RAC, SW, and EBCI.....need info.

[goofy4tink]

Okay guys.....with the possibility of SW now starting to participate at other resorts, we are seeing more and more questions about how RAC and EBCI are working together.
So...can those of you that may have used both systems, at the values, let us know how it's working out? There seems to be a recurring issue with how how SW is dealing with BPS....also how it's working with just the regular 24 hr window checkin. If someone checks in, at the 24 hr mark, is RAC still able to 'checkin' those people?
How have you all done it?? Thanks guys.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Are ya thinking that it is easier for EBCI people or harder?

 

[trekker93]

We booked and added the EBCI and got low A #'s. We stayed at Pop and the luggage was picked up by ME and delivered tour room about 3 hours after we landed. going home, we gave our luggage to Pop's checkin and didn't see it again until we got back to Green airport in RI later that night. We went to both Epcot and MK on our last day and got in 6 hours at the parks!We will be doing this again this year.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

We booked and added the EBCI and got low A #'s. We stayed at Pop and the luggage was picked up by ME and delivered tour room about 3 hours after we landed. going home, we gave our luggage to Pop's checkin and didn't see it again until we got back to Green airport in RI later that night. We went to both Epcot and MK on our last day and got in 6 hours at the parks!We will be doing this again this year.

So there was no problem having EBCI check you into SWA to get your boarding pass assignment AND then letting the RAC service check in your bags?

 

[goofy4tink]

Are ya thinking that it is easier for EBCI people or harder?

Don't know....just trying to get an answer for you all here.

The question is.....I'm sure that those who have paid for EBCI won't have the issue..they can just go to RAC, bags in hand. Then, the RAC people will check them in, print out their boarding passes and take their bags. It is those who have not paid for EBCI, that will need to checkin, someplace, at the 24 hr window, the day before. So...now they have already checked in. What happens when they get to RAC, to 'checkin'?? They have already checked in. Does RAC then just print out their boarding pass and take their bags???
Just trying to see what the deal is when you have to checkin before you actually get to the RAC counter.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

Of course, I'm merely speculating, but I'm thinking that regardless of whether EBCI checks you in or you check in manually at T-24, either way, when you show up at RAC, you're already checked in. Not sure why there'd be any difference between the two in terms of whether RAC can then accept and check in your bags or not?

 

[monarchsfan16]

I flew home Jan 15, on a 6pm flight. Used EBCI. Stayed at All Star Music, and everything went VERY smoothly

On departure day there was an envelope on my door by 6:30am. No clue when it arrived, but that's when I checked the door since I'd heard something about BPs being hung on the door. Inside the envelope were instructions, my BP (which said it was printed at 6:08pm the previous night), and a (note singular) "valet tag" that had my name, room number, flight number, flight time, and, oddly, the wrong destination airport on it. The instructions said to put the valet tag on my bag, and go to the RAC desk with my BP and ID. The instructions began by thanking me for enrolling in Disney's RAC program. I don't ever remember enrolling in anything, but I certainly had no problem with them delivering my stuff to my room. I was the only one traveling, and had only had one checked bag on the way down as well, which DME had transported.

I went to the RAC desk around 7-7:30. There was NO line. He took my bag, weighed it, checked my ID, and printed out my real (airline) luggage tag and stuck that on my bag in addition to the valet tag. The real luggage tag had the appropriate destination airport on it. The process took about a minute. My bag turned up in Manchester without a problem.

 

[Tara]

Don't know....just trying to get an answer for you all here.

The question is.....I'm sure that those who have paid for EBCI won't have the issue..they can just go to RAC, bags in hand. Then, the RAC people will check them in, print out their boarding passes and take their bags. It is those who have not paid for EBCI, that will need to checkin, someplace, at the 24 hr window, the day before. So...now they have already checked in. What happens when they get to RAC, to 'checkin'?? They have already checked in. Does RAC then just print out their boarding pass and take their bags???
Just trying to see what the deal is when you have to checkin before you actually get to the RAC counter.

I don't think it's any different than checking in online at home then checking your bags and having BPs reprinted at the airport. With EBCI, you're checked in anyway, so I don't think non-EBCI would be any different.

I'm interested to see what's reported, though.

 

[pooch]

as I've posted before. EBCI checked DD and I in at the 36 hr mark. I did NOTHING. My PBS and luggage tags were hanging on my door the morning of check out. Slapped the tags on our bags, dropped them off at RAC and picked them up back home. Easy, breezy lemon squeezy!!

