Magic express and southwest airlines

[dvcod]

Might I ask if anyone knows if someone traveling Southwest has to take their luggage from WDW back to the airport or can it be checked through at your resort when you leave? I just received my Magic Express papers and they are not one of the airlines listed as part of the Resort Airline Check-In-Service....but I know there has been some talk about them being added. We will be staying at AKV from 11/29 to 05/12. This is our first trip home since becoming DVC Members 4 months ago. Kind of excited !!!
Also might I ask how many luggage tags they are supposed to send. I got one for me and one for my wife. Is there a number I can call to get another tag for each of us as we will have two bags each or is the ME limit one tag per person....thanks in advance for all your help.....peace...Jim

 

[Tara]

You will have to take your luggage back with you on the bus to the airport- you won't be able to check it at AKV.*

the practice us to send out just one tag per person. You can call to request more, but you don't need them. Just note the baggage claim number of any bags without the ME tag and give the ME counter agent those numbers. You bags will be pulled and delivered.

*I believe that, technically speaking, you can use resort airline check-in if you are willing to take your bags to Pop or whatever All-Star resort is participating in the trial.

 

[dvcod]

Tara....thanks for your response....that is kind of what I thought. Sure wish Southwest would get on board with ME.....again...thanks....Jim

 

[lisah0711]

Subscribing because we are using ME for the first time in December and some of us are on SWA. I was told SW in not participating now -- but then MS told me that Frontier isn't on the list but he thinks they might be participating now -- so maybe they don't have good info? (not that that has ever happened before . . . .)

 

[Cmbar]

Southwest is only participating with Resort Airline Checkin at POP and All Stars. We used it at Pop in the summer and it worked great, so I hope they add it to all the resorts soon.

 

[goofy4tink]

You can not head to a different resort and check your bags there. You are usually asked for room id when checking luggage....at least I have been lately.

 

[bakalorber]

But you can use SW and ME to get your luggage to your hotel when you start your trip. At least after a day (or a few hours) of flying you wont have to carry your bags to your hotel.

 

[MrShiny]

The Southwest check in at POP and All Stars is a test. Not sure if it still going on. About 60% of the people on ME use Southwest I had read, so it's a very large number of extra bags! At least they don't have to worry about collecting bag fees, as do extra airlines.

You get 2 baggage tags per person.

It isn't a big deal checking in the bags at the airport - did they relocate the x-Ray so you no longer have to bring them over there from the counter? I can't recall. But it would be nice if they could work out a deal. BAGS and SWA have been in talks for a while.

I also wish the ME counter wasn't at about the furthest possible point in the airport from the SWA gates! Always try to remember to go all the way to the left when getting off the tram, but it's still a bit of walk!

 

[LisaS]

You get 2 baggage tags per person.

According to posts on the Transportation board, DME only sends out one tag per person now. Some people have been successful in calling and requesting additional tags.

 

[dvcod]

You folks are so wonderful.....thanks so much for the information. I will call and ask for another tag for my wife and I and see what they say....and yes...I sure wish SW and ME would work things out...it would be sooo much nicer....thanks again....Jim

 

[LisaS]

I don't remember if those who were successful in getting more tags called DME directly or MS or ??? It did seem to make a difference who you call so you might want to check the Transportation board for more information. Or maybe goofy4tink can help us here -- she's a moderator on that board.

 

[walter]

My wife and I will be visiting OKW in Jan. & will be using M E for the first time (high rental car $$). We have a couple of questions and hope some one can help us:
1) Do you pick up your baggage as usual at MCO and proceed to the M E area?
2) We will return to MCO to pick up a car for our second leg of our trip. Must we get off at the departure area or would we be able to stay on the bus to the arrival area? If we must get off at the departure area, can you travel through the airport to the arrival/baggage area without passing through security?

Any info would be appreciated

 

[LisaS]

I urge anyone with DME questions to check out the Transportation Board here at the DIS. They have a couple of "sticky" threads devoted to DME as well as a large group of DME experts.

 

[brenalexacamp]

one tag per person???!!!!!


oh-It came to me now--- many airlines only let you do 1 checked bag so they probably are seeing 1 bag per person coming in and save on the tags.

I will fly no frill southwest anyday and take my 2 bags!

 

[Tara]

one tag per person???!!!!!


oh-It came to me now--- many airlines only let you do 1 checked bag so they probably are seeing 1 bag per person coming in and save on the tags.

I will fly no frill southwest anyday and take my 2 bags!

Disney says they find most people aren't checking more than 1 bag per person, so this saves money. I suspect it's a covert way of encouraging people to just check 1 bag per party member, cutting down on the expense of handling the bags.

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC Forums

 

[Missytara]

The reason they only send one tag out now is because it is cheaper for them to send extra tags to the few people who need them - than send a multitude of tags that will get tossed. Also more environmentally friendly; less tags to go in the trash.....

Fewer people are going to check more than one bag anymore.

And I am sitting here staring at my ME package right now - the information for participating airlines says:

Airtran; Alaska; Americian; Continental; Delta; Jetblue; Northwest; United; and US Airways - if that helps anyone.....

 

[dvcod]

Thanks again everyone for your responses. I called MS today and they are sending me and my son two more bag tags...so my guess is like a pp noted....it is easier to send out extras then two per person. You folks are incredible.....have a great week......Jim

 

[AnneFromChicago]

I received my Magical Express packet last Saturday for my trip in December. As I expected from reading various forums, only one baggage tag was enclosed. I called the Magical Express number in the booklet and requested an additional tag - no problem - now I'm waiting to see when it arrives. Since I'm on Southwest and staying at Pop Century I asked the rep if they were still doing the Resort Airline Baggage Check In trial - she said that they were, but couldn't guarantee that they would still be doing it in December.

Update...I called to request the additional baggage tag early Saturday evening - got the tag in yesterday's (Wednesday) mail, so I'm good to go. Come on December.