Booking Air Through Disney?? Early Flight

[Royal Consort]

We are flying from MCO to LAX after our 3 night cruise in August. There's a direct flight at 11am which gets us in mid-afternoon. If we don't get this we'll either have a stop over (for a couple of hours) or a late afternoon flight which means we're losing precious vacation time (we only have 2 days in LA before flying home to Australia).

Rather than booking this 11am flight ourselves (as Disney recommends nothing before 11:30) I wondered whether it is better to book it through Disney. That way if anything goes wrong and we miss the flight, Disney fixes it. Less worry.

Has anyone had experiences doing this?

 

[KristiMc]

DCL does not advise any flight before 11:30.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are flying from MCO to LAX after our 3 night cruise in August. There's a direct flight at 11am which gets us in mid-afternoon. If we don't get this we'll either have a stop over (for a couple of hours) or a late afternoon flight which means we're losing precious vacation time (we only have 2 days in LA before flying home to Australia).

Rather than booking this 11am flight ourselves (as Disney recommends nothing before 11:30) I wondered whether it is better to book it through Disney. That way if anything goes wrong and we miss the flight, Disney fixes it. Less worry.

Has anyone had experiences doing this?

Even if DCL books the flight for you, DCL will tell you that they can't confirm that you will make an 11:00 flight. And you won't be able to use the DCL transportation with that early a flight, even if you book through DCL. The only way to be sure that you will make that early flight is to take private transportation from the port, and carry off your bags, and be first off the ship, and headed for the airport.

 

[moosecrouse]

Disney would probably not book this flight for you. It's before their recommended time.

 

[diznymom]

I would not book anything earlier than what is recommended. On our last cruise our ship was late coming back to PC b/c of a delay (medical emergency) getting away from CC. You never know when there will be some unforeseen delay.

We used Disney flights for our Alaska cruise. They used Delta.

If it were me, I would shop around for flights. Maybe a different airline will offer better flights.

 

[Dug720]

I would not book anything earlier than what is recommended. On our last cruise our ship was late coming back to PC b/c of a delay (medical emergency) getting away from CC. You never know when there will be some unforeseen delay.

We used Disney flights for our Alaska cruise. They used Delta.

If it were me, I would shop around for flights. Maybe a different airline will offer better flights.

This!!

It never ceases to amaze me when people go against the recommended times for "no earlier than..." flights.

The MOST extreme I've experienced was last weak in Miami on the fathom Adonia where we were not even scheduled to dock until 8 - much less get cleared by Customs before 8:15/8:30 at the earliest. The cruise line does not recommend flights before noon on debarkation day. And yet as we were lined up for self-help debarkation at 8:30 (there was a Coast Guard inspection so we were slightly delayed) someone was behind me (I was probably 50th in line and she was at least 10 people back) loudly saying "Does everyone else have a 9:15 flight too???" Given that we were at Terminal J and at least for self-help they did NOT have the escalator/stairs option open so we were backed-up waiting for the one smallish elevator and that my Lyft receipt shows that my ride didn't commence until 9:45, I think it's a safe bet she did NOT make her flight. Not something you want to deal with at a busy travel time like Easter weekend.

 

[clten]

OP, if you have DCL book that flight and you miss it, you are in no better position than if you book it directly yourself. The airline will assist you in getting on another flight. DCL will give you the same assistance - by them calling the airline and asking about the same availability you would be asking the airline about (if it is on a weekend, cruiseline's air/sea departments can be closed and of little use). So if you want to book that 11 am flight and risk it, the risks are the same whether you book it directly or DCL books it for you.

I don't know where the line that DCL won't let you take their transportation if your flight is before their recommended time started. They start loading up busses starting with Express Walk-Off people and continue until all passengers are disembarked. Now it may not be the speediest option but DCL is not going to ban you from using their bus based on your flight time. It's part of the risk you have to weigh. If all things go well and ship is cleared and express walk off starts at 7:30, chances are good you can be to the airport by 9-9:30. If there are any bumps, you'll be stressing getting to the airport on time --keeping in mind that the security lines at MCO can be ridiculous!

 

[moosecrouse]

General Question but if you book your flight through DCL don't they select your flight? I could swear that we used them on our 1st cruise and it was a disaster. Said we would book our own flights from now on. They had us on a connection from NYC to MCO and Atlanta had an ice storm that shut down the airport. DCL basically told us were on our own getting from Atlanta to Orlando.

 

[clten]

General Question but if you book your flight through DCL don't they select your flight? I could swear that we used them on our 1st cruise and it was a disaster. Said we would book our own flights from now on. They had us on a connection from NYC to MCO and Atlanta had an ice storm that shut down the airport. DCL basically told us were on our own getting from Atlanta to Orlando.

Yes, they generally select your flight and there is incentive for them to get you on the cheapest flight, not the most convenient (and DCL does typically use Delta flights). But you can pay an air deviation fee and select a specific flight and pay the difference in airfare if there is any. (Why you would want to pay more I don't know.) People get the mistaken notion that they will be put at the head of the line if something goes wrong with their flight and they booked through the cruise line. If it is a problem with one flight, they'd help your reschedule - which you could do with the airline yourself with less aggravation. If it is a weather/system problem, most of the time, you get the reaction you got - flights aren't going so there's not much they can do.

 

[Dug720]

OP, if you have DCL book that flight and you miss it, you are in no better position than if you book it directly yourself. The airline will assist you in getting on another flight. DCL will give you the same assistance - by them calling the airline and asking about the same availability you would be asking the airline about (if it is on a weekend, cruiseline's air/sea departments can be closed and of little use). So if you want to book that 11 am flight and risk it, the risks are the same whether you book it directly or DCL books it for you.

