Southwest/Air Tran mixed round trip itinerary and airline check in

[ninafeliz]

last time we flew to Orlando we found the best airline prices and times were to fly down on Airtran and fly home on Southwest. Because they are now both owned by SW I could book this all through SW, and it was not 2 one way tickets, but each leg was still separate with check in, luggage fees and seat fees for Air Tran, etc. We used Magical express, and we found out on the day before check out when we got a note under our door that if you do it this way SW would not allow us to check our bags at the Poly, and we had to lug them with us to the airport and check them there. My DH was seriously irritated by this, and vowed that we would never do that combo again as it's worth more money to him to be able to get rid of our bags at the resort and not have to do anything at the airport. So now fast-forward 7 months. I'm planning our September trip, and once again the best times for us involve the combo. If we fly all SW from PIT we have to arrive 4 hrs later than if we fly Air Tran out and SW home. I want those 4 hrs at Disney!! Does anyone know if this policy has changed, and it we can now check bags at the resort with an AT/SW combo round trip? I was hoping that was a glitch they would work on and change, I think they said it might change in the future when we asked about it last Sept. has anyone done this combo recently and used airline check in at their resort successfully (with them taking your checked luggage)?

 

[Starshine]

We flew AirTran flights booked through the Southwest website last year, and we didn't have any bag fees because we booked on the Southwest site, but perhaps that has changed now?

In any case, we were able to check bags at the resort with no problem, we just didn't get seat assignments until we got to the airport.

 

[ninafeliz]

Hmmm, we booked through SW and did pay bag fees for the AT flight and not the SW flight. I wonder what the difference was. I do remember being a little surprised, but figured that's just the way it was.

In our case our flight down was AT and out flight back was SW, and that was why we couldn't check bags at the resort, not b/c we booked AT on SW's website. It sounds like both of your flights were AT booked on SW, right?

Has anyone had one way SW and one way AT and been able to check bags at the resort to return home? I know to some people this isn't a big deal, but with an infant and a pre-schooler, and a DH who always thinks if something can go wrong it will, we want that perk of checking our bags the AM of departure and not having to do it at the airport.

 

[jimandami]

Hmmm, we booked through SW and did pay bag fees for the AT flight and not the SW flight. I wonder what the difference was. I do remember being a little surprised, but figured that's just the way it was.

In our case our flight down was AT and out flight back was SW, and that was why we couldn't check bags at the resort, not b/c we booked AT on SW's website. It sounds like both of your flights were AT booked on SW, right?

Has anyone had one way SW and one way AT and been able to check bags at the resort to return home? I know to some people this isn't a big deal, but with an infant and a pre-schooler, and a DH who always thinks if something can go wrong it will, we want that perk of checking our bags the AM of departure and not having to do it at the airport.

We had the same experience you did in December except we didn't find out until we arrive at the RAC counter! It was pretty annoying, especially since the SW line was super long at the airport and it was just a crazy mess. I agree with your DH...I wouldn't book a mixed airline reservation until I knew for certain RAC would work.

 

[rlduvall]

We purchased our return airfare through SW, but the second leg of the return flight was Airtran. I purchased my incoming/outgoing flights as one way each way. Here is our exact experience from last Saturday, May 31st at AKL:

1. If you book through SW you do not have to pay any baggage fees for the Airtran portion.

2. If you purchase EBCI for SW it does not apply to the Airtran leg, but will apply to the SW leg. You will either need to check in up to 24 hours before the flight time for Airtran or purchase a seat assignment [which is what we did]. After EBCI and seating assignment fees, it cost an additional $45 for the two of us just on the return flight. Kind of starting to negate SW "no baggage fee saves so much" mantra.

3. You will not be able to use Resort Airline Check-in - which I did not find out until we went down there to do it. Luckily we were running ahead and just went on to the airport instead of relaxing at the resort. I was pretty irritated about it, but it ended up only taking about 15 minutes to do it at the airport SW counter. The full computer integration of the two systems will not be completed until the end of 2014 per SW and the RAC systems cannot be updated yet. [edited to add: our return flight was different from most in that one leg was SW and one leg was AT - which makes sense as to why RAC might not work. Remember - I had purchased the incoming and outgoing flights as individual one way tickets]

CAVEAT: The Airtran portion of our flight out of Atlanta was overbooked. A family of four was going to be bumped from the flight and the grandfather of that family [who was able to board] was very upset about it. I recognized him from our SW Orlando flight and I asked him if they had also checked in for the Airtran portion of the flight or bought seat assignments. They had not because they thought EBCI covered them through-out and his Company's travel agent did not tell them they needed to do this. So, in essence it looked like they were the last ones to check in which is why they were the "chosen ones". I only knew about this potential "glitch" because I researched it and also called SW to confirm it. As it was, several solo travelers gave up their spots to receive $300. travel vouchers. Very nice of them.

 

[rlduvall]

We had the same experience you did in December except we didn't find out until we arrive at the RAC counter! It was pretty annoying, especially since the SW line was super long at the airport and it was just a crazy mess. I agree with your DH...I wouldn't book a mixed airline reservation until I knew for certain RAC would work.

