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Ever since 9/11, it’s been difficult, if not impossible, to get to the airside of an airport unless you’re flying that day. In fact, the only way to do it was if you were accompanying someone who needed special assistance before they got onto a plane.

However, before the pandemic, a handful of airports were testing programs that allowed non-passengers to pass through the TSA checkpoint. Of course, they weren’t doing this out of altruism or to give passengers a better view of takeoffs and landings. It was intended so people could potentially take advantage of the shopping and dining opportunities inside the secure area.

As of last autumn, there were a handful of airports that had such programs in place:

• Bishop International Airport (FNT): FNT Visitor Pass
• Capital Region International Airport (LAN): LAN Visitor Pass
• Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW): DTW Destination Pass
• John Wayne Airport (SNA): OC AirPASS
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY): MSY Guest Pass
• Ontario International Airport (ONT): ONT+ Visitor Pass
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA): Visitor Pass
• Tri-Cities Airport (PSC): PSC Pass
• Tulsa International Airport (TUL): TUL Visitor Pass

Orlando International Airport introduced its own program, called Experience MCO Visitor Pass Program, in late summer of last year. It was a pilot program; I’m not sure if it’s still considered that or if it’s now permanent. Anyway here’s a PDF about the program.

Joe and I travel together 95% of the time, so it was never on our radar to check out the Experience MCO Visitor Pass. But he was flying home from the UK and landing at Terminal C, which is where the Experience MCO Visitor Pass can be applied. Here’s how it went.

I applied for the pass online the day before. Here’s what it looked like:

As soon as it was done, I immediately got a confirmation on the website:

…as well as an email from MCO:

However, I wouldn’t be officially allowed into Terminal C until I got the email that said the TSA had approved me. That email was sent to me at 12:01 a.m. and, except for the sentence that said I had been approved to visit Terminal C, was nearly identical to the email I had received earlier in the day.

Hello SHARON KURHEG,

Thank you for your interest in the Experience MCO Visitor Pass Program at Orlando International Airport! 

You have been approved to visit Terminal C at Orlando International Airport on 03/06/2024.

The email also included a PDF attachment that had my confirmation (Terminal C, arrival window between 3pm and 4pm, valid on March 6, 2024) and a QR code I needed to show the TSA officer (they specified it had to be on your phone, not printed out) when it was my turn at the security checkpoint.

The entry process to get to the airside was pretty straightforward except for having to go through the regular queue instead of PreCheck or CLEAR (and take my shoes off LOL! When was the last time I did that at an airport in the US?!?!). It was like going to the airport for a flight…minus the flight.

I got there a few minutes before 4pm, and Joe’s flight didn’t land until 5:45 pm or so. So I wandered around, looked at the shops, bought a soda and a snack, and waited.

Because Joe was flying home internationally, I wouldn’t be able to meet him at the gate; he had to go through Customs first. But I did catch him as he was walking towards Customs.

Because he was going through Customs, I had to meet him on the unsecured side of the airport. But that was fine – I still got to see what the visitor pass was like.

My take on it

The program is easy to understand, provided you read and follow the directions. I can only imagine how many people print out their PDF with the QR code, LOLOL!

Terminal C is MCO’s “new” terminal – just about a year and a half old. And there is only one domestic airline flying out of C – jetBlue. All the rest are international flights.

Although it was nice to try out the visitor pass, having been to Terminal C three times since it opened (once to visit the unsecured side when it first opened, twice when flying jetBlue),  it wasn’t that big of a deal to me. I wish I could have met Joe at the gate, but I knew before I even applied for the pass that’d be impossible because he was on an international flight.

The next day, I received a feedback survey and told them that although I enjoyed my visit, I wished the program was expanded to Terminals A and B, which house many more domestic carriers, so locals could meet their loved ones at the gate.

Hopefully, they’ll listen to me. 😉

Feature Photo: MCO / Twitter (whoopsie…”X”)

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