Is there SkyCap service for Southwest at MCO?

[brettb]

I think the subject says it all:

Is there SkyCap service for Southwest at MCO?

I'd much rather drop the wife and daughter and the luggage off at the curb and *then* return the rental car.


Thanks!

Brett

 

[BCV23]

Yes, there is!

 

[disneydebi]

Check with Southwest however...
I believe you have to have the photo id of each of the passengers when you check in with the sky cap (to get your boarding pass). I don't know if you physically have to be present, but if you do, they may have to wait for you to catch up with them before actually checking in...

We did this on our outbound trip in Providence (hubby dropped me and the kids off with the luggage while he parked the car in the garage.) I however assumed he had to be present at check in so we waited for him to walk over from the garage before we got in line.

 

[brettb]

Originally posted by disneydebi
Check with Southwest however...
I believe you have to have the photo id of each of the passengers when you check in with the sky cap (to get your boarding pass). I don't know if you physically have to be present, but if you do, they may have to wait for you to catch up with them before actually checking in...

We did this on our outbound trip in Providence (hubby dropped me and the kids off with the luggage while he parked the car in the garage.) I however assumed he had to be present at check in so we waited for him to walk over from the garage before we got in line.

I figured I would check in with them with the SkyCap to get my boarding pass, then drive the car to the rental return and meet them inside the terminal.

Does anybody see why this wouldn't be logistically possible?

The last time I used a SkyCap service was at Philadelphia and we used a valet parking service. The SkyCap was only a few feet from where we were dropped off and the wait was very brief. It didn't seem that cars were being chased away from the terminal so fast that you couldn't check yourself in. The time before that, family dropped us off at Newark for a Continental flight and we were checked in and able to do hugs and kisses before they drove off.

Thanks!
Brett

 

[safetymom]

Once the skycap sees your license then you can go return the car and meet up with your family in the terminal. Pick a place to meet before security. No problems.

 

[BCV23]

Originally posted by brettb
I figured I would check in with them with the SkyCap to get my boarding pass, then drive the car to the rental return and meet them inside the terminal.

Does anybody see why this wouldn't be logistically possible?

That's what we do. I usually hang by the car while my DH gives the bags to the skycap and starts the process. After he's shown his id, we switch places and he drives the rental car back while I show my id and collect the boarding passes and baggage claims. Just depends on how crowded it is as to how we actually do this dance.

 

[CarolA]

I figured I would check in with them with the SkyCap to get my boarding pass, then drive the car to the rental return and meet them inside the terminal.

I have seen problems with this. If there is a long SW line and you get a cop who is strict.... then your car may be there too long.

I saw a family in Chicago get ticketed for this. The dad tried to jump in the car and drive off before the cop finished the ticket. He turned to the rest of the family and explained that since he had the plate number a ticket would be mailed and it would be HIGHER since Dad had pulled this stunt. The cop did loudly announce at least once that if the car was not moved in X minutes it would be ticketed and towed. (Family tried to pretend it wasn't thier car when he was making announcement) So stay with your car. Mom and kid can wait and then you can dash up when they hit the front of the line. (And do look for the line, there is one at SW. My last MCO check in some lady got very upset when she wasn't allowed to cut off the 10 people waiting in line by just depoisitng herself in front of one of the counters.)

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by brettb
I figured I would check in with them with the SkyCap to get my boarding pass, then drive the car to the rental return and meet them inside the terminal.

Be careful about doing this. OIA is very very strict about cars... active unloading only -- meaning once you've unloaded, they expect the car to be moving.

 

[safetymom]

I do curbside check in at MCO several times a month and have never been hassled. I fly USAirways usually and the line isn't very long. If there is a long line then I just check in at the kiosk.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you stay below the limits for checked baggage, which is a good idea anyway, they can check all the bags in their names, and the skycap won't need you at all. You can just get your boarding pass from the kiosk inside and catch up with them by the fountain.

Better yet, check yourselves in online and you will already have the BP, so you can just grab your carryon and head for the fountain.

 

[sammy66]

I just wanted to add that for my last two trips, I used National rental. When I returned the car, someone that works for National took all of our luggage and checked it in for us while we were checking in. He also led us straight from the car drop off to where we were to check in. It was really nice because we didn't have to worry about getting seperated or lost. ( our cell phones do not work inside of the terminal). I would think that all of the rental companies probably do this. We did tip him just a little more than we would a skycap.
Also, they are very strick with the car in the drop off lane, at least they were with me.
Rachel

 

[brettb]

Originally posted by BCV23
That's what we do. I usually hang by the car while my DH gives the bags to the skycap and starts the process. After he's shown his id, we switch places and he drives the rental car back while I show my id and collect the boarding passes and baggage claims. Just depends on how crowded it is as to how we actually do this dance.

Now *that's* a plan! Thanks, BCV23!

And, thanks, NotUrsula for the suggestions, too! This December trip is shorter than usual for us, but we'll probably have to pack more just because of the potential variability in weather. Plus the last time we packed Emily's Turbo Booster in a suitcase. But I don't think the trunk of my car (which we'll be using to get to Philadelphia Airport) will even *hold* six suitcases.

As for checking in online, any ideas on where in the World to do this? We're staying at the Grand Floridian (Yay $290 r/t PHL-MCO on Southwest for 3 people!) and probably at a major park that last day. Can this be done at DisneyQuest? (I may not want to go that far out of our way to check in, though.) I read in another thread that you can check in online without even printing the passes--you just have to tell the SkyCap or counter agent that you have done so. (Can you use a kiosk if you do this? Can you use a kiosk if don't go the SkyCap route and have baggage to check?)

Thanks, everybody, for all the help!
Brett

 

[NotUrsula]

Your hotel's Concierge can do your online checkin for you. Just ask first thing in the morning, with your paper confirmations in hand. (Tipping is a nice thing to do; I tip $2 per BP.)

There are lots of advantages to packing light. If there are only three of you, why not just check one large rolling bag, plus the carseat? We've done Europe for 10 days in winter on that amount of luggage, w/ two regular day-sized backpacks as carryons. You might want to just think about it and pick up some tips on packing lighter. (One hint: an investment in comfortable silk winter underwear will pay for itself many times.)