{
  "response": {
    "Key": "MCO-HOU",
    "orig": {
      "code": "MCO",
      "type": "airport",
      "city": "Orlando",
      "fullCity": "Orlando, Florida",
      "airport": "Orlando Intl Airport"
    },
    "dest": {
      "code": "HOU",
      "type": "airport",
      "city": "Houston",
      "fullCity": "Houston, Texas",
      "airport": "William P Hobby Airport"
    },
    "faq": {
      "q0": {
        "question": "What is the typical flight duration from Orlando to Houston?",
        "answer": "The flight from Orlando to Houston Hobby is about 850 miles and typically takes 2 hours 35 minutes nonstop, while the return leg is shorter at 2 hours 20 minutes because of tailwinds. Southwest operates the route daily with frequent departures throughout the day.",
        "methodology": "Flight times and distances come from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time across all carriers on the route, computed the same way in both directions so the difference reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in method. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, so the actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "flight_schedule"
        ]
      },
      "q3": {
        "question": "What are the ground transportation options in Houston?",
        "answer": "At Hobby Airport (HOU), you can reach downtown Houston — about 7 miles away — by taxi, ride‑share (Uber/Lyft), rental car, or shared shuttle.  Ride‑share is the most popular choice and typically the fastest door‑to‑door option, with fares around $25–$35.  Taxis are available curbside for a similar trip time but cost slightly more.  Rental cars give you the most flexibility for exploring beyond the city center, while shuttles offer a lower‑cost shared ride.  There is no direct rail service from HOU, though a nearby METRO bus stop can connect you to the light‑rail system for a budget‑friendly alternative.",
        "toolsUsed": [],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou/ground-transportation",
            "title": "HOU Ground Transportation | Airport Shuttle, Taxi, Uber, Lyft & Rent Car Houston"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou",
            "title": "HOU Houston Airport | William P. Hobby",
            "time_published": "2026-06-09T05:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Hobby_Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-07-06T09:58:05Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%20P.%20Hobby%20Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-21T04:20:29Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://faa.gov/flight_deck/hef",
            "title": "Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P. Davis Field (HEF) | Federal Aviation Administration",
            "time_published": "2026-03-10T00:00:00Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q4": {
        "question": "When is the cheapest time to fly from Orlando to Houston?",
        "answer": "Average fares from Orlando to Houston bottom out around $150 in late January, making that the cheapest stretch to fly. The cheapest months overall are September at $151, January at $159, and February at $161, while the most expensive period is early June, when fares average $234. Peak pricing is driven by June at $229 and March at $205.",
        "methodology": "Seasonal fares come from Priceline's own air booking-summary archive, analysed in-house and refreshed monthly. For each day of the year we take a representative round-trip fare, a blend of the 25th-percentile and average ticket price over the route's bookings, and smooth the series into a seasonal curve; the half-month low and high and the monthly figures quoted here are averages of that curve. Thin and international routes borrow their seasonal shape from the nearest busy routes, with the price level anchored to the route's own bookings.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "seasonal_prices"
        ]
      },
      "q5": {
        "question": "How far in advance should I book tickets from Orlando to Houston?",
        "answer": "For Orlando to Houston, the best fares typically come when booking 4-6 weeks before departure, with the absolute lowest price around 30 days out at about $109. Booking much earlier than 6 weeks tends to cost more, and summer or holiday periods may require booking a bit further ahead to lock in reasonable prices.",
        "methodology": "Booking-window guidance comes from the same monthly in-house analysis of Priceline's own air booking-summary archive. We aggregate the route's bookings by how many days before departure they were made, from about 180 days out to the day of travel, smooth the curve, and highlight the stretch of lead times with the lowest average fare. Thin and international routes borrow the curve shape from the nearest busy routes, anchored to the route's own price level. It reflects current fares and is refreshed monthly.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "booking_timing"
        ]
      },
      "q6": {
        "question": "Are overnight (red‑eye) flights available from Orlando to Houston?",
        "answer": "Yes, Southwest operates nonstop red-eye flights from Orlando (MCO) to Houston Hobby (HOU) daily, with 16 departures each week. These flights typically leave in the late evening around 9:15 PM to 9:55 PM. On a route this short (roughly two hours), a departure after 9 PM lands before midnight, so you arrive the same night.",
        "methodology": "Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "redeye_flights"
        ]
      },
      "q8": {
        "question": "If I need a connection, what are common layover cities between Orlando and Houston?",
        "answer": "Common layover cities include Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, and Miami, all major hubs that offer frequent flights and efficient connections, keeping total travel time competitive."
