Today's resort check-in at the Contemporary

[Caren]

Someone or something is screwing up at resort airline check-in at the Contemporary. Our experience today was, shall we say, less than stellar.

We were a group of four flying out on Southwest and had paid for priority check-in with the airline.

This morning, we had an envelope on the doorknob with a paper thanking us for using the resort's check-in service (at that point we had not yet done so), baggage tags for our flights, and boarding passes for three other people on three different Air Tran flights.

When we went down to airline check in, they glanced at what we had, threw it away and printed us new boarding passes, tagged the luggage, and handed us an envelope with the boarding passes and luggage receipts. At this point all seemed to be going smoothly.

However, when we got to the airport and AFTER we had waited in that dreadful security lineup, we discovered that they had given us only three boarding passes for our party of four, sending my husband and sister in-law sprinting back to the Southwest counter to get another boarding pass. They were on time for the flight, but with no time to spare.

Finally, when we got to Pittsburgh, a piece of luggage was missing. After the two Disney screwups, I'm betting the problem wasn't with Southwest.

 

[kaytieeldr]

While not excusing Disney in ANY way, your experience provides a good warning or two: always check - and recheck - any travel documents; and always make sure the skycaps* are tagging all one's checked luggage with the correctly-coded destination airport.

*Yeah, this is the part where somebody's bound to say I'm defending Disney. I'm not. The people who check in Guests at the RAC counters aren't Cast Members. They're airport employees, i.e. skycaps. They're doing the same exact job as the people working at the counters outside the terminal on the departures level, except the 'curb' in this case is about thirty miles from the terminal.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Actually... they're BAGS, Inc. employees... skycapping remotely.

While not excusing Disney in ANY way, your experience provides a good warning or two: always check - and recheck - any travel documents; and always make sure the skycaps* are tagging all one's checked luggage with the correctly-coded destination airport.

*Yeah, this is the part where somebody's bound to say I'm defending Disney. I'm not. The people who check in Guests at the RAC counters aren't Cast Members. They're airport employees, i.e. skycaps. They're doing the same exact job as the people working at the counters outside the terminal on the departures level, except the 'curb' in this case is about thirty miles from the terminal.

 

[Caren]

While not excusing Disney in ANY way, your experience provides a good warning or two: always check - and recheck - any travel documents; and always make sure the skycaps* are tagging all one's checked luggage with the correctly-coded destination airport.

*Yeah, this is the part where somebody's bound to say I'm defending Disney. I'm not. The people who check in Guests at the RAC counters aren't Cast Members. They're airport employees, i.e. skycaps. They're doing the same exact job as the people working at the counters outside the terminal on the departures level, except the 'curb' in this case is about thirty miles from the terminal.

Actually we did watch them attach the tags to the bags. We should have checked the boarding passes, but the guy went through the names and checked IDs, so we didn't think of it. In any case, they don't seem to have their act together at the Contemporary check in.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And that su - er, stinks, that you even should have needed, in hindsight, to do that. Maybe somebody staying at the Contemporary or BLT right now and reading this board/post can 'snoop' around a little bit, to see if this was a bunch of glitches that befell one unlucky party, or if it's the norm?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually... they're BAGS, Inc. employees... skycapping remotely.

I've been corrected quite enough this week already by people in the transportation business (good thing I broke up with the truck driver). I have feelings too, you know A person can be wrong only so many times before they rethink publicizing vacation plans

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

My dear, dear Kaytieeldr....

I take full responsibility for not allowing an airport-related misunderstanding go uncorrected. Old habit, I'm afraid. Next time we're at WDW at the same time the cocktails are on me, my friend!

I've been corrected quite enough this week already by people in the transportation business (good thing I broke up with the truck driver). I have feelings too, you know A person can be wrong only so many times before they rethink publicizing vacation plans

 

[seashoreCM]

The events describved here can happen at an airport ticket counter also, so remember to check the claim checks, boarding passes, etc.

Sometimes a guest gets back from getting fastpasses for the family and then discover he left one park pass behind in the fastpass machine. Another place to remember to check things or count your change.

 

[goofy4tink]

And that su - er, stinks, that you even should have needed, in hindsight, to do that. Maybe somebody staying at the Contemporary or BLT right now and reading this board/post can 'snoop' around a little bit, to see if this was a bunch of glitches that befell one unlucky party, or if it's the norm?

Hmmmmm...funny you should mention this. Just returned from the RAC counter around 6:15ish. Dh flies out this morning, so got him all checked in. There were no issues at all at the RAC counter. Because he left so early, there was nothing provided beforehand (on our door). And, he flew SW out.
Hopefully, both bags will make it home with him...I wouldn't want to be there, at baggage claim if both his bags don't show up.

RAC people aren't Disney people...as already mentioned. I have always wondered how they can give you any paperwork, on your door, without your presenting yourself in person....way too much room for error.