Resort Airline Check-In - What if...?

[karly05]

OK, as I understand this... When departing WDW at the end of a trip, if I want to do the Resort Airline Check-in and check a bag, I call the BAGS # the day before and pay my checked baggage fee through them. Then, on departure day, I check my bag at the RAC desk, some time between 5 am (when RAC opens) and 3 hours before my flight departure. So far, so good.

Now, here's the question: Say RAC opens at 5 am, and my assigned ME bus time is 6 am. I've already paid my checked bag fee through BAGS, but then I decide that I don't have time to check my bag at RAC and make my ME bus, so I opt to just take my bag with me on the ME bus and check in at the airport. How will the airline check-in folks at the airport know that I already paid my bag fee through BAGS the day before and shouldn't have to pay it again at the airport?

Weird question, but I'm serious.

 

[Jestocost]

OK, as I understand this... When departing WDW at the end of a trip, if I want to do the Resort Airline Check-in and check a bag, I call the BAGS # the day before and pay my checked baggage fee through them. Then, on departure day, I check my bag at the RAC desk, some time between 5 am (when RAC opens) and 3 hours before my flight departure. So far, so good.

Now, here's the question: Say RAC opens at 5 am, and my assigned ME bus time is 6 am. I've already paid my checked bag fee through BAGS, but then I decide that I don't have time to check my bag at RAC and make my ME bus, so I opt to just take my bag with me on the ME bus and check in at the airport. How will the airline check-in folks at the airport know that I already paid my bag fee through BAGS the day before and shouldn't have to pay it again at the airport?

Weird question, but I'm serious.

Not sure exactly how it works but it does. RAC is basically a remote curbside check-in location that has access to the same airline systems that the curbside check-in locations at the airport have.

 

[Traveliz]

The last time I used RAC (let me think here...ok it was in May, around the 15th), they did not have me pay in advance. They had me pay with credit card at the check in desk at the hotel (this was All Stars). I was concerned that I hadn't received my information on the door and went down to check and they told me then that they were now taking payments at the RAC checkin desk.

Now your mileage may vary greatly as I have done many ME and RAC runs and it seems like they are always doing something a little different; but that was my most recent experience.

Liz

 

[Jestocost]

The last time I used RAC (let me think here...ok it was in May, around the 15th), they did not have me pay in advance. They had me pay with credit card at the check in desk at the hotel (this was All Stars). I was concerned that I hadn't received my information on the door and went down to check and they told me then that they were now taking payments at the RAC checkin desk.

Now your mileage may vary greatly as I have done many ME and RAC runs and it seems like they are always doing something a little different; but that was my most recent experience.

Liz

That's been my understanding too. I believe baggage fees for most--if not all--airlines now can be paid at the RAC desk. I just don't have personal experience because we fly SWA where it isn't an issue.