MCO Security: Checkpoints, PreCheck, CLEAR and MCO Reserve

MCO posts estimated waits for its three checkpoints on flymco.com/security. Each checkpoint shows a General line and a TSA PreCheck line, plus a last updated time.

MCO warns that waits change quickly, so no numbers are printed here. Open the page before you leave for the airport, then check it again once you are in the terminal.

MCO has three checkpoints, and you use the one that matches your gate range:

• Gates 1 to 59 (Airsides 1 and 3). It is on Level 3 of Terminals A and B.
• Gates 70 to 129 (Airsides 4 and 2). On Level 3 of Terminals A and B. The Hyatt Regency sits right above it, and the Terminal Link station to Terminal C is between this checkpoint and the Terminal B check-in desks.
• Gates C230 to C254 (Terminal C). Security is on Level 2.

Gates 70 to 99 are right after the 70 to 129 checkpoint. Gates 100 to 129 are a short Gate Link ride beyond it.

MCO does not publish opening hours for each checkpoint. Plan around your departure time and the 2 hour advice below.

This comes from MCO's airline list. Your boarding pass and the gate number on it are what count.

• Gates 1 to 59: Alaska, Allegiant, American, Avelo, Breeze, Frontier and United.
• Gates 70 to 129: Air Canada, Bahamasair, BermudAir, Delta, Flair, LATAM, Southwest, Sun Country, Viva, Volaris and WestJet.
• Gates C230 to C254 (Terminal C): JetBlue, Lufthansa (Frankfurt and Munich, per MCO's October 2026 schedule report and Terminal C page, although it is missing from the airline list), Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Air France, Avianca, Azul, British Airways, Caribbean, Copa, Discover, Emirates, GOL, Iberia, Icelandair, Norse Atlantic UK, Porter, TAP Air Portugal, Virgin Atlantic and Zipair.

Air Transat is named on MCO's connections page for Terminals A and B but not on the airline list, and it shows no weekly flights in October 2026, so check your boarding pass. A few listings look odd. Frontier is shown with the 1 to 59 checkpoint but with gates 1 to 29 and 70 to 99, and gates 70 to 99 sit behind the other checkpoint. If your gate range and checkpoint do not match, ask your airline or follow the signs for your gate number.

MCO asks you to be at the security checkpoint 2 hours before departure.

Give yourself more time if you park in an economy lot (the shuttle ride adds to the trip), if you are heading to gates 100 to 129, or if you fly out of Terminals A and B and parked in Garage C. The Terminal Link ride between Terminal C and Terminals A and B takes about 4 minutes.

If you need a rental car or other ground transportation after you land, MCO suggests adding 30 minutes to the plan while the Gate Link trams are replaced.

MCO Reserve is a free service for travelers who do not have TSA PreCheck or CLEAR. You book a time for your party to go through TSA screening, then show up at the dedicated Reserve lane and scan your QR code. TSA then checks your boarding pass and ID and you go through standard screening.

• Terminals A, B and C all have Reserve lanes, with a limited number of slots each day.
• You can book up to 7 days ahead.
• A reservation covers up to 10 people.
• Terminals A and B: lane hours are 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., for flights departing between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.
• Terminal C: lane hours are 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., for flights departing between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Book on the MCO Reserve page linked from flymco.com/security.

TSA PreCheck is open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, and to Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI members. Members can keep shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets in. MCO says PreCheck normally runs from 4:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Lanes can be closed outside those hours, so use the TSA PreCheck checkpoint link on flymco.com/security to confirm for your flight.

MCO's airline list shows PreCheck for every airline except GOL, and it posts PreCheck waits for all three checkpoints.

Enroll at the airport: you can apply at any of the three CLEAR locations at the checkpoints. The fee is $85 and covers five years. Most people get their Known Traveler Number in three to five days. Bring proof of identity and citizenship, and expect fingerprints and a photo. A TSA PreCheck enrollment center is also on Level 2 of Terminal B near baggage claim 23, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Prices change, so check the TSA or MCO page before you apply.

CLEAR uses your biometrics to take you to a dedicated lane, so you skip the regular line and go straight to screening. MCO says you can sign up on the CLEAR website or at the airport, and that CLEAR staff are at all three checkpoints.

MCO's own pages are not fully consistent about where CLEAR lanes are. One page says enrollment is at three checkpoints for Gates 70 to 129, another says three CLEAR locations at the checkpoints. MCO does not say whether each checkpoint has a CLEAR lane, so check the CLEAR app or ask at the checkpoint.

CLEAR Plus members can also book CLEAR Ambassador Assist. An ambassador meets you on arrival, helps with luggage and takes you to the CLEAR lane (Curb-to-CLEAR) or all the way to your gate (Curb-to-Gate). Book through the CLEAR website.

Gates 100 to 129 are reached by Gate Link tram after security. MCO is replacing the Gate Link trams to gates 70 to 129 through fall 2027. The airport's schedule:

• Gate Link 4700 (gates 100 to 129): July to December 2026.
• Gate Link 4600 (gates 70 to 99): December 2026 to June 2027.
• Gate Link 4500 (gates 70 to 99): June to October 2027.

During the day one Gate Link keeps running, unless a problem stops both trams. MCO says most travelers will add only a few extra minutes. A normal one-way ride is about 1 minute 30 seconds.

COBUS shuttle buses run 24 hours a day between gates 70 to 99 and gates 100 to 129. They are the only option when the Gate Link is not running, for example overnight. MCO says the wait is 1 to 2 minutes if any and the trip takes under 5 minutes. They are wheelchair accessible, and large bags are not allowed on them.

One rule matters: if you are going to gates 100 to 129, stay inside the secured area when you change trams. If you leave it, you have to go back through the checkpoint.

If you arrive on an international flight and connect, you clear Customs, recheck your bags, then go through TSA security again. MCO's international connection guide says:

• Gates 70 to 129: follow signs to TSA security and continue to your gate.
• Gates 1 to 59: take the Gate Link, leave the secured area and go through the 1 to 59 checkpoint, then board the Gate Link for your gate.
• Terminal C (from Terminals A and B): take the Gate Link, leave the secured area and ride the Terminal Link (about 4 minutes) to Terminal C.
• Arriving at Terminal C: exit onto Level 6. Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Avianca, Azul, Copa, Discover, Emirates, Icelandair and JetBlue have recheck counters outside the exit doors. For other airlines, go straight to your airline check-in counter. Then use the Level 2 security checkpoint to reach gates 230 to 254.

TSA runs the checkpoints, so comments about screening go to TSA at 1-866-289-9673 or TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov. If something goes missing from your bag, contact your airline first. You can also file a claim with TSA or call the Orlando Police Department information desk at (407) 246-2470, open 24 hours.

If you need a hand through the airport, MCO lists three concierge services: Air General Travel Services (844-377-9674), Allways (407-669-2360) and SkySquad (877-359-2256). Hoverboards should not go in carry-on or checked bags, because most airlines have banned them.