Passengers at Orlando Airport can use 3 terminals divided by airline. The airport is large and, in addition to the 3 main terminals, is divided into additional buildings with departure gates.
Due to the frequent long queues, arrive at least 2.5 hours in advance of your flight.
Terminals A, B
The central building is divided into Terminals A and B, although it's effectively one huge lobby divided by an atrium with restaurants and security screening on either side.
After passing through security, automated trains will then take you to four different satellite terminals where aircraft are parked. Free trains run every 3-4 minutes and the journey time is around 2-3 minutes.
Although the four satellite buildings belong to a specific terminal, once you have passed through security you can go to all departure gates, regardless of whether you have checked in at Terminal A or B.
- Gates 1 - 29: West security checkpoint
- Gates 30 - 59: West security checkpoint
- Gates 70 - 99: East security checkpoint
- Gates 100 - 129: East security checkpoint
Terminal C
Terminal C, the newest terminal opened in 2000, is located approximately 1 mile south of Terminals A, B and contains only one building.
The central area is used for check-in and security checks, beyond which you will immediately find yourself in the departure gate area. Therefore, you do not need to take the automated trains or buses to the planes within Terminal C.
Terminal C uses departure gates 230 - 253.
Which terminal?
Where do you check in for your airline flight?
- Terminal A: Air Transat, Avelo, Avianca, Copa, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, Virgin Atlantic
- Terminal B: AeroMexico, Air Canada, Alaska, Ameircan, Bahamasair, Breeze, Canada Jetlines, Delta, LATAM, Silver Airways, Sun Country, United, Volaris, Westjet
- Terminal C: Aer Lingus, Azul, British Airways, Caribbean, Emirates, Discover Airlines, GOL, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Lynx Air, Norse, Sunwing
Airport map
An interactive map of the entire airport and each terminal can be found on the airport's official website: orlandoairports.net/terminal-maps.
Transportation between terminals
How do I get between terminals?
Terminal A <-> Terminal B
Connecting between Terminals A and B is very easy as they are effectively a single building, with the northern part of the building designated as Terminal A and the southern part as Terminal B.
Terminals A/B <-> Terminal C
The connection from Terminal A/B to Terminal C is only possible via the landside in two ways.
- Shuttle bus: runs 24 hours a day at intervals of about 10 minutes (20-30 minutes at night). The journey takes 7 minutes.
- Stop at Terminal B - Level 1, seat B16
- Stop at Terminal C - Level 1, seat C272
- Automatic train: runs 24 hours a day at intervals of about 5 minutes (15-30 minutes at night). The journey takes 5 minutes.
- Stop at Terminal B - near Eastern Security Checkpoint
- Stop at Terminal C - near the train station, you can walk to the terminal through the parking garage in 5 minutes
Transfer between flights
How do I transfer in Orlando between connecting flights?
In most cases, you will only have to transfer within Terminals A/B or Terminal C. It is rare to transfer between Terminals A/B and C.
If you are transferring between Terminals A and B, you are effectively staying in one transit zone, but due to the zoning of several buildings, you may have to take an automated train.
What checks do I go through when I transfer?
What are the exact procedures for each type of transfer?
- International -> International: immigration and security check
- International -> domestic: immigration and security check
- Domestic -> international: no check
- National -> national: no check
Do I have to leave the transit zone when transferring between terminals?
If you arrive in Orlando on an international flight, you must always exit the transit area, go through immigration and move through the outside area to the check-in counters. You will check in again and go through security into the transit area.
If you are arriving from another destination within the U.S., in certain cases you can proceed directly to the connecting departure gate without leaving the transit area, for both domestic and international connecting flights.
Transfer within Terminals A/B
The following procedures apply to transfers from domestic flights only.
- Gates 1-29 <-> Gates 1-29: You stay in the same building, do not have to go through security and do not need to use the automatic train
- 5-10 minutes
- Gates 1-29 <-> Gates 30-59: you do not need to go through security, you take the train first to the central terminal where you change to a second automatic train to the next building
- 15-30 minutes
- Gates 1-29 <-> Gates 70-129: Take the train to the central terminal, exit the transit area and go through security on the other side of the lobby to board the next train
- 30-50 minutes
- Gates 30-59 <-> Gates 30-59: You stay in one building, do not have to go through security and do not need to use the automated train
- 5-10 minutes
- Gates 30-59 <-> Gates 70-129: Take the train to the central terminal, exit the transit area and go through security on the other side of the lobby to board the next train
- 30-50 minutes
- Gates 70-99 <-> Gates 70-99: You stay in one building, do not have to go through security and do not need to use the automated train
- 5-10 minutes
- Gates 70-99 <-> Gates 100-129: you do not have to go through security, you take the train first to the central terminal where you change to a second automatic train to the next building
- 15-30 minutes
- Gates 100-129 <-> Gates 100-129: You stay in one building, do not have to go through security and do not need to use the automatic train
- 5-10 minutes
Transfer within Terminal C
Terminal C has only one building, so transferring here is very easy.
You don't have to leave the transit area, you don't go through security and you don't need to use any automatic trains.
Do I need to pick up my luggage?
If you are arriving at Orlando Airport from abroad, you must always pick up your luggage and re-deliver it at the check-in counter.
If you are flying from a destination within the US and have a layover of no more than 8 hours, your baggage will be automatically transferred. It does not matter whether you continue on an international or domestic flight.
Do I need to apply for ESTA?
Every time you transfer from an international flight, you must collect your baggage and exit the transit area.
Therefore, you must have an electronic ESTA to enter the United States (for 21 usd online processing at the official website: esta.cbp.dhs.gov).
How long does the immigration check take?
If you arrive during off-peak hours, you can be in the public section in 20 minutes, but especially in the afternoon peak hours for arrivals from Europe or South America, the line at immigration control can be longer than 2 hours.
If you have less than 1.5 hours to transfer, it is advisable to tell the informants that you have a tight transfer before you join the queue. In this case, you may be sent to the priority queue.
If you do not make your guaranteed connection due to the length of the immigration check, the airline will arrange the next flight free of charge. However, accommodation at the airline's expense will not be provided in these cases.
Do I go through passport control on departure?
No. There is no longer an immigration check on departure from the USA.
