Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is not only Florida’s busiest airport but also one of the busiest in the whole United States, serving over 57 million passengers per year in 2025. MCO is situated about 6 miles southeast of Orlando’s downtown and 20 miles from Walt Disney World, which means that this airport is the main point of entry to the one of the most visited tourism areas in the world, connecting visitors to such tourist attractions as Disney World, Universal Orlando, Kennedy Space Center, and Port Canaveral cruise terminals.

However, being not just the connection to the theme park area, MCO earned its fame as the most friendly for the passengers among the US airports, as it has its own in-terminal hotel, excellent duty-free shopping zone, and high-speed rail service to Miami. MCO includes three terminal complexes: Terminal A, Terminal B, and recently renovated Terminal C, connected with each other with the help of a people mover system and serving over 850 flights daily flown by 40 different airlines to more than 170 domestic and foreign destinations.

Airlines Operating at Orlando International Airport (MCO)

The airport follows the hub-and-spoke system whereby the airport is divided into two terminals: the North Terminal Complex, which includes Terminals A & B, and the South Terminal Complex, which houses Terminal C, both of which are connected through a tram system. Airlines operate from each terminal depending on their historical operation and availability of gates; hence, knowing your terminal ahead of time can save you a lot of time.

• Terminal A – Airsides 1 & 2 (Gates 1-29, 100-129): Serves airlines including Southwest, Frontier, Spirit, Allegiant, Avelo, and JetBlue for domestic departures.
• Terminal B – Airsides 3 & 4 (Gates 30-59, 70-99): This terminal serves American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, WestJet, and LATAM. Airside 4 of Terminal B is known for its extensive shopping and dining options.
• Terminal C (Gates 230-245): This is the $2.8 billion state-of-the-art terminal that was opened in September 2022. It serves international airlines including British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, Aer Lingus, Norse Atlantic, and Avianca. Also serves JetBlue international flights as well as Southwest, expanding services. Virgin Atlantic recently relocated its operations here in mid-2026.
• Hub and Strategic Location: Southwest Airlines has MCO as one of their key operating hubs, while JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit, and Breeze Airways have MCO as their focus city, reaffirming the status of the airport as the main air link into the tourism economy of Central Florida.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) Baggage Claim

The MCO baggage claim area is found throughout all three terminals but is structured differently depending on which terminal you arrive in.

• Terminals A & B: Baggage claim takes place mainly at Level 2, but there are also some carousels located at Level 1. Both terminals are located at different ends of the same building and are linked via an atrium at Level 3.
• Terminal C: Baggage claim is carried out at Level 6 while the customs and immigration procedures take place at the upper levels for international travelers.
• Tip on Timing: 20 minutes should suffice to get from the gate to the baggage claim area (unless you’re coming from a far airside where it might take closer to 40 minutes since many gates involve taking the people mover to the main terminal).

Lost & Found and Baggage Irregularities

In case you’ve got a missing suitcase, your first port of call would be the airline’s baggage desk at the arrivals carousel; major airlines usually have such a counter at their respective terminals.

• Lost & Found: MCO has its own lost and found offices at Terminal A (Level 1, Ground Transportation), operating from 7:00 am to 7:30 pm and Terminal C (Level 1), operating from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Any item found in Terminal C gets transported to the office at Terminal A at 4:00 pm daily.
• Reporting the Case: The claims can be made either online, by calling (407) 825-2111, or in person. The Lost & Found services are free of charge at MCO, and the airport does not recommend using any third-party companies that claim a fee for retrieving your luggage.
• Additional Information: Carts for transporting your luggage are located next to the arrival carousels, while luggage storage can be used in Terminal B, level 1, near the Dollar Car Rental counter.

Lounges at Orlando International Airport (MCO)

The airport features seven lounges distributed among the three terminals, including airline lounges and independent pay lounges.

Lounges in Terminal A

• Club MCO (Airside 1, adjacent to Gates 1-29)
• USO Lounge (military and their families, landside)

Lounges in Terminal B

• Admirals Club (American Airlines, Airside 3)
• Delta Sky Club (Airside 4, adjacent to Gate 71)
• United Club (Airside 4, adjacent to Gate 43)
• Club MCO (Airside 4, adjacent to Gate 91)

Lounges in Terminal C

• Plaza Premium Lounge (Palm Court area, Level 2)

Access to Lounge Programs

• Priority Pass – accepted in both locations of Club MCO and Plaza Premium Lounge
• Day passes – available at The Club MCO, United Club, Admirals Club, and Plaza Premium Lounge
• Elite members or eligible credit cards – necessary for admission into Delta Sky Club and United Club, and the Admirals Club is also accessible for Citi AAdvantage Executive card members and eligible oneworld elites

Important: MCO doesn’t have Amex Centurion Lounge, Capital One Lounge, or Chase Sapphire Lounge

Parking at Orlando International Airport (MCO)

At MCO, visitors have an array of parking options both on-airport and off-airport, which is priced according to the type of lot. Prices listed below are 2026 prices as provided by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA).

