SW has finally joined RAC! (updated NOT ALL RESORTS!!!!!)

[ruadisneyfan2]

I hope eventually it's extended to DCL. I'd love SWA to participate!! We take AT or USAirways home just to use their Onboard Check in. Our boarding passes are delivered to our stateroom the last full day of the cruise. That night we put our luggage outside our door by 11 pm. We don't see it until we arrive in Philly.
It doesn't get any easier!! It's worth paying the stinkin' luggage fees home but I'd be so thrilled to have SWA participate!!!

please, please, please!!!!

 

[jamstew]

I think it might be somewhat chaotic until they adapt to the huge increase in volume. I'll be interested to hear from someone who has used it about how long it takes to check in. I think the last time I flew a participating airline, it took no more than 10-15 minutes, but now I wonder if there won't be a substantial increase in the time involved.

 

[Disney93]

Has anyone heard a date when RAC will be operating at the BWV? Our trip isn't until October and of course luggage is a huge concern for us with an extended family of 9 traveling. Our last trip was on United and the RAC was wonderful.

 

[Lewisc]

I think it might be somewhat chaotic until they adapt to the huge increase in volume. I'll be interested to hear from someone who has used it about how long it takes to check in. I think the last time I flew a participating airline, it took no more than 10-15 minutes, but now I wonder if there won't be a substantial increase in the time involved.

The pilot program has been going on at POP since last June. RAC has had an opportunity to learn how to deal with theincreased number of bags. Specifically they now leave BPs and bag drop tags on your door.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Were staying at CR in September, but can't use this service because we will be traveling with a lap baby, and will have to get a boarding pass at the airport for her.

 

[jamstew]

The pilot program has been going on at POP since last June. RAC has had an opportunity to learn how to deal with theincreased number of bags. Specifically they now leave BPs and bag drop tags on your door.

Good to know, and I'm super-excited about it. After an hour in line to check my bag in February, I was about to switch from SWA to JB.

 

[scoobygrl79]

Were staying at CR in September, but can't use this service because we will be traveling with a lap baby, and will have to get a boarding pass at the airport for her.

thank you for mentioning this because I ASSUMED those with lap babies would not be eligible for RAC, but I didn't know for sure **blush**

 

[MagicKingdom05]

thank you for mentioning this because I ASSUMED those with lap babies would not be eligible for RAC, but I didn't know for sure **blush**

I'm just assuming that since we can't print boarding passes online for her and have to check her in at the airport (proof that she is under 2), that they can't do this for us at the RAC desk at CS.

 

[hereyago]

Please help me because I am a dork:

DD11 and I are going to WDW in October. We will be at one of the All Stars and will be on Southwest. So:

does it work this way? 24 hours before we are to depart WDW to come back home, we can go to the RAC in lobby? and check in to get our boarding passes, which will then be delivered to the room the early morning of checkout day? TIA

 

[Disney93]

I'm just assuming that since we can't print boarding passes online for her and have to check her in at the airport (proof that she is under 2), that they can't do this for us at the RAC desk at CS.

After reading the issue about a lap child and not being able to use RAC I called SWA and was told there is no boarding pass for a lap child, however there is a "Boarding Verification Document" issued at the airport. This is needed to get the child through security and has nothing to do with boarding the aircraft. I think you can still use the RAC service at the resort and get the BVD at the airport, at least you save the hassle of hauling kids and luggage at the airport. I'm watching future posts because we will be facing the same issue this fall. Good luck

 

[goofy4tink]

Please help me because I am a dork:

DD11 and I are going to WDW in October. We will be at one of the All Stars and will be on Southwest. So:

does it work this way? 24 hours before we are to depart WDW to come back home, we can go to the RAC in lobby? and check in to get our boarding passes, which will then be delivered to the room the early morning of checkout day? TIA

You won't be going to the RAC counter to check in. You will go to the resort front desk...they can check you in. You don't need anything printed out at this point. Then, you will be able to check your bags the next day and will receive your boarding passes....from RAC.

