Southwest & ME

[sml3het]

I just read on here that Southwest does not participate in ME. Is this correct?

We just got our ME tags yesterday and the flight information was correct. Wouldn't someone at Disney reservations tell me if Southwest did not participate?

Thanks, Michelle

 

[pugdog]

You can use any airline to MCO and use the luggage part of ME. The particapating part comes to your departure and that YOU will have to carry your bags to the ME bus and then to SWA counter to get them checked. ug:

 

[safetymom]

I agree with the previous poster. There is a sticky thread at the top of the transportation board that explains how it works.

 

[IlovePiglet]

Participating airlines refers to the airlines that have resort check in. Delta/Song, United/Ted, Jetblue, Continental, and American.
All other airlines simply bring your bags with you to the bus where the driver will load them in the luggage bay. You will then check them in as you normally would at the airport.

 

[CleveRocks]

Let me just clarify for the OP.

EVERYONE who flies into MCO (ON EVERY AIRLINE) and is staying at a Disney owned-and-operated resort gets to use the full force of DME on arrival. This means 2 things -- a free bus ride to the resort, and the luxury of automatic luggage delivery (you check your luggage at your home airport and you don't see it again until it's inside your WDW resort room).

For the way back to MCO, EVERYONE still gets the free bus ride. The only difference is whether or not you can check your luggage at your resort (and not see it again until it appears at your home airport's baggage claim carousel) and also actually check in for your flight and receive your boarding passes at the resort. People who are flying the few "participating airlines" can do this. This is known as Resort Airline Check-In. People flying non-participating airlines, like Southwest, have to take their luggage to the DME bus. The driver will stow it in the cargo hold, and then get it back to you when you arrive at MCO. You then take your luggage and check in with your airline, etc.

ARRIVAL -- free bus ride, free luggage handling

LEAVING WDW -- free bus ride, some people get free luggage handling and some don't

-- Eric