Southwest and ME

[Pixiedust34]

I read a few weeks ago that SW was negotiating to become a participating airline with ME. Does anyone have any updated information about this? Thanks!

 

[boswellnakia]

That sounds so great, where did you read that?

 

[Pixiedust34]

It was somewhere on these boards, I believe.

 

[goofy4tink]

Nothing new, as of yet.

 

[Lewisc]

Ask at the resort check in desk. It's entirely possible DME will be testing SW before any official announcement is made, maybe even before someone posts.

Posters have said both DME and SW have told them SW will be coming on board later this year.

 

[cncDisney4]

I had heard the same thing when we made our trip last December and would welcome this!! Although, I can't really say it has been awful to take your luggage when you leave and go thru the automatic check-in at Orlando. However, this next trip in December would be a wonderful time to see what it's like to not even worry about that!! We're traveling with friends and family and have told them how great it is to just arrive and catch the ME bus to the resort - they think that's awesome enough.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I read a few weeks ago that SW was negotiating to become a participating airline with ME. Does anyone have any updated information about this? Thanks!

All airlines "participate" in Disney's Magical Express.

There is only a "participating airline list" for Remote Airline Check-in (RAC) — the remote skycap service in your WDW resort lobby, provided by Baggage Airline Guest Services (BAGS Inc.).

Southwest is not yet a RAC-participating airlines, and Southwest does not yet appear on BAGS' website as one of BAGS' participating airlines. (In comparison, US Airways is already listed on BAGS' website, but is not yet a RAC-participating airline.)

See Disney's Magical Express - What "Participating Airline" Really Means!

 

[Lewisc]

Several posters have confirmed SW is negotiating with BAGS to participate with the RAC portion of DME and SW is expected to be on board by the end of the year.

I'm not sure if it's accurate to say all airlines participate with incoming DME or if it's more accurate to say NO AIRLINES participate with incoming DME. The airline has nothing to do with the bus service and very little to do with the luggage. For some airlines DME pulls the bags off the carousel. I'm not even sure if the airline is responsible for getting any of the luggage from the tarmac to the baggage claim area.

Disney has defined the term "participating airline" to refer to an airline's participation in the RAC program.

Many people including TAs and CMs incorrectly think partcipating airline also refers to incoming guests.

In this thread the term "participating airline" is being used as defined by Disney to refer to the RAC part of DME.

All airlines "participate" in Disney's Magical Express.

There is only a "participating airline list" for Remote Airline Check-in (RAC) — the remote skycap service in your WDW resort lobby, provided by Baggage Airline Guest Services (BAGS Inc.).

Southwest is not yet a RAC-participating airlines, and Southwest does not yet appear on BAGS' website as one of BAGS' participating airlines. (In comparison, US Airways is already listed on BAGS' website, but is not yet a RAC-participating airline.)

See Disney's Magical Express - What "Participating Airline" Really Means!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I'm not sure if it's accurate to say all airlines participate with incoming DME or if it's more accurate to say NO AIRLINES participate with incoming DME. The airline has nothing to do with the bus service and very little to do with the luggage.

I agree that it's technically more accurate to say that "NO AIRLINES participate with incoming DME" — but that would only confuse the issue even more. So I put "participate" in quote marks, because DME transportation (inbound and outbound) and DME luggage transfers (inbound) are available to passengers of all airlines that serve Orlando International Airport (MCO).

Many people including TAs and CMs incorrectly think participating airline also refers to incoming guests.

Yes. That continues to be a problem, even though the descriptions and FAQs about DME only use the word "participating" when describing Resort Airline Check-in. However, the word "participating" somehow jumps off that page, and people think it applies to the overall DME service.

I think that at the OP at top of this thread, Pixiedust34, understands that "participating" applies only to Resort Airline Check-in. However, other people reading this thread may read the OP and again assume that passengers of some airlines, including Southwest, can not use the DME at all. Thus, I thought it was worth taking a few minutes to clarify. I'm just trying help people understand DME.

 

[bdklein]

My complaint is that the ME bus drops you off on the first floor and SW is on the third floor. Why can't ME drop off on third floor?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

My complaint is that the ME bus drops you off on the first floor and SW is on the third floor. Why can't ME drop off on third floor?

That's really not specific to Southwest or Disney's Magical Express.

At Orlando International, level 3 is the ticketing and gate level for all airlines; level 2 is the baggage claim level for all airlines; and level 1 is the ground transportation level. Magical Express is just following the airport's rules, based on the airport's design.

There are elevators and escalators between the levels.

 

[ObsessedwithWDW]

OK could someone please explain this to me....I have a trip planned for September flying Southwest. I called and confirmed my ME and no one mentioned anything weird. What happens? How does this work? Do I have to get my bags or do I just get right on the bus? If I had not seen this post how would I have known this????? THANKS for another very informative post!!!

 

[Lewisc]

My complaint is that the ME bus drops you off on the first floor and SW is on the third floor. Why can't ME drop off on third floor?

Airport rules. I've read the weight of the bus is one of the reasons. SW, and other airlines, will sometimes open a baggage check in desk on level one. Look for signs. You can rent a cart or find a skycap if you need assistance getting the luggage up stairs. There are elevators, you don't need to use an escalator.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

OK could someone please explain this to me....I have a trip planned for September flying Southwest. I called and confirmed my ME and no one mentioned anything weird. What happens? How does this work? Do I have to get my bags or do I just get right on the bus? If I had not seen this post how would I have known this????? THANKS for another very informative post!!!

You'll get a Magical Express packet in the mail 2-3 weeks before your trip (or possibly sooner, based on recent reports). Follow the instructions in the packet. For your inbound travel, it doesn't make any difference what airline you're flying. If you attach the yellow tags in your packet to the handles of your checked bags before you check them at you home airport, you'll bypass baggage claim on arrival in Orlando. You'll ride a DME motorcoach to your resort. Your bags will show up in your room a few hours later, and you don't have to be in your room when they're delivered because Disney takes care of the inbound bell service gratuity.

At the end of your vacation, there's an optional remote skycap service called Resort Airline Check-in (RAC). That's where the "participating airline" list comes into play. Today, Southwest doesn't participate in Resort Airline Check-in. I'll let other people speculate on how soon Southwest will become a participant.

If your airline participates in RAC, you can check your luggage and get your boarding passes 3-12 hours before your flight (unless you have an early morning flight, and the RAC desk is closed).

If your airline doesn't participates in RAC — as is the case with Southwest today — your DME driver will load your bags into the baggage hold of the DME motorcoach. A tip is appropriate when you the driver unloads your bags at the airport. You'll then get your boarding passes and check your bags at the airports, just as if you had arrived by rental car or taxi.

 

[bdklein]

Keep in mind that the Front Desk of the hotel can check you in and print boarding passes for you for Southwest. You have to make sure your luggage gets on the bus, and gets off the bus and checked in at the airport.