Carriers generally want to keep airport costs down - even things that aren't carrier-related because U.S. airports have a single fin ops statement. Raise parking fees for vehicles and lower air carrier passenger charges. (Yes, there are examples of this.) There are some infamous examples in the last 20 years: Southwest threatening to leave SEA for Boeing Field, Alaska delaying the expansion of SEA Intl Arrivals that's now underway... Square footage and improvements to airport access seem to come in big, slow increments but I like a variety of concessions and a high level of cleanliness, too.

I don't know that an extra $5/passenger is going to cause a family to skip MCO in favor of vacationing in Fort Lauderdale but I do expect DL would fight an extra $5 in passenger charges vs. its primary competition at MCO.

Finally, MCO is a big airport. In domestic O&D it's as big as ATL; bigger than BOS/EWR/SEA/DFW. In general, passenger satisfaction scores are higher at mid-size airports than large airports. (People concede frequency and # of non-stop destinations for less hassle/shorter walks.) If the OP is headed for the east side of Orlando and is already connecting xxx-xxx-MCO he might try flying into DAB.

I generally agree with others complaints at MCO and this is likely the result of having a lot of price sensitive leisure travelers. That being said, I find MCO to be one of the nicer airports that I visit somewhat regularly. I am used to SEA and LAX though, so its a low bar here.

Exactly. I really never understand the hate that MCO seems to get on a regular basis. It's a big, busy airport with a lot of tourists. But it's quick, car rental is still on site, there are plenty of places to sit in the Delta area if you don't need to be right at your gate, employees are mostly friendly, food options in the main terminal are fine, in airport nice hotel, lounge is decent, etc.

Like posted above, there are certainly many worse airports around.

I am not sure why you find SW side better personally the Security lines are just as bad and it's a nightmare over there too.

I had the opportunity to speak with a manager at MCO once. He honestly was an idiot and I assume is a political appointee. His concern for the passenger experience was non- existent LOL! I suggested they contact an amusement park to learn how to do line management. He seemed to think that it was an acceptable experience for guests to wait an hour and be screamed at by HIS staff (note the screamers where NOT TSA agents but airport employees who apparently thought that the lines were the fault of the guests for daring to want to fly out of their airport.) And their train is down recovery method is "PANIC because this can't happen" (REALLY?)

I don't blame Delta and I think even if we paid more to fly there it wouldn't help (unless the management wants a pay raise)

MCO is an incredibly poorly run airport which wasn't always true, but I don't have any hope it's going to get better.

There just isn't much competition or incentive to improve. People will continue to fly into MCO to go to Disney or wherever else they want. Unless there is some sort of low cost high speed transit between TPA and Orlando, the airport won't lose passengers due to being poorly run.

Agreed. I'm not sure what DL could do about this, but the other piers seem far less crowded. I wonder if they have the ability to distribute some flights there. 70-79 reminds me of the T2 debacle at JFK when boarding a bunch of RJs at the same time.

The airport will improve when the convention and visitors bureau starts getting feedback that conventions are not booking in Orlando because the airport is crappy.

Somehow I don't see that happening anytime soon. Where are they going to go instead? Vegas? That airport is no better.

WN and DL use the same security checkpoint but different airside. The WN airside is newer and has much nicer food court area with better restaurants.

DL only leases the 70-79 pier, the rest of the airside is CUTE and managed by GOAA with the INTL airlines getting first preference before and DL can use it if there is space. The 80-89 and 90-99 pier are dead from 9am-2pm but in the afternoon are packed with several widebodys going to Europe.

Actually, lots of those thousands people who getting off from cruise ship at Port Carnavel near Melbourne. That's why they got lots of charters bus from the ports. They transport to airports. Where they drop it off at the terminals. Yes! That's why it's so extremely overcrowded! The lines is very super long.

lol, what? Did you just say that out loud? There are about a million reasons to need to talk to a GA. What an absurd comment.

Funny, it seems when I talk to them t-60 that it doesn't affect boarding at all. Plus, there are usually 2 or 3 of them and normally 1 scanning BPs.

I fly into both MCO and TPA regularly and I find MCO to be so much better, TPA doesn't have Clear and I hate that I have to take 2 shuttle trams to get from the Car Rental to the Gate.

Just as a counter point to the conventional wisdom of this thread, don't forget that MCO and LAS are also huge convention hosts.

I actually don't enjoy either city but invariably I end up at each about twice each year on average due to conventions including HIMSS (healthcare IT) which is so big it can only be held in those two cities...and yes more dining options please!