 

[WEHAVEM]

as I've posted before. EBCI checked DD and I in at the 36 hr mark. I did NOTHING. My PBS and luggage tags were hanging on my door the morning of check out. Slapped the tags on our bags, dropped them off at RAC and picked them up back home. Easy, breezy lemon squeezy!!

I'm flying SW in May, probably a stupid question to most, but what is RAC and EBCI?

EBCI = Electronic bag check in?

RAC = ???

Thanks

Kyle

 

[Figment&Piglet]

EBCI = Early Bird Check-In = Southwest (SWA's) $10 per one-way ticket service for automatic check-in at 36 hours before flight, as opposed to "manually" checking yourself in at 24 hours before

RAC = Resort Airline Check-in = You can check in for your partcipating airline as well as check your luggage for your return-home trip right from the lobby of your Disney Resort. SWA is rolling out their participation so you can check your luggage in at your resort and pick them up at your home airport

 

[goofy4tink]

Of course, I'm merely speculating, but I'm thinking that regardless of whether EBCI checks you in or you check in manually at T-24, either way, when you show up at RAC, you're already checked in. Not sure why there'd be any difference between the two in terms of whether RAC can then accept and check in your bags or not?

I don't think it's any different than checking in online at home then checking your bags and having BPs reprinted at the airport. With EBCI, you're checked in anyway, so I don't think non-EBCI would be any different.

I'm interested to see what's reported, though.

Duh!!!! Sometimes I just can't see the forest for the trees. You're both right....checked in is checked in. Doesn't matter when it happens or who is doing it. Thanks for reminding me.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Duh!!!! Sometimes I just can't see the forest for the trees. You're both right....checked in is checked in. Doesn't matter when it happens or who is doing it. Thanks for reminding me.

Hence the....

Are ya thinking that it is easier for EBCI people or harder?

Just FYI from TeenaS everything is running great.

A live report would be nice though.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hence the....



Just FYI from TeenaS everything is running great.

A live report would be nice though.

And that's why I asked the question here.
Not sure why anyone needs a live report....if it works at one resort, it's working at the other resorts. The only thing that is truly needed is the knowledge of what other resorts are using RAC with SW. If a report from TeenaS says everything is running great, what else is needed??? Just curious.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Curiosity. Some of the nitty gritty details.

 

[dburg30]

I see what you are looking for Goofy, but since SW allows you to 'check in' as many times as you want, there would be no way for the RAC to know if you've checked in or not. They would just do it. Since I've not flown legacy, I'm sure this is one of the differences? IE: if you check in with US air somehow, RAC wouldnt be able to check you in again. Is that what the question is based on?

 

[Lewisc]

Diane--One of the first posters who reported using RAC (SW) at POP had previously checked in at T-24.

We're making this too complicated. The pilot worked at the Value resorts. It's being rolled out to other resorts. These issues have already been addressed.

Thee seems to be a question if RAC can check passengers of other airlines (Airtran) if that passenger already obtained their BP.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, you both 'get' what I'm trying to do. The system did work at the values. I just wasn't sure 'how' the system worked. There are a lot of people who stay at mods or deluxes and fly SW who wanted to know if RAC treated SW any differently than other airlines...since you have either 1. bought EBCI and were automatically checked in at 36 hrs by SW, or 2. checked yourself in at the 24 hr window.

But it would seem that this is just not an issue. So...safe to assume that it's no big deal when you get to the RAC counter with your bags in hand, having already checked in (either way) with SW?? That's the feeling I'm getting here.
Thanks guys!

 

[Figment&Piglet]

The only outstanding question for me is why was it reported (this thread? the other SWA RAC thread? Can't remember...) that some people who were already "checked in" with their airline (regardless of whether they were checked in via EBCI or manually) were refused RAC services because they were already "checked in?"

But I guess with all of the people on this thread who said it's been no problem to be checked in already and use RAC that maybe those cases were anomalies and perhaps it's a moot point...

Edited to say, Oops, I didn't see page 2 of this thread before posting...asked and answered!

 

[WEHAVEM]

EBCI = Early Bird Check-In = Southwest (SWA's) $10 per one-way ticket service for automatic check-in at 36 hours before flight, as opposed to "manually" checking yourself in at 24 hours before

RAC = Resort Airline Check-in = You can check in for your partcipating airline as well as check your luggage for your return-home trip right from the lobby of your Disney Resort. SWA is rolling out their participation so you can check your luggage in at your resort and pick them up at your home airport

Thank you, that certainly makes life easier