MCO Flight Status & Airport Guide: Arrivals, Departures, Delays, and Terminal Info at Orlando International

Navigating Orlando International Airport (MCO)

With 57.7 million passengers last year and close to 40 airlines operating more than 1,000 daily flights, Orlando International Airport is the 7th busiest U.S. airport. The facility has grown exponentially over the years in order to keep up with the popularity of Central Florida with vacationers from around the world. If you have never flown via MCO or it has been a few years since you last visited, let’s get you updated about the airport to make your next landing and takeoff uneventful and hassle-free.

Orlando International Airport Website:

The official MCO website is a prime source of information about the airport. From the home page you can navigate to check if your flight is on time or not with the ability to search via airline and destination, or by first finding the destination and scrolling to your airline. Flight tracking is also available here, or if you’re an aviation enthusiast like me, have some fun exploring the FlightAware or FlightRadar24 websites. Both of these sites allow you to see where your inbound aircraft is coming from and if it will be arriving in Orlando on schedule.

In addition to flight information, the MCO website offers concourse maps so that you can see where various shops, restaurants, and other airport services are located in the main terminal and close to your departure gate.

Why is Orlando’s airport code MCO?

Great question! Originally named Pinecastle Army Airfield, in 1958 the airport became McCoy Air Force Base in honor of Colonel Michael McCoy who had died in a nearby air crash in 1957. The Air Force base closed in 1975, becoming a civilian field named Orlando-McCoy Jetport. Just a year later it was renamed Orlando International Airport but has maintained the MCO designator throughout the name changes.

ARRIVING IN ORLANDO

Getting to baggage claim, car rental, ride sharing services, and shuttle transportation when arriving at Terminal A or B.

After deplaning, in order to reach the main terminal, you will first need to ride the airport’s above ground tram system that operates from each of the four satellite terminals where the gates are located. The ride is short and runs every few minutes. Remember that you will take the same tram from the main terminal to your assigned departure gate when you are heading home exhausted from a fantastic vacation.

Level 2, one floor below the Level 3 departures level is where you will find baggage claim for all airlines, plus the ride sharing pickup area (Uber, Lyft, Wingz, KreweCar, etc.). The Level 2 ride sharing pickup is open 24 hours daily, however you may also arrange to meet your driver on Level 3 on the departures curb between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. if you arrive late at night. If you are renting a car or utilizing a shuttle service to your destination, head down to Level 1 after claiming your checked luggage.

Level 1 is the ground floor of the terminal and home to car rental check-in for Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, and Thrifty. Express customers can bypass the counter and head directly across from the terminal into the parking garage where signs direct you to the car pickup areas for each company. These ten companies rental vehicles are parked on various levels of the garage, so there is no need for a shuttle ride to an off-airport facility.

There are many additional rental car companies serving MCO from nearby off-airport locations. If your car booking is with one of these companies, you will need to contact them after claiming your baggage to request shuttle transportation. Ground transportation for off-site rental cars, hotel shuttles, taxis, limousines, and general shuttle transportation will also be found on Level 1.

Getting to baggage claim, car rental, taxis, ride sharing services, and shuttle transportation when arriving at Terminal C.

As you might expect, the newest MCO terminal is quite different from the others. And in many ways that’s a particularly good thing. This striking, modern facility is much easier for travelers to navigate. There are just 15 gates here, but this is also the terminal utilized by a majority of the large, wide-body aircraft that serve Orlando.

Terminal C is best understood by explaining what services are located on each level, in reverse order from when you arrive in Orlando to when you depart. While there are six levels, passengers will only need to utilize four of them.

HEADING HOME FROM ORLANDO

What terminal does my airline use?

The roadway directional signs exiting from the Beachline Expressway toll road (SR-528) into the airport proper are excellent, making it easy to find your desired terminal, rental car return areas, and parking garages.

There are three terminals at Orlando International Airport. Terminal A and Terminal B share a building with entrances on opposite sides of the structure. Terminal C is the newest terminal which opened in September 2022. It is smaller than the combined A/B facility, with 15 gates that can handle up to 20 aircraft simultaneously.

The combined Terminal A/B has three main levels. Level 3 is the top floor where air travelers disembark to enter for ticketing, to check luggage, and clear TSA airport security. Off-airport shuttles, ride sharing vehicles, and travelers with a personal ride to MCO will enter the terminal on this level.

Terminal A occupies the north side of the main terminal. The airport tram operates to Airside 1, Gates 1-29, and Airside 2, Gates 100-129. Terminal B occupies the south side of the main terminal, with the airport tram operating to Airside 3, Gates 30-59, and Airside 4, Gates 70-99.

In the central concourse, pre-security, beyond the A/B ticket counters you will find an expansive food court, some down restaurants and bars, and ATM machines if you haven’t had time to grab some cash before heading for the airport.

There are two TSA security checkpoints at opposite ends of the central area in the main terminal. Check your boarding pass for your gate number and head early for the appropriate TSA checkpoint to clear security. Orlando can be an extremely busy airport during peak flight times with lengthy security lines.

Be sure to arrive early to ensure you aren’t scrambling at the last minute to get through security to make your flight. And of course, to allow for last minute shopping for that Disney, Universal Studios, or Florida souvenir that you just have to have.

Airline Ticket Counters in Terminal A

Airline Ticket Counters in Terminal B

Airline Ticket Counters in Terminal C

As you can see below, Terminal C is primarily for non-U.S. international carriers, but not all international flights arrive or depart from here. JetBlue primarily a domestic U.S. airline has all of its operations here. There is no terminal at Orlando International Airport known as the International Terminal.

Terminal C is sometimes called the South Terminal and is home to Gates 230-245. There are future plans for a Terminal D which helps to explain the wide variation in gate numbers.

Shopping and Dining at MCO

When nearly 60 million visitors pass through annually, it’s crucial to offer a wide range of shopping and dining experiences to cover their needs while at the airport. Orlando International Airport does this exceedingly well with 170 shops, restaurants, and various sundry services available.

In addition to the usual array of national chain restaurants, there are numerous places to grab a bite, ice cream, or a beverage that are locally owned. Some examples include Cask & Larder (Gates 100-129) for Southern cuisine along with craft beers, the Sunshine Diner retro-style restaurant in Terminal C, and Zaza Cuban Comfort Food (Gates 30-59) for empanadas, creative plates, and coffee. Also, in Terminal C and perfect for bar food with a nice assortment of local craft brews is Orange County Brewers.

A Magical Vacation Awaits You in Florida

Whether you are coming to Orlando for Mickey and Minnie, Harry Potter, play some golf, swim with the dolphins, or to visit the nearby Atlantic and Gulf Coast beaches, you have chosen one of the most exciting vacation destinations to be found anywhere. The enormity of the region can be overwhelming, especially for first timers, and deciding where to stay with hundreds of hotels in all price ranges inviting you to stay with them can be very confusing.

Our advice is simple. Check out or favorite hotel website, Travelated, which is known for offering the perfect accommodations for everyone, whether you are traveling solo, as a couple, with the kids, or perhaps even with an extended group.

The Sunshine State is just that, so grab a hat, sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen, and make your plans today!