Do you use curbside check-in?

[Liz]

Our flight leaves at 6:00 AM. Curbside check in opens at 4:30 and the counter opens at 5:00. We ALWAYS go to the counter, but not knowning how long it will take to get through security I'm wondering if we should do curbside. Do they give you boarding passes and everything, so you can go straight through security and to your gate? Does your luggage sit around outside or do they put it straight into some secure place?

Thanks much!

 

[cassie]

First time ever I used curbside check-in this past May. I've always gone to the counter with the long lines. Never again. I was flying with Delta and wanted to check out their kiosk, but everyone was a first timer and it was taking too long. The counter line was very long so I went back outside to the curb. I had an e-ticket and it went quickly, in spite of the number of people checking in there. They gave me a boarding pass, and since I'm a smoker I took a few minutes for a smoke and watched the procedure. All the bags are ticketed (I made sure they said MCO) and put on carts. When they filled up they wheeled them inside. Everything got there ok. Same when returning.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

It is the only way I do it. As to the boarding passes, depends on the ticket and who you are flying.
Most will give you boarding passes, but, it is best to check the website of the airline you are using.
Good luck and remember to tip the skycap. 1-2.00 per bag.

 

[onthego103]

Is it customary to tip the person who takes your luggage at curbside checkin? I have never seen anyone tip the person who takes your luggage at the inside counter and I considered they were doing the same thing.

 

[DebbieB]

The skycaps at curbside and baggage claim are not airline employees, so they are performing a special service, thus they are tipped. The inside counter people are airline employees, they are not tipped.

Regarding boarding passes, it depends on the airline. USAirways does not give boarding passes curbside. They do have e-ticket kiosks inside the airport entance where you can print them and not have to wait in line (you need your dividend miles or credit card used to make the reservation).

 

[poohbear2]

I always check in at the curb if I have the option. The service is FAST and CHEERFUl, even at 500am. Yes, tipping is a must.
It is definitely worth the money. My in-laws were at the airport at least 30 minutes before my husband and myself. We were waiting for THEM before going to our gate. And this was before 9/11.

 

[cindala]

We have always used curbside check in when we fly. I am assuming we will use it again this trip, unless we can try the new kiosks that Delta has set up. Which ever is quicker we will use. Definitely faster than waiting on the inside line for the counter!

 

[shoes99]

We ususally use E-ticket check in, and if not available, we use curbside check in. Don't forget to tip the bag handlers as they are usually a separate service. We were leaving Orlando on our Feb trip this year and inside check in was 1 1/2 hours for Delta, and curb side was 30 minutes. People were not tipping. The attendant saw that I had my ID, tickets and tip money available in my hand, so he said out loud, look at that young lady, she must be an experienced traveler. The people in front of me did not have their ID, or tickets or tip ready and they were standing in line for at least 30 minutes.
I knew my bags were going to the right airport.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

onthego103,
Yes, it is customary to tip the sky caps. They make their living off tips. They may or may not be employees of the airline (some airports use independents).

 

[wld]

I always use curbside if I can. Fast, efficient and at least at the new terminal in Detroit the employee was wearing a NWA uniform. We got our boarding passes with seat assignment and went right to security and then our gate. Our luggage was removed immediately, I think on a conveyer belt, but I may be wrong about that. I do know there wasn't a bunch of luggage just sitting around. Do have your ticket and id out. It makes everything move faster. We took the luggage to the employee just like you would inside. We tipped.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Does anyone happen to know how close the US Airways e-ticket kiosk is to the curb/terminal doors at MCO?

 

[Chuck S]

I was amazed at the people lining up inside for Delta check-in at MCO on June 5. It must have taken an hour to check-in through the desk. We saw the line, and took our bags outside, we had our bags checked (3 Bags) and boarding passes in 4 minutes - the was no line. I usually tip about $2 per bag, although this time I tipped a total of $10 for the 3 bags, it was well worth it to us.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Chuck,
It sure is worth the tip. Dee taught me the words"sky cap" early on in our relationship and they are second to "on sale" for me. I used to be a "bin hog", carried everything on the plane, well, I soon learned that not being a pack mule, even to the check in line at the counter, was a good thing. The use of Sky Caps accomplishes two things: it makes my trip easier and it keeps these people employed.
I always have my ticket, id and cash ready, Dee shows his ID and goes and parks the car. I check in for us and have a cigarette, outside, and he is back in no time and on the plane we go. He calls it "non violent" flying.
I have noticed that the people who use curb side and don't have their money out will be passed by for someone who does. In this case, "money talks". As an aside, it really irks me to see people use the sky caps and push them around like slaves and not tip them. Where is courtesy? Be nice and tip them. They are human.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Has anyone else noticed how friendly the sky caps are in Orlando? The ones in Pittsburgh are usually miserable! (guess we take morning flights - so it is early!).

I'm not sure why some people don't tip sky caps, I've never considered NOT tipping them (I guess I grew up knowing a sky cap gets $1-2 per bag!). (started traveling at 6 weeks old!)

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

The ones at Bradley in CT are all very friendly, even in the early am.
Cali, I cannot imagine you doing anything in less than a first class manner.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by CaliforniaDreaming
Does anyone happen to know how close the US Airways e-ticket kiosk is to the curb/terminal doors at MCO?

They are right inside the door where the skycaps are, next to the regular counter. We always do curbside because we check the checked luggage first and then park (PIT) or return the car (MCO) but used the kiosk for the boarding passes on the last trip. You get 1,000 bonus miles for the first time you use the kiosk, 50 thereafter.

Has anyone else noticed how friendly the sky caps are in Orlando? The ones in Pittsburgh are usually miserable! (guess we take morning flights - so it is early!).

The line is usually so long at PIT for USAir. We took a later morning flight the last time (11:35) and it wasn't as bad, there were only 2 or 3 people in line ahead of us. I've never encountered an unfriendly one. Regarding Orlando, last month when we pulled up there was no one parked and about 3 or 4 skycaps standing there. I parked and popped the trunk, I thought one would come over. In December, one came over and lifted the luggage out of the car right away. Got out of the car and started unloading the luggage, still no one moved. Finally one came over. He made comment "if you would flash a 20 maybe they would move faster", kind of mocking his coworkers or maybe throwing a hint (???). I thought that was kind of strange, consider they didn't have many customers, you would have thought they would have ran to get one and do a good job. I tip $1 per bag.

They are independents at PIT, maybe that's why they don't give boarding passes for USAir (they don't give them in Orlando either).

 

[cassie]

Oh dear, I'm feeling really bad now that I did not tip the sky caps. I thought they were Delta employees and therefore not tippable. Next time I will be aware. Also, the question came up about tipping the Mears bus driver. I do tip them and was surprised to see most do not.

 

[Tinkbell]

I agree, it really helps to flash that money during curbside check in. You don't have to approach anyone. They come straight for you!

 

[RUDisney]

I thought I was going to use curbside checkin at my local airport (AVP) in Scranton, PA, last time. We were there for a super early flight, but since my DH was going to park the car, I was left alone with all of our bags.... Do you know what Scranton's idea of curbside checkin is? The skycap took my bags to the front of the USAir line and left them there for me to lug to the counter as I got to the front. I thought and still think it was very funny. Yes, I tipped the skycap for dragging my luggage 15 feet inside of the building. The line is never too long there so I had my eye on our bags the whole time.

Ahh, to live closer to a "real" hub airport....

 

[safetymom]

The skycaps in Pittsburgh are all very friendly. I have flown all the airlines at PIT and have never had a bad one. I have had some interesting conversations with them.