Booking Flights through Disney

[LJD2143]

For the first time ever, Disney's rate for airfare was cheaper than any other I could find online. So I just booked our Magic Your Way reservations for September and included the flights offered by Disney.

In the past, I have always booked my air travel separately, so I'm just wondering how this will all work?
1 -- What are the "pros and cons" of booking airfare through Disney?
2 -- I was not given an option to pick seat assignments, so I assume this cannot be done until we check-in for our flights?
3 -- The flights are with AirTran (who is notorious for changing their schedule). Will I receive any schedule change notifications? from Disney? from AirTran?
4 -- Based on AirTans reputation for changes, do I have any added recourse/protection through Disney?

TIA for any help!

 

[dpmfloyd]

I'm about to answer all the same questions I had from our last trip!

first, You need to call disney and ask them for your airtran confirmation information - explaining you want to call them to pick your seats/pay bag fares/check in online - all that jazz. they'll give it to you.

second, if your flight gets cancelled or changed around - disney will email you. BUT! you must contact magical express and give them the new flight info. i got stuck on our last trip down, after receiving an email a month out from our trip explaining our flight number and time changed. when i went to check out, magical express didnt have my flight info and i couldnt get a boarding pass. it was a mess.

as far as recourse for flight changes or cancellations - i believe disney is responsible for getting you on a flight. but if one is changed or cancelled, expect quick email contact!

but, knowing this - it should work out fine for you!

 

[Jestocost]

second, if your flight gets cancelled or changed around - disney will email you. BUT! you must contact magical express and give them the new flight info. i got stuck on our last trip down, after receiving an email a month out from our trip explaining our flight number and time changed. when i went to check out, magical express didnt have my flight info and i couldnt get a boarding pass. it was a mess.

I assume you actually are talking about Resort Airline Check In, not DME, when you reference problems getting your boarding passes. It's important to note that the two are separate services, even though they do share some information. That said, I don't know why RAC couldn't get you a boarding pass if you had your confirmation number and everything in order. That's a new one for me.

 

[Lewisc]

4 -- Based on AirTans reputation for changes, do I have any added recourse/protection through Disney?

TIA for any help!

You have reduced protection. Air tran is only suppose to deal with your TA (Disney). Disney may not want to take the time to negotiate better flight times. Some people think (don't know if it's a real fact or an "internet fact") airlines give the better alternatives to passengers who deal direct. Let the TA tell the passengers, sorry this is the best I can do for you.

 

[dpmfloyd]

...RAC couldn't get you a boarding pass if you had your confirmation number and everything in order. That's a new one for me.

Since my Delta flight was switched - it was never communicated. The RAC still had my old flight info, not my new one. Causing me to 1) drop my bags off at the hotel while I went into the park. 2) Spend 40 minutes on the phone with Mars (I paid the baggage handling fees in advance so ME could transport them to the airport, since that was no longer happening - I wanted a refund). 3) spent another 20 minutes on the phone arranging to have our proper flight information provided to ME.

In the end, we had to collect our bags from the bag check area at Pop Century, check them at the airport ourselves after getting our boarding passes. One little oversight caused a slight headache, it wasn't a big deal - just an unexpected inconvenience.