Curb Check or Not???

[etwinchester]

How many of you curb check your luggage at the airport?

Are their any advantages/disadvantages and what would be the difference except for lugging it into the airport yourself?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Count me as one that does.

 

[DebbieB]

I always use it when available. It's alot easier than dragging all the luggage in from the parking lot or the car rental return. Lines at the inside check-in are usually much longer than curbside. Now they even give you your boarding pass (USAirways) so you can go straight to security.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Well, if you don't lug your baggage all the way into the airport, you miss out on all that excercize, not to mention the back strain, and general pain in the kiester.

Count me as a regular curbside kinda guy!

 

[jiminy14]

I always use curbside check-in if it is available. It is definitely worth the tip of $1.25/bag to save me the hassle of trying to check-in inside the terminal. Now, I just give my bags to the skycap, get my baggage claim tix, and head right to security. As an added bonus, your luggage is not weighed at curbside. A plus for those who bought too many souvenirs!

 

[IandGsmom]

LOVE curbside check in. It seems my baggage always gets weighed insided and at curbside I am gereous w/ the tip to make sure it gets on ok. I don't abuse this or anything, but I had to pay once for an oversized or heavy bag at it sucks.

 

[Ladyslug]

I used to love curbside check-in! Of course, now with all the security tightening, they don't allow curbisde check-in at the airports around here anymore.

 

[safetymom]

I use curbside check in at all the airports that allow it. It is wonderful.

 

[MJTinNH]

We use curb-side too. It's great, no lugging your bags around to the airline counter inside. Lines are usually shorter too!

 

[Pinnie]

I use it whenever it is available. Unfortunately, it is NOT available at Detroit Metro (DTW) for SWA.

pinnie

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Pinnie
I use it whenever it is available. Unfortunately, it is NOT available at Detroit Metro (DTW) for SWA.

pinnie

Pinnie,
That is a bummer and SWA should update because they indicate it is available.

 

[Pinnie]

Gail,

I wish it was available. SWA flies out of the OLD Smith terminal at DTW. There is talk that they are going to raze it and build a new one like NWA did at DTW which is gorgeous and state of the art!

Most of the time I fly SWA, it is by myself and I fly the early flight out of DTW to MDW to make my connections. That means there is only ONE line to check in and that is at the counter. I am used to at least an hour in line there.

I know this is going to happen and I make provisions for it. I have met some interesting people standing in the SWA line. Even met an old high school "flame" once!


pinnie

 

[drizzt117]

Have you ever had a problem with your baggage not making it to the plane on time with curbside? I've never curbside checked before so I'm kinda nervous about doing it.

Thomas

 

[Pinnie]

Never had a problem, drizzt117!!!!

I think that with the new tracking systems, incidents of misplaned <G> luggage are far fewer.

LOL that is not to say it CAN'T happen. I am flying 8 times over the next few weeks.....I'll let you know in August!!!

pinnie

 

[grammagail]

Have you ever used Spirit out of Detroit Metro? That's what we're using next Tuesday bounce: ) - and was wondering if they had curbside. I already printed my boarding passes (for both ways), have my seats assigned and was hoping to be able to use this instead of waiting in the ticket line - just to check my luggage.

I plan on being there by 5:30 am (flight is at 7:25 am) - just in case. Been a couple of years since I've been to Metro - do you think I've allowed enough time?

 

[Pinnie]

grammagail,

I will be using SPIRIT for the first time in Aug for a trip to Denver. I will get back to you later on today about the curbside check in at DTW because I am going to be picking up a friend who is flying in from Pennsacola on Delta today.

I think you will have enough time. I don't know about Spirit, but I do know that the counter at SWA doesn't open until 6:00 a.m. in DTW.

Have a wonderful time!

pinnie

 

[grammagail]

Thanks Pinnie. On Spirit's website - they indicated their counter opened 3 hours prior to flight time - which would be 4:30 a.m. (??) Hence my question whether arriving at 5:30 a.m was sufficient.

I am, by nature, a worry-wort, so I want to make SURE I'm there in plenty of time. Would rather get there and have to wait vs. being a nervous wreck about making the flight.

Especially since this is the first time I've booked online, did the seat assignment and printed boarding passes. In the past - I've always had that "ticket" in hand............this doesn't seem like I have anything, only my printed confirmation and the printed board passes from computer - if you know what I mean.

Have a safe flight

 

[Pinnie]

You should have plenty of time. We usually find that the security lines move quickly at DTW as long as the PEOPLE are ready to go through those lines!

pinnie

 

[canwegosoon]

Miss it so much...

 

[CarolA]

One tip for making sure your curbside checked luggage arrives when you do. TIP the skycap. Normally these are NOT airline employees and depend on tips for the majority of their pay.