As you can see from my post above that is when I found out, too. Really ticked me off, but we got lucky that the SW counter wasn't too bad; other than the baggage belt had broken and we had to take our luggage down to the end of the counter ourselves. I tried to see the positive side and figured I just saved myself a $10 tip for RAC. BUT, I absolutely love RAC and won't use the SW/AT combo again until the computer systems are fully integrated.

 

[rlduvall]

If we fly all SW from PIT we have to arrive 4 hrs later than if we fly Air Tran out and SW home. I want those 4 hrs at Disney!! Does anyone know if this policy has changed, and it we can now check bags at the resort with an AT/SW combo round trip?

If you purchase each way as a one way ticket I think that would eliminate this issue. Even though it doesn't really make sense that it was an issue last time, does it - since you were returning on SW purchased through the SW website. I could see the issue if the return flight was AT purchased through the SW website; at least until they integrate the computer systems.

I have often flown down on one airline and returned on another [each purchased as one way tickets] with no issues with RAC.

 

[rlduvall]

Hmmm, we booked through SW and did pay bag fees for the AT flight and not the SW flight. I wonder what the difference was. I do remember being a little surprised, but figured that's just the way it was.

If I were you, I would contact SW and see about getting reimbursed because that is not the policy. As long as you booked AT through the SW website - it is very clear you do not get charged for baggage.

Any itinerary with a Southwest-operated segment or that was purchased through Southwest booking channels will not have bag fees for the 1st and 2nd checked bags (though weight and size restrictions will still apply).

http://www.southwest.com/html/air/intl/intl-hub.html

 

[Greysword]

Honestly, this surprises me. I'm not well versed in the Southwest/AirTran merger, but I would think they would treat luggage from one airline to the other as an interlining agreement, at the very least.

That is to say if you travel on two separate airlines with an interlining agreement on the same route (from origin to destination), you would only pay the luggage fee for the originating airline, and the bags fly free on the second carrier with no issues. Also, the originating airline can print the boarding passes for the other carrier's connecting flights. An example would be flying Delta/American and connecting to an Alaska Airline flight. This also happens a lot internationally and within airline alliances.

Sorry to go on a tangent from the conversation, but it sounds like Southwest is trying to bilk people for all the cash they can get with this policy.

I would recommend booking the round trip as two one-way flights, if the times and price works for your family.

 

[ninafeliz]

Thanks for all of the replies. It sounds like nothing has changed, so I booked our entire trip on SW - so much for my 4 more hrs at Disney on our first day. On the bright side, we won't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport!

Just FYI, last time when we had to schlep all of our luggage to the airport ourselves after not being able to check it at the Poly, we actually had no problems at all. There was a skycap standing by the ME bus as it unloaded. We flagged him down, he took all of our bags and went to this SW check in area downstairs at the end of the level that the ME busses drop off at and checked us in. Apparently it's only for skycaps (is that the right term?), and only open for the first part of the day, but it ended up making out lives sooo much easier. When we went upstairs there was a huuuge line at the SW counter that we would have been standing in had we not found that guy. It was well worth the big tip we gave him (I don't really travel light )

We also only paid seat fees on Airtran to be sure we had assigned seats prior to us checking in. We could have not paid, and been assigned seats when we checked in 24 hrs prior (or maybe at the airport? i can't remember b/c we would never take that chance. Being bumped, or even just not sitting together). I don't know for sure, but I feel like this makes the chances of us being the ones bumped from an oversold flight like a PP described less.

I'm pretty sure I paid bag fees for the Airtran leg, but after reading the replies I want to go check my receipts. Maybe I will if I get a chance tomorrow.

We always buy the SW early bird check in, so that eats into our savings from not paying bag fees, but we think it's worth it. We are always (when it's within reason) willing to pay to save us time or hassle. That way I don't have to sit there 24 hrs ahead of time hitting refresh on the computer or phone. Been there, done that. Honestly I would rather just have a seat assignment, but whatever...

I hope sometime soon this is changed, and you can use the resort airline check in with mixed SW/AT flights. Maybe in 2015, didn't a PP say something would be finalized with the merger after that? Of course, the way it usually goes, it will get fixed and AT will drop the flight down that we want anyway

 

[ninafeliz]

I also wanted to add that I guess I could have tried the 2 one way tickets. I didn't for 2 reasons

#1 I'm an idiot and even though i had read the replies I just wasn't thinking about it when i discussed it with my husband tonight and booked. Old habits die hard - I've always looked at round trip and I just looked at all of the usual possibilities

#2 As I mentioned, my husband is of the glass half empty folk, and not into doing anything that could turn into a hassle. I know, I know, I don't see how that would be any problem at all, but I'm sure he could think of a million possible hang ups and if one of them happened I don't want to be responsible So we'll be arriving late afternoon. It was also $30 cheaper a ticket to arrive later, to look at another bright side (except that if someone said for $30 you can have 4 hrs at Disney I would jump at the chance I'm just trying to feel better about the timing and not trying the one way tickets )