      },
      "q9": {
        "question": "How reliable are on‑time departures on this route from Orlando to Houston?",
        "answer": "On the Orlando to Houston (Hobby) route, Southwest Airlines flights show a 77% on-time departure rate with a 0% cancellation rate, based on schedule data.",
        "methodology": "On-time arrival and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; a flight counts as on time when it arrives within 15 minutes of schedule. Carriers are ranked by arrival on-time rate on this route, and the carrier list itself comes from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI).",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "flight_schedule"
        ]
      },
      "q10": {
        "question": "Which months have the best weather for traveling to Houston?",
        "answer": "March to April and October to November offer pleasant temperatures and fewer visitors."
      },
      "q11": {
        "question": "What documents should I bring with me to the airport when flying from Orlando to Houston?",
        "answer": "For domestic U.S. flights, bring a Real ID or passport, ensure the name matches your ticket and carry payment for baggage and any required health documents."
      },
      "q12": {
        "question": "Which airport should I use in Houston?",
        "answer": "Houston has two main airports. George Bush Intercontinental is the primary international hub, located about 23 miles north of downtown, and serves most major airlines and alliances. William P. Hobby Airport is closer to downtown, about 7 miles southeast, and is a focus city for Southwest Airlines, catering largely to domestic and low-cost flights."
      },
      "q14": {
        "question": "Are there hotels or sleeping facilities at Houston airport?",
        "answer": "William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) does not have on-site hotels, capsule hotels, or sleeping pods inside the terminal. Nearby hotels like the Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport offer a complimentary shuttle to and from the airport. The terminal itself has comfortable seating and, during major delays, airport staff may provide cots and blankets.",
        "toolsUsed": [],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Hobby_Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-07-06T09:58:05Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou",
            "title": "HOU Houston Airport | William P. Hobby",
            "time_published": "2026-06-09T05:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://sleepinginairports.net/guides/houston-hobby-airport-guide.htm",
            "title": "Houston Hobby Airport Guide (HOU) - Sleeping in Airports",
            "favicon": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/nitropack_static/oBWrHkPujHTPIaVWqdDSDhClXUyrYhhb/assets/images/optimized/rev-b853180/www.sleepinginairports.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cropped-sia-logo-180x180.png",
            "time_published": "2018-08-03T12:46:13Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%20P.%20Hobby%20Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-21T04:20:29Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou/related-content/hou-tips-for-first-time-travelers",
            "title": "Navigating William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): Tips for First-Time Travelers",
            "time_published": "2026-01-23T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/houhh-houston-marriott-south-at-hobby-airport/overview/?toDate=12/31/12&groupCode=drbdrba&fromDate=12/29/overview/",
            "title": "Hotel by Hobby Airport | Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2024-10-11T00:00:00Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q15": {
        "question": "Are there currency exchange offices, prayer rooms and Wi‑Fi at William P Hobby Airport?",
        "answer": "William P. Hobby Airport offers free Wi‑Fi throughout the terminal. The airport has a multi‑faith prayer room located in the central concourse, near the food court. Currency exchange is available on the arrivals level, just past baggage claim.",
        "toolsUsed": [],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Hobby_Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-07-06T09:58:05Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou",
            "title": "HOU Houston Airport | William P. Hobby",
            "time_published": "2026-06-09T05:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou/related-content/hou-tips-for-first-time-travelers",
            "title": "Navigating William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): Tips for First-Time Travelers",
            "time_published": "2026-01-23T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%20P.%20Hobby%20Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-21T04:20:29Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/procedures/application/index.cfm?event=directory&directory=FFEC8865C18342B388A8B83D41E61C88-IAH-NDBR&type=ndbr&nasrId=HOU",
