CLEAR+ can save you serious time at Orlando International Airport (MCO) — one of the busiest airports in the country — but only if you go to the right checkpoint. MCO has three TSA checkpoints with CLEAR+ biometric lanes, not one, and your gate determines which one you need. Here’s where each CLEAR location is, when the lanes are staffed, and the free alternative most travelers don’t know about.
MCO’s Three CLEAR+ Checkpoint Locations
Per CLEAR’s official MCO locations page, CLEAR+ identity-verification lanes are available at all three of MCO’s TSA checkpoints:
- Terminals A/B West Checkpoint — lanes near Gates 1–59
- Terminals A/B East Checkpoint — lanes near Gates 70–129
- Terminal C Checkpoint — serving Gates C230–C245
The rule of thumb: match the checkpoint to your gate. Flying from Gates 1–59? Use the West checkpoint. Gates 70–129? Use the East checkpoint. Gates C230–C245? Head to the Terminal C checkpoint. Going to the wrong checkpoint means a long walk back — or missing your flight.
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
CLEAR+ Lane Hours at MCO
These are the published CLEAR+ lane hours from clearme.com — note they are not the general TSA checkpoint hours. MCO does not publish official checkpoint operating hours (the airport FAQ notes the airport is open 24 hours but individual operations follow flight schedules), so don’t assume the checkpoint opens and closes with the CLEAR lanes.
- West Checkpoint (Gates 1–59): daily, 4:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- East Checkpoint (Gates 70–129): Monday–Saturday 4:00 AM – 8:30 PM; Sunday 4:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Terminal C Checkpoint: Monday–Thursday 4:00 AM – 7:30 PM; Friday–Sunday 4:00 AM – 8:00 PM
How CLEAR+ Works at MCO
CLEAR+ lets members skip the regular ID-check line: you verify your identity with a fingerprint or iris scan at a CLEAR kiosk, then go straight to physical screening. Enrollment is available at MCO’s checkpoints — you can sign up on the CLEAR website ahead of time or in person when you arrive at the airport, per flymco.com’s Speed Through MCO page.
TSA PreCheck Enrollment Through CLEAR
CLEAR also offers TSA PreCheck enrollment at MCO, daily 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM, at two confirmed locations:
- The Terminals A/B West Checkpoint (B side / west side of the checkpoint entrance for Gates 1–50)
- The Terminal C checkpoint (front of the checkpoint entrance for Gates 230–249)
One caveat: flymco.com states travelers “may apply at any of the three CLEAR locations at our TSA checkpoints,” but clearme.com’s own MCO page lists PreCheck enrollment only at the West and Terminal C checkpoints — enrollment at the East checkpoint could not be confirmed. If you’re heading to the East checkpoint to enroll, verify first.
Photo: Pexels (free Pexels license)
MCO Reserve: The Free Shortcut Most Travelers Miss
If you don’t have CLEAR+ or TSA PreCheck, MCO Reserve is the best-kept secret at the airport. It’s a free, CLEAR-powered service that lets you book a dedicated 15-minute security screening time slot up to 7 days in advance (the current figure on flymco.com — older articles citing 72 hours are outdated). All three terminals have dedicated MCO Reserve lanes.
- Terminals A & B: Reserve lanes open 5:00 AM – 5:00 PM (for flights departing 6:30 AM – 8:30 PM)
- Terminal C: Reserve lanes open 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM (for flights departing 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM)
At the lane, you scan your MCO Reserve QR code and proceed to standard TSA screening. It costs nothing — book it on flymco.com before your trip.
Check Live Wait Times Before You Go
MCO publishes live security checkpoint wait times on its website and in the free MCO App, so check conditions on travel day. For more screening tips and checkpoint strategy, see our MCO TSA wait times & tips guide and TSA PreCheck at MCO guide. If you’re still planning your route through the airport, the MCO departures guide walks you through check-in, security, and gates by terminal.
Time Your MCO Security Run with AirportGo
CLEAR+ only helps if you’re at the right checkpoint at the right time. Before your trip, use AirportGo to check your flight, see live TSA checkpoint wait times, and get step-by-step directions to the correct checkpoint for your gate — West, East, or Terminal C. After security, find food, lounges, and your gate without the guesswork.
Download AirportGo free and skip the security-line stress on your next Orlando trip:
