Is SWA an official participating airline or not?

[Kanga1]

Can anyone confirm this for me? SWA is not listed on this site as being a participating airline, nor is it listed in my DME docs. We're staying at the BC. Will we get to use RAC with SWA?

 

[zurgswife]

I would call YC/BC directly but I was told that they were. The disney employee said they are only at selected resorts and YC/BC was one. I couldn't find the SWA list anywhere...the best bet would be to call the hotel and talk to bell services.

 

[seashoreCM]

Last I heard was that Southwest baggage checking going home is in effect at all Disney's resorts except Caribbean Beach and Old Key West.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, you will get RAC at the Beach Club. The only reason it's not available at the two resorts stated above is space. There's not yet enough room to store the additional luggage from Southwest passengers at these two resorts in preparation for RAC shipment (not to be confused with regular luggage holding).

 

[poohbear7]

We were able to use RAC from the Boardwalk in May

 

[jamstew]

Yes. I used RAC at the BC in May.

 

[kritter]

My folks are in the World right now and my mom said that RAC is at all resorts now for SW!! I am headed down in a few hours I will reconfirm this for you!!

 

[bookwormde]

They are modifying OKW now to accomidate it so it should have room for the extra luggage in a few months

bookwormde

 

[FFerret]

Wait wait wait---SWA is a participating airline now?

Anybody know if Fort Wilderness is one of the resorts?

Thanks much!

 

[goofy4tink]

Wait wait wait---SWA is a participating airline now?

Anybody know if Fort Wilderness is one of the resorts?

Thanks much!

CBR and OKW are basically the only resorts not included due to lack of storage spots. All other resorts give you the ability to use RAC with SW.

 

[FFerret]

CBR and OKW are basically the only resorts not included due to lack of storage spots. All other resorts give you the ability to use RAC with SW.

[happy ferret dance]

Works for me! I wonder why it's not listed; even the Disney agent who booked my Disney vacation told me SW isn't a participating airline.

Oh well--just glad to see I can RAC. One less thing to worry about

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[goofy4tink]

[happy ferret dance]

Works for me! I wonder why it's not listed; even the Disney agent who booked my Disney vacation told me SW isn't a participating airline.

Oh well--just glad to see I can RAC. One less thing to worry about

Thanks for the quick reply!

I'm going to assume (knowing full well what happens when one does that!!) that Disney isn't making an 'official' statement regarding SW and RAC until all the resorts are onliine with RAC. With those two remaining resorts still sorting out their issues, it would be confusing to resort guests to say SW was now a 'participating' airline only to find that they weren't able to use RAC at OKW!

 

[Missytara]

I'm going to assume (knowing full well what happens when one does that!!) that Disney isn't making an 'official' statement regarding SW and RAC until all the resorts are onliine with RAC. With those two remaining resorts still sorting out their issues, it would be confusing to resort guests to say SW was now a 'participating' airline only to find that they weren't able to use RAC at OKW!

I have been checking periodically to see if they have taken out building permits for CBR and OKW for enlarging their luggage areas, but haven't seen any to date.

 

[disneybass]

I understand that they are working on OKW now.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yes, but ...

On June 12th, we waited for 2.5 hours in a baggage check line at POR (outdoors, in 94 degree heat) only to be told when we reached the head of the line that "SWA doesn't seem to be responding. We haven't been able to get a bag checked for them all morning." There were at least 200 people still behind us in line as of 12:15.

DH was (and is) livid. It was EXTREMELY poor customer service of the BAGS staff not to go down the line and announce this issue. We wasted a good chunk of what would have been our final-day park time in that line, and then ended up checking the bags with Bell Services anyway and having to return to pick them up to take them to the airport and check them (which meant that we also had to be at the airport earlier than previously planned.) The SWA check-in line at MCO was full of other people who had similar stories.

 

[LSchrow]

we used RAC for SWA at the BWVs in may, and have to say it was sooooo easy. no picking bags up again, no schelepping them thru MCO, no waiting on the SWA line - it definately added to an already perfect vacation

 

[jamstew]

Yes, but ...

On June 12th, we waited for 2.5 hours in a baggage check line at POR (outdoors, in 94 degree heat) only to be told when we reached the head of the line that "SWA doesn't seem to be responding. We haven't been able to get a bag checked for them all morning." There were at least 200 people still behind us in line as of 12:15.

DH was (and is) livid. It was EXTREMELY poor customer service of the BAGS staff not to go down the line and announce this issue. We wasted a good chunk of what would have been our final-day park time in that line, and then ended up checking the bags with Bell Services anyway and having to return to pick them up to take them to the airport and check them (which meant that we also had to be at the airport earlier than previously planned.) The SWA check-in line at MCO was full of other people who had similar stories.

This is really disappointing to hear. I used it at BCV in May with absolutely no issues. Hopefully, the day you had problems was a one-day thing. I'll be interested to hear if this continues to happen.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, a glitch usually/ideally only happens one day, and maybe they were hoping it would fix itself for subsequent Guests? Also, it's possible ALL the staffers were dealing with Guests at the counter and there were no extra people to notify the line?

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, a glitch usually/ideally only happens one day, and maybe they were hoping it would fix itself for subsequent Guests? Also, it's possible ALL the staffers were dealing with Guests at the counter and there were no extra people to notify the line?

Whether or not they were hoping that it would fix itself, they still should have been telling people what the holdup was. (We started timing; the average time at the counter once someone got up there was 18 minutes.) There were three weigh stations operating and there were a total of 8 staff members out front working the area, many of them chatting with one another. It was NOT a good scene. In addition, they were letting people who made a major stink go to the head of the line, with the result that EVERYONE in the line was in a pretty bad mood after awhile.

Honestly, it was by far the worst employee interaction I have ever experienced on Disney property, and they have definitely heard about it. DH writes appreciation letters after every trip, but the complaint letter this time was blistering!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just a point of information - i.e. not an excuse in any way - the RAC personnel work for the airport. They're not Cast Members.