            "title": "USA Banner",
            "time_published": "2024-09-12T00:00:00Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q17": {
        "question": "What aircraft are typically used on flights from Orlando to Houston?",
        "answer": "On the nonstop route from Orlando to Houston Hobby, the most common aircraft are the Boeing 737-900 and 737-800, along with the 737 MAX 9, all operated by United and Southwest; some Frontier and Southwest flights show an unspecified type that is typically a 737 variant as well. Connecting itineraries, most often via Dallas Love Field, New Orleans, or Dallas/Fort Worth, add the Boeing 737 MAX 8, Airbus A321, and A320 to the mix. The exact aircraft can vary by day and airline, but the route is overwhelmingly served by Boeing 737 family jets.",
        "methodology": "Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_aircraft"
        ]
      },
      "q18": {
        "question": "Which airline alliances serve flights from Orlando to Houston?",
        "answer": "Southwest Airlines is the only carrier operating nonstop from Orlando (MCO) to Houston Hobby (HOU), and Southwest does not belong to any of the three global alliances — it is an independent point-to-point carrier with no alliance membership. Other alliances (oneworld, SkyTeam, Star Alliance) may serve the broader Orlando–Houston market via connections, but no alliance carrier flies this specific airport pair nonstop.",
        "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_airlines"
        ]
      },
      "q20": {
        "question": "What are the best airport lounge options when departing from Orlando?",
        "answer": "When departing from Orlando International Airport (MCO), you have several lounge options. The Delta Sky Club is located in Terminal B, Airside 4, and is accessible to Delta One passengers, SkyTeam Elite Plus members, and eligible American Express cardholders. The Club MCO operates two locations: one in Terminal A, Airside 1 (near gates 1–29) and another in Terminal B, Airside 4, both open from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with access through Priority Pass, LoungeKey, or by purchasing a day pass. A Plaza Premium Lounge is available in Terminal C, open from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and can be accessed via Priority Pass or paid entry. All lounges are located post-security and offer complimentary snacks, beverages, and Wi-Fi.",
        "toolsUsed": [],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://americanexpress.com/en-us/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/MCO",
            "title": "American Express Lounges at Orlando International Airport | Amex US",
            "favicon": "https://www.americanexpress.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://americanexpress.com/en-ca/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/MCO",
            "title": "American Express Lounges at Orlando International Airport | Amex CA",
            "favicon": "https://www.americanexpress.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.orlandoairports.net/",
            "title": "Orlando International Airport (MCO)",
            "time_published": "2026-07-20T08:27:21Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://my.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/orlando-international",
            "title": "Orlando International Airport MCO Lounges - MCO Airport Guide and lounges. | Priority Pass",
            "favicon": "https://my.prioritypass.com/icon.png?a4ff481221414a5c"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://my.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/orlando-international/mco2-the-club-mco-gates-1-29",
            "title": "The Club MCO (Gates 1-29) MCO AIRPORT Terminal A Concourse 1 Orlando International | Priority Pass",
            "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q21": {
        "question": "What is the baggage allowance on this route from Orlando to Houston?",
        "answer": "For Orlando to Houston, a domestic route, baggage policies vary by airline. Basic economy often excludes a free carry‑on and charges for checked bags, while standard economy may include a carry‑on but typically not a checked bag. Premium fares and co‑branded credit cards can add allowances."
      },
      "q22": {
        "question": "What cabin and seat options are typical from Orlando to Houston?",
        "answer": "On flights from Orlando to Houston, you'll typically find Economy and standard recliner Business or First class, as flat-bed seats and Premium Economy are uncommon on this domestic route."
      },
      "q23": {
        "question": "Are same‑day changes or standby possible on this route?",
        "answer": "Policies depend on the carrier and fare type; flexible and premium tickets often allow same‑day changes or standby, while deeply discounted fares typically do not."
      }
    }
  }
}