How Early to Arrive at Orlando International Airport (Domestic & International Flights)
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Orlando International Airport (MCO) accommodates 50 million passengers annually. There are three terminals here:
- Terminal A
- Terminal B
- Terminal C
Given this, I recommend arriving at Orlando Airport 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight.
How Early to Arrive at Orlando Airport (MCO)
I’ve flown from Orlando Airport more than 20 times. Based on my experience, I recommend arriving at the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight. This should give you enough time to:
- Check-In: If you haven’t done so already
- Drop Your Bags: Where applicable
- Go Through Security
- Walk to the Gate:
In my experience, it’s always better to arrive at the airport a little earlier and have some extra time rather than arriving late and feeling rushed.
Why Do You Need Longer for International Flights?
I recommend arriving at Orlando International Airport (MCO) 3 hours before an international flight (outside the US). There are several reasons for this, including:
- Visa checks
- Entry requirements
- Immigration control
- Customs
Long-haul international flights also often have larger aircraft with more passengers. This results in a more extended boarding period that starts earlier.
Other Factors to Consider When Flying From Orlando Airport
Other factors you’ll want to consider when flying from Orlando International Airport (MCO) include:
- How you’re travelling to the airport
- The time of year
- Checking in for the flight in person
- Dropping off checked bags
Which Orlando International Airport Terminal Do You Need?
There are currently three terminals at Orlando International Airport. The airlines that currently fly from these terminals are:
Terminal A
- Alaska Airlines
- Avelo Airlines
- Avianca Airlines
- Breeze
- Copa Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
- Interjet
- LATAM Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
Terminal B
- Aeromexico
- Air Canada
- American Airlines
- Bahamas Air
- Delta Air Lines
- LATAM Airlines
- Rouge (Air Canada)
- Silver Airways
- Spirit Airlines
- Sun Country Airlines
- United Airlines
- Viva Air
- Volaris
- WestJet
Terminal C
- Aer Lingus
- Air Transat
- Azul
- British Airways
- Caribbean Airlines
- Emirates
- Eurowings
- GOL
- Icelandair
- JetBlue
- Lynx Air
- Norse
- Sunwing Airlines
The free shuttle bus at Orlando Airport transports passengers between terminals and operates 24 hours a day. It picks up and drops off from level 1 space B29 outside Terminal B and level 6 arrivals outside Terminal C.
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