Additional fees for checked baggage when using RAC

sloneta

Mouseketeer
Joined
Oct 16, 1999
Messages
176
I don't recall seeing this discussed, but if it is a repeat, I apologize. When we used RAC for our return flight (Northwest) earlier this month, we had to pay the higher checked baggage fee because their system treats you as though you are checking your bag at the airport as opposed to paying in advance. With Northwest, if you check-in and pay your checked baggage fee in advance, you only have to pay $15/bag, but if you wait to do so at the airport, you have to pay $20/bag.

In talking with the RAC people, if I didn't pay the checked bag fee through them but did so online when I checked in for my flight using my laptop, the RAC people would not accept my luggage for transfer. So, the choices are to pay $5 more per bag and have them take the luggage or to pay the lower checked bag fee and take your luggage with you on the ME bus (or rental car or whatever transportation you use).

I just think that there should be a way to pay the lower fee and if you can prove that you have paid that fee in advance you should be able to use the service. As of right now, I see that extra $5 as a fee to use the service, and will weigh whether to use it or not. With the buses, it is worth it, but if we rented a car or used a towncar, depending on the number of bags, it may not turn out to be the better deal.

Has anyone else encountered this?
 
We used RAC on Dec. 6, 2009 and paid $15 per bag at the YC. A total of $30 was charged to my credit card as we had 2 bags. We used a towncar service.


Belle
:santa::santa::santa:
 
We used RAC on Dec. 6, 2009 and paid $15 per bag at the YC. A total of $30 was charged to my credit card as we had 2 bags. We used a towncar service.


Belle
:santa::santa::santa:



What airline did you fly, and how did you pay?
 
Know it's not what you want to hear, but really, RAC = extreme curbside check-in (extreme because the virtual curb is thirty miles from the terminal, instead of ten feet). So, yes, RAC is the same as checking in and checking your luggage AT the airport, so it makes sense - note lack of use of the word 'reasonable' - that an airline consider RAC to not be advance payment/check-in.
 

I don't recall seeing this discussed, but if it is a repeat, I apologize. When we used RAC for our return flight (Northwest) earlier this month, we had to pay the higher checked baggage fee because their system treats you as though you are checking your bag at the airport as opposed to paying in advance. With Northwest, if you check-in and pay your checked baggage fee in advance, you only have to pay $15/bag, but if you wait to do so at the airport, you have to pay $20/bag.

In talking with the RAC people, if I didn't pay the checked bag fee through them but did so online when I checked in for my flight using my laptop, the RAC people would not accept my luggage for transfer. So, the choices are to pay $5 more per bag and have them take the luggage or to pay the lower checked bag fee and take your luggage with you on the ME bus (or rental car or whatever transportation you use).

I just think that there should be a way to pay the lower fee and if you can prove that you have paid that fee in advance you should be able to use the service. As of right now, I see that extra $5 as a fee to use the service, and will weigh whether to use it or not. With the buses, it is worth it, but if we rented a car or used a towncar, depending on the number of bags, it may not turn out to be the better deal.

Has anyone else encountered this?

And schlep them thru the terminal to check them in, just a small thing you left out. Or use curbside check in, and tip them to do it.. Soooo.. If that's how it works, I think in my mind I would pay the $5 more and not have to worry about it.. I'm hoping SW is participating when we go in Oct full system so I dont have to drag bags thru MCO!!! I would almost pay them $5/bag to do that!
 
We flew out on Delta and paid by credit card. I recieved a reciept at the time and well as boarding passes. We tipped $5 cash for the 2 bags.


Belle

:santa::santa::santa:
 
We flew out on Delta and paid by credit card. I recieved a reciept at the time and well as boarding passes. We tipped $5 cash for the 2 bags.


Belle

:santa::santa::santa:

I think that the difference in online/airport check-in luggage fees is fairly recent. Those who bought tickets recently have to pay but those who bought quite a while ago were grandfathered and did not have to pay the higher rate for non-online checkin.
 
/
I don't recall seeing this discussed, but if it is a repeat, I apologize. When we used RAC for our return flight (Northwest) earlier this month, we had to pay the higher checked baggage fee because their system treats you as though you are checking your bag at the airport as opposed to paying in advance. With Northwest, if you check-in and pay your checked baggage fee in advance, you only have to pay $15/bag, but if you wait to do so at the airport, you have to pay $20/bag.

