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

[5boyz]

I am totally confused.....didnt POP do this as a trial last year?

 

[BCV23]

Yes, SW became a participating airline at Pop first on a trial basis. Seems over a year ago to me but.... Then they expanded to the All Stars sometime last year. Now they're rolling out to the other resorts.

 

[5boyz]

OH ok thanks! Yes we were at POP in Aug and we did it then...I just looked back at pics of us waiting for the bus and we only had our carry on...lol

 

[granmanh603]

Hey gang...I started a thread on the DIS Unplugged board about this. Basically, all that's been officially announced right now in addition to Pop Century are:
All 3 All Star Resorts
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club

If the dates for the others are true they haven't officially been announced yet.

Asked at SSR yesterday when checked out and was told SW was going to add the other resorts but did not know timing but seems like soon.

 

[Missytara]

RAC (remote/resort airline checkin) is a service that allows you to check your bags right at the resort and get your boarding passes issued at the same time. Then, when you get to MCO, you go directly to security. BUT..you have to be flying on a 'participating' airline. SW is just starting to 'participate' at more resorts.

I have what may be a really dumb question......

I was at SSR this past year and for a woman in front of me, they were unable to pull up her information at the RAC to print her boarding pass and check her bags. After a few minutes, it was determined that this woman (flying Airtran) checked in on her computer the night before and therefore was already checked-in and couldn't use RAC.

So how does that work with SW. Are you technicially just getting your seat assigning order and not necessarily checking in at 24 hours before your flight.

I have never flown SW, because I love Airtran, and love using RAC - I was just plain curious.....

 

[n2mm]

I used RAC today at the BCV. I was flying Jetblue, but did ask about SW being added. The Bags rep was cranky about it and said they were not happy about the new edition. At that point I left it alone and didn't ask any more questions. I just gave her my bags and wanted to make sure they made it home and didn't want to make her more crankier than she was. sorry.

 

[twinklebug]

I used RAC today at the BCV. I was flying Jetblue, but did ask about SW being added. The Bags rep was cranky about it and said they were not happy about the new edition. At that point I left it alone and didn't ask any more questions. I just gave her my bags and wanted to make sure they made it home and didn't want to make her more crankier than she was. sorry.

That's interesting that she'd be cranky about SWA being added. It seems to me that SWA would be easier than the others since they allow 2 bags per person to be checked for no additional fees. Perhaps she's just overworked and they just need to add more staff to service the number of people who fly SWA and will use the service. Disney will do it if it means us spending more $$ in the gift shop before leaving

 

[TeenaS]

That's interesting that she'd be cranky about SWA being added. It seems to me that SWA would be easier than the others since they allow 2 bags per person to be checked for no additional fees. Perhaps she's just overworked and they just need to add more staff to service the number of people who fly SWA and will use the service. Disney will do it if it means us spending more $$ in the gift shop before leaving

It is not run by Disney. It is outsourced. They are not Disney CMs that work there so it is not up to Disney to add more staff to service the number of people.

 

[Tara]

I used RAC today at the BCV. I was flying Jetblue, but did ask about SW being added. The Bags rep was cranky about it and said they were not happy about the new edition. At that point I left it alone and didn't ask any more questions. I just gave her my bags and wanted to make sure they made it home and didn't want to make her more crankier than she was. sorry.

Too bad she wasn't polite, but I can believe she was cranky! I'm guessing the addition of SWA means a pretty decent jump not just in the number of people they serve and a bigger jump in the number of bags they handle since SWA passengers likely check more bags due to the lack of fees. I'm sure they're already seeing higher volume and it's just going to increase from here.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

Does anyone know if you can do RAC with SWA if you've already paid for EBCI? (Wow, that was a lot of acronyms!) Seems like if the EBCI checked you in, then RAC folks can still print your boarding pass and check in your luggage just like curbside at MCO, right? Here's hoping it'll be offered at BWV. (I'm kind of liking the alphabet soup!)

 

[goofy4tink]

I used RAC today at the BCV. I was flying Jetblue, but did ask about SW being added. The Bags rep was cranky about it and said they were not happy about the new edition. At that point I left it alone and didn't ask any more questions. I just gave her my bags and wanted to make sure they made it home and didn't want to make her more crankier than she was. sorry.

I can believe it. When I was at BWV in Dec, I got to talking to the folks at the RAC counter there. We were talking about SW joining the group of participating airlines. One woman said she was sure they would be added soon, but many were concerned about the incredible number of addtl bags that would then have to go through the system. They said it would probably double!!! Hopefully they will add some more people to help out.

Does anyone know if you can do RAC with SWA if you've already paid for EBCI? (Wow, that was a lot of acronyms!) Seems like if the EBCI checked you in, then RAC folks can still print your boarding pass and check in your luggage just like curbside at MCO, right? Here's hoping it'll be offered at BWV. (I'm kind of liking the alphabet soup!)

It is my understanding that doing EBCI is the best way to handle this at RAC. Some people have said that you can check yourself in and then go to RAC the next day, but others have reported that you can't. My dh is flying SW home from BWV in Aug....I have already paid for his EBCI and won't be checking him in online. They should handle that at RAC.
Anyone have more 'in depth' info about this??

 

[castleri]

I can understand that more bags means more work but it also can add to job security for these people I would think. It may also increase their income if it means more tips if the word gets around that you are supposed to tip as you would at the airport. I for one would be happy to pay a reasonable baggage handling fee to not have to bother with the bags at the airport.

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

We will be staying at CSR April 10-17th. Can we use the 'return service' or do we have to take our bags to the airport?
Tia

 

[scanne]

Can anyone confirm if ALL Disney resorts will be allowing RAC for SW by the summer? We are staying at the Polynesian in July and would love to be able to use this service. Thanks!

 

[Tara]

Can anyone confirm if ALL Disney resorts will be allowing RAC for SW by the summer? We are staying at the Polynesian in July and would love to be able to use this service. Thanks!

No one knows. Probably - but that's a guess. There's a schedule floating around, but it hasn't proven accurate at all.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Does anyone know if you can do RAC with SWA if you've already paid for EBCI? (Wow, that was a lot of acronyms!) Seems like if the EBCI checked you in, then RAC folks can still print your boarding pass and check in your luggage just like curbside at MCO, right? Here's hoping it'll be offered at BWV. (I'm kind of liking the alphabet soup!)

It is my understanding that doing EBCI is the best way to handle this at RAC. Some people have said that you can check yourself in and then go to RAC the next day, but others have reported that you can't. My dh is flying SW home from BWV in Aug....I have already paid for his EBCI and won't be checking him in online. They should handle that at RAC.
Anyone have more 'in depth' info about this??

Anyone have anything to say regarding this?

 

[Paticake]

Watching this thread. We are staying at BWV 5/20-25 and are soooo hoping for RAC.

 

[Peg]

on how this will work also
Peg

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay....it looks like there is concern as to how RAC is working with EBCI. With that in mind, I'm going to start a whole new thread about that. Look for it to hopefully have some answers.

 

[mpbest]

Would love to hear from someone at CR if SW is now at RAC!