Anyone just doing carry on luggage?

[Lewisc]

AFAIK DME uses airline supplied flight times based on the flights supplied by guests. Giving a phony flight could backfire if either your phony flight or real flight has a time change that's known a few days in advance.

DME knows how much "wiggle" room the 3 hour pickup time gives them. A 45 minute delay can work with real passengers but might be disastrous for a passenger who supplied a phony pickup time.

Unlike town car drivers DME drivers obey the speed limit.

A person who finagles a 8a pickup for a 9:30a flight should be prepared to miss their flight. 90 minutes is cutting it close, but might be doable, if you're using a car service.

 

[Detailor]

I won't be surprised if, down the road, all the airlines rethink their baggage fees. So many people don't want to pay those checked baggage fees that they are now using carryon only..which holds up others from being promptly seated, which keeps the plane on the ground longer.
I hope we see more airlines adopting a 'one free checked bag' and then others being charged for, as well as possibly a small fee for that overhead bin bag. I know, I know..not a popular stand at all.

I agree that airlines' strategies are likely to change. Yet, NY Senator Chuck Schumer just got Delta, American, JetBlue, United and USAirways to promise not to charge for carry-ons. He's also introduced a bill to close a loophole that allows carriers to charge luggage fees without having to pay taxes on those fees. Lots of different pieces to the luggage charge puzzle so it'll be interesting to see how this all comes out.

Dick Taylor

 

[Detailor]

On the original question...

We decided to do only carry-ons for our two-week trip to Orlando this winter and found that to be okay. We just had to buy some things - shampoo and other health & beauty aids type stuff - once we got there. Part of the carry-on only strategy, at least for us, is access to a washer and dryer. We found, despite the smaller bags and the two-week stay time frame, that we still over packed for the trip.

Dick Taylor

 

[maxiesmom]

Our flight leaves at 9:30am. Waiting at the bus stop at 6:30am is kind of early. 7:30 or 8 would be better. We just have to walk through security at the airport.

I have never just walked thru security at MCO. Usually going thru security involves waiting in one line for the ID check, then waiting in the actual screening line. My last trip that was about 30 minutes. Granted, that was during spring break, but I have run into that kind of line before in October.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So, you get picked up at/about 8 AM.
You're lucky enough to be the last resort picked up, and the bus heads right for MCO.
It takes forty minutes to get there - now it's 8:40.
You get off at Side A (no matter which airline you're flying, because NOW you realize how close you're cutting things.
Five minutes for the bus to unload and the driver to pull your carry-on luggage: 8:45.
Five hustling minutes to get into the terminal, up two levels, and to the correct security area: 8:50.
Twenty-five minutes to get through security and to your tram: 9:15.
Ten minutes to get to the tram, wait for the tram, board the tram, debark the tram, and run to your gate: 9:25.
Problem? Your flight started boarding twenty-five minutes ago. With five minutes to spare before takeoff, it's not unlikely you're considered a no-show - yes, even if you checked in at Walt Disney World - and your seat's been given away. Heck, with some airlines, that close to depature the door may even already be sealed.

 

[Lewisc]

Some of us are going after a posters numbers. No question 8a for a 9:30a flight is crazy.

That said DME might pick you up 3 15 minutes before your flight. You should be at the bus stop 5-10 minutes before your pick up time.

A car service will pick you up 2 hours before your flight. You might save as much as 90 minutes. You'll save even more time if you want to end your trip having a meal at a resort other then your own resort. You'll probably get at least an extra 2 hours.

You'll get an extra 30 minutes if you ask for a pickup 90 minutes before your flight. That should get you to MCO an hour before your flight. You can generally get through security in less then 30 minutes. I wouldn't cut it that close. Traffic. Longer lines at security. An overbooked flight may motivate the GA to cancel reservations for passengers who don't get to the gate on time.

 

[Cinerama261]

Thank you all for your responses. I guess we will just get up early that day and make the DME time around 6:30am.

 

[goofy4tink]

I agree that airlines' strategies are likely to change. Yet, NY Senator Chuck Schumer just got Delta, American, JetBlue, United and USAirways to promise not to charge for carry-ons. He's also introduced a bill to close a loophole that allows carriers to charge luggage fees without having to pay taxes on those fees. Lots of different pieces to the luggage charge puzzle so it'll be interesting to see how this all comes out.

Dick Taylor

Yeah, I heard that. Things really have to shake out a bit with all the fees out there. My poor dh left for NM this morning. He had a wee bit too much for his carryon bag, so I told him to check a bag...clothes wouldn't be so wrinkled then. BUT..I completely forgot that AA charges for that first bag!! DUH.

 

[Lewisc]

Thank you all for your responses. I guess we will just get up early that day and make the DME time around 6:30am.

I'm not sure if I'm reading your post properly. You don't "make a DME time". Disney assigns you a time, based on your flight. Your flight is at 9:30. You'll be assigned a time. The assigned time might be as early as 6:15 and as late as 6:44.