 

[canluvpooh]

We just got back and used RAC at the Contemporary - it was smooth and took no longer than 15 minutes total.

However, even though we made it on the plane our bags did not - two out of three stayed in Orlando.

We arrived in Buffalo last night at 10:35 and I can tell you it was not pleasant trying to find where our bags were - and we were not alone, there were many other bags missing and a lot of unhappy SW customers. The SW room with the baggage was overflowing...

We checked in about 10 hours before our flight and having one bag make it and the others not makes me think there are a lot of bugs still to be worked out.

Usually take carry-on bags only - should have stayed with that

 

[hereyago]

You won't be going to the RAC counter to check in. You will go to the resort front desk...they can check you in. You don't need anything printed out at this point. Then, you will be able to check your bags the next day and will receive your boarding passes....from RAC.

Thanks! This is so cool, I cannot wait!!!!!!!

 

[3happydancers]

For those interested, Tara confirmed that SWA is in up for RAC at AKL.

I had posted tentative info about AKL on the Transportation forum over the weekend, I believe it was Saturday, and just a few minutes ago saw Tara's post was there. On this thread she had mentioned that she was going to WDW and would be staying at AKL, and that she would confirm whether AKL was participating in RAC yet. AND THEY ARE!!!!

THANKS TARA!!!

 

[momx2]

Question: Our flight leaves at 8:15 a.m. so we have to meet DME by 5:15 a.m. It says to use RAC you must be there at least 3 hours before and it opens at 5:00 a.m. If we are at RAC desk promptly at 5 a.m. will that be sufficient time to check in and do everything we need to do??? What do they generally do about flights that leave so early that they are not open 3 hrs. before?

 

[Lewisc]

Question: Our flight leaves at 8:15 a.m. so we have to meet DME by 5:15 a.m. It says to use RAC you must be there at least 3 hours before and it opens at 5:00 a.m. If we are at RAC desk promptly at 5 a.m. will that be sufficient time to check in and do everything we need to do??? What do they generally do about flights that leave so early that they are not open 3 hrs. before?

Just as easy to have the driver stow your luggage under the bus. Your DME pickup could be scheduled any time between 5:00 and 5:29. You might have time if you get to the RAC desk as soon as they open. Just as easy to take your luggage on the bus.

 

[Disney93]

That's great that SWA has started their service at AKL. Can anyone confirm that this service is now at the BWV's? I would hope everyone at every resort flying on SWA can use the RAC service soon. It's so hard to get an answer from the resort or the airlines so my best source is this site. I'd love for anyone staying at the BW to post what they know. Thanks everyone.

 

[Wigit12]

Just returned. Used RAC from BLT. Only took about 5 minutes. All bags arrived with us.

 

[Pocahantas]

Just returned. Used RAC from BLT. Only took about 5 minutes. All bags arrived with us.

Great news!!! Thanks. We leave for BLT in 61 days...

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Hmm...I'm sort of on the fence about this with SWA and perhaps you guys can either reassure me or tell me differently. Another poster mentioned not getting their luggage with their flight and I know this happens, unfortunately with ALL airlines. This will be our first time using/flying SWA and using RAC (believe it or not!). There was always such a horrendous line at the RAC even an hour before we were supposed to meet ME (at the POP) so we just took our suitcases with us and tipped nicely. Here is our dilemma - we are not flying directly into the city where we live since SWA does not operate out of here. We're driving 1.5 hours from RDU to get home so if our luggage does not make it, we'll have to wait on the next flights in order for to get them. If we were in our "home city", they could deliver it, right? I know USAIRways does or has if this ever happened. I've been blessed not to have these issues, but again usually fly out of my home town.

So, would you risk it and use RAC and check our bags at the POP and assume positively the luggage will arrive in RDU with our flight or would you NOT chance it due to this and just take the luggage with us?

Thanks for your input!
Heather