airtran curbside check in at bwi?

[marymaya]

Could someone explain this to me in simple terms? I am soooo not an experienced flier and we will have at least 2 checked bags. Is there a way to check our bags in before entering the airport? I was just there recently picking someone up and i thought i saw this going on. Would this involve skipping the line at the counter? Where would we pay for our bags? Sorry for so many silly questions!

 

[lauti]

Depends on your airline and time of day. Usually there is a small charge to do this but yes, you bypass the counter inside.

 

[marymaya]

thanks. it would be this Saturday morning for an 11:00 flight.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Could someone explain this to me in simple terms? I am soooo not an experienced flier and we will have at least 2 checked bags. Is there a way to check our bags in before entering the airport? I was just there recently picking someone up and i thought i saw this going on. Would this involve skipping the line at the counter? Where would we pay for our bags? Sorry for so many silly questions!

I will give you a general answer about curbside check-in, not a specific answer about AirTran at Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Airport.

Checking in outside with an airline skycap is similar to checking in with an airline agent at the airline counter inside the airport -- with one BIG exception.

In both cases, you'll get your boarding passes. In both cases, you'll need to pay fees if your airline charges checked bag fees and you have not prepaid and you are not eligible for free checked bags. In both cases, your bags will be checked through to your destination airport.

The airline agent at the counter is not a tipped position. You do not tip at the counter.

HOWEVER, the skycap outside IS a tipped position. It is customary to tip somewhere around $2 per bag. For 2 or 3 bags, a $5 tip is appropriate. Some travelers tip more and some tip less, but anything below $1 per bag would be very unusual. This is in addition to any baggage fees (such as $25 per bag) you may owe the airline; also this is in addition to any curbside fee (such as $2 per bag) that a few airlines may still charge at some airports (although the latter seems to have become more rare).