RAC-Did Southwest extend its test program to the Allstar Resorts?

[helenk]

I had read a post that stated SW would extend its test program to the Allstar resorts on 10/14 has anyone been able to confirm this?
Does anyone know when or if it will be extended to other resorts?

 

[Debbie-TN]

Yeah, I want to know also. When we were at ASMu a couple of weeks ago, the guy at the luggage drop-off said they were going to add them this month. I sure hope so. We'll be back in December.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Man, I sure wish they would. That would make life so much easier in January.

 

[goofy4tink]

Looks like we're going to have to wait a bit to get the info. Maybe when people that are there now, get back.
I read the same thing...hopefully this means thay are thinking of going to other resorts as well.

 

[Bobo912]

I'm flying down on SWA on Sunday and staying at ASMu. Be back on Oct 23. I'll let you know then if you haven't gotten an answer yet.

 

[Debbie-TN]

Hi Bobo912. I just noticed that you're from Nashville also. I was born and raised in West Nashville. Two years ago we moved to Madison, close to Rivergate Mall. Nice to meet someone else from Nashville.

 

[Bobo912]

Just got back from ASMu and the RAC trial has been extended to the All Stars. We took advantage of it and it worked like a charm. Our boarding passes were hanging on our door this morning when we got up. We did EBCI and got A21 and A22, BTW. Checked our luggage at the hotel before we went to the Magic Kingdom this morning and didn't see it again until we picked it up at baggage claim tonight.

Hi Bobo912. I just noticed that you're from Nashville also. I was born and raised in West Nashville. Two years ago we moved to Madison, close to Rivergate Mall. Nice to meet someone else from Nashville.

Thanks Debbie-TN. I've lived in various places in West Nashville for the last 25 years.

 

[Debbie-TN]

I can't wait to use this service when we're there in December. We'll be at Allstar Music. It will be so nice, since my cousin has to use a wheelchair at the airport.

Bobo912 - I was born at Baptist Hospital and was raised on Indiana Ave. My daughter and I both went to the old Cockrill Elementry school. My mother has lived in that same house for over 55 years. It's really changed since I grew up there.

 

[hellotoyou]

Great news about it being extended to all of the All Stars.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

WOO HOO...that is awesome news. Makes the trip even easier! Thanks for posting to let us know!

 

[helenk]

Thanks for the update! Here's hoping that it will be available at the AKL in December.

 

[clkelley]

Got a question.

At the Values Luggage Services is not an on demand service, so you just call them that you want your bags picked up and leave them by the door and they pick them up at their convenience.

Since they are putting your luggage tags and boarding passes on your door, do you still have to take the luggage down to the RAC desk yourself??

For example, if the RAC luggage tags were on my door, could I tag the bags in my room and have two stacks, one for checked luggage and one for Luggage Storage Room and let the Luggage Services folks drop off my bags at RAC and store the rest??

We wouldn't be back at the resort before RAC closed.

 

[Debbie-TN]

I can't say for sure, but I think all the people I've seen standing at the check-in desk have had their luggage with them. Maybe they put them all somewhere. We'll be doing it for the first time in December. In the past, I always go to the luggage storage room and get a cart. You just have to leave your driver's license until you bring the cart back. Then I take all of our luggage down to them in the morning so we can go to a park on our last day. I guess I'll do the same thing and leave the carry-on's with them and the checked bags at the RAC desk. Does any one know if there is a different way you are supposed to do this?

 

[Bobo912]

Got a question.

At the Values Luggage Services is not an on demand service, so you just call them that you want your bags picked up and leave them by the door and they pick them up at their convenience.

Since they are putting your luggage tags and boarding passes on your door, do you still have to take the luggage down to the RAC desk yourself??

For example, if the RAC luggage tags were on my door, could I tag the bags in my room and have two stacks, one for checked luggage and one for Luggage Storage Room and let the Luggage Services folks drop off my bags at RAC and store the rest??

We wouldn't be back at the resort before RAC closed.

I don't know the answer for certain either, since we only had two bags to check and one small bag I wanted to carry on, we just took our own bags down to the airline check in and I left the one I wanted to keep at luggage storage. I did this first thing in the morning and then we went to the parks. The instructions they gave us said we could call for bell service and they would pick our bags up at the room. So at the very least you could have bell service take you checked bags and you could drop off the ones you wanted to store.

 

[jel0511]

My question is why only are the all stars and Pop the ones with SW RAC. Does anyone know the answer.

 

[Bobo912]

My question is why only are the all stars and Pop the ones with SW RAC. Does anyone know the answer.

It's a trial run. Seems to be working well, so maybe it will be extended to other resorts soon.

 

[goofy4tink]

Got a question.

At the Values Luggage Services is not an on demand service, so you just call them that you want your bags picked up and leave them by the door and they pick them up at their convenience.

Since they are putting your luggage tags and boarding passes on your door, do you still have to take the luggage down to the RAC desk yourself??

For example, if the RAC luggage tags were on my door, could I tag the bags in my room and have two stacks, one for checked luggage and one for Luggage Storage Room and let the Luggage Services folks drop off my bags at RAC and store the rest??

We wouldn't be back at the resort before RAC closed.

I'm going to guess and say that you have to take those checked bags with you, to the RAC counter. What would happen if you hadn't paid any baggage fees??? Those bags wouldn't go, and you wouldn't know about it. Or what happens if a bag is overweight?? Same thing. You should still have to show some ID before getting everything done...it's the same as checking in at the airport, just further away. I would assume that some things are going to remain the same.

My question is why only are the all stars and Pop the ones with SW RAC. Does anyone know the answer.

SW started the trial period at POP since it is such a large resort...they wanted to see how their system would work at WDW resorts. When it appeared that it was going to work, they rolled it out to the AllStars. I would imagine that we will see it appearing at the other resorts in the future..most likely the not so distant future.

 

[jfelcie]

Please . . . What is RAC? Thanks

 

[Missytara]

RAC is resort airline check-in.

If you are flying with a designated airline, you can check-in your bags at your resort, no less than three hours before your flight, from 6 am to 1 pm.

If you have baggage that you will carry-on, you can leave it at baggage services at the resort; then when you return for your DME time, you will retrieve it there before you leave for the airport.