Effective immediately, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is recommending that outbound passengers allow a minimum of two hours to get through ticketing and the TSA screening checkpoint.
As per officials at the airport, the TSA has just begun implementing “enhanced” passenger security screening procedures at MCO, which include TSA officers yelling at telling asking travelers to, “remove electronics larger than a cell phone from their carry-on bags and place them in a bin with nothing on top or below, similar to how laptops have been screened for years.” This is in addition to removing laptops, liquids (although these are great alternatives for some liquid items), powders and (sometimes) food from their carry on luggage and small personal bags.
Travelers are encouraged to organize their carry-on bags and keep them uncluttered to ease the screening process and keep the lines moving.
These “enhanced” procedures were announced in mid-2017 and have been slowly rolled out in airports all around the U.S. ever since. And now it’s MCO’s turn.
Here’s the complete press release, dated April 23, 2019, from MCO:
ORLANDO, FL. – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented enhanced passenger security screening procedures at Orlando International Airport. As a consequence, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and our airline partners advise passengers to arrive at their airline ticket counters no less than two hours prior to their scheduled departure time.
To help expedite the screening process, travelers should remember to dispose of liquids prior to entering the security screening lines and should also be prepared to place all electronics into the bins for screening. Passengers traveling on early morning and international flights, should check with their airlines about recommended arrival times.
“Maintaining safety and security are always our priorities, however, we also have a major focus on customer service and convenience, which is why I feel it is necessary to inform our travelers to arrive early at Orlando International Airport,” says Phil Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Allowing extra time will better enable passengers to locate parking, process through their airlines and move through enhanced TSA security screening with the least amount of stress.”
The new suggested early arrival time goes into effect immediately.
These updates to TSA security will not affect passengers who are enrolled in TSA Pre✓® who are using TSA Pre✓® lanes.
*** Thanks to Michael G. for the heads up about this subject
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love if you decided to hang around and clicked the button on the top (if you’re on your computer) or the bottom (if you’re on your phone/tablet) of this page to follow our blog and get emailed notifications of when we post (it’s usually just two or three times a day). Or maybe you’d like to join our Facebook group, where we talk and ask questions about travel (including Disney parks), creative ways to earn frequent flyer miles and hotel points, how to save money on or for your trips, get access to travel articles you may not see otherwise, etc. Whether you’ve read our posts before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.