Is 45 minutes enough at MCO? 24% of inbound flights landed too late for it, allowing 30 minutes to reach the next gate. Book 90 minutes to keep the risk under 1 in 10, or 120 in July.
Separately, 2.3% of flights into MCO were cancelled or diverted (3.4% in July). That isn't a missed connection in the same sense: on one booking the airline rebooks you, though it can still cost you the day.
Check your exact itinerary through MCO →
Missed-connection risk by layover and month
Share of flights that landed at MCO too late for the connection (cancellations not included), pooled over 2023–2026. Read across your travel month.
| Layover | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 min | 29% | 25% | 31% | 24% | 30% | 33% | 38% | 35% | 23% | 22% | 21% | 30% | 29% |
| 50 min | 21% | 18% | 23% | 17% | 22% | 25% | 30% | 27% | 16% | 15% | 14% | 21% | 21% |
| 60 min | 15% | 13% | 18% | 12% | 17% | 20% | 24% | 22% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 16% | 16% |
| 75 min | 11% | 10% | 14% | 9% | 13% | 15% | 18% | 17% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 12% | 12% |
| 90 min | 8% | 7% | 11% | 7% | 10% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 9% | 9% |
| 120 min | 5% | 5% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 6% |
Counts flights that landed; cancelled and diverted inbound flights are reported separately above. Assumes 30 minutes to get off the plane and reach the next gate, and that the onward flight leaves on time. A terminal change or re-checking bags needs more.
Late in the day is riskier
Share of flights that would miss a 60-minute connection, by scheduled arrival time at MCO (past 12 months). Delays pile up through the day.
Riskiest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| DFW Dallas | 4,892 | 25% |
| LGA New York | 5,149 | 21% |
| BOS Boston | 4,605 | 21% |
| ATL Atlanta | 8,267 | 20% |
| CLT Charlotte | 4,734 | 19% |
| PHL Philadelphia | 5,338 | 19% |
| HPN White Plains | 1,184 | 19% |
| JFK New York | 4,804 | 19% |
| ORD Chicago | 6,220 | 18% |
| MIA Miami | 3,700 | 18% |
| RIC Richmond | 1,190 | 18% |
| DAL Dallas | 2,653 | 17% |
Safest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| SFO San Francisco | 1,376 | 7% |
| SEA Seattle | 1,818 | 9% |
| SLC Salt Lake City | 1,483 | 9% |
| IAH Houston | 3,569 | 12% |
| MKE Milwaukee | 1,432 | 12% |
| HOU Houston | 2,057 | 13% |
| IAD Washington | 2,180 | 13% |
| MCI Kansas City | 1,555 | 13% |
| SJU San Juan | 6,134 | 13% |
| PIT Pittsburgh | 2,238 | 13% |
| IND Indianapolis | 2,460 | 13% |
| CVG Cincinnati | 1,833 | 14% |
Last flights of the day from MCO
If your inbound runs late and you miss one of these, the next flight is usually the next morning. Typical last scheduled departure over the past three months:
| To | Last departure | Flights / day |
|---|---|---|
| IAD Washington | 7:05 p.m. | 5.6 |
| CMH Columbus | 7:05 p.m. | 4.6 |
| DFW Dallas | 7:18 p.m. | 12.9 |
| IAH Houston | 7:20 p.m. | 8.2 |
| EWR Newark | 7:25 p.m. | 12.2 |
| CLT Charlotte | 7:32 p.m. | 12.6 |
| AUS Austin | 7:50 p.m. | 8.3 |
| LAX Los Angeles | 7:55 p.m. | 9.5 |
| LGA New York | 7:57 p.m. | 10.9 |
| CLE Cleveland | 7:59 p.m. | 5.9 |
| JFK New York | 8:03 p.m. | 11.7 |
| RDU Raleigh | 8:09 p.m. | 6.9 |
| BOS Boston | 8:40 p.m. | 10.3 |
| DEN Denver | 8:43 p.m. | 12.6 |
| IND Indianapolis | 8:45 p.m. | 6.1 |
| PIT Pittsburgh | 8:45 p.m. | 6.3 |
| MIA Miami | 8:50 p.m. | 8.8 |
| ATL Atlanta | 8:55 p.m. | 21.9 |
| MDW Chicago | 8:55 p.m. | 7.1 |
| ORD Chicago | 8:59 p.m. | 14 |
| DTW Detroit | 8:59 p.m. | 7.9 |
| DCA Washington | 9:08 p.m. | 12.3 |
| PHL Philadelphia | 9:21 p.m. | 13.7 |
| DAL Dallas | 9:40 p.m. | 7 |
| HOU Houston | 9:50 p.m. | 5.7 |
| BWI Baltimore | 9:55 p.m. | 11.9 |
| BNA Nashville | 9:55 p.m. | 9.8 |
| MSY New Orleans | 9:55 p.m. | 5.8 |
| STL St. Louis | 10:30 p.m. | 6.6 |
| SJU San Juan | 11:17 p.m. | 19.7 |
Questions
Is 45 minutes enough for a connection at MCO?
Often, not always. Over the past year 24% of flights into Orlando landed too late to leave 30 minutes to reach the next gate on a 45-minute layover. With 60 minutes it was 16%; with 90, 9%. Separately, 2.3% of inbound flights were cancelled or diverted; on one booking the airline rebooks you.
How long a layover do I need at MCO?
To keep the risk of a late inbound below 1 in 10, about 90 minutes on an average month and 120 minutes in July, the worst month. Add time if you change terminals or need to re-check bags.
An estimate from past arrival delays, not a guarantee. On one ticket, the airline will rebook you if you misconnect. On separate tickets you're on your own, so leave far more time. Method.