As long as one person gets up early enough to use RAC you might be able to get an extra 90 minutes of sleep if you spend the $$$ for a car service.

I'd save the money but different people allocate their vacation budgets differently.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm not sure if I'm reading your post properly. You don't "make a DME time".

I think he/she means "make it to the DME pickup location five to ten minutes prior to our assigned pickup time of about 6:30 AM, give or take a few minutes in either direction", not "create our own pickup time of 6:30 AM

 

[maxiesmom]

Thank you all for your responses. I guess we will just get up early that day and make the DME time around 6:30am.

Just as a note, be aware that the bus may show up early. The time they give you as the pick up time is the time the bus is scheduled to leave your resort, not the time it will arrive. In my experience, the bus usually shows up 10-15 minutes before the scheduled pick up time. And if there are only a few people to load it doesn't wait around, it leaves. It is a good idea to be at the DME bus stop, ready to go, 15 minutes before the scheduled pick up time. If you miss the bus Disney is under no obligation to transport you to the airport.

My dad almost missed his bus one time, and during my last trip there were a lot of people unhappy that they did miss their bus, and were told they couldn't just hop on the next one.

 

[Cinerama261]

Just as a note, be aware that the bus may show up early. The time they give you as the pick up time is the time the bus is scheduled to leave your resort, not the time it will arrive. In my experience, the bus usually shows up 10-15 minutes before the scheduled pick up time. And if there are only a few people to load it doesn't wait around, it leaves. It is a good idea to be at the DME bus stop, ready to go, 15 minutes before the scheduled pick up time. If you miss the bus Disney is under no obligation to transport you to the airport.

My dad almost missed his bus one time, and during my last trip there were a lot of people unhappy that they did miss their bus, and were told they couldn't just hop on the next one.

OK. 6:15am

 

[Cinerama261]

So, what do people buy when they get to the resort that they are not allowed, like razors for shaving, to put in carry on luggage? Where do you go to buy it?

 

[maxiesmom]

So, what do people buy when they get to the resort that they are not allowed, like razors for shaving, to put in carry on luggage? Where do you go to buy it?

Your resort's gift shop will have pretty much whatever you need. It will be on the pricey side though.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So, what do people buy when they get to the resort that they are not allowed, like razors for shaving, to put in carry on luggage? Where do you go to buy it?

Razors are allowed. See www.tsa.gov for specifics. But, as maxiesmom points out, full-size items you can't carry through security can be purchased at the resort gift shops. It may not be your brand of choice, but they do have toiletries. If you have a rental car: Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Target, Kmart, any supermarket...

 

[5boyz]

Have not read thru but I just can't imagine 4 of us going to Disney for 2 weeks with carry ons....! I would love to go that way if possible!

 

[5 at disney]

HI all, just looking to get some current info on carry-on rules. There are 4 of us flying AirTran. Can each of us bring a carry-on since we all have a ticket? I read the AirTran site but want to make sure of this prior to going otherwise we will do two checked bags. My kids are 10 and 17 so they can handle luggage themselves. What happens if it will not fit(meaning too many) in the overhead bins?
Thanks!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

This thread is 2 years old. Why not start a new thread?

Air Tran's web page is very clear about carry-on luggage:

For carry-on baggage, all customers traveling on AirTran Airways will be restricted to one carry-on item and one personal item. The carry-on bag must be stowed under the seat in front of the passenger or in an approved overhead bin. Garment bags and small musical instruments are considered one of the allotted pieces.

Personal items include handbags, umbrellas, walking sticks, coats, cameras, reading matter, infant food, briefcases, and laptop computers.

If the overhead is full, your luggage will be taken away and checked.

 

[goofy4tink]

HI all, just looking to get some current info on carry-on rules. There are 4 of us flying AirTran. Can each of us bring a carry-on since we all have a ticket? I read the AirTran site but want to make sure of this prior to going otherwise we will do two checked bags. My kids are 10 and 17 so they can handle luggage themselves. What happens if it will not fit(meaning too many) in the overhead bins?
Thanks!

All the times I've flown with AirTran, I have had carryon bags only!!! And each time I was packed for a week's stay. The only issue I have is that I can't pack my full sized toiletries, but I do buy them once I get to my destination.
So, yes, each person with a paid ticket gets to bring two pieces with them...one that can go in the overhead, and one that will fit beneath the seat. My overhead bag is plenty big enough for my clothes....and it is at the measurements for the largest size allowable. BUT....if you are on a plane that is configured with 2 seats on one side and 3 on the other side??? The overhead space above the 2 seats is going to be less deep...so a lot of 'allowable' size bags will not go in wheels first..you have to lay them sideways..and that takes up space.
My recommendation?? If you are going with carryon only, I would pay the addtl fee to choose seats early and board with the first boarding group. That's what I do. It costs a bit extra, but I'm sure that I will have the overhead space I need.
Otherwise, they will gate check the bags and then you will have to go to baggage claim to get it. They don't hand it to you when you are leaving the plane like a gate checked stroller. But, they don't charge you either.