Curbside Check in

[G00fyDad]

DJT, what city in Indiana are you from?

 

[skiwee1]

This is what I was trying to find out. I do not fly that much and was wondering if there was some secret I was missing! I did not know that skycaps can give you boarding passes. I learned something new! Since I still need to get seats online then this wouldn't helpe me right now but might in the future. Thanks!

 

[DJT]

Goofy Dad, I'm from New Albany. This is the first time I've known anyone so close to be a member of the Dis! Small World!

 

[G00fyDad]

I used to live in New Albany. I went to Scribner JH. Graduated from Silver Creek in 91.

 

[beattyfamily]

This is what I was trying to find out. I do not fly that much and was wondering if there was some secret I was missing! I did not know that skycaps can give you boarding passes. I learned something new! Since I still need to get seats online then this wouldn't helpe me right now but might in the future. Thanks!

You are very welcome! Yes, skycaps can take your luggage and give you your boarding passes and since I already have assigned seats and luggage to check, I just use the skycap rather then go online but since you do not have assigned seats, I can see why it's important to check in online! I would too!

 

[G00fyDad]

Quick couple of questions.

#1 - How does the Skycap have your boarding pass before you get to the airport? (remember, never used or paid attention to one)

#2 - How is this different than simply waiting in line inside? He/she takes your luggage, weighs it, hands you your boarding passes and then you go to security. If you go to the counter inside, they take your luggage, weigh it, hand you your boarding passes and then you go to security. Whats the difference?

Keep in mind, I am ignorant of how the curbside service works.

 

[PlutoPony]

Just be aware that at a BUSY time at the airport (i.e. holiday) the curbside check-in line may be very LONG, and you won't be able to just unload your car and hand your bags to a skycap, then be on your way! The shortest curbside line I saw the a.m. we flew out of Dulles at Christmas was ~20 minutes; we waited 25, which was still shorter than the check-in line was inside (except that it was cold outside!) Definitely makes you want to pack light and carry everything on if possible.

 

[skiwee1]

Quick couple of questions.

#1 - How does the Skycap have your boarding pass before you get to the airport? (remember, never used or paid attention to one)

#2 - How is this different than simply waiting in line inside? He/she takes your luggage, weighs it, hands you your boarding passes and then you go to security. If you go to the counter inside, they take your luggage, weigh it, hand you your boarding passes and then you go to security. Whats the difference?

Keep in mind, I am ignorant of how the curbside service works.

Just from my experience the skycap line is nothing compared to the inside check in. I never have more then two people in front of me, if that, at the skycap. The line inside usually has at least 50 people.

 

[G00fyDad]

Yes, butwhy? I mean if they do the exact same thing why are the inside lines longer?

 

[safetymom]

Because the people inside in line don't know that they can check in outside. I hope they all stay inside so there are no lines outside. Also sometimes people inside need to make changes that only the agents can handle.

 

[DebbieB]

The skycap has a printer at the outside station to print boarding passes.

Why do people go to the counter inside? Some may not know about curbside check-in. If there's a long line outside and you are alone, it gets tricky leaving your car there unattended, sometimes the cops will hassle you. Some may have questions or problems with their reservation. If it's cold, some may not want to stand outside. Some are too cheap to tip for curbside.

 

[G00fyDad]

Ohhhhh. Okay. I'll stay outside with the smart people.

 

[Rpsemont]

#2 - How is this different than simply waiting in line inside? He/she takes your luggage, weighs it, hands you your boarding passes and then you go to security. If you go to the counter inside, they take your luggage, weigh it, hand you your boarding passes and then you go to security. Whats the difference?

Also, when you wait in line inside you have to drag your luggage in line with you. With curbside, we leave our luggage right outside the car on the sidewalk, even if I then go stand in line (Leaving at least one person with the luggage) and have the skycap go the luggage, that's less work for us.

Also, I think there are definitely people that go inside because they don't want to, or can't afford to spend the tip money.

Nice to know they sometimes can break a bill. I would have never thought to ask!

 

[Jcricket Fan]

I would guess many of the people in line don't understand the "sky cap" concept. Until I came to the DIS I didn't really know what the people outside did either.
Sky caps have been a huge time saver when we travel. We get dropped off and have on many occasions been the only people at the sky cap booth...then we enter the terminal and the line to the counter will have 30 people waiting in it! I did explain to a very nice older couple who was headed for the long line that the nice men outside would check them in and how the process worked...they were amazed they had always wondered if it was a special service like concierge that you bought...I explained that a tip was all that was needed to save them all kinds of extra time in the lines inside. Even taking the time to talk with this couple the line inside still had not advanced more then a person or two. The couple came up behind us in the security line and were so excited that they learned something new...they said they felt like they won the lottery!
Wow, the power of the sky cap!

Colleen

 

[Big V]

Very informative post! Thanks for the tips!

 

[Drizzo67]

This has been one of the most informative threads I have seen in a long time. Thank you to all who posted their knowledge.

 

[vacanut]

I was wondering with Curbside checkin, do they still scan each piece of luggage? I know at BDL last year we checked in inside at the counter and were asked for our luggage keys so they could open and inspect them, is this by passed if you do curbside checkin??

 

[beattyfamily]

I was wondering with Curbside checkin, do they still scan each piece of luggage? I know at BDL last year we checked in inside at the counter and were asked for our luggage keys so they could open and inspect them, is this by passed if you do curbside checkin??

I have never had them scan our luggage or open and inspect them. I know that later, when I'm long gone, they probably go through some sort of xray and if they feel they need to they'll open them then.

All the skycap does is take my license and print out my boarding pass and tag my luggage and put it away.

Ps...I would never lock my luggage as there is a good chance it will be opened and inspected.

 

[G00fyDad]

You absolutely should lock your luggage. Use these locks. They are TSA approved. If security needs inside for some reason they have a master combo or a key. That way you dont need to leave it open for anyone in luggage to get inside. If security gets in it, they will have more than just one person there. Less likely to have things stolen.

 

[beattyfamily]

You absolutely should lock your luggage. Use these locks. They are TSA approved. If security needs inside for some reason they have a master combo or a key. That way you dont need to leave it open for anyone in luggage to get inside. If security gets in it, they will have more than just one person there. Less likely to have things stolen.

What I meant was if you use the locks that came with the suitcase, they'll probably be destroyed to open the luggage for inspection. If you've got special ones that the security can open easily and reclose, then by all means use them.

I think, though, that most theft that takes place is through security.