Please walk me thru checking into ME on trip home

[Nbarker]

The last time we were at WDW, SW was not a 'participating airline' and we had to do our own luggage and all. Being that they are now, I want to know EXACTLY what the difference is (other than me checking my bags at the resort as opposed to us having to deal with it ourselves under the bus). Also, I hear some people saying things about they didn't have to do anything, it was in a packet slid under their door on the last day..can someone tell me exactly what is in that packet? This is prob. the goofiest question of all, but is their a difference in checking into a flight and printing your boarding passes? We don't fly much, and I just want to be sure I have all my ducks in a row! Thank you for any help!
Natalie

 

[Missytara]

Actually, what you are referring to is RAC; Resort Airline Check-out.

With SW, you can check in at the 24 hour mark at Guest Relations or the Concierge desk to receive your boarding number. You won't be checking in for your flight until you arrive at RAC.

You will receive a packet under your door the night before you leave with information regarding RAC and your ME pick-up time.

The RAC desk is open from 5:00 am to 1:00 pm; you must check in no less than three hours before your flight. You can pay your additional baggage fare right at the RAC counter. It is usually near baggage services or near the check-in desk.

ME will pick you up and leave the resort three hours before your departure flight; you need to be at the bus stop at least fifteen minutes before departure to begin boarding the bus.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Do you have to sign up for RAC? When do you sign up for DME back to the airport?

 

[jcarwash]

Do you have to sign up for RAC? When do you sign up for DME back to the airport?

When you reserve DME you give them your inbound and outbound flight information. The flight information is your "signing up" and determines the pickup time information DME will provide to you at your resort room the day before your departure.

You don't need to sign up for RAC. It's up to you to visit the RAC area at your resort to check in to your airline and drop off your luggage.

In some cases (not always) DME and RAC work together. Your DME departure info envelope may include your airline boarding passes if you have checked into your airline online. This is helpful, for example, if you check-in online with Southwest (via Early Bird Check-in, smartphone, someone at home) because you don't need to visit the SWA counter at MCO.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Thank you so much for the info. Sounds like I don't have to do anything more than just show up to check in my luggage on my departure day.

 

[goofy4tink]

We have used SW several times to date, since they started participating in the RAC program...not once has anything shown up under my door as far as luggage tags or boarding passes. Yes, we have always had the notification for pickup time left in our room the day before, but that's it.

So,with that in mind, this is how we handle RAC with any airline....
I like to get my bags down to RAC as early in the morning as possible. You do have to have them checked in, and boarding passes in hand, no less than 3 hrs before your flight departure though...so don't wait until the last minute. I like to get there about 7:30ish...not a line at that time. They will weigh your bags, look at ID,tag the bags and give you your boarding passes...and you're done.

It 'used' to be that you couldn't check your bags sooner than 12 hrs before flight departure, but that has changed evidently. The RAC counter is open from 5am to 1pm.

If you are riding DME back to MCO, be sure to be out at the bus stop at least 15 mins before the time you were given. This means that you have to have all your carryon bags in hand, all potty stops have to be done, and all snacks in hand, at the bus stop, ready to go. Don't have one person stand there, waiting for the bus, while others go off and 'do stuff'.....thinking that one person will be fine to hold the bus for them. I have seen people do this..the driver gave the rest of the party 5 mins to get there. They didn't, he left.

 

[Nbarker]

Thanks for all the help. Our return flight doesn't leave til 6:25pm, so we will check our bags that morning and head out to do stuff that day. I did not do Earlybird check-in. I have a 2 year old, so I figure I'll get the earlier boarding. That is something I have to check on as well. I thought I can just go to Guest Services at MK on the night before we come home and check in on the computers there. Last time we went, I did that at Epcot. Thanks again!

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks for all the help. Our return flight doesn't leave til 6:25pm, so we will check our bags that morning and head out to do stuff that day. I did not do Earlybird check-in. I have a 2 year old, so I figure I'll get the earlier boarding. That is something I have to check on as well. I thought I can just go to Guest Services at MK on the night before we come home and check in on the computers there. Last time we went, I did that at Epcot. Thanks again!

Family boarding is now between the A and B groups and sometimes limited to one adult with the child. So I would definately check in at T24 or consider early board if choice of seats is important or you have other children who may need to sit with an adult.

You can still use RAC either way.

 

[helenk]

Family boarding is now between the A and B groups and sometimes limited to one adult with the child. So I would definately check in at T24 or consider early board if choice of seats is important or you have other children who may need to sit with an adult.

You can still use RAC either way.

Each time we've used SW when travelling with our grand-daughter both parents were allowed to board with the child, not the grand-parents but they did allow both parents.

 

[tjmw2727]

Each time we've used SW when travelling with our grand-daughter both parents were allowed to board with the child, not the grand-parents but they did allow both parents.

Of course and I am glad they were both allowed to board, thats why I said somtimes limited to one parent with the child!!

I fly monthly and often on SWA and I have seen it limited especially in Orlando where there are lots of families who qualify for family boarding.

IMHO best to be prepared for the possibility and have an alternative.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

We just stayed at the Poly Concierge and we did get boarding passes and luggage tags hanging on our door the day we headed home.

 

[tinka-belle]

I've heard from clients that some get the SW boarding passes with their ME letter and some do not. I'd hazard a guess that if your flight is within the 24 hour BP printing window when they put together your ME notification you'll get your BPs too. If they are processed outside your 24 hour window they can't check you in or print any boarding passes yet. Might also depend on how busy they are for that day too. Printing BPs for lots of checkouts can be time consuming.