ME, Airtran, 8am return flight,.....

[wdwmaw]

OK so Airtran has changed our return flight time from late afternoon to an 8:05am flight. We are at CBR and I know we can't use RAC since our ME pick up time should be 5:00-5:15 am. Can anyone walk me through this process. We have flown several times and have always had a late return flight and have always been able to use RAC, so easy!! Here are my questions...

1.Luggage Assistance to Custom House, pick up that morning ( what time do we schedule that for) or will we have to carry it all our selves? I assume we can get help 24 hours a day and we will just need to make an appointment for pick up several days ahead.
2.Check in for flights online at 24 hour mark and pay for luggage online? Thought of this since we can't use RAC, we have already paid for our seats.
3. If we are already checked in can CBR front desk print our boarding passes?
4. ME, all luggage will go on the bus and we will pay driver a nice tip ( statement on that one).
5. At MCO, will skycaps be there waiting for us? Is it just as easy and cheaper if we just get our own cart ( how much?) and take our luggage to check in? There will be 5 of us and we should have 3 checked bags, 5 carry on's and personal bags.
6. Does Airtran have curbside check in or do we need to get in the ticketing line. I have read on here that the curbside line for other airlines can have a very short line, esp. if our bags are paid for and boarding passes are already printed.

I think that is all the questions I have, just want to get an idea of how this will work as I plan out things. Thanks so much to all that can help.

 

[JennSaint]

did you call Airtran to see if you can be switched to a flight later in the day?

 

[ccgirl]

did you call Airtran to see if you can be switched to a flight later in the day?

This. Unless, you prefer the early morning flight.

 

[wdwmaw]

did you call Airtran to see if you can be switched to a flight later in the day?

They only fly to LEX once a day so no choice on that one and its the same time everyday.

 

[wdwmaw]

This. Unless, you prefer the early morning flight.

No, we don't prefer, gonna be sad enough to leave and now it will be dark. Won't even get to have breakfast before we leave, feel like we loose a whole day. The positive is we will arrive in the world mid-day now instead of late at night. Loved that change

 

[sharona]

That is bait and switch. Ridiculous that they changed your flight time so drastically. Would you have booked with them if they were only offering the morning flight? Probably not and they know it!!

I know some people have had luck w/ AT by booking cheap flights at crappy flight times so that they can take advantage of the time changes to move to better flights for free but you have to calculate your time and aggravation into your airfare cost. Based on all the stories I have seen here, I would never book with them. Too stressful!

Sorry for your troubles OP. Losing a whole day of vacation is unacceptable and they need to make it right. Can you switch to next day (morning flight) and stay at a hotel at the airport the last night? Can you cancel with them and rebook for a similar price on another airline with better flight times? After such a drastic change they should be willing to work with you to make it right.

 

[ccgirl]

That is bait and switch. Ridiculous that they changed your flight time so drastically. Would you have booked with them if they were only offering the morning flight? Probably not and they know it!!

I know some people have had luck w/ AT by booking cheap flights at crappy flight times so that they can take advantage of the time changes to move to better flights for free but you have to calculate your time and aggravation into your airfare cost. Based on all the stories I have seen here, I would never book with them. Too stressful!

Sorry for your troubles OP. Losing a whole day of vacation is unacceptable and they need to make it right. Can you switch to next day (morning flight) and stay at a hotel at the airport the last night? Can you cancel with them and rebook for a similar price on another airline with better flight times? After such a drastic change they should be willing to work with you to make it right.

I am one of those that have had great luck. In the OP's case there is only 1 flight per day. On the way down they moved it so she gets in earlier and she likes that. Guess it evens out.

OP - sorry, I do not have any experience with ME and taking your own bags. Hope someone comes along soon to help.

 

[wdwmaw]

I have had awsome luck with AirTran and the airport they fly out of is like 15 minutes from our house. Our other options for nonstop is Allegiant but they now only fly into Sanford. We can drive over an hour for two more airport options but the price is 3x's higher than airtran, very limited non stop options, and would be out parking fees for a 12 day trip. I love the thoughts of really disliking AirTran but I just can't. They are new to our market and the change was made for the entire summer schedule, guess they had to change their times to be able to land everyday of the week.

 

[wdwmaw]

Bumping up! hoping for some answers

Thanks

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

What date are you flying home

OK so Airtran has changed our return flight time from late afternoon to an 8:05am flight. We are at CBR and I know we can't use RAC since our ME pick up time should be 5:00-5:15 am. Can anyone walk me through this process. We have flown several times and have always had a late return flight and have always been able to use RAC, so easy!! Here are my questions...

