Orlando International Airport, known as MCO in airline speak, was a destination for over 57 million airline passengers in 2024. For many of those passengers, Orlando is their destination. The need to spend hours at the airport waiting for a connecting flight isn’t as great as at a major hub airport like Miami, Atlanta, Chicago or New York-JFK. Subsequently, the airline lounge market for that airport was stagnant (or even declining) for years because leisure travelers aren’t the bread-and-butter customers for lounges. These lounges were designed with business travelers in mind, giving them a place to be productive while waiting for their next flight.
Times have changed, and thanks to credit card benefits, more people have access to lounges. MCO has upgraded its lounges accordingly.
Terminal A & B
The Terminal A & B building at MCO has two TSA checkpoints; one of them will give you access to gates 1-59 and the other to gates 70-129. The gates are divided into four separate areas that you reach by a monorail system called the Automated People Mover (APM):
- Gates 1-29 and Gates 30-59 are reached through one checkpoint
- Gates 70-99 and Gates 100-129 are reached through the other checkpoint
Once through TSA security, you can take the monorail to either of the gate areas on that side of the airport. So, using the above picture as a guide, if you’re taking a flight from Gate 10, you can go to the lounge by Gate 40 but not to the one by Gate 80, which is through the other checkpoint.
One thing to note is that if you’re at gates 1-29 and want to go to gates 30-59 without having to clear TSA again, you have to take the APM on the right. I found this out the hard way and the Orlando Airport Twitter team was glad to explain why this happens.
If you are in the airside area at gates 1-29 about to take the APM, you will have to take the APM on the right side, for that one will allow you to just walk over and get the other APMs to gates 30-59. If you take the APM on the left side it will lead you outside the secure area and you will have to go through security again (if it’s in international arrivals mode). Passengers just need to read the sign on the APM on the right side, that says to take this APM “for gates 30-59”.
This is important to know as it’ll make a difference in what lounges you can access. I’m not going to go in-depth about how you can get access to these lounges in this article, as each airline has its own rules about who can access clubs depending on what type of ticket you have purchased. However, I will list the price to buy entry and some ways you can get into the club without access through status or as a benefit for the ticket you purchased.
GATES 1-29
The Club MCO – Airside 1
Location: In the Main Shops area of Airside 1, adjacent to XpresSpa
Access: This is an independent lounge you can access with a Priority Pass membership (available with the American Express Platinum, Citi Prestige, Capital One Venture X, Ritz-Carlton Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cards). You can purchase a day pass for the club for $55 per person. 
This lounge isn’t very large but does its best with the space it has. To the right of the entry area is the bar, followed by the buffet.
On the other side of the lounge, there’s seating against the wall with plenty of outlets, and other tables along the wall that look out onto the tarmac. (These were always in use, so I didn’t want to take pictures of people sitting there.)
This lounge does offer shower rooms. You will need to ask the agent at the front desk to unlock the room, and they’ll ensure you’re stocked with towels.
Use: Alaska, Breeze, Frontier and Spirit’s flights use these gates, so there are no other lounges in this area. Besides fast food, the other food options at Gates 1-29 are rather limited.
Be warned: as more travelers gain lounge access through premium credit cards, The Club at Airside 1 can get quite busy. We’ve even seen waitlists to enter during peak periods.
Gates 30-59
United Club
Location: Near Gate 43
Access: Single-use passes are available for $59 each for those with a same-day United ticket. Otherwise, you need to be a member of the United Club to enter. People who have the United Explorer card get two lounge passes per year.
Use: Access to this club is mainly for those flying on United with United Club access.
The United Club at Orlando Airport offers free snacks and well drinks with premium wine and spirits available for purchase.
American Airlines Admirals Club
American Airlines Admirals Club at MCO
Location: Near Gate 55
Access: Single-day passes are available for $79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles if you have a same-day ticket on American. You can also gain access by holding the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, but it comes with a hefty $595 annual fee.
