Question About DCL Onboard Airline Check In

[mjaclyn]

Hi all! I have a question about using DCL's onboard airline check in. On the website FAQ it says you have to book either Disney transportation or a flight through the cruise line in order to use it. Does this mean I can just book my return airfare (MCO to NY one way) and use the onboard airline check in? Or do I have to book Disney transportation too?

[clten]

If you have DCL book your air from MCO to NYC then you will be able to use the Onboard Airline Check-in. Having them book your flights automatically includes DCL bus transportation to the airport (same buses if you just book the transfers). But typically when the cruise line books your airfare, they book roundtrip. I think there are extra deviation fees to have them just book the return. We find it a lot easier/cheaper to book our own flights and book and pay the $35/pp to just use Disney transportation back to the airport after the cruise.

[PrincessShmoo]

Originally Posted by mjaclyn

Hi all! I have a question about using DCL's onboard airline check in. On the website FAQ it says you have to book either Disney transportation or a flight through the cruise line in order to use it. Does this mean I can just book my return airfare (MCO to NY one way) and use the onboard airline check in? Or do I have to book Disney transportation too?

In order to participate in the Onboard airline checkin, EITHER your airfare OR your transfers from port to MCO must be booked by DCL.

You can book your own airfare, and purchase DCL transfers, making you eligible for the onboard checkin.

Or you can book your airfare through DCL (which includes DCL transfers as PP mentioned) and thereby be eligible for onboard checkin.

Of course, you must also be using an approved airline:

Available to Guests flying out of Orlando International Airport on domestic flights (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) on AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Northwest Airlines, United/Ted Airlines and US Airways  it's the perfect ending to a magical cruise vacation! Pre-registration is required and scheduled flights must be after 11:25 a.m. on the day your cruise ends. Guests are limited to two bags per person and each piece must not exceed 50 lbs. Additionally, some Guests may be selected to check in at the airport and unable to use this service.

[mjaclyn]

Thanks for the info. I was actually hoping not to use the DCL transfer because the flight doesn't leave until after 7pm at night and I have no desire to spend the whole day at the airport. My hope was that if I booked the return trip through DCL, we could still check our bags, but we could take a car and do something with our extra time instead of having to wait at the airport all day. At the same time, I'd hate to have to lug all our bags around all day, so neither choice sounds good.