"Magic Express making airfare extremely high!

[CarolA]

For DVC call member services to make your reservation.

 

[gw_lit]

I'm going with my daughter-in-law and two grandsons in May and we're staying at the ASMo resort and are flying Air Tran. When I called and told the CM at Disney the flight schedule and which airline we were flying on, she took down all the information and said they would be sending luggage tags and to make sure they were put on our bags. Seeing as Air Tran wasn't mentioned as one of the airlines, does that mean we have to pick up our bags before we get on the bus? Or is Air Tran now one of the airlines that's participating?

BTW - our tickets from Pittsburg non-stop was $182.60 per person, which I didn't feel was too high considering I was seeing $300 or more on other airlines so maybe they're not participating. Any one know?

Apparently, AirTran is now participating. But even if you fly into Orlando on a non-participating airline, you can still use ME. On the way down... you check in your bags at your departing airport and they "magically" appear in your resort room. On the way back, if you are on a non-participating airline, you just can not check your bags with the airline at the resort, you'll have to load them onto the bus yourself and then get them off the bus at the airport and check them yourself with your airline.

 

[Hippychickali]

I'm still not getting the connection between increased airfare and ME. Where is this theory coming from?

Ali

 

[Kae]

I am right there with you Ali.

Kae

 

[Lewisc]

I'm still not getting the connection between increased airfare and ME. Where is this theory coming from?

Ali

The theory, which I DON'T SHARE, would be the airlines that are partcipating with the resort checkin would be more in demand so there will be fewer discounted seats available. The reality is OP is looking at fares out past the sale date for SW. Discounted seats, prehaps not as cheap as last year, should become available when SW opens for bookings. Plus most of us would take our own luggage if i would save money.

 

[Gillian]

It really depends on when you are flying, and from where.

The person flying in May from NYC did not see any increases, but those same flights the last week of April, when NYC schools are on break, are probably a lot higher.

 

[fairytalelover]

We just booked our flight from LA to Orlando with AA and it cost $220 pp which is great! And we are doing the Magical Express of course!! It's free after all

 

[simzac]

I'm still not getting the connection between increased airfare and ME. Where is this theory coming from?

Ali

I spoke with a customer relations agent on the phone today from SWA. First, they are not participating in ME as of this time. The reason she gave me was that SWA still has at least half of their passengers use paper tickets, and to get boarding passes printed at Disney or any other off site, all passengers would have to have paperless tickets, i.e., online reservations, which I believe many of us here use. 2nd, the possible reason for increased airfares for the participating airlines is because they are paying a fee to Disney to participate in the program. How much, she wouldn't say. My guess $5-10 per passenger to cover the costs associated with checking bags at your resort and getting your boarding pass printed also. Even $10 would be a whole lot cheaper than shuttles, taxis, and towncars we all previously used. Don't know if this helps, but thought I would share what I found out.

 

[Hippychickali]

I don't think I would even notice 5 or 10 dollars. I thought the OP said the fare went way up.

Ali

 

[localdriver]

Airlines are feeling the fuel prices, among other airline industry issues, just like we are feeling the gasoline prices.

I don't believe there could be any connection due to the Magical Express.

 

[Lewisc]

I spoke with a customer relations agent on the phone today from SWA. First, they are not participating in ME as of this time. The reason she gave me was that SWA still has at least half of their passengers use paper tickets, and to get boarding passes printed at Disney or any other off site, all passengers would have to have paperless tickets, i.e., online reservations, which I believe many of us here use. 2nd, the possible reason for increased airfares for the participating airlines is because they are paying a fee to Disney to participate in the program. How much, she wouldn't say. My guess $5-10 per passenger to cover the costs associated with checking bags at your resort and getting your boarding pass printed also. Even $10 would be a whole lot cheaper than shuttles, taxis, and towncars we all previously used. Don't know if this helps, but thought I would share what I found out.

A few people posted that Disney said SW has already signed on. I don't think you can even get a paper ticket if you book online and I'm sure I've read well over half of SW pax book online. SW no longer uses paper tickets for RR. I'd be shocked if even 10% of the pax use paper tickets.

The normal fee, I'm sure Disney has a discount, is $10/bag for offsite bag checkin. I suspect Disney is requiring the airlines share the cost of of the service and that's probably the only reason airlines haven't signed up.