Use: It’s a tad small, but since American only operates flights from Orlando to its other hub airports, such as Miami, Charlotte, Chicago-O’Hare and Dallas, the space is mainly for frequent flyers to spend a short time before their flights and is not meant for long layovers.
On a recent visit, the Admirals Club was so packed that it was difficult to maneuver around with luggage. It’s one of the smaller clubs at MCO, and crowding has become a noticeable issue during busy travel times.
Agents at the Admirals Club are tired of Priority Pass members trying to enter because they’re not a partner with Priority Pass.
Gates 70-99
Delta SkyClub
Location: Atrium, next to Starbucks
Access: Day passes for SkyClubs are no longer for sale. American Express Platinum and Delta Reserve cardholders flying on Delta flights can enter Sky Clubs for free for a set number of times per year, and guests (a maximum of two) will incur a $50 charge each.
Use: I’ll be honest and say that I have a fondness for the Skyclub at MCO. When I first started this hobby, it was the first lounge I had access to. I reveled in the free Biscoff cookies and the soup with oyster crackers. Every bite of carrot or celery was a sign that I had reached the next level of travel.
Since those days, the Orlando SkyClub has received a fresh coat of paint, new furniture, and carpets, but the design remains uniquely 1980s Floridian.
This is kind of nice, in its own way, as it’s pretty different from other SkyClubs.
While the MCO SkyClub is usually active, its larger size and more restrictive entry rules (Delta-only access) help keep crowding under control. It doesn’t suffer from the same congestion you’ll find at SkyClubs in hub airports like ATL or JFK.
The Club MCO – Airside 4
Location: By Gate 91, Next to the InMotion Store
Access: This is an independent lounge you can access with a Priority Pass membership (available with the American Express Platinum, Citi Prestige, Capital One Venture X, Ritz-Carlton Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cards). You can purchase a day pass for the club for $55 per person.
This is the second of The Club lounges at Orlando International Airport and is similar to the one located in Airside 1 gates.
I was shocked about how nice this lounge is. Its bright, features multiple areas with plenty of seating, and offers decent food options along with an open bar. Directly behind the check-in desk, there’s a bunch of office seating with plenty of outlets. The area isn’t very private, but would be suitable for working on a laptop.
Off to the right is the food. It’s a large area with a small bar serving finger foods and more substantial options behind it, against the wall.
They even have a pancake maker (just like in the Alaska lounges).
There’s an area with tables located near the bar.
The lounge’s main area features grouped seating behind dividers, several tables for small groups, and individual loungers that offer a view of the tarmac out the window.
On the other side of the lounge, there’s a smaller food area with snacks and a coffee maker. There is also a departure board, as no announcements are made in the lounge.
The lounge features a shower room, a feature not typically found in most other lounges at MCO. I’ve seen it closed off on several occasions, so I wouldn’t count on it being available, but it never hurts to ask if you want to use it.
They even have a kids’ room with books and video games. The last time we looked, they had a Lego Harry Potter set up, a nice touch for Orlando Airport since we have the Harry Potter areas of Universal Orlando nearby.
Gates 100-129
If you’re flying on Avelo or Southwest from these gates, there’s not much in the way of lounges. However, you’re able to eat at Cask and Larder, which was named the third best airport/regional restaurant in the United States a while back.
We’re very familiar with Cask and Larder, as it was developed by the same people who run a local restaurant called The Ravenous Pig. That restaurant barely missed making our list of favorite places to eat in Orlando outside of the theme parks, just because we couldn’t list all of our favorite places.
Terminal C
Orlando Airport’s Terminal C, currently houses JetBlue and many international carriers, including British Airways, Emirates, Icelandair, Azul and Norse.
Plaza Premium Lounge
Location: The lounge is located on the 2nd floor of the Palm Court area.
Access: The Plaza Premium serves as the contract lounge for international airlines in Terminal C. You can also access it with a Priority Pass membership (available with American Express Platinum, Citi Prestige, Capital One Venture X, Ritz-Carlton Card, or Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cards). You can purchase a 3-hour pass for the club for $67.50 per person.
