ME reservation clerk has me concerned--she said SW doesn't do resort check in

[daisyx3]

Just booked my husband's magical express back from Florida...I think! He flies home in 13 days. She was wrapping up the call with the standard "you will get luggage tags in the mail..." I said "but he's only using it for his return flight" and she said "Oh! That's right, and it's too close to travel dates. Well he needs to report to the bus 3 hours before flight time, but he can't use the resort check in so he'll have to take his luggage to the airport and check in there."
I asked why, because he is at the all stars? (forgive my confusion, all star fans, we've never stayed there.)
She said no, because Southwest is on the list of airlines that don't do resort check in.
I told her we had flown southwest in the past and used it. She said "I'm pretty sure they are on the list."
So there is that. I seemed to be more informed than the phone girl.
And also she has his flight number but didn't ask the time (of course perhaps the flight gives them the time).
I am the planner. I won't be there--the day my daughter checks in to CP is my first day of teaching for the year. Now I'm worried he will ask for his ME departure papers at check in and they will say he doesn't have a reservation. I KNOW he can check in at the resort desk and get his boarding pass, despite what this girl thinks (and I got him EBCI so no worries there) but just wondering if I should call tomorrow and confirm.
Daisyx3

 

[DebbieB]

Just booked my husband's magical express back from Florida...I think! He flies home in 13 days. She was wrapping up the call with the standard "you will get luggage tags in the mail..." I said "but he's only using it for his return flight" and she said "Oh! That's right, and it's too close to travel dates. Well he needs to report to the bus 3 hours before flight time, but he can't use the resort check in so he'll have to take his luggage to the airport and check in there."
I asked why, because he is at the all stars? (forgive my confusion, all star fans, we've never stayed there.)
She said no, because Southwest is on the list of airlines that don't do resort check in.
I told her we had flown southwest in the past and used it. She said "I'm pretty sure they are on the list."
So there is that. I seemed to be more informed than the phone girl.
And also she has his flight number but didn't ask the time (of course perhaps the flight gives them the time).
I am the planner. I won't be there--the day my daughter checks in to CP is my first day of teaching for the year. Now I'm worried he will ask for his ME departure papers at check in and they will say he doesn't have a reservation. I KNOW he can check in at the resort desk and get his boarding pass, despite what this girl thinks (and I got him EBCI so no worries there) but just wondering if I should call tomorrow and confirm.
Daisyx3

They do get the time by the flight #. I wouldn't worry about it. I used it for SW in May.

 

[vicki_c]

I believe that was true of SW when resort check in started. But I think it hasn't been true for 3-5 years.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

She said no, because Southwest is on the list of airlines that don't do resort check in.

What a poorly informed Disney CM!

There's no such thing as a list of airlines that don't do Resort Airline Check-in. Such a list would need to have all the world's airlines, except for the eight airlines that currently participate.

Here's the official world from Disney: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/resort-airline-check-in/

If you are concerned that the ill-informed Disney CM may have messed up the DME reservation, call Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at 866-599-0951 to confirm the DME reservation and its accuracy.

 

[goofy4tink]

When you get to the resort, have them double heck to make sure all is well with dh's ride with DME. You can give them all the info then...flight time, etc. Then, the day before your dh checks out, a notice will be left in the room, giving info as to pick up time.

 

[marmalade]

We were there in December and I used the resort check-in and we flew Southwest. They were added a few years ago, there was a period of time when they didn't do resort check-in but they definitely do now.

 

[mirage0306]

Southwest does resort check in. I've done it multiple times. He'll be fine.

 

[daisyx3]

When you get to the resort, have them double heck to make sure all is well with dh's ride with DME. You can give them all the info then...flight time, etc. Then, the day before your dh checks out, a notice will be left in the room, giving info as to pick up time.

He is only there one night. I can't remember the last time we flew Southwest, it was either 2012 or 2010, but they were already doing it then. I was just amazed that the girl on the phone (who was working specifically with ME) had that information!
Daisyx3

 

[jtowntoflorida]

You can't use RAC for a combined SW-AT itinerary. We learned that the hard way last year. But if it's all SW, you should be fine.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was just amazed that the girl on the phone (who was working specifically with ME) had that information!
Daisyx3

A DME guy I talked to had NO idea you could book an airline ticket one way. Told me it wasn't possible. Even though I'd just given him the flight info. Airline stuff is part of his business, but it seems he hadn't actually flown since pre-9/11. Hopefully he believed me and has stopped giving out weird info!

 

[daisyx3]

You can't use RAC for a combined SW-AT itinerary. We learned that the hard way last year. But if it's all SW, you should be fine.

I did check that although he has to change planes in St. Louis, both flights are southwest. He will only have a carryon so he doesn't need to check in any luggage but the RAC desk can print out his boarding pass.
I wish Southwest would start flying nonstop Orlando-Detroit! We usually fly Delta now because they have nonstops.
Daisyx3

 

[aprilgamer]

My niece was told the same thing by ME for her trip in 2013, but had no troubles at the Resort Check-in. I think the policy changed when SW bought AirTran back in 2010. Plenty of time to re-train the CM's.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I did check that although he has to change planes in St. Louis, both flights are southwest. He will only have a carryon so he doesn't need to check in any luggage but the RAC desk can print out his boarding pass.
I wish Southwest would start flying nonstop Orlando-Detroit! We usually fly Delta now because they have nonstops.
Daisyx3

Southwest has apparently stopped all non-stop flights from MSP to MCO, too, so we're done with them for Disney trips. So Delta and Sun Country are our two nonstop options now, I think. I joined Sun Country's frequent flier program yesterday because it's also the only other airline besides Delta that offers non-stops to SFO and I fly there frequently for work, and Sun Country is consistently cheaper so that's what I'm required to book. We're taking Sun Country down to Disney later this month, and then Delta in December, so I guess we'll see which we prefer.

