The Club MCO Airside 1 at Orlando International Airport Terminal A [Review]

I visited The Club MCO in Terminal A at Orlando International Airport with my husband in early December 2024. We were on our way home from Walt Disney World Resort and were wiped out from our trip, so this lounge — plus the XpresSpa next to it — was a nice place to unwind before boarding our flight.

The lounge was conveniently near our departure gate. Although we had to join a waitlist before getting in, that gave us time to relax in the massage chairs next door until it was our turn to enter. We found comfortable seating inside the club, a buffet, beverages, Wi-Fi, and a full-service bar. The lounge was at capacity during our visit, but aside from limited seating and a long line for the bathroom, we didn’t feel it was too busy to enjoy.

Let’s review the lounge’s amenities, food offerings, and overall experience so you know what to expect if you visit.

What Is The Club?

The Club airport lounges are available to Priority Pass members and passengers who purchase a Club Pass. They are open to passengers regardless of the airline or fare class they’re flying. At The Club locations, you can expect drinks, a buffet, Wi-Fi, restrooms, and seating. Sometimes, showers are available.

There are 21 The Club locations in the U.S., and some airports boast multiple locations, including Las Vegas (LAS), Orlando (MCO), San Jose (SJC), and Seattle (SEA). There are 5 global locations, including 3 in London airports.

The Club MCO Airside 1 Location

The Club MCO Airside 1 is in Orlando International Airport‘s Terminal A main concourse, serving gates 1 to 29.

Our gate was on the same concourse as The Club MCO Airside 1, so we only had to ride a train from the terminal’s security checkpoint to the concourse. It dropped us off right next to the lounge, which was very convenient. Our departure gate was down a corridor directly across from the lounge, a 5-minute walk away.

Hot Tip:

I’ve previously visited The Club MCO Airside 4, which is in Concourse 4 of Terminal B and serves gates 70 to 99. The Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal C and XpresSpa in Terminal B, Concourse 3, are also open to Priority Pass members, though they require a train ride to get there. Our detailed guide has a full list of airport lounges at MCO.

Gaining Entry

We were greeted at the door by a sign with a QR code to join the waitlist, but we talked to the front desk attendant first. They told us to scan the code, get on the waitlist, and wait for a text telling us when there was room for us in the lounge.

XpresSpa

It wasn’t clear how long we’d wait, but I spotted an XpresSpa next door. XpresSpa is open to select Priority Pass members, so I saw an opportunity to relax while waiting for lounge access.

Select Priority Pass members and their guests can use the zero-gravity massage chairs at the front of the spa. It was awkward that the chairs were at the front of the spa, and many people were walking by. However, after a long weekend of walking miles around Disney World, I was happy to hop into the massage chair and not care. Using the chair was relaxing, with heat, deep tissue massage, and soothing sounds. I’m glad we got wait-listed next door!

There were only 2 zero-gravity massage chairs, and another guest was using one of them, so my husband and I couldn’t use them simultaneously.

The attendant, who knew we might be called to the lounge soon, offered to split the time on the remaining zero-gravity chair in half so we wouldn’t be there for double the time. I used the zero-gravity chair for about 10 minutes, while my husband used a regular, less immersive massage chair. Then we swapped spots.

While in the second massage chair, I got the text that it was our turn to enter the lounge. We had just a few minutes left of massage time, which worked out perfectly.

Getting Into The Club

We both got into The Club (and XpresSpa) for free using my Priority Pass Select membership, which I get with my Chase Sapphire Reserve^®. My husband is an authorized user on the card and has a Priority Pass Select membership, but I brought him in as a guest for simplicity. We usually both have to use our memberships to get our family of 5 in!

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Although I used my Priority Pass membership to get in, you can purchase a day pass for $50 up to 6 hours before your flight time. The lounge can be accessed up to 3 hours before your scheduled flight departure and is open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Hot Tip:

If you get waitlisted at The Club, hit the XpresSpa next door for relaxation in a massage chair. But don’t plan to stay very long — it only took about 20 minutes for The Club to have room for our party of 2.

First Impressions

Coming off a waitlist, I suspected the lounge would be packed, and it was. Nearly all seats were full, but we found a small table near a window.

While the seating wasn’t plentiful, the lines for the bar and buffet were almost nonexistent. Most lounge visitors were relaxing or working quietly, so it was a surprisingly calm environment for a lounge at capacity.

This was a small lounge with mostly open-concept spaces, so it was easy to see available seats and spot when it was a low-traffic time to visit the buffet and bar. We could also see the restroom line, but there was always a long line.

Seating

There were 2 seating areas. The first was to the right, where the bar, buffet, and restrooms were. These were mainly small dining tables, though there was a large work table and a few seats at the bar. Most of these seats had a view of planes coming and going.

