How to Skip the Long TSA Lines at Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Being the seventh busiest airport in the U.S., Orlando International Airport (MCO) is gracious to offer a way for regular travelers to skip the longs TSA Security lines without needing TSA Pre-Check or a Clear Membership. With MCO Reserve, you can schedule an appointment to breeze through security. Here’s how you can do it:
Steps to Use MCO Reserve
- Visit the MCO Reserve Website: Open your browser and go to mco.clearme.com.
- Select Your Travel Details:
- Date of Travel: Choose the date of your flight.
- Destination: Enter where you are flying to.
- Airline: Select your airline from the list.
- Flight Time: Input your flight departure time.
- Enter Your Party Size: Indicate the number of people traveling with you (maximum party size is 10 passengers).
- Choose Your Appointment Time:
- The website will automatically assign your gate, so no need to figure that out on your own.
- Select an available appointment time from the list of options. Don’t worry, there is a little flexibility around your appointment time. You have a 10-minute window on either side of your selected appointment time to begin going through security at the designated area.
- Provide Your Personal Information: Enter your name, phone number, and email address. You only need to provide your information, not the details of everyone in your group.
- Create Your Appointment: Complete the process, and you will receive a QR code.
Using MCO Reserve on the Day of Your Flight
- Arrive at MCO: Check in to your flight at the airline counter if needed.
- Head to Security: Look for the green MCO Reserve sign.
- Scan Your QR Code: Get in the MCO Reserve line with your group, and a Clear representative will scan your QR code.
It’s really that easy to skip the TSA lines at MCO! When we used MCO Reserve, it shaved about 15 minutes off the TSA wait time.
Tips for a Smooth Experience
- Avoid MCO Reserve if You Have TSA Pre-Check or Clear Membership: The TSA Pre-Check and Clear lines are typically shorter and move faster. Plus, with MCO Reserve, you still have to remove laptops, take off shoes, etc.
- Adjusting Your Appointment: If you’re running late and realize you might not make it in time for your MCO Reserve appointment, you can go back to the website and try to make a new one. We had to do this, and thankfully there was still availability.
- Operating Hours: MCO Reserve is only open from 5 AM to 5 PM, meaning your flight must depart between 6:30 AM and 8:30 PM to be eligible.
It’s already sad enough heading back home from Disney or Universal, so let’s save just a little more angst by shortening our TSA experience at MCO. I hope you found this helpful and are able to skip the TSA lines at MCO on your next visit to Orlando. Safe travels and have a magical trip!
Oh hey, while you have travel on your mind, want to see a few of our favorite travel essentials? Here they are!