I don't know where the line that DCL won't let you take their transportation if your flight is before their recommended time started. They start loading up busses starting with Express Walk-Off people and continue until all passengers are disembarked. Now it may not be the speediest option but DCL is not going to ban you from using their bus based on your flight time. It's part of the risk you have to weigh. If all things go well and ship is cleared and express walk off starts at 7:30, chances are good you can be to the airport by 9-9:30. If there are any bumps, you'll be stressing getting to the airport on time --keeping in mind that the security lines at MCO can be ridiculous!

It technically is regarding the Onboard Airline Check-in Service. You CANNOT use that if your flight is before their earliest time.

My guess is they do discourage you from using their transportation if your flight is before the cutoff time so they are not liable for any issues should you miss your flight.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I know you probably have plans for L.A. for those 2 days, but have you considered staying in Orlando (maybe WDW resort?) the day you get off your cruise and then flying into L.A. the next morning on the 11am (or earlier, if there is one?) You'll only be left with the one day in L.A, but you'll have had a great day in Orlando, rather than a rushed and stressful day.

I am surprised that you can only find 2 flights into L.A., but maybe you have reasons for preferring only those flights.

 

[clten]

It technically is regarding the Onboard Airline Check-in Service. You CANNOT use that if your flight is before their earliest time.

My guess is they do discourage you from using their transportation if your flight is before the cutoff time so they are not liable for any issues should you miss your flight.

You are absolutely correct, they are very strict about the cut off for Onboard Airline Check In. But we have had flights that are slightly before (11:20) that cutoff time and aren't able to do Onboard Airline Check In but have had no issues using DCL transfers back to the airport. They don't bat an eye, don't question anything, don't encourage us to find a different mode of transportation, etc. So I think it is a big leap from that to telling people you can't use DCL transportation.

 

[Dug720]

You are absolutely correct, they are very strict about the cut off for Onboard Airline Check In. But we have had flights that are slightly before (11:20) that cutoff time and aren't able to do Onboard Airline Check In but have had no issues using DCL transfers back to the airport. They don't bat an eye, don't question anything, don't encourage us to find a different mode of transportation, etc. So I think it is a big leap from that to telling people you can't use DCL transportation.

Which I never said.

 

[clten]

Which I never said.

I didn't say you did and I'm sorry if you took my comment to mean that. It was said in this thread and I just wanted to point out to people who aren't familiar with how things work that even if the person who made the comment was thinking of OAB, it was a big leap to include all of DCL transfers in their statement.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

But if you use DCL transport, don't expect them to "make things right!" if you aren't to the airport in time for a flight before a recommended time. In their eyes, there is nothing to make right.

 

[Dug720]

But if you use DCL transport, don't expect them to "make things right!" if you aren't to the airport in time for a flight before a recommended time. In their eyes, there is nothing to make right.

Exactly. They will only stop you from using their bag service. If you choose to cut it too close and miss your flight, that is all on you.

 

[Royal Consort]

OP, if you have DCL book that flight and you miss it, you are in no better position than if you book it directly yourself. The airline will assist you in getting on another flight. DCL will give you the same assistance - by them calling the airline and asking about the same availability you would be asking the airline about (if it is on a weekend, cruiseline's air/sea departments can be closed and of little use). So if you want to book that 11 am flight and risk it, the risks are the same whether you book it directly or DCL books it for you.

Thank you for your reply! This is exactly the info I was after. I had wondered if Disney would help you out a bit more but it seems that this isn't the case. I wouldn't have booked the 11am myself but wondered if somehow we could make it if purchased through Disney as this may provide a back up. Alas, it doesn't..

I know you probably have plans for L.A. for those 2 days, but have you considered staying in Orlando (maybe WDW resort?) the day you get off your cruise and then flying into L.A. the next morning on the 11am (or earlier, if there is one?) You'll only be left with the one day in L.A, but you'll have had a great day in Orlando, rather than a rushed and stressful day.

I am surprised that you can only find 2 flights into L.A., but maybe you have reasons for preferring only those flights.

We are spending nine nights at WDW before the cruise and then flying out to Anaheim to meet up with friends of ours at Disneyland before we fly to Australia. Having those couple of days breaks up the 23 hour flight back home.

It seems that the direct LA flights leave in the morning or in the early evening. It makes it difficult as ideally we would need to get to our hotel no later than 6pm. The other option is an 11:40 flight that involves one change over and then on to John Wayne SNA. It's still early but there are few other convenient options.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

That's kind of the deal flying east to west. There are rarely particularly great options, honestly, even from the bigger hubs like Chicago.

 

[scootch]

Yes, they generally select your flight and there is incentive for them to get you on the cheapest flight, not the most convenient (and DCL does typically use Delta flights). But you can pay an air deviation fee and select a specific flight and pay the difference in airfare if there is any. (Why you would want to pay more I don't know.) People get the mistaken notion that they will be put at the head of the line if something goes wrong with their flight and they booked through the cruise line. If it is a problem with one flight, they'd help your reschedule - which you could do with the airline yourself with less aggravation. If it is a weather/system problem, most of the time, you get the reaction you got - flights aren't going so there's not much they can do.

I just booked DCL air for a January cruise. I already have my flight time, confirmation numbers, seating and can pull them up on the carriers website(Delta and American). Will DCL change them--- or will they stay the same since I already have all the confirmation numbers?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just booked DCL air for a January cruise. I already have my flight time, confirmation numbers, seating and can pull them up on the carriers website(Delta and American). Will DCL change them--- or will they stay the same since I already have all the confirmation numbers?

Answered on the other thread - the flights will probably remain the same (but could change). Seat assignments are controlled by the airline and those can change at any time.