Hypothetical situation with Magical Express

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This is just a hypothetical question when it comes to using Magical Express, so it is something my family and I do not have planned at all.

Anyway since United Airlines is one of the participating airlines when going back to Orlando International Airport you can get your boarding passes at the Magical Express check in counter, get your bags taged so there is no need to do that at the Airport. Anyway if a guest is flying Air Canada are they allowed to also do that? I know they are not officially a participating airline, however both Air Canada and United Airlines are both Star Alliance members and if a guest was flying on Air Canada they could also check in at the United Airlines check in counter. Plus that is what Air Canada guests at Orlando International Airport use to do because at the time Air Canada did not have their own check in line. Also one time when my family and I were flying Business Class on Air Canada we checked in at the United Airlines 1st class line sice Air Canada did not have their own Business Class check in line at Orlando International Airport. Basically what I am asking is can Air Canada guests who are using Magical Express check in with United Airlines at the WDW Resorts since both airlines are basically the same company under the Star Alliance program?

 

[bradk]

i would guess not, but more importantly, RAC is only available to domestic flights. so unless air canada has flights contained entirely in the US, it's moot.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for the info and I forget that RAC was for only domestic flights and not international flights.

 

[seashoreCM]

You need to have your bags when you clear customs so you will have to bring your bags to the ME bus when you leave Disney.

Make sure your ME bus reservation is for 4 hours before your plane leaves, for international or charter flights.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You need to have your bags when you clear customs so you will have to bring your bags to the ME bus when you leave Disney.

Make sure your ME bus reservation is for 4 hours before your plane leaves, for international or charter flights.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

Actually when flying back to Toronto or anywhere in Canada from Orlando International Airport, we clear Canadian Customs at our home Airport after we get off the plane. Once that is done we go to baggae claim and pick up our bags.

 

[bavaria]

Anyway if a guest is flying Air Canada are they allowed to also do that

No, Canada is an 'international' destination.

Even when flying United, one cannot online checkin FROM Canada to the US. (however one can usually check in from US to Canada)

With Air Canada, one can usually OLCI both to and from the US

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

With Air Canada, one can usually OLCI both to and from the US

Here is a link to the Airports in the United States that Air Canada flys to, so if guests want they can print their boarding passes online if they are flying back into Canada from one of these Airports. https://res.aircanada.com/oci/actio...__ACTION_EVENT_=view&__ACTION_EVENT_PARAM_=en

 

[bavaria]

yes, I said above that with Air Canada one can usually OLCI. There are however many reasons why one is not always able to OLCI.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

yes, I said above that with Air Canada one can usually OLCI. There are however many reasons why one is not always able to OLCI.

If you clicked the link you saw it was available out of select US Airports, however when flying out of Canada it is good at all Canadian Airports.

 

[bavaria]

I really don't understand your post nor do I understand why you appear to be arguing with me.

Again, one can usually OLCI with Air Canada from most cities in the US, most of the time.

 

[Lewisc]

The Air Canada website says passengers with paper tickets aren't eligible for OLCI from US cities. I'm not sure how many (how few) passengers fall into that category but it's not accurate for the OP to imply that all passengers can do OLCI from those select cities.

Security is different for international flights and it is certainly possible that some passengers, during some alert levels, might also be unable to do OLCI.

International guests, even those who use the yellow DME tags, better grab their luggage if they didn't didn't clear customs prior to arriving at MCO.

Bavaria probably takes more flights in a few months then some of us, probably including the OP, have taken in our lifetime.

I always appreciate information for those DIS who have extensive travel experience.

I really don't understand your post nor do I understand why you appear to be arguing with me.

Again, one can usually OLCI with Air Canada from most cities in the US, most of the time.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

International guests, even those who use the yellow DME tags, better grab their luggage if they didn't didn't clear customs prior to arriving at MCO.

When flying on certin Airlines out of Toronto Pearson International Airport (Air Canada and WestJet) to Orlando International Airport guests clear United States Customs in Toronto, so when they arrive in Orlando they walk right to the Magical Express check in counter, or to the baggage claim area just like everyone else coming in from other domestic USA flights.

I think if guests are flying Air Transat out of Toronto then they clear United States Customs in Orlando, however my family and I do not fly them because we cleared United States Customs in Orlando when flying Canada 3000 (who are now out of business) and it was a lot harder then clearing in Toronto.

 

[Lewisc]

I thought that's what I said.

I understand most passengers, from Canada, clear customs in Canada. It sounds like many guests from Canada clear customs when they cross the border on the way to Buffalo.