 

[SMCURT28]

#2 As I mentioned, my husband is of the glass half empty folk, and not into doing anything that could turn into a hassle. I know, I know, I don't see how that would be any problem at all, but I'm sure he could think of a million possible hang ups and if one of them happened I don't want to be responsible So we'll be arriving late afternoon. It was also $30 cheaper a ticket to arrive later, to look at another bright side (except that if someone said for $30 you can have 4 hrs at Disney I would jump at the chance I'm just trying to feel better about the timing and not trying the one way tickets )

Been following this thread since I am booked SW/AT out of Pitts also, but I just wanted to comment how funny different perspectives can be. I can assure you from experience that RAC can turn into a "hassle" your husband definitely won't want to deal with.....it's one more opportunity for your bags to not show up or make the flight with you as one couple in our group from last year experienced. If possible, we always try to minimize those opportunities by limiting bag exchanges, plane changes, etc. My wife knows our rule....I put the bags on the DME and I take them off the DME. There is a SW express check-in on the sidewalk just outside the main SW check-in inside the airport. There is never a line and you know for fact your bags actually made it to the airport and were headed to the terminal area.

If you use RAC and your bags don't show up, where do you begin...Disney or SW? Did they make it to the airport or not? In the case of the couple in our group, after conversing with SW for several hours, they realized that the issue occured with the RAC and did not involve SW at all.

So each person has to pick their poison because hassles can happen either way.

 

[ninafeliz]

Been following this thread since I am booked SW/AT out of Pitts also, but I just wanted to comment how funny different perspectives can be. I can assure you from experience that RAC can turn into a "hassle" your husband definitely won't want to deal with.....it's one more opportunity for your bags to not show up or make the flight with you as one couple in our group from last year experienced. If possible, we always try to minimize those opportunities by limiting bag exchanges, plane changes, etc. My wife knows our rule....I put the bags on the DME and I take them off the DME. There is a SW express check-in on the sidewalk just outside the main SW check-in inside the airport. There is never a line and you know for fact your bags actually made it to the airport and were headed to the terminal area.

If you use RAC and your bags don't show up, where do you begin...Disney or SW? Did they make it to the airport or not? In the case of the couple in our group, after conversing with SW for several hours, they realized that the issue occured with the RAC and did not involve SW at all.

So each person has to pick their poison because hassles can happen either way.

Well, that's a different perspective on it that I really hadn't thought of, but now that I have it makes perfect sense! You should have posted before I booked, and I could have read your story to my DH! Then he might have seen your POV and wanted to handle the luggage himself! That situation would have indeed been a mess. I also hadn't thought of using the curbside check in instead of the inside line, even though we weren't arriving at that curb. I still think I like getting rid of the bags first thing in the AM on checkout day, but if something ever happened I imagine we would then start going your route. You're right, you have to pick what makes you comfortable.

I'm kind of wishing I had tried the 2 one way tickets now, and taken that 11-ish air tran flight out of PIT, but it's all good. We'll still be at the GF relaxing by mid evening, and now with the kids we often don't do anything but unpack and eat at the CS restaurant the first night anyway.

 

[SMCURT28]

I'm sure you'll be fine either way, I just like to have as much control of my items for as long as I can to minimize a headache and I don't mind helping my DD and DW wife with their bags. We opted for the 11-ish AT flight (which is $99 now by the way) in Oct. to get some extra time. I thought hard about the 7-8ish AM flight, but we have a bit of drive to get there. Have a great trip!!

 

[ninafeliz]

It was around $150 on our sept date vs $118 on SW at 3:00. We gave up the early AM flights after kids! We have a 2 hr drive to PIT or CLE plus always get there 2 hrs early just in case. We have needed that before!

 

[rlduvall]

I'm kind of wishing I had tried the 2 one way tickets now, and taken that 11-ish air tran flight out of PIT, but it's all good. We'll still be at the GF relaxing by mid evening, and now with the kids we often don't do anything but unpack and eat at the CS restaurant the first night anyway.

If you booked those flights within the last 24 hours you can make a change with full refund/no fees.

 

[ninafeliz]

If you booked those flights within the last 24 hours you can make a change with full refund/no fees.

Hey, that's a thought! How? I assume call SW, prob a stupid question! There couldn't be a problem with RAC with 2 one way tix, could there?

 

[rlduvall]

Hey, that's a thought! How? I assume call SW, prob a stupid question! There couldn't be a problem with RAC with 2 one way tix, could there?

You can do it on-line but if you call SW it might be less trouble for you. As for RAC; as I mentioned earlier I have done that many times before with no trouble, BUT it did not involve AT and SW.

 

[ninafeliz]

Just for closure, I ended up leaving it alone with SW round trip. I would have cancelled and done 2 one way tix, but DH wanted to leave it with the sure thing we're used to. Plus, he didn't want to get up early for once to get to the airport. Thanks for all of the advice, if the merger isn't complete and you can't use resort check in with a split round trip by out next trip I'll do the 2 one way tix. Probably then the 11:00 direct flight won't exist