Jet Blue and ME

[Lewisc]

Jet Blue is now listed as a participating airline on BAGS website. I'd suspect they'll be added to the list of carriers you can do resort checkin.

 

[debster812]

Most excellent. We really like flying JetBlue.

Thanks for the update.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Jet Blue is now listed as a participating airline on BAGS website. I'd suspect they'll be added to the list of carriers you can do resort checkin.

What's the URL? I wasn't aware that Baggage Airline Guest Services Inc. (BAGS Inc.) has a website.

 

[Lewisc]

What's the URL? I wasn't aware that Baggage Airline Guest Services Inc. (BAGS Inc.) has a website.

Horace doesn't everyone have a website?

http://www.airportbags.com/

check your PM.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Horace doesn't everyone have a website?

http://www.airportbags.com/

Thank you for posting the URL. My Google search was unsuccessful because I was looking for "BAGS Inc" or "Baggage Airline Guest Services" without finding the company's own site.

It's interesting that BAGS' website shows logos for JetBlue and Northwest as airlines participating with BAGS -- but that Disney still doesn't include those airlines in their FAQ, and that there have been no reports of Disney agents telling guests they'll be able to use Resort Airline Check-in with JetBlue and Northwest.

 

[Brian Noble]

It is possible that BAGS charges event planners/hotels for their services, and they are free (or nearly so) to the airlines, but Disney is pushing back and trying to get the carriers to foot more of the bill.

 

[pjpoohbear]

When I book my DVC, including ME service, stay for October, the CM said asked me to wait and then came back with the info that Jet Blue was a "Participating airline" I posted this infor on the DVC board and maybe here as well last month no took notice.

The logos are shown on the main page, but if you read the announcement for ME, Jet Blue and NWA are not mentioned. So they may work with JB and NWA out of the convention centre(?) and not out of WDW yet.

So lets see what happens in two weeks time, to see what a participating airline is, is it you can use ME or is it you can check- in check bags airline.

Penny

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

So lets see what happens in two weeks time, to see what a participating airline is, is it you can use ME or is it you can check- in check bags airline.

I spoke with DVC Member Services today. The CM checked with a supervior to make sure that I got the correct information.

Here's the latest scoop:

• For inbound travel to WDW, you can use any airline, and still get Magical Express transportation and luggage transfers (without having to touch your bags at Orlando International).
• When departing from WDW you can use Magical Express with any airline, but Resort Airline Check-in is limited to specific airlines.
• Today only AA, Delta, and Song are officially part of Resort Airline Check-in.
• United, Ted, Northwest, Continental, JetBlue, and US Airways "will be coming on board."

Of course, with the launch just two weeks away, there are more questions:

• What's the reason that United, Ted, Northwest, Continental, JetBlue, and US Airways aren't official, and what will it take to overcome whatever the problem is?
• When will they "come on board"?
• Will they really all "come on board" or will Disney and BAGS fail to reach an agreement with some of the anticipated airlines?
• Why isn't US Airways shown on BAGS' website?

 

[Lewisc]

BAGS, Inc added Jet Blue in the last week or so. Makes no sense for BAGS to go to the trouble of adding Jet Blue if it's not going to be included with ME. My guess is Disney is waiting until May and will make one announcement with all the new airlines. NW was on the Disney list and then off the list. There may be some contractual issues that have to be addressed.

For the outgoing flights all Disney has to do is change the sign in the lobby to notify guests as to which airlines are now available for resort check in.

 

[Lewisc]

Horace--Disney CM's haven't been very good at giving accurate information.

Carol has already said United, AA and Delta are the airlines that are currently available in the resorts that are testing the resort check in.

We can speculate all we want. It may be as simple as some of the airlines wanting to see how the test program goes before signing on. I can't imagine BAGS devoting the time to sign on Jet Blue if they weren't going to be part of ME. I agree with Brian, it's certainly possible Disney is looking for the airlines to pay some of the cost.

I wouldn't expect any airline not on BAGS website to be available for resort check in. I'd expect any airline on their website to be added to ME.

 

[pjpoohbear]

BAGS does much more then ME , while JB does a lot of Business traveller business. Orlando is one of the most use Convention Centres in the US. That could be a reason to include JB in the BAGS business, good profit addition.

But this is a good thing as it makes it much smoother to add JB to the ME service when Disney can make an agreement with JB about participation.

Penny

 

[Lewisc]

I have to think BAGS will be handling a lot more customers through Disney than from their other locations, maybe even combined. I bet Disney is the reason Jet Blue signed on with BAGS. I don't think it's a coincidence that Jet Blue is on BAGS list just in time to be included with the launch of ME. Jet Blue has only been on BAGS site for a few days. There isn't any need for Disney to make any advance announcement. All they have to do is update the signs in the resort.
I'd be shocked if Jet Blue isn't onboard.

BAGS does much more then ME , while JB does a lot of Business traveller business. Orlando is one of the most use Convention Centres in the US. That could be a reason to include JB in the BAGS business, good profit addition.

But this is a good thing as it makes it much smoother to add JB to the ME service when Disney can make an agreement with JB about participation.

Penny

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Horace--Disney CM's haven't been very good at giving accurate information.

I agree. In fact, the first DVC Member Services agent with whom I spoke was woefully misinformed. That's why I asked for a supervisor. (I wonder how many DVC members have received misinfomation about ME from that agent so far this year.)

I think key message is that the list of airlines participating in Resort Airline Check-in is still in flux. For reasons that we can only guess at, there are airlines that have signed up with BAGS, but that have not signed up with Resort Airline Check-in (provided to Disney by BAGS). And there may be airlines that are in discussions with BAGS and Disney, but whose logo is not yet on the BAGS website.

Carol has already said United, AA and Delta are the airlines that are currently available in the resorts that are testing the resort check in.

It's interesting that Continental wasn't part of the test, even though Continental was listed as a Resort Airline Check-in participant in the original ME press release. Of course, participation in a test (or lack thereof) is no guarantee of participation (or nonparticipation) when ME goes live.

 

[MinnieFan]

Here's the latest scoop:

• For inbound travel to WDW, you can use any airline, and still get Magical Express transportation and luggage transfers (without having to touch your bags at Orlando International).
• When departing from WDW you can use Magical Express with any airline, but Resort Airline Check-in is limited to specific airlines.
• Today only AA, Delta, and Song are officially part of Resort Airline Check-in.
• United, Ted, Northwest, Continental, JetBlue, and US Airways "will be coming on board."

I just booked JetBlue for our December trip, so I have my fingers crossed that they will be "on board" by then! Even if we can't use the Resort Airline Check In, though, ME will still be a benefit.

 

[Lewisc]

We're all reading too much on the choice of test airlines. It may be as simple as picking airlines that have the distribution of passengers through the day that gives them the number of check ins they need to test the system. Some of the airlines might have different systems and BAGS might need to test one of each type. For that matter some airlines might not want to be part of the test.

There is no way BAGS, Inc went to the trouble to get Jet Blue signed up in late April unless they are going to be part of ME in May.

It's interesting that Continental wasn't part of the test, even though Continental was listed as a Resort Airline Check-in participant in the original ME press release. Of course, participation in a test (or lack thereof) is no guarantee of participation (or nonparticipation) when ME goes live.