 

[CarolMN]

Southwest has apparently stopped all non-stop flights from MSP to MCO, too, so we're done with them for Disney trips. .......(snip).

Us, too.

Maybe after things settle down, the non-stops will return. But lately, SWA's prices haven't been at all reasonable to MCO, so we weren't going to choose them anyway. Too bad. I really like their bag fly free policy - it means passengers bring on less oversized carry-on bags and along with their seating process, makes for much faster boarding.

Spirit also has inexpensive non-stops to MCO (but you have to figure in all their extra fees to compare properly). I won't fly them except under extreme duress though,. Their seats are just way too uncomfortable for a 3 hour flight. Took almost half a day before my backache went away - DH had one, too after our one-and-only flight on SPIRIT.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Us, too.

Maybe after things settle down, the non-stops will return. But lately, SWA's prices haven't been at all reasonable to MCO, so we weren't going to choose them anyway. Too bad. I really like their bag fly free policy - it means passengers bring on less oversized carry-on bags and along with their seating process, makes for much faster boarding.

Spirit also has inexpensive non-stops to MCO (but you have to figure in all their extra fees to compare properly). I won't fly them except under extreme duress though,. Their seats are just way too uncomfortable for a 3 hour flight. Took almost half a day before my backache went away - DH had one, too after our one-and-only flight on SPIRIT.

My husband had the worst experience on Spirit, which he booked for a last minute business trip because nothing else was available that wasn't outrageous. He refuses to set foot on one of their planes ever again.

I like the free bags on SW, and their boarding policy, but I also have mad love for Terminal 2 at MSP. I do a little happy dance whenever I get to fly out of there instead of Terminal 1. LOL. I now have two Sun Country flights booked for this month (I now have a business trip a week before Disney) and I'm more excited than I should be that I should be that I get to deal with Terminal 2 for both instead of Terminal 1. Less expensive parking with better availability for closer spots, less crowded, the kids love the play area, and even the TSA agents seem friendlier.

 

[CarolMN]

My husband had the worst experience on Spirit, which he booked for a last minute business trip because nothing else was available that wasn't outrageous. He refuses to set foot on one of their planes ever again.

I like the free bags on SW, and their boarding policy, but I also have mad love for Terminal 2 at MSP. I do a little happy dance whenever I get to fly out of there instead of Terminal 1. LOL. I now have two Sun Country flights booked for this month (I now have a business trip a week before Disney) and I'm more excited than I should be that I should be that I get to deal with Terminal 2 for both instead of Terminal 1. Less expensive parking with better availability for closer spots, less crowded, the kids love the play area, and even the TSA agents seem friendlier.

100% agree!!!

 

[DianeV]

So whats the problem with an Air Tran/SW combo flight? I believe our flight home is Air Tran and then we connect on a SW flight (all booked through SW though) We cant do resort check in or we just cannot check our bags?

 

[SueM in MN]

Just booked my husband's magical express back from Florida...I think! He flies home in 13 days. She was wrapping up the call with the standard "you will get luggage tags in the mail..." I said "but he's only using it for his return flight" and she said "Oh! That's right, and it's too close to travel dates. Well he needs to report to the bus 3 hours before flight time, but he can't use the resort check in so he'll have to take his luggage to the airport and check in there."
I asked why, because he is at the all stars? (forgive my confusion, all star fans, we've never stayed there.)
She said no, because Southwest is on the list of airlines that don't do resort check in.
I told her we had flown southwest in the past and used it. She said "I'm pretty sure they are on the list."
So there is that. I seemed to be more informed than the phone girl.
And also she has his flight number but didn't ask the time (of course perhaps the flight gives them the time).
I am the planner. I won't be there--the day my daughter checks in to CP is my first day of teaching for the year. Now I'm worried he will ask for his ME departure papers at check in and they will say he doesn't have a reservation. I KNOW he can check in at the resort desk and get his boarding pass, despite what this girl thinks (and I got him EBCI so no worries there) but just wondering if I should call tomorrow and confirm.
Daisyx3

I can see people literally doing what I bolded because they think that's what they are supposed to do - just trying to get on the DME bus 3 hours ahead of flight time.
That would not end up well.
I agree with the suggestion to call the DME number to check and also check at the resort.

My husband had the worst experience on Spirit, which he booked for a last minute business trip because nothing else was available that wasn't outrageous. He refuses to set foot on one of their planes ever again.

I like the free bags on SW, and their boarding policy, but I also have mad love for Terminal 2 at MSP. I do a little happy dance whenever I get to fly out of there instead of Terminal 1. LOL. I now have two Sun Country flights booked for this month (I now have a business trip a week before Disney) and I'm more excited than I should be that I should be that I get to deal with Terminal 2 for both instead of Terminal 1. Less expensive parking with better availability for closer spots, less crowded, the kids love the play area, and even the TSA agents seem friendlier.

I also love Terminal 2 and we find we are flying Sun Country a lot more too. We used to fly AirTran the most, but their non-stop direct flights to MCO are also gone since they taken over by SW.

I don't foresee SW adding more direct flights to MCO - they had a bunch and got rid of them.