ORLANDO, Fla. – Planning to fly over the next 10 days?
According to MCO, the Thanksgiving holiday travel rush at Orlando International Airport won’t be as bad as last year, which set a record.
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MCO blames reduced flight schedules and aircraft delivery delays.
But it will still be busy enough that airport parking lots may fill to capacity.
So how do you snag a spot?
Start by downloading MCO’s hugely-improved app, and then reserve a parking space NOW. More on that later.
[RELATED: 5 hacks to find parking at Orlando International Airport]
To build the brand-new all-things-MCO app, airport staff conducted surveys, focus groups and one-on-one interviews to find out what travelers want and need in an airport app.
MCO put the important stuff - the things you have to know if you’re flying out today or picking up someone today - right on the home screen on one page.
The “Track Your Flight” option at the top lets you scroll through a list and click on your flight. The feature will instantly show you the terminal and gate from which your flight is departing and, most importantly, if the flight is on time.
And then your tracked flight stays there on top of the screen!
Below that is “Parking Availability.” Click on it to see which lots are open, which ones are full, and how much they charge. Every single lot on airport property is displayed and the information is current and in real-time.
#Parkinghack from MCO Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Angela Starke: don’t forget to check the newer surface lots!
“The three surface lots, recently renamed Atlantis, Endeavour and Discovery, are located in front of the Train Station,” said Starke. “These lots, along with the Overflow parking area, offer approximately 2,000 spaces on airport property. Atlantis, Endeavour and Discovery are only accessible with E-Pass and SunPass Plus. SunPass customers must be enrolled with Easy Pay, and a transponder must be used to enter and exit the lots.”
Also remember, MCO lets you reserve your parking spot in Terminal C ahead of time so you can make sure you get a space. When you click on “Parking Availability” you’ll see the feature at the top. Click on “Book Your Parking.” You’ll pay a bit more but your parking spot will be guaranteed even if all lots are full when you arrive.
[WATCH: How to reserve parking on the MCO app]
“Even with these additional spaces, and availability in the garages, Terminal Top, and the North, South, West and Overflow lots, parking may reach capacity,” Starke said. “Passengers are asked to consider using a rideshare program, taxi service or have someone drop them off.”
The coolest #parkinghack is also on the homepage: “Remember My Parking Spot.” No more wandering around the parking lot after you land to find your car! Click on the feature and enter your parking location so the app remembers it for you.
The app homepage also shows real-time TSA checkpoint security line waits for all three terminals - A, B and C.
So many other neat features are built into this app. I recommend downloading it not just before you leave the house but even the night before your trip so you can spend some time clicking through it.
It’s got directions to all of the parking lots, gas stations, car rental pickups and many other locations - and the best part is when you click on the “Directions” feature, it’ll put the address (the correct, verified address) in your map app so you don’t waste time driving around.
And if there’s something you’re looking for either outside the airport or inside the terminals, try the “Where is...” feature. Let’s say you’re trying to find the Orlando City Pub (yes, there is one!) and you’re standing at Southwest Curbside Check-in. Select where you are and where you want to go and the app will give you turn-by-turn directions!
Check out the “Where is...” feature and I bet you’ll discover places at the airport you didn’t know existed.
MCO predicts 1.9 million passengers will pass through from Nov. 22 until Dec. 3.
The busiest day of the Thanksgiving holiday travel rush will be the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Dec. 1, “which is projected to see a total of 181,688 arriving and departing passengers.”
“Do not arrive early to pick up a passenger. Have your party call you when they are ready for pickup from the curb, not before,” Starke said. “Please use our Travel Plaza and North and South free cell phone waiting areas while waiting. Do not park on the shoulders of airport roadways, which are patrolled by OPD.”
Download the MCO app for Apple HERE.
Download the MCO app for Android HERE.
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