Resort airport check in

[JackieO]

I've never used airport check in at the resort so I'm not sure how it all works. I'm wondering if we'll be able to use it since we'll have a rental car that we'll need to return at the airport. Do we have to leave our luggage and will it travel to the airport without us?

 

[AliceIn]

I've never used airport check in at the resort so I'm not sure how it all works. I'm wondering if we'll be able to use it since we'll have a rental car that we'll need to return at the airport. Do we have to leave our luggage and will it travel to the airport without us?

Yes, you check in your luggage and the next time you see it will be when you get to your home airport. Unlike the Magical Express from the airport, you don't have to be on the bus to use this.

 

[Jestocost]

I've never used airport check in at the resort so I'm not sure how it all works. I'm wondering if we'll be able to use it since we'll have a rental car that we'll need to return at the airport. Do we have to leave our luggage and will it travel to the airport without us?

The RAC Desks are open from 5 a.m. until 1 p.m. and you can check your bags and get your boarding passes there provided you are flying on an airline that participates. You must have the check-in process completed (not just be in line) no later than three hours before your scheduled flight departure.

Participating airlines are these:

Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
AirTran Airways
Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
JetBlue Airways
Southwest Airlines
United Airlines
US Airways

More info on the Disney site here.

 

[DebbieB]

Yes, I've done it a couple of times.

 

[SuperDan523]

Anyone ever used RAC with American? They don't allow prepayment of luggage fees (reports online seem to indicate that if you call their call center and escalate the issue, after some begging they might allow it but with a $100 fee in addition to the baggage fees). I'll just check my bags with Bell Services if I can't figure it out, but it would be nice to not have to worry about our bags when we come back to catch DME.

 

[ols386]

We've used it several times, and it works very well.

We usually rent a car.

We do our airport check-in the morning we are to leave. We also check-in our luggage at that point.

Drive back to the airport when it's time, turn in the rental car, and we are set. Already have our boarding passes for the flight, etc.

 

[sarmat1]

Just did it this morning at YC. Love the airline check in service. We always rent a car, but it's great letting Disney deal with all the luggage to the airport especially when you have a whole lot of bags.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Anyone ever used RAC with American? They don't allow prepayment of luggage fees (reports online seem to indicate that if you call their call center and escalate the issue, after some begging they might allow it but with a $100 fee in addition to the baggage fees). I'll just check my bags with Bell Services if I can't figure it out, but it would be nice to not have to worry about our bags when we come back to catch DME.

It was no problem doing RAC for American last September. I worried about the payment, but you just pay with a credit card at the RAC desk at the resort when you drop off the bags, no problem at all.

We did exactly that, checked our bags in our last morning and then headed to the parks before coming back to catch DME. Super easy and convenient, and we left our carry on bags with Bell Services and picked them up before getting on the bus.

 

[goofy4tink]

RAC is really the same as curbside checkin....it's just that the 'curb' is quite a ways from the airport! As noted, not all airlines participate in this service, so be sure to know beforehand if your airline participates.
And like curbside checkin, it's good to remember to tip the person checking your bags in.

 

[JanaDee]

OP, it isn't necessary to tip the people checking your bags at resort airline check in.

Anyone staying at that resort can use the airline check-in. It is a great service and we love it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

OP, it isn't necessary to tip the people checking your bags at resort airline check in.

Anyone staying at that resort can use the airline check-in. It is a great service and we love it.

Eh, that's debatable. The TAX workers are the equivalent of the curbside check-in airport workers. They're culpable.

 

[JanaDee]

Eh, that's debatable. The TAX workers are the equivalent of the curbside check-in airport workers. They're culpable.

You can debate it all you'd like. It isn't something worth debating to me. If you feel the need to tip them, go ahead. I don't.

I've never tipped them and don't plan on tipping them. I don't tip the people that check my bags at the airport and those checking my bags in at the resort aren't any different.

Adding the typical Dis disclaimer ~ YMMV.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Eh, that's debatable. The TAX workers are the equivalent of the curbside check-in airport workers. They're culpable.

Darn auto-correct! This should say "The RAC workers are the equivalent of the curbside check-in airport workers. They're typically tipped.

As for whether one chooses to tip for a customarily-tipped service based solely on the location where that service is provided is up to the individual.

 

[Lmichele]

Most airlines let you check-in 24 hours in advance online. So, would I use RAC instead of checking in online .... or ... could I still check in online then go to RAC desk to drop off my luggage?

 

[goofy4tink]

You can debate it all you'd like. It isn't something worth debating to me. If you feel the need to tip them, go ahead. I don't.

I've never tipped them and don't plan on tipping them. I don't tip the people that check my bags at the airport and those checking my bags in at the resort aren't any different.

Adding the typical Dis disclaimer ~ YMMV.

No, we don't tip the people who take our checked bags from us at the airline counter, inside the terminal. But we do tip the curbside service people that take our bags. That is very customary. RAC workers are the same thing as curbside service workers. Here's the difference.....if you have baggage to check, you have to go inside and check them....if you want to cut your lugging time? You do curbside checkin. You don't want to tip? Go inside. That's 'free'. Don't mind tipping? Use curbside. The exact same hoes for RAC. You don't have to use it.

 

[JanaDee]

No, we don't tip the people who take our checked bags from us at the airline counter, inside the terminal. But we do tip the curbside service people that take our bags. That is very customary. RAC workers are the same thing as curbside service workers. Here's the difference.....if you have baggage to check, you have to go inside and check them....if you want to cut your lugging time? You do curbside checkin. You don't want to tip? Go inside. That's 'free'. Don't mind tipping? Use curbside. The exact same hoes for RAC. You don't have to use it.

I will continue to use it as I always have.

 

[JanaDee]

Most airlines let you check-in 24 hours in advance online. So, would I use RAC instead of checking in online .... or ... could I still check in online then go to RAC desk to drop off my luggage?

If you are flying SW, check in online at the 24 hour mark, to get a better boarding position. If you already have a seat on a different carrier, use RAC to both check in and check your bags.