Short Term / Garage Parking

• Locations: Garages A and B cater to the North Terminal Complex while Garage C is directly attached to Terminal C. Terminal Top Parking is situated in the rooftop area above the terminal building.
• Prices: $2.00 for the first 21 – 30 minutes and about $1.00 for each additional 15 minutes, with a daily cap of about $19 (for Garages A/B and Terminal Top) or $17 (Garage C).
• Used For: Short-term parking and drop-offs where convenience is prioritized over price.

Economy Parking

• Locations: North and South Park Place Economy Lots located at the airport.
• Prices: A flat price of $10 per day, which is about half the price of the covered garage parking.
• Shuttles: A free, round-the-clock shuttle service to all terminals.

Valet Parking

• Service: Pull up, give your keys to someone outside your vehicle, and your car will be parked for you – perfect for travelers carrying lots of luggage or who have difficulty walking.
• Cost: About $9.59 per hour, not exceeding $28.76 per day.

Off-Site/Off-Airport Parking and Private Parking

• Cost: Rates from independent providers near the airport vary from around $7.99-$14 per day, and there are some discounts available on their websites.
• Information: Most off-site parking lots require a 10-20 minute shuttle transfer; thus, plan extra time for domestic (two-hour) or international (three-hour) check-in period.

Cell Phone Waiting Lots

• Description: Two waiting lots are provided for people who drive to the airport and need to wait for passengers to arrive. One North cell phone lot is free, while the other South one gives up to two hours of free parking.

Shopping at Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Theme park shopping is one of the main directions of MCO’s shopping opportunities.

Duty-Free and Retail Stores

• Duty-Free Stores: You can find several duty-free shops in international departure areas, especially Terminal C, where you will be able to buy cheaper fragrances and spirits.
• Theme Parks & Florida Theme Retail: A variety of merchants located throughout Terminals A, B, and C offer theme park merchandise and souvenirs, from Florida-themed clothing to souvenirs.
• High-end Merchants: In addition to newsstands and convenience stores, Terminals A, B, and C all have high-end boutiques offering designer accessories, sunglasses, and travel goods.

F&B RETAIL

• Food Court: A central food court exists between Terminals A and B on Level 3, offering a wide variety of quick-service and casual food.
• Full-service Restaurants: There are full-service restaurants in the main terminal and Terminal C, along with regional and national coffee chains.
• Airside Dining: Each airside concourse features its own group of dining establishments so travelers do not need to exit the gate area in order to get something to eat.

Shopping Tips

• International Departures & Duty Free: Duty-free shopping is tied to your departing flight, so allow extra time before boarding, especially when in peak departures.
• Check Your Gate Location: Due to the fact that Terminals A and B are duplicates of each other, check that you have the correct gate location before looking for a particular shop or restaurant.

MCO Orlando International Airport Smoking Policy

Unlike many other international airports, MCO is a smoke-free indoor airport. This is because of the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, implemented in 2003, making smoking in enclosed public places illegal throughout Florida.

• Indoor: Smoking, vaping, and using e-cigarettes is forbidden inside any part of the airport building – including the gates, concourse areas, lavatories, food courts, and even airline lounges.
• Smoking Zones: Special smoking areas are available for use outdoors near the entrances to the terminal building at both arrivals and departures levels of Terminals A, B, and C.
• Post-Security: There are no smoking areas on the post-security side of the checkpoint. Anyone wishing to smoke after passing through the security checks has to leave the restricted area and re-pass through TSA screening – which can take 15-25 minutes.
• Penalties: Smoking in non-approved places might lead to civil penalties that would begin at about $100 for the first offense and will increase further for multiple violations; in addition, smoking offenders might be banned from the airport grounds.

Conclusion

While Orlando International Airport is not as majestic and impressive as some other world-class airports, it definitely makes up for it by its efficiency and accessibility, catering perfectly to the millions of tourists arriving at the airport annually on their way to theme parks. Thanks to its well-structured terminals and people mover, as well as innovations like MCO Reserve, which allows avoiding long lines when going through security screening, Orlando International Airport, or MCO, is designed for quick travel. Furthermore, great lounges, duty-free shopping, the option of staying at an in-terminal hotel, and access to the Brightline train all make it easy to understand why MCO always ranks among America’s best airports.

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