Onboard Airline Check-In

[Garden Queen]

We are traveling for a cruise the end of January. I have booked flights with American Airlines. Does anyone have experience with checking in for our return flight onboard the ship? I thought I read somewhere that this can be done and you don't have to deal with your luggage. The ship will do the check-in and then you don't have to touch your luggage again until you reach your home airport. Is this true?

 

[clten]

This is true if you meet some qualifications. You don't mention what cruise you are doing. If it is out of Port Canaveral, they offer this service. (Not available from any other port currently that I am aware of.) Next, you are flying a participating airline but flight has to be a domestic flight leaving the day of disembarkation after 11:30 am (I believe that's the time). The last piece is that you have to be using Disney transfers at least one way.

If you fit all these conditions, you do have to sign up for the program (they don't automatically assume you want to take part because you are flying out on a participating airline). There is a form in the booklet you receive that you can give to the agent when you check in at the port. Or they have the forms onboard and you can fill it out (until a certain day of the cruise, it is usually listed in the back of the Navigator) and turned in to Guest Services.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We are traveling for a cruise the end of January. I have booked flights with American Airlines. Does anyone have experience with checking in for our return flight onboard the ship? I thought I read somewhere that this can be done and you don't have to deal with your luggage. The ship will do the check-in and then you don't have to touch your luggage again until you reach your home airport. Is this true?

From the alphabetical FAQ sticky notes here on the DIS:

When you register for Onboard Airline Check-In, you are entitled to:
Receive your boarding passes and check your luggage for your return flight before you disembark the ship
Skip luggage claim at the port terminal
Bypass the airline check-in counter at the airport
Here's how it works: Reserve air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line® and sign up for Onboard Airline Check-In when you check in for your cruise at the port. On the day prior to disembarkation, your airline boarding passes and valet luggage tags will magically be delivered to your stateroom, along with a letter answering common questions you may have. Attach the tags to your luggage and leave your bags outside your stateroom the evening prior to disembarkation. Disney Cruise Line® will collect and deliver your luggage to your airline. When you arrive at Orlando International Airport, proceed to security with your boarding passes already in hand and continue on to your scheduled departure gate. It's that simple!

Available to Guests flying out of Orlando International Airport on domestic flights (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and US Airways. it's the perfect ending to a magical cruise vacation! Pre-registration is required and scheduled flights must be after 11:25 a.m. on the day your cruise ends. Guests are limited to two bags per person and each piece must not exceed 50 lbs. Additionally, some Guests may be selected to check in at the airport and unable to use this service.

 

[lanejudy]

Here are the details of the Onboard Airline Check-in program from DCL's website:

Disney's Convenient Onboard Airline Check-In

Enjoy the comfort and convenience of Onboard Airline Check-In* when you purchase air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line, such as:
​

• • Receive your boarding passes ahead of time.
  • Check your luggage for your return flight before disembarking the ship.
  • Skip luggage claim at the port terminal.
  • Bypass the airline check-in counter at the airport.

Here's how it works:​

1. 1. Reserve air or ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line, then request to sign up for Onboard Airline Check-In when you check in at the cruise port.
   2. On the day prior to disembarkation, your airline boarding passes and valet luggage tags will be delivered to your stateroom.
   3. Attach the tags to your luggage and leave your bags outside your stateroom on the evening prior to disembarkation. Your luggage will be collected and delivered to your airline for you.
   4. Upon arrival at Orlando International Airport, you can proceed to security and continue to your departure gate.

*This service is available to Guests flying out of Orlando International Airport on domestic flights (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) on AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and US Airways.

Pre-registration is required and scheduled flights must be after 11:30 a.m. on the day your cruise ends. Airline specific baggage fee may apply and can vary by airline. Each luggage piece can weigh no more than 50lbs. Additionally, some Guests may be selected to check in at the airport and will be unable to use this service.​

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Garden Queen]

Great! Thank you for all the great information! We have purchased transfers and are going out of Orlando to RI with a flight at noon. So ... from all your information, it appears we will qualify.

 

[mmouse37]

Just want to add that we have done the OAC program several times and it really is wonderful and very convenient!!! Hint, if you have any sort of credit card or airline program where you get free bags make sure you stop down mid-cruise to guest services and show them your airline card that gives you the free bags. They will note it on your file and not charge the bag fee. It may not be automatic all the time. I have read of several people who thought it was automatic and were charged bags fees and then had to go through the process of getting refunded. Nip it in the bud and be proactive and take care of it beforehand, while onboard.

MJ

 

[bumbershoot]

It's been automatic for us. 3 free bags per person (not that we hit that mark but especially if dh is booked separately from us so his benefits don't apply to us we put all bags under his name) and it goes through without a hitch.

 

[mmouse37]

I think it can be automatic but sometimes it is overlooked so I always just stop at GS and let them know of our free bags. I edited my post above to say "may not be automatic all the time".

MJ

 

[Connecticute]

Can you do the onboard check in if you purchase duty free items in the various ports? I may want to purchase some rum while I'm in the Caribbean, and it seems like they'll hold my purchases elsewhere and deliver it back to me. Do they deliver it in time to pack in the checked luggage?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Can you do the onboard check in if you purchase duty free items in the various ports? I may want to purchase some rum while I'm in the Caribbean, and it seems like they'll hold my purchases elsewhere and deliver it back to me. Do they deliver it in time to pack in the checked luggage?

I believe the duty free stuff is delivered to your room the last night. However, that may change with the new alcohol policy.