Morning flights and DME

[leebee]

If I have a flight out of MCO at 6am, what time will DME leave my resort? I am guessing that I won't be able to check my bags at POP, but will DME still take them to MCO or will I need to take them ON the bus with me?

 

[iteachlit]

Your motorcoach will likely leave between 2:45 and 3:15 AM. You'll have to take your bags with you; the driver will store them under the coach.

 

[goofy4tink]

The answer has been given but I'll elaborate a bit. RAC (Remote, or resort, airine checkin) counters open at 5am. In order to have your bags taken directly to the airport and get your boarding passes printed at the resort, you have to be completely finished with your transaction no less than 3 hrs before flight departure. So, if you have a flight at, say, 8am, you won't be able to use RAC..no way can you be done with your transaction in that time frame since the counter doesn't even open. Flights after 8:30 are doable, tight, but doable.
So....those who are not able to check their bags at the resort, will just take the bags with them, to the DME bus. The bags will go underneath your bus and handed off to you when you get to MCO. Then, you just check your bags and get your boarding passes the 'old-fashioned' way.

 

[sjs314]

If I have a flight out of MCO at 6am, what time will DME leave my resort? I am guessing that I won't be able to check my bags at POP, but will DME still take them to MCO or will I need to take them ON the bus with me?

The answer has been given but I'll elaborate a bit. RAC (Remote, or resort, airine checkin) counters open at 5am. In order to have your bags taken directly to the airport and get your boarding passes printed at the resort, you have to be completely finished with your transaction no less than 3 hrs before flight departure. So, if you have a flight at, say, 8am, you won't be able to use RAC..no way can you be done with your transaction in that time frame since the counter doesn't even open. Flights after 8:30 are doable, tight, but doable.
So....those who are not able to check their bags at the resort, will just take the bags with them, to the DME bus. The bags will go underneath your bus and handed off to you when you get to MCO. Then, you just check your bags and get your boarding passes the 'old-fashioned' way.

Exactly what goofy4tink stated in their post......I almost booked an early morning flight since the price was so good, then I called ME direct before doing so and was told the same thing. Needless to say I did not book the early flight since saving the $ to me was not worth losing the convience of being able to take advantage of RAC when departing my resort.

 

[Janell]

I understand that you can't check your bags at the hotel if you leave early. If you have a flight at 7:00 am, can you still take ME? Do they leave that early?

 

[ancestry]

I understand that you can't check your bags at the hotel if you leave early. If you have a flight at 7:00 am, can you still take ME? Do they leave that early?

Yes - DME runs around the clock based on needs. If you have a 7:00 AM you will be schedule for pick up approximately 3 hours prior for domestic flights -- so around 4:00 AM.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Yes - DME runs around the clock based on needs. If you have a 7:00 AM you will be schedule for pick up approximately 3 hours prior for domestic flights -- so around 4:00 AM.

Does this mean the bus goes to more resorts to fill the bus resulting in a longer ride?

 

[Traveliz]

Does this mean the bus goes to more resorts to fill the bus resulting in a longer ride?

No not at all - they have a pretty routine schedule -- I would not at all worry about that.

Liz

 

[Janell]

Yes - DME runs around the clock based on needs. If you have a 7:00 AM you will be schedule for pick up approximately 3 hours prior for domestic flights -- so around 4:00 AM.

Thank you. Its wonderful that they offer ME round the clock. We very much enjoyed ME last year when we used it for the first time.

 

[Jestocost]

Thank you. Its wonderful that they offer ME round the clock. We very much enjoyed ME last year when we used it for the first time.

To confim your earlier point, however, you will NOT be able to use RAC to check your bags for an early morning flight and will have to take any luggage on the DME bus with you. The RAC desk is open from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and you must have the check-in process completed no later than three hours before flight time. As a result, anyone with a flight before about 8:30 a.m. or so who is using DME bus transportation will not be able to use RAC.