Have you been curious about Orlando International Airport’s (MCO) swanky $2.8 million, 1.2 million square foot Terminal C? The one that opened to much fanfare and reviews in September 2022, offering towering “Forever Trees” and a series of massive immersive multimedia experiences and installations?
Or do you wish you could wait at the gate to welcome a friend or family member landing at Orlando International, or that you had more time to spend with someone before he or she left Orlando for a flight?
This is your chance.
Want more airport-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation Newsletter!
During Labor Day, Orlando International Airport introduced the Experience MCO Visitor Pass, which gives Terminal C access to up to 50 ticketless visitors per day.
Those wanting to visit the terminal can register online up to seven days in advance or take their chances and wait until the day they want to visit. The application form requests basic personal information, including date of birth, gender, and full legal name, exactly as it appears on your Transportation Security Administration-approved photo ID.
Once your application is submitted, the TSA will review the request and send an approval status email after midnight on the day of the requested visit. Same-day applications are allowed, and the TSA promises to send an approval status email within 15 minutes.
Related: Most airport visitor pass programs are back up and running
Approved visitors without a ticket will receive a digital pass via email and must present it in digital form (no paper printouts allowed) along with photo ID at the Terminal C TSA checkpoint between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM on the approved date. Pass holders will be sent through the same security screening procedures as ticketed passengers and must leave the terminal by 8:00 PM
Daily newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for the latest news, in-depth guides and exclusive offers from the experts at TPG
Officially a pilot program for now, airport officials see the Experience MCO Visitor Pass program as a “new and engaging way” to help the non-traveling public explore the unique amenities in Terminal C.
In addition to the immersive digital art installations, Terminal C amenities include more than 20 food and beverage options, including Orlando Brewing Bar & Bites and Chef Art Smith’s Sunshine Diner. Shopping options include the City Arts Market, featuring works by local artists, and branches of theme park souvenir shops in the Orlando area, including Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Orlando.
Other airports with visitor pass programs
While MCO’s new visitor pass program (for now) only allows non-ticketed passengers to apply for a day pass to visit Terminal C, other airports in the country allow visitor pass holders access to all areas open to ticketed passengers.
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), the first airport to offer a visitor pass program, and Tampa International Airport (TPA) have both suspended their popular visitor pass programs during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not yet restarted their programs. But here is a list of the airports that currently offer day pass programs for visitors without tickets. (Let us know if we missed anything).
Detroit: The DTW Destination Pass at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is offered seven days a week.
Flint, Michigan: The FNT Visitor Pass at Bishop International Airport (FNT) is available Monday through Friday. Participants have access to the airport once a month.
Lansing, Michigan: At Capital Region International Airport (LAN), the LAN Visitor Pass is limited to 25 visitors per day.
New Orleans: The MSY Guest Pass program at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is available seven days a week. Fifty visitors per day are allowed from Monday to Friday; On weekends, 100 visitors per day are allowed.
Orange County, California: The OC AirPass is offered daily at John Wayne Airport (SNA).
Ontario, California: Ontario International Airport (ONT) offers the ONT+ Visitor Pass program daily. The application asks if you want to visit Terminal 2 or Terminal 4.
Pasco, Washington: At Tri-Cities Airport (PSC), the PSC Pass is limited to 10 visitors per day. Participants can only receive one pass per month.
Seattle: The SEA Visitor Pass program at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) allows access to up to 300 visitors per day.
Tulsa, Oklahoma: The TUL Visitor Pass program at Tulsa International Airport (TUL) operates daily.