This week I flew into MCO for the first time. When the train arrived to the main terminal, a TSO strolled alongside it, peering into every empty car, before the doors opened and passengers were allowed to board. Is this normal? What are they looking for?

It felt like taking the train to from West Germany to West Berlin before reunification. (Well, without the dogs and the machine guns.)

I ran into this last September when they were just starting it. It has to do with the international arrivals. In the past, they've been screened in the airsides, even if they were planning on departing right away. Now, they're funneled right into the train. It makes sense, but it means that the trains aren't "sterile" and have to be checked by TSA.

Now of course, it would be incredibly easy to hide something in the train. But we're talking about TSA here.

It makes sense to check the trains,if you're going to have security you should be checking everything.Re the TSA, I believe they are not doing all that should be done or doing what they do in the right way for political reasons beyond their control,but the trains should be checked. Either it should be done right or not bother at all.El Al type security should be the standard, or go back to as before.I have flown into MCO many times and have seen several lapses that should be addressed, and that was one.

This has nothing to do with the TSA all of a sudden trying to improve their efficiency or close any loopholes.

As mentioned it has to do with international arrivals at MCO.

When the current MCO terminal and airsides opened in the 80's, Orlando had very little regularly scheduled international traffic.

Arriving international passengers would deplane at the departure level of the airside and then, at one of only several specially equipped gates, walk down a ramp to the lower level, claim their bags, clear INS and then right after clearing INS you had to put your bags back on the carrousel, go back up to the main departure level, take the tram to the main terminal and then claim your bags again from one of the domestic baggage carrousels.

Because there was so little international traffic the airport authority figured both passengers and airlines would put up with this ridiculous double bag-claim system.

In the years since international traffic has grown exponentially and both passengers and airlines have grown sick of the double bag-claim system so in an attempt to make things easier, arriving international passengers now deplane on the same level as domestic passengers and take the train to the main terminal where they are now screened by INS and pick up their bags just once.

Its still a stupid system but one that won’t change until Orlando sacks up and builds a proper international terminal.

Does anyone have an update on when the MCO South Terminal is supposed to actually be more than dirt and underground pipe work? It's been years in the planning and I know they've tried to squeeze as much efficiency out of the current building.

it's a joke... waste of time

It isn't an issue of just the City and Airport Authority dragging their feet but rather the airlines.

To help defray building and maintenance costs MCO assesses so-called 'signatory' airlines [supposedly only the biggest airlines serving MCO] to pay these expenses. In exchange the airlines get a huge say in when, or if, any capital projects get the go ahead.

As long as VS, BA, LF, WN, B6, and FL are willing to put up with the current conditions there will be no new south/international terminal complex.

Have you watched them do this check?

I could hide from them and it's lot like I have given it much thought.

The TSA agents doing this check are apparently the bottom of the rung (And considering my thoughts on the overall quality of the avg TSA agent... )

Once again "window dressing" on security!