RAC question.

[yankebabie]

if I do this at the resort does that mean I don't have to check in at all at the airport? Just go right to our gate? Or is this just for luggage and we still have to check in at the SW counter when we arrive at the airport

 

[anonymousegirl]

I rarely use RAC but I believe that you are actually checking in for your flight, checking your bags, and getting a boarding pass. Then, once at MCO, you simply proceed through TSA and to the gate.

 

[rwdavis2]

I rarely use RAC but I believe that you are actually checking in for your flight, checking your bags, and getting a boarding pass. Then, once at MCO, you simply proceed through TSA and to the gate.

This is correct. Check-in closes, I think at Noon-1:00pm. Just ask at the hotel.

 

[DebbieB]

Hours are 5:00am to noon. Luggage check-in must be complete 3 hours prior to flight time.

 

[maxiesmom]

Using RAC is just like checking in at the airport. Think of it as a little bit of the airport at your resort. You check your bags and you won't see them again until you pick them up again at your home airport. Any bags you want to carry on keep with you or leave them with luggage assistance/bell services at your resort until you want them.

 

[focusondisney]

I have never used RAC. We usually fly JB but took SW earlier this month. The check inline at the airport was crazy. We ended up using the curbside skycap which was better. But we will be on SW again in December so I'm considering RAC. Anyone had any problems with them? Any stories of lost luggage?

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I have never used RAC. We usually fly JB but took SW earlier this month. The check inline at the airport was crazy. We ended up using the curbside skycap which was better. But we will be on SW again in December so I'm considering RAC. Anyone had any problems with them? Any stories of lost luggage?

We have never had any problems with lost luggage. There have been some reports on this board of occasional problems reading the RAC-supplied boarding passes at the security checkpoint, although we have never had this problem either. You can always use a self-check station at the airport to reprint your boarding passes. This avoids the check-in line at the airport.

 

[goofy4tink]

I use RAC almost every single time I leave WDW. I have yet to have a bag misdirected. For heaven's sake, you can check in at the airport and have luggage misdirected!!! That has happened to me in the past!
Think of RAC as curbside service....it's just that the curb is a long way from the terminal! You'll hand your bags over, they get tagged (give a quick peek to make sure the tags are correct!), you'll get your boarding passes. Then, when you get to MCO, go directly to security. Easy.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I have never used RAC. We usually fly JB but took SW earlier this month. The check inline at the airport was crazy. We ended up using the curbside skycap which was better. But we will be on SW again in December so I'm considering RAC. Anyone had any problems with them? Any stories of lost luggage?

Twice now I have used RAC to check in my luggage prior to 8am when my flight was late evening....as in after 9pm. It did make me a little nervous wondering where my bags would be for more than 12 hours but there was no problem at all. I agree that you have just as much chance of a misdirected bag when checking it at the airport.

 

[Shanti]

if I do this at the resort does that mean I don't have to check in at all at the airport? Just go right to our gate? Or is this just for luggage and we still have to check in at the SW counter when we arrive at the airport

That's right. You'll get to bypass check-in completely & head straight for security & gate upon arrival. Saves oodles of hassle. Never had a bag misdirected by RAC & can't recommend the service enough.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Just to add.....I've used RAC more time than I can count without any trouble at all. I love being able to drop the bags and get my boarding pass with almost no wait at all.

 

[Chip_Dale]

I thought that my luggage was lost using TAC. Checked the bags early AM with a late afternoon departure. Luggage was not on the baggage claim. Flagged an airline employee and went to the office to file a report. Missing bag was in the office. Guess bag was on the earlier flight.

 

[yankebabie]

Thanks so much!!!

 

[focusondisney]

Thanks so much!!!

Yep, thanks everyone for the answers & yankebabie for letting me latch onto your thread!

 

[marjorieeeee]

I love it. Alaska airlines' ticket counter is as far away from where the bus drops you as possible. And yes, checking your bags at the resort, then playing in the park all day before an evening flight is pretty great.

Lately I've been taking an early morning flight home, so not an option. I bring carry on size only so I don't have to walk all the way to the ticket counter!

 

[shoes99]

I thought that my luggage was lost using TAC. Checked the bags early AM with a late afternoon departure. Luggage was not on the baggage claim. Flagged an airline employee and went to the office to file a report. Missing bag was in the office. Guess bag was on the earlier flight.

This has happened to us where two bags were on our flight, and one bag got on an earlier flight. I flagged down an employee and he looked it up on the
computer, yup, my bag was in the luggage storage room. We will continue to use RAC but our next flight is 12:30PM so I guess we have to have
our checked bags over to the RAC counter by 9:20AM. Still works for us.