Question about Magical Express and gate checking a carryon...

[VAfamily1998]

What happens with your carryon if the airplane overhead compartments are full, and you are required to gate check your carry on bag? I mean, in regards to Magical Express?

I don't fly very often (maybe once a year), but the last time I flew was on Airtran from Washington DC to Houston, TX. When I started to board they told me the overhead compartments were full and I would need to gate check my carryon. When we landed, I needed to go to the regular baggage claim to get my bag--though I wasn't charged the regular baggage fee since it had been gate checked. It kind of surprised me that I needed to collect the bag at regular luggage claim--the only other time I had ever "gate checked" anything was when my kids were younger and we gate checked strollers, they brought the stroller right up to the plane exit.

In a few days I am flying (United Airlines, if that makes a difference) to MCO, and would like to just use my carry-on, so I don't need to pay $25/each way in baggage fees--but I'm worried about that happening again.

Should I still just bring along that yellow sticker/tag they sent me, and quickly put it on my carryon if required to gate check? Then would my carryon bag just go with all the regular checked luggage--and the Disney Magical express people would pick it up and bring it to my resort? I wasn't sure if being "gate checked" would put my carry on in another section, where the ME luggage people wouldn't have access to it?

Has this ever happened to anyone, and how did it all work out for you? Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

If you have an extra yellow tag, then bring it with you, just to be on the safe side.

 

[taylor3297]

What happens with your carryon if the airplane overhead compartments are full, and you are required to gate check your carry on bag? I mean, in regards to Magical Express?

I don't fly very often (maybe once a year), but the last time I flew was on Airtran from Washington DC to Houston, TX. When I started to board they told me the overhead compartments were full and I would need to gate check my carryon. When we landed, I needed to go to the regular baggage claim to get my bag--though I wasn't charged the regular baggage fee since it had been gate checked. It kind of surprised me that I needed to collect the bag at regular luggage claim--the only other time I had ever "gate checked" anything was when my kids were younger and we gate checked strollers, they brought the stroller right up to the plane exit.

In a few days I am flying (United Airlines, if that makes a difference) to MCO, and would like to just use my carry-on, so I don't need to pay $25/each way in baggage fees--but I'm worried about that happening again.

Should I still just bring along that yellow sticker/tag they sent me, and quickly put it on my carryon if required to gate check? Then would my carryon bag just go with all the regular checked luggage--and the Disney Magical express people would pick it up and bring it to my resort? I wasn't sure if being "gate checked" would put my carry on in another section, where the ME luggage people wouldn't have access to it?

Has this ever happened to anyone, and how did it all work out for you? Thanks!

If you gate check your bag and you don't have an extra yellow tag, you can still have ME get your bag. The airline will either print a regular tag or hand tag. Take your part of the tag to the ME counter and they will make sure your bag gets picked up with the rest.