibly wish for. Totally different to PHL where I flew into prior to MCO, where Staff were rude and unhelpful, dirty airport- not a good impression of the USA.

Orlando International Airport review by  J Pradon

11 September 2003

Orlando International Airport is definitely one of the better airports to use. It is clean and very efficient. The major problem is that it is huge and driving to it from Orlando is like driving to another city. If you have a long layover, head to the Hyatt Hotel in the airport. They have several nice restaurants that are a nice change of pace from the airport bustle. It also is a nice place to stay. There is an outdoor pool that is wonderful and you can request a runway view with outdoor patio. If you are driving to the airport and parking there is a design trick. The arrival and departure building is a long rectangle with both opposing long sides of the rectangle being identical. That is rather than have all of the passengers enter on one side and then go to and from the airlines on the other side, different airlines have opposite sides of the building complete with different garage, baggage handling, etc. Then the train shuttle takes passengers out to the actual terminals from the building. This can be deceiving. I recall flying in one time and going on a complete search of the garage for my car until I realized that my car was on the flip side of the airport in a mirror image garage. Lots of walking that day. The parking rates are outrageous and the rates actually increase after three days of parking. It is very inexpensive to stay at a nearby hotel that has a free shuttle to the airport and free car parking.






 

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