Southwest luggage/airport question

[Coconuts]

Since SW isn't a participating airline, does that mean when we get off ME at MCO, we have to carry all of our luggage to the check in desk?

I will have 3 kids, youngest being 18mos, so lugging 3-4 suitcases is not feasible. What options do I have?

 

[Mich Mouse]

Yes. You will have to check your own luggage. There is a chance SW will be full participant in RAC by the time you travel....Right now they are doing a test at POP. When are you going?

I know exactly how you feel....We are traveling with two kids under 5 and one senior citizen....We usually fly JET BLUE because of the convenience. I would definitely get a baggage handler to assist with the bags. It will be well worth the $$$.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Not what you asked, but so there is no confusion.....
The fact that SW is not a participating airline means NOTHING for your INBOUND flight. If you put the DME tags on your bags before you check them at your home airport they will be picked up by DME employees at MCO and will not be put on the carousel.

Now onto your question.....
On your return trip, if SW is still not participating, you will bring your luggage to the DME bus, the driver will load it under the bus and then return it to you at the airport. You will need to check it in with SW yourself, I don't know if there are skycaps at the DME drop off or not.

You may want to look into a car service for your trip to MCO, I guess the driver would help with unloading the bags, or drop off were there are skycaps. I've never done this so I don't know how much help the driver would be.

 

[Mich Mouse]

The fact that SW is not a participating airline means NOTHING for your INBOUND flight. If you put the DME tags on your bags before you check them at your home airport they will be picked up by DME employees at MCO and will not be put on the carousel.

On your return trip, if SW is still not participating, you will bring your luggage to the DME bus, the driver will load it under the bus and then return it to you at the airport. You will need to check it in with SW yourself, I don't know if there are skycaps at the DME drop off or not.

You are so right!! I'm glad you realized I read the post incorrectly....thought they were asking about the outbound.

 

[Coconuts]

Sorry to be unclear. We are going in Sept(tenatively) and leaving from PHL. I know when we are leaving home, the check in desk is right inside the doors so we don't walk far with the luggage.

For our outbound flight going home, I think I remember taking SW a few years ago, and the place where ME dropped us off was the length of the airport away from the SW desk. That was torture having to lug the suitcases, carry-ons, and push a stroller. It will be even worse this time with another kid and more stuff!

Basically I wanted to know if SW desk is still far from the ME drop off and if there is anything there to carry your bags, like carts?

 

[MinnieLee]

We fly SW every time to MCO. As pp, if you tag your luggage on your flight to WDW, DME will pick up your luggage at MCO and it will be delivered to your resort - with no problem. On the return flight, we always have bell services hold our luggage until DME is picking us up (first flight down, last flight home!) and 20 minutes before DME is picking us up they bring it to the bus stop. There are plenty of sky caps waiting for the DME buses. They will load the luggage on their carts and go with you to the SW check in. It is on the other end from where you are dropped off and worth the tip. They will wait with you and load the luggage on the scales if you need them.

There are also those cart rentails where DME drops off but it is so much more convenient to use the sky caps.

We are also hoping that resort check in will be available at all resorts for our trip in October. That would be great!

 

[goofy4tink]

SW/DME/RAC has done a test run at POP. But nobody really knows what the outcome is going to be. Many used it and it was terrific. Hopefully, sometime soon, you will be able to use the RAC system (remote airline checkin) at all the resorts.

 

[mmackeymouse]

Since SW isn't a participating airline, does that mean when we get off ME at MCO, we have to carry all of our luggage to the check in desk?

I will have 3 kids, youngest being 18mos, so lugging 3-4 suitcases is not feasible. What options do I have?

Okay, I am not trying to come across as nasty or insensitive, so please do not take it as such.

I am coming from a strictly logical standpoint. Lugging baggage is a part of the travel experience, whether you have 2 kids or 10 kids. It just is. So, unless you want to take private transportation and pay someone to handle your baggage, it is something we should all expect to do.

Now, using more logic, it just seems best to me to only bring as much luggage as you can handle. If 3-4 suitcases are "not feasible," then perhaps you could streamline it to a couple of bags. Now, as was mentioned before, hopefully SW will get something worked out with ME before you travel, BUT if they don't you may need to either bring less luggage or look at a different method of transportation.

 

[Mich Mouse]

Okay, I am not trying to come across as nasty or insensitive, so please do not take it as such.

I am coming from a strictly logical standpoint. Lugging baggage is a part of the travel experience, whether you have 2 kids or 10 kids. It just is. So, unless you want to take private transportation and pay someone to handle your baggage, it is something we should all expect to do.

Now, using more logic, it just seems best to me to only bring as much luggage as you can handle. If 3-4 suitcases are "not feasible," then perhaps you could streamline it to a couple of bags. Now, as was mentioned before, hopefully SW will get something worked out with ME before you travel, BUT if they don't you may need to either bring less luggage or look at a different method of transportation.

Spoken like someone who has never travleled with an infant and two young children.

The strollers, carseat, diapers, toys....so much extra stuff!!! Please so not be offended, maybe others are better organized than me but I always try to only take what is necessary and it is still overwhelming.

But still, Well worth it!!

 

[Lewisc]

Spend the $5-$10 and tip a skycap. Easier then a cart. There are generally skycaps waiting where the buses drop off.

 

[Coconuts]

Okay, I am not trying to come across as nasty or insensitive, so please do not take it as such.

I am coming from a strictly logical standpoint. Lugging baggage is a part of the travel experience, whether you have 2 kids or 10 kids. It just is. So, unless you want to take private transportation and pay someone to handle your baggage, it is something we should all expect to do.

Now, using more logic, it just seems best to me to only bring as much luggage as you can handle. If 3-4 suitcases are "not feasible," then perhaps you could streamline it to a couple of bags. Now, as was mentioned before, hopefully SW will get something worked out with ME before you travel, BUT if they don't you may need to either bring less luggage or look at a different method of transportation.

No I didn't take it the wrong way, but sometimes traveling with kids, especially babies, requires bringing a lot of stuff! Believe me, I wish it didn't.

Spoken like someone who has never travleled with an infant and two young children.

The strollers, carseat, diapers, toys....so much extra stuff!!! Please so not be offended, maybe others are better organized than me but I always try to only take what is necessary and it is still overwhelming.

But still, Well worth it!!

Amen to that! I am the same way.

Spend the $5-$10 and tip a skycap. Easier then a cart. There are generally skycaps waiting where the buses drop off.

Thanks, this was the answer I was looking for. It was either just DH and I traveling, or with my older kids, and I never used a skycap. We were always able to pretty much handle our luggage ourselves. I didn't know what you had to do to have them take your bags, did they charge a lot, etc...

Thanks to everyone for their responses.