The other section was to the left and was more of a lounge. We sat on this side at a booth table and couldn’t be picky, as they were the only 2 seats available next to each other when we arrived.

The booth tables were smaller and slightly lower, which was less convenient for dining than the tables in the other room but still workable. Opposite the booth seating were armchairs with small pedestal tables.

This side didn’t have a view from the seats, though plenty of natural light came in through windows behind the booths.

In this room, there were charging stations at every table. The tables on the booth side had charging towers with power outlets and USB-A and USB-C ports. These were a little awkward, taking up foot space with cords everywhere, but it was better than not having power.

At the armchairs, regular wall outlets on tables between the seats were more convenient.

Kids Area

The lounge had a small nook for kids with a kid-size table and chairs and a broken gaming system. Kids were in the lounge but didn’t use this room during our visit. I’m guessing they avoided it because it was cramped and out of eyesight of all but a few lounge tables next to it.

The check-in desk had a station with coloring sheets and crayons for grab-and-go entertainment.

Food and Beverages

The lounge had a mostly cold buffet with beverages, including coffee, and a full-service bar.

Buffet

The buffet’s main offerings were salads, sandwiches, and pasta. It also offered fresh oranges, cookies, and dry snacks.

Vegetarian dishes included pasta, a Caprese sandwich, and salad.

On the cold side, sandwich bites were available. We could choose a Caprese sandwich on white or wheat buns or a turkey provolone slider on a roll. These sandwiches were bread-heavy and a little picked over when I went through the buffet.

The salad bar featured greens, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, and croutons. Everything was fresh, and the cucumbers were crinkle-cut for extra texture — great for dipping in the hummus that was also on the buffet. Oatmeal cookies were behind the salad fixings.

Tomato basil cavatappi pasta was the only hot dish I spotted at the buffet. Candy jars with snack mix, animal crackers, and gummy bears were between the pasta and water station. There were small plates for these, but no grab-and-go snack bags like I’ve seen at other lounges.

The lunch menu at the buffet indicated there was supposed to be broccoli cheese soup, but I didn’t see it anywhere.

Hot Tip:

The food was fresh but fairly light, so if you need a hearty meal, you might want to look elsewhere.

Chilled water was available, and a cooler below held bottled water and canned Coca-Cola sodas, including Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite.

Next to the water was a double coffee machine capable of making drinks such as espressos and lattes. However, signs indicated that milk drinks (including lattes) were unavailable from the machine. Various milks were available next to it, though.

I grabbed a couple of sandwiches and snacks. Overall, they were tasty light bites. But the sandwich bread was dry and cold, so I ditched the bread and ate the sandwich contents with a fork.

Bar

There was a small, full-service bar in the lounge staffed by 2 bartenders.

Drinks from the bar were complimentary, though tips were encouraged. The menu featured specialty cocktails — a blood orange mimosa, a signature Club margarita, a spiked citrus cooler, and a loaded Bloody Mary — along with spirits and beer.

A sign at the end of the bar advertised a seasonal maple old-fashioned.

My husband got the maple old-fashioned, which was garnished with fresh rosemary, an orange wedge, and a couple of cherries. I didn’t taste much maple, but this was a great drink.

Amenities

The lounge had Wi-Fi, restrooms, a flight information screen, and digital reading materials. The other Club location (serving gates 70 to 99) had a shower, but this one didn’t.

Wi-Fi

Various signs throughout the lounge shared Wi-Fi access information. Another sign had a QR code for digital access to newspapers, magazines, and games.

Restrooms

The lounge had 2 single-seat restrooms. The line for these restrooms was about 5 people deep the entire time we were there, so we visited terminal restrooms instead.

Information and Literature

A flight information screen was available, and TVs were on the wall and behind the bar.

Empty literature racks were near the door, but a digital entertainment QR code was on a table nearby.

Staff and Service

Our interactions with the lounge staff were positive. The check-in employees promptly and politely directed us to the QR code to be wait-listed. When it was our turn, they quickly checked us in. The buffet was mostly well-stocked, and the bar moved swiftly with 2 friendly bartenders. I noticed an attendant quickly picking up finished food and drinks so that the lounge stayed clean.

Final Thoughts

The Club MCO Airside 1 offered a good airport lounge experience. It was small but not cramped, even at capacity. I would have liked more kinds of food on the buffet, and I didn’t like the sandwiches very much. Still, the salad was fresh, and we didn’t leave hungry, so the food was fine overall. We particularly liked the specialty seasonal cocktail from the bar.

If you plan to visit the lounge, be prepared for a waitlist and crowded restrooms. Don’t expect to fill up on a hearty meal because you’re not likely to find it here. But you will find comfortable seating, light bites, and refreshing drinks in a relaxing environment.