1.Luggage Assistance to Custom House, pick up that morning ( what time do we schedule that for) or will we have to carry it all our selves? I assume we can get help 24 hours a day and we will just need to make an appointment for pick up several days ahead.
2.Check in for flights online at 24 hour mark and pay for luggage online? Thought of this since we can't use RAC, we have already paid for our seats.
3. If we are already checked in can CBR front desk print our boarding passes?
4. ME, all luggage will go on the bus and we will pay driver a nice tip ( statement on that one).
5. At MCO, will skycaps be there waiting for us? Is it just as easy and cheaper if we just get our own cart ( how much?) and take our luggage to check in? There will be 5 of us and we should have 3 checked bags, 5 carry on's and personal bags.
6. Does Airtran have curbside check in or do we need to get in the ticketing line. I have read on here that the curbside line for other airlines can have a very short line, esp. if our bags are paid for and boarding passes are already printed.

I think that is all the questions I have, just want to get an idea of how this will work as I plan out things. Thanks so much to all that can help.

 

[wdwmaw]

What date are you flying home

June 13, Tuesday

 

[ccgirl]

I believe you can just bring your bags and put them under the bus. Then, you check them in at MCO just like you were staying offsite.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay, this may sound simplistic, but how do you handle the luggage issue when flying 'down' to WDW?? It is going to be pretty much the same.
You can ask luggage assistence people at CBR what time is good to call them to help with luggage in the morning. If your flight is at 8:05, your pickup time is going to be around 5ish..which means being at the bus stop by 4:45.
You can checkin online and then print out your boarding passes when you get to the airport I would imagine. You have to go to the counter in any case to check your bags...no need to worry about printing boarding passes at the resort, just do it at the airport.

Hopefully there will be skycaps to give you a hand. Otherwise, just get a luggage cart. With 5 of you, I would think that the adults could handle the checked bags, as well as a carryon each, while kids take care of their own bags. That's what we do...I can actually deal with 2 checked bags and 2 carryons myself...my dh is always amazed at my 'mule like tendancies'!!!

 

[loveswdw]

I have had awsome luck with AirTran and the airport they fly out of is like 15 minutes from our house. Our other options for nonstop is Allegiant but they now only fly into Sanford. We can drive over an hour for two more airport options but the price is 3x's higher than airtran, very limited non stop options, and would be out parking fees for a 12 day trip. I love the thoughts of really disliking AirTran but I just can't. They are new to our market and the change was made for the entire summer schedule, guess they had to change their times to be able to land everyday of the week.

Are they starting flights every day of the week?!

We flew AT out of LEX last June and it was only Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun I think. I keep watching them for our October trip and its the same days then too. We had no problems with them last time and they were by far the cheapest option for us between SDF, LEX, CVG, BNA & IND. I am SO BUMMED that AT is becoming SW. SW is more expensive out of SDF and I bet they raise prices at LEX too.

 

[sam_gordon]

Hey Sloane family...

We'll be there the same time (check in June 1, out the 6th). We're from Richmond, Ky.

 

[wdwmaw]

Are they starting flights every day of the week?!

We flew AT out of LEX last June and it was only Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun I think. I keep watching them for our October trip and its the same days then too. We had no problems with them last time and they were by far the cheapest option for us between SDF, LEX, CVG, BNA & IND. I am SO BUMMED that AT is becoming SW. SW is more expensive out of SDF and I bet they raise prices at LEX too.

Looks like they added the days to just their summer months. So glad they did but really not liking the new MCO-LEX time.

 

[wdwmaw]

Okay, this may sound simplistic, but how do you handle the luggage issue when flying 'down' to WDW?? It is going to be pretty much the same.
You can ask luggage assistence people at CBR what time is good to call them to help with luggage in the morning. If your flight is at 8:05, your pickup time is going to be around 5ish..which means being at the bus stop by 4:45.
You can checkin online and then print out your boarding passes when you get to the airport I would imagine. You have to go to the counter in any case to check your bags...no need to worry about printing boarding passes at the resort, just do it at the airport.

Hopefully there will be skycaps to give you a hand. Otherwise, just get a luggage cart. With 5 of you, I would think that the adults could handle the checked bags, as well as a carryon each, while kids take care of their own bags. That's what we do...I can actually deal with 2 checked bags and 2 carryons myself...my dh is always amazed at my 'mule like tendancies'!!!

Exactly what I thought, DUH!!! Sometimes I do so much better hearing my thoughts when someone else says them. Thanks so much

 

[wdwmaw]

Hey Sloane family...

We'll be there the same time (check in June 1, out the 6th). We're from Richmond, Ky.

Can not wait, hope to see ya there!! We have spring break next week and I am gonna start packing. Look for us, DH will be wearing a grey UK shirt, all the man wears.

Congrats to Richmond for getting the Presidental debate!!

 

[sam_gordon]

I hope they do get it (EKU Alum), but they are just submitting their application. It would be a "Small World" to run into you down there. lol

 

[loveswdw]

I hope they do get it (EKU Alum), but they are just submitting their application. It would be a "Small World" to run into you down there. lol

Hi fellow EKU alum! I'm class of 1995!