Policies are subject to change. My point is if you haven't already cleared customs prior to arriving at MCO make sure you grab your bags and go through customs.

When flying on certin Airlines out of Toronto Pearson International Airport (Air Canada and WestJet) to Orlando International Airport guests clear United States Customs in Toronto, so when they arrive in Orlando they walk right to the Magical Express check in counter, or to the baggage claim area just like everyone else coming in from other domestic USA flights.

I think if guests are flying Air Transat out of Toronto then they clear United States Customs in Orlando, however my family and I do not fly them because we cleared United States Customs in Orlando when flying Canada 3000 (who are now out of business) and it was a lot harder then clearing in Toronto.

 

[bavaria]

I thought that was what Lewis said, as well.

there are MANY travellers from the UK and other countries who fly into MCO and who need to clear customs there.

Preclearance started in Canada with 7 major airports and will continue to expand, but not every airport has preclearance.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My point is if you haven't already cleared customs prior to arriving at MCO make sure you grab your bags and go through customs.

Actually for anyone who clears United States Customs in Orlando weather they are coming from Canada, UK or any foreign country they need to pick up their bags after questioning at the 1st baggage claim location. Then they put them on another belt and pick then up in the main terminal.

However my Dad read something where in a few years they might change the system where those guests only need to pick up their bags at 1 location and not 2 of them.

 

[Lewisc]

I understand some passengers don't put their bags on the second belt and take the bags with them on the tram to the main terminal building. Some passengers may have more bags then they can easily handle. Those passengers might be using DME or might have a limo driver or friend meeting them at baggage claim.

I guess MCO could change the airport and have ground transportation available in the same general area as customs. I'd think the more passengers that clear customs prior to arriving at MCO, the less motivation MCO will have to make changes.

Actually for anyone who clears United States Customs in Orlando weather they are coming from Canada, UK or any foreign country they need to pick up their bags after questioning at the 1st baggage claim location. Then they put them on another belt and pick then up in the main terminal.

However my Dad read something where in a few years they might change the system where those guests only need to pick up their bags at 1 location and not 2 of them.

 

[bavaria]

Bavaria probably takes more flights in a few months then some of us, probably including the OP, have taken in our lifetime.

I always appreciate information for those DIS who have extensive travel experience.

Thanks, Lewis. I am/have been a member of the top tier program for Air Canada, United, and Lufthansa, and am probably one of the only Air Canada SuperElite members who reads and posts here.

I fly regularly both within the US and internationally to a variety of destinations, and hopefully can share some factual information with posters here. Often however posters don't seem to want the facts. In that case, I am unable to assist.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I understand some passengers don't put their bags on the second belt and take the bags with them on the tram to the main terminal building. Some passengers may have more bags then they can easily handle. Those passengers might be using DME or might have a limo driver or friend meeting them at baggage claim.

I guess MCO could change the airport and have ground transportation available in the same general area as customs. I'd think the more passengers that clear customs prior to arriving at MCO, the less motivation MCO will have to make changes.

I wonder if things at MCO changed the past few years because if my family could have taken our checked bags onto the tram we would have done that, because it saves so much time. The times we cleared Customs there the agent said please put all your checked bags onto the moving belt and was serious about that.

 

[Lewisc]

Some people follow rules and some people ignore them. Some rules are more of a suggestion.

I guess the agent might be more serious if you have a lot of bags. It sounds like your family generally stays on-site. If you're ever in this situation again just use DME tags and let Disney deliver your bags to your room.

I wonder if things at MCO changed the past few years because if my family could have taken our checked bags onto the tram we would have done that, because it saves so much time. The times we cleared Customs there the agent said please put all your checked bags onto the moving belt and was serious about that.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Some people follow rules and some people ignore them. Some rules are more of a suggestion.

I guess the agent might be more serious if you have a lot of bags. It sounds like your family generally stays on-site. If you're ever in this situation again just use DME tags and let Disney deliver your bags to your room.

Well if some people did not follow the rules I have a hard time believing they can get away with it, since this is inside an Airport and they would be a lot more serious about following the rules.

As for the suggestion about using Magical Expres since my family and I visit Clearwater Beach after WDW in December when we fly, we always rent a car from MCO and return in Tampa so we would not need Magical Express. Besides like I said before when we fly Air Canada or WestJet out of Toronto we clear United States Customs in Toronto, so when we arrive in Orlando we walk right to baggage claim when getting of the plane.