Southwest participating in DME soon.....

[lilstint]

??? We were at the Beach Club in January and struck up a conversation with the a CM in the DME area. He said that Southwest will be a participating airline very soon.

I told him that we were returning mid-Feb and he said "for sure by then." I read the sticky and didn't see it on there yet. Anyone have any info I may have missed????

Thanks

 

[I'mNoPrince]

The only thing is that if you check-in at the 24hour mark. Will they reissue that boarding pass and check the bags.

I would not be willing to wait to do when checking in at the Bags Desk.

 

[salmoneous]

Thanks for the info. But keep in mind we have heard rumors from pretty good sources at least 3 times now that SW was about to become a participating airline. Maybe this time will pan out, but don't get your hopes up.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I read somewhere (probably on these boards) that the deal fell through. I wish I saved the link or remembered the details.

It would be nice if SW would be a participating airline. A lot of people would use the luggage services for their return trip home.

 

[lilstint]

I just received my ME packet...luggage tags and tickets.

They sent luggage tags for both the arrival and RETURN flights on Southwest. I did not get return luggage tags with my January ME packet.

Maybe it hasn't been announced yet but they know it is coming?

 

[Lewisc]

The CM at the RAC desk prints luggage tags, for passengers on participating airlines, the same as is done in the airport by the skycap or employee at the counter. You don't get outgoing luggage tags with your DME packet.

Several knowledgeable posters said SW signed the contract for DME and the software is currently being tested. I'd ask at the RAC desk the day before you leave. Someone has to be first.

I just received my ME packet...luggage tags and tickets.

They sent luggage tags for both the arrival and RETURN flights on Southwest. I did not get return luggage tags with my January ME packet.

Maybe it hasn't been announced yet but they know it is coming?

 

[lilstint]

The CM at the RAC desk prints luggage tags, for passengers on participating airlines, the same as is done in the airport by the skycap or employee at the counter. You don't get outgoing luggage tags with your DME packet.

Several knowledgeable posters said SW signed the contract for DME and the software is currently being tested. I'd ask at the RAC desk the day before you leave. Someone has to be first.

Ummm...I got 8 yellow tags with my arrival date on them and 8 yellow tags with my departure date on them. I don't almost certain that I never got yellow tags with my departure date on them the last 4 times I used DME with SWA. That's why I'm confused.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Ummm...I got 8 yellow tags with my arrival date on them and 8 yellow tags with my departure date on them. I don't almost certain that I never got yellow tags with my departure date on them the last 4 times I used DME with SWA. That's why I'm confused.

I don't know why you received yellow tags with your departure date. It seems that somebody simply made a mistake. The purpose of the yellow tags is to route your bags from Orlando International to your resort room. This only happens on your check-in day, not on your check-out day.

In any case, the second set of yellow tags is not an indication that Southwest is participating in Resort Airline Check-in.

 

[CleveRocks]

I don't know why you received yellow tags with your departure date. It seems that somebody simply made a mistake. The purpose of the yellow tags is to route your bags from Orlando International to your resort room. This only happens on your check-in day, not on your check-out day.

In any case, the second set of yellow tags is not an indication that Southwest is participating in Resort Airline Check-in.

Horace is 100% correct. There's just plain no use for DME "return trip" luggage tags, period. No one who flies on a participating airline is instructed to put DME luggage tags on their bags before they leave to go back home.

But let me take a guess -- are you doing a split stay, staying at 2 different WDW resorts during this trip? If you are, then THAT explains it. Each part of a split stay has a separate reservation number, and each reservation number generates an entire DME package. This is a glitch in the system, a harmless but sometimes confusing glitch.

In any case, the only practical advice for you is use ONLY the DME tags that have your date of arrival at MCO, which should also have the name of the resort you are checking into on that date.

 

[lilstint]

Horace is 100% correct. There's just plain no use for DME "return trip" luggage tags, period. No one who flies on a participating airline is instructed to put DME luggage tags on their bags before they leave to go back home.

But let me take a guess -- are you doing a split stay, staying at 2 different WDW resorts during this trip? If you are, then THAT explains it. Each part of a split stay has a separate reservation number, and each reservation number generates an entire DME package. This is a glitch in the system, a harmless but sometimes confusing glitch.

In any case, the only practical advice for you is use ONLY the DME tags that have your date of arrival at MCO, which should also have the name of the resort you are checking into on that date.

Bingo! We do have a split stay. Since I only fly SWA (and had heard that rumor) I thought the tags were to be used on the return trip for those flying on participating airlines. Thanks for clearing this up!

 

[Aquagirl]

I don't have a split stay, and received yellow tags for my return trip last week as well. I am also flying SW. My mom and brother each received two sets, one for arrival and one for departure too.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't have a split stay, and received yellow tags for my return trip last week as well. I am also flying SW. My mom and brother each received two sets, one for arrival and one for departure too.

Does your return tag have your flight information printed on it?

 

[BCV23]

For what it's worth, I asked two employees at the RAC desk abut SW participation when we were at BCV in January. One said it probably would not begin during our stay. The second said it might start in the summer...or fall.

But both seemed to be anticipating it so I do think it is just a matter of time.

My husband has expressed his wish to not fly on SW again until it is a participating airline. RAC is sweet indeed.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I don't have a split stay, and received yellow tags for my return trip last week as well. I am also flying SW. My mom and brother each received two sets, one for arrival and one for departure too.

You recieved duplicate tags, probably due to a duplicate reservation (happens all the time)

The tags are NOT for your return trip. It's always highly recommended that you remove all DME tags for the return journey. The reason being, if the bag falls off a luggage truck (a VERY common occurance), the person who finds the bag will see the yellow tag, and send it to Disney, and not your flight.

 

[lilstint]

You recieved duplicate tags, probably due to a duplicate reservation (happens all the time)

The tags are NOT for your return trip. It's always highly recommended that you remove all DME tags for the return journey. The reason being, if the bag falls off a luggage truck (a VERY common occurance), the person who finds the bag will see the yellow tag, and send it to Disney, and not your flight.

What do you mean duplicate reservations? Duplicate resort or DME reservations? I hope I don't have duplicate resort reservations. I only made reservations once.

Now that Aquagirl, her mother and her brother all received DME luggage tags for their return as well as their arrival trips I'm begining to think they are doing things differently for some reason.

I just called my sister and she also received 2 sets of luggage tags. She is also flying SWA.

hmmmmmmmm

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Duplicate DME reservations.

I can assure you, there is no such thing as using DME tags for the return trip.

 

[Lewisc]

Duplicate DME reservations.

I can assure you, there is no such thing as using DME tags for the return trip.

The rumor was BAGS, Inc was going to be testing SW and was hoping to add SW Jan/Feb. Do you have any updated status? SW flies a lot of passengers to WDW. RAC and MCO will have to be able to handle a significant increase in volume.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

The rumor was BAGS, Inc was going to be testing SW and was hoping to add SW Jan/Feb. Do you have any updated status? SW flies a lot of passengers to WDW. RAC and MCO will have to be able to handle a significant increase in volume.

I have not heard anything from BAGS, or the DME channels.

 

[Lewisc]

I have not heard anything from BAGS, or the DME channels.

It doesn't affect me but what about Airtran? Is that just available for selected resorts? I wonder if that might be the future of RAC--deluxe hotels and CSR (convention hotel) only.

 

[taekwondo mom]

I hope so ....