In talking with the RAC people, if I didn't pay the checked bag fee through them but did so online when I checked in for my flight using my laptop, the RAC people would not accept my luggage for transfer. So, the choices are to pay $5 more per bag and have them take the luggage or to pay the lower checked bag fee and take your luggage with you on the ME bus (or rental car or whatever transportation you use).

I just think that there should be a way to pay the lower fee and if you can prove that you have paid that fee in advance you should be able to use the service. As of right now, I see that extra $5 as a fee to use the service, and will weigh whether to use it or not. With the buses, it is worth it, but if we rented a car or used a towncar, depending on the number of bags, it may not turn out to be the better deal.

Has anyone else encountered this?

It isn't that they won't accept your bag if you check in on line, they can't the computer locks them out and they can't print your airline luggage tags. I checked in on line a few months ago, it wasn't to get lower bag fees I just checked in and I wasn't able to use rac.
 
It isn't that they won't accept your bag if you check in on line, they can't the computer locks them out and they can't print your airline luggage tags. I checked in on line a few months ago, it wasn't to get lower bag fees I just checked in and I wasn't able to use rac.

That's correct; what occurred was that the OP checked in online, so the RAC was locked out for check-in and printing boarding passes, because technically that person had already checked in.

You are only supposed to call BAGS and pay the baggage fee; not go through the process of checking in online from your computer before you go to RAC.
 
I was still able to check in online - NW allows a passenger to check in and print boarding passes later. I also did not pay the checked baggage fee when I did so, but called the RAC people to do so. I was just pointing out that by doing so, you pay the higher checked baggage fee. I don't know if all airlines charge more for paying the fee at the airport or not, but I had not seen mention of it. I agree that a $5 fee per bag to check the bag at the resort and not have to deal with it is pretty reasonable, especially when taking the busses. But, if I had a rental car or used a towncar service and had a lot of people/bags, I may think twice.
 
Lots of the airlines discount the checked bag fee for online check in, some just $2, others up to $5.

But using RAC isn't online check in, so I understand the higher fee. And the airline will lock the reservation once you've checked in online and not allow RAC to issue luggage tags or a boarding pass.
 
If someone could clarify this for me:

I will be at the CR and will fly home on Delta. I will have one bag to be checked.
I will call BAGS and pay the bag fee with them then when I am leaving I bring the bag to the RAC counter and they will check me in and print my luggage tag. I will tip them at RAC but that is the only money I need to give them... I still pay the baggage fee on the phone or do they now take payment at the RAC counter for the bag?

Thanks, just trying to get this straight for our trip next week!

Peace.
Colleen
 
To the best of my knowledge, Colleen - that's all correct.

While they may take payment at the counter, to be 100% safe pay in advance by calling the BAGS number in your going-home packet (or stop by the RAC counter some morning on your way to the parks and ask).
 
They do not process payments at the RAC counter, at least I haven't seen them do it. There is usually a decent crowd around trying to get checked in and I doubt they want to add to the time needed by collecting the funds there too.

You will call BAGS from your room, instructions are with your ME letter that you get before check out. On the phone they will give you a confirmation #. I always write it down, sometimes asked for it, but not every time.

RAC can see in their computer that the fee has been paid. If they can't see it (sometimes since I just called it in 10 minutes ago!) I have the confo # handy.
 
Thank you for the quick replies!

I will call BAGS the day before we leave to get the bag fee paid.

Happy New Year to you all.

Peace.
Colleen
 
At BWV on Dec. 8 we paid our bag fee at the RAC desk. We only had one bag to check and I think we were grandfathered, so we didn't have to worry about a higher fee for non-online paying of baggage fees. Because we will rarely have more than 2 bags, I am not worried about an extra $5/bag--I am on vacation. I can understand those who have a ton of luggage to check being concerned.
 
Does anyone know what the cut off date is for buying your tickets and not having to pay the higher bag fee?
 
It appears that tickets purchased on or before July 16 are grandfathered. From NWA.com:

Pre-pay baggage fees during nwa.com check-in or at a self-service kiosk by selecting the number of bags you will be checking and providing a credit card. Your credit card will be charged at the airport baggage drop when your baggage tags are printed. If necessary, you can change the number of checked bags at an airport kiosk before your baggage tags are printed.

Effective for tickets purchased on or after July 16, 2009, for travel on or after August 4, 2009, customers who check in and pay bag fees at an airport kiosk or with an agent will incur a $5 surcharge for the first and second checked bags. Customers who check in and pre-pay bag fees on nwa.com or delta.com will not incur this surcharge.
 














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