Use: Terminal C’s biggest tenant is JetBlue, but the lounge is geared toward international travelers. It is open from 7 AM to 9 PM, so you’re out of luck if you have a late-night departure.
The check-in desk is downstairs, and you can reach the lounge either by using the elevator or the stairs.
Once upstairs, there’s a long walkway that borders the first seating section. This is where some of the kids’ games are but there’s also a TV wall that was showing sports when I visited.
The main room of the lounge is spacious, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the airport.
There’s also a stylish bar on the Palm Court side of the lounge.
The bar charges for some drinks, ranging from $3 to $10. There’s also a decent food selection, with two hot dishes (chicken and pasta), pre-made salads, fresh fruit, and a few dessert selections. It’s not bad considering you’re not paying for the food, but if you’re looking for something more substantial, there are better places to eat in Terminal C.
The Plaza Premium Lounge has become one of the busiest lounges at MCO, often posting waitlists. If you’re flying out of Terminal C, try arriving early to secure a spot.
Final Thoughts
Orlando International Airport may not be a major connecting hub, but its lounges have stepped up in recent years thanks to growing demand from travelers with premium credit cards. That said, crowding has become a real issue—especially in the Priority Pass-accessible lounges like The Club (Airside 1 and 4) and Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal C. We’ve even seen lines and waitlists to get in during busy times.
The American Admirals Club has also felt the pressure, with our recent visit so packed that it was difficult to navigate through the space. By contrast, the Delta SkyClub tends to handle the crowds better. It’s larger and limited to Delta passengers, so it avoids the all-access chaos of other clubs.
If you’re planning to use a lounge at MCO, plan ahead and don’t be surprised by a waiting list during peak travel hours or if you’re flying internationally. And remember—sometimes, a meal at one of the better airport restaurants (like Cask & Larder) might be a more relaxing option than squeezing into an overfull lounge.
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9 comments
[…] and you want to know what lounges are there. Of course, you just could read Joe’s report on the lounges at MCO, but (and don’t tell him I’m saying this) (Note from Joe: I can see this!) you may be […]
Thanks for the info. We are flying out of MCO end of June. While we arrive early, we are meeting friends so we can leave the airport. But we’ll have a place to go when we come back for our late afternoon flight.
Hello – thanks for the article. I see that you didn’t mention sleeping pods or beds – is there no way to sleep in the airport if you have a flight the next day?
Orlando Airport does not have sleeping pods or beds. There is a Hyatt Regency in the airport terminal if you need somewhere to sleep overnight. Otherwise, you’ll end up looking like “The Traveler”
I use the American Admiral’s Club at least 3-4 times per year, including multiple visits since July 2021. It’s bright, modern, and clean. The food offerings are pretty much standard fare for American – snack towers, soup, cheese, cookies. The MCO location does seem to have the full complement of pre-pandemic food options, such as they are. There’s basic snacks and drinks – including a Coke Freestyle machine if that’s your thing – available on the upper level (where you enter the lounge), and the bar is downstairs with table seating and more food options. You can order sandwiches and snacks at extra cost (prices competitive are with the food court). It’s certainly compact, but they have fit in a surprising amount and variety of seating and have loads of outlets. There’s a quiet room and several areas where you can easily set up a laptop to work. The restrooms (the women’s, at least!) are small but clean and well-maintained. I’m pretty sure they do not have showers. Even when busy, it’s a nice respite from the craziness of the terminal.
What side of gate area do JetBlue flights come in on
JetBlue flights currently use gates 1-29.
If I am flying Alaska will I be able to use the Club at MCO near gate 91 without having to go through security by switching over to the other people mover?
Yes, you should be able to take the people mover back to the main terminal and change to the one for gates 100-129 post-security. However, the Southwest/Alaska gates are currently the nicest in the airport. You can grab a space at Cask & Larder where they have seats with plugs and hang out there.