RAC - Delta question

[sloneta]

I haven't seen a thread on this, so forgive me if this is duplicate. Delta has just announced that starting June 1st, if you have a Delta Skymiles AmEx, Delta will waive the fee for the first checked bag for you and those travelling with you. My question is, does anyone know if this will hold true (no fee charged) for those who use RAC?

I know that when Delta and Northwest were separate, you could not use RAC and get the lower checked baggage fee when/if you checked in early from your own computer (Northwest charged a lower fee if you paid it when you checked in for your flight online). A $10 per bag difference was not so big that using RAC became a deal breaker. However, for a family with a Skymiles AmEx, not having to pay $25 per bag may outweigh the convenience of RAC if RAC will still charge the fee regardless.

Anyone know how this will work?

 

[PinkRhombus]

I'm bumping this up because I'm trying to find this out myself, and haven't yet. Still looking though.

 

[skiingfast]

I don't think RAC will charge you. They can communicate with Delta on the computer system and show if the bags are free or not.

They weren't charging you an extra amount before the free amex deal so why would they after?

 

[sloneta]

But, at least when Delta and NW were separate, the RAC system could not see if you had pre-paid for your bags with NW. If you were NW, you had to pay for your bags through the RAC telephone number, resulting in having to pay the (only slightly) higher fee. A difference of $5 per bag was not that great, but $25 per bag will influence my decision.

 

[skatingmom]

I have the exact same question as OP. I am debating getting the credit card for the free checked bags and would like to know if it will work on the way home from Disney if I use RAC. I suppose we might not know until after June 1 when people start trying to use it?

 

[PinkRhombus]

I have the exact same question as OP. I am debating getting the credit card for the free checked bags and would like to know if it will work on the way home from Disney if I use RAC. I suppose we might not know until after June 1 when people start trying to use it?

This may not work if you already have your tickets...I'm thinking you have to had used the card to purchase the tickets?

 

[skatingmom]

This may not work if you already have your tickets...I'm thinking you have to had used the card to purchase the tickets?

I haven't actually purchased my tickets yet so that's not an issue. But, I believe I read that you don't have to have used the card to purchase the tickets but need to show the card when you check your luggage in...I could be wrong on this though!

 

[sloneta]

We flew Delta home today. I called the RAC bag check number and when I told them that I was not supposed to be charged because I have the SkyMiles AmEx, they told me to just take my bags to the RAC counter. So, when we took the bags to the RAC counter and told them we didn't pay checked bag fees and why, they just took my word.

Also, as a side note, before leaving for our trip, I called Delta and they said that if you are charged baggage fees when you should not have been, just call and they will reverse the charges.

Hope this helps!

 

[skatingmom]

Glad to hear you were able to check your bags without fees. I was just thinking today that maybe I should start a new thread to see if anybody has used their Amex card for the free bags at Disney! Thanks for the update!

 

[DebbieB]

I was a Delta Medallion last year when we used RAC at Boardwalk. When they called up my reservation, it showed I got free bags and it was not an issue.

I believe with the Delta AmEx, it is tied to your frequent flyer #. So any reservation with your frequent flyer # will automatically show 1 free bag per person (up to 9).

I have silver status with USAirways, when I flew Continental a couple of weeks ago it knew by my frequent flyer # that I got free bags (they are both Star Alliance).

 

[Brian Noble]

I just took my first flight under these new rules last week---my flight on 4/1 was in Y so it had 2 bags included, and 4/4 was in H but with the AMEX Gold. The web site properly showed the one free bag when I checked in.

Your status as a Primary Cardmember is known to Delta, because it is linked to your skymiles account. When you check in for your flight, and check a bag, the web site lists it as free. As RAC has access to similar data, they should be able to see that too. Note that the fine print specifies that an Additional Cardmember is not comped; they need their own Primary Cardmember accounts (and to pay the $99/year).

 

[Inkmahm]

I haven't actually purchased my tickets yet so that's not an issue. But, I believe I read that you don't have to have used the card to purchase the tickets but need to show the card when you check your luggage in...I could be wrong on this though!

I believe you are correct. You just show the card when you drop off your luggage. I just booked flights for us in August and I did use the Amex card though just in case. I also couldn't remember if there was any benefit like earning extra miles for paying with the Amex so I used it, just in case.

I think this is a GREAT benefit! I don't fly Delta often but I like that I can check a bag for free.

 

[dwardlaw]

I also wanted to know the answer to this question about the Delta baggage charge. So at check in at ROC just show the card and we will be all set.

When flying into Orlando can you complete the baggage no charge fee on line when checking in? How does this work

 

[DebbieB]

The way I understand it, your AMEX card # will be connected to your skymiles # (frequent flyer). Assuming your skymiles # is on your reservation, the computer will know that you have the AMEX and not charge you. It should not be necessary to show the card but I would have it just in case. If you do online check-in, it should show no charge.

 

[Brian Noble]

Indeed, it is possible that showing the card will *not* be sufficient if the Primary Cardmember is not on the reservation with a linked Skymiles account #. The fine print of the promotion specifies that Additional Cardmembers are not covered, so having the right color card isn't enough by itself. For example, if I get my wife a second card on my account, and she flies without me, she is not entitled to a free bag, even if she flashes the card.

 

[skatingmom]

Just thought I would give this thread a little bump to see if any other Disers have any reports on how it worked with RAC when using your Delta Amex card for the free bag. We leave in 14 days! I'm hoping it's as easy as it was for the OP!

 

[taitai]

To use this benefit, you must have, at minimum a Gold card. Also, anyone using the free bag bonus must be part of the same reservation/record locator number, as the person holding the Gold or above card.

For those who fly alot on Delta (live in a Hub city) it is a fairly sweet deal. For others, not sure it is worth the annual fees just to get the free bags.

 

[DebbieB]

To use this benefit, you must have, at minimum a Gold card. Also, anyone using the free bag bonus must be part of the same reservation/record locator number, as the person holding the Gold or above card.

For those who fly alot on Delta (live in a Hub city) it is a fairly sweet deal. For others, not sure it is worth the annual fees just to get the free bags.

You do get 25,000 bonus miles and the fee is waived the first year. So even if you use it for 1 year and cancel it, it would be worth it. I plan to get one before my October trip. The 25,000 miles combined with the miles I have would give me enough for 2 free tickets. Beware though that not many 25,000 mile tickets are available, it's usually 32,500 to 40,000. It would give me over 80,000.

 

[skatingmom]

I have the Delta Amex Gold card, but what some of us are wanting are to hear from others who have used the benefit with Disney's RAC when heading home from their trip.

Besides the free checked bags, I like that you can use miles to pay for part of your trip. As the previous poster mentioned, most flights are much more than 25,000 miles so it's nice to at least be able to get some $$ knocked off of the flight price!

 

[Brian Noble]

I haven't used it from RAC, but I have used it separately. When checking in, the web site knows that you are entitled to a free bag. As mentioned earlier in the thread, RAC has access to the airline's check-in information, and so they should see this too.

I'd be shocked if it didn't work properly with RAC.