Just a couple of pieces of advice. I have worked in the travel industry for 20 years and travel a lot for business and pleasure. I provide this information because on our recent trip a few weeks ago, we met a family who spent the entire first day of the VC in the airport because they were late to their flight and missed the cutoff for check-in. They had to standby for hours afterwards to get on a flight, they arrived nearly 15 hours after they were supposed to because all the flights after theirs were full or overbooked. Almost all airlines overbook, some by as much as 10% or more so trying to get on standby to popular destinations like Orlando is nearly impossible. Time at WDW is too precious to spend in the airport.
Some tips:
- have assigned seats if your airline offers them. If you have seat assignments, you are less likely to get bumped from the plane if it is overbooked - as long as you show up on time.
- show up 2 or more hours before your flight, certainly no less than 1 hour. The airlines are very strict on new restrictions for the cutoff time to check bags, generally it is 45 minutes before departure for flts within the U.S. but check with your airline. I can't tell you the number of people I have seen miss their flight because they missed the cutoff to check their bags. They had time to make the flight but their bags did not. Even if you are in line in time but miss it due to the line length, they will not make exceptions.
- If you don't check-in by the cutoff time, usually 30 minutes before departure (again check with your airline), they will also give away your seats if the flight is overbooked and there are passengers who don't have seat assignments. If the flight is overbooked and you lose your seats, you may get bumped. If you are late, you most likely are standby for the next available flight, see above - could be awhile.
- Use the self check-in kiosks, if your airline offers them. They can be your friend and help you avoid the long lines. Not sure why more people don't use these but I use them nearly everytime now, including international travel. During our recent trip to WDW, the line at Orlando for our return home was huge, even at 745AM. We had checked in at the resort since our airline was a participating carrier with DME. I observed they was almost no line at the kiosks. Usually there is an agent there to help you and all you need is your flight number or frequent flyer number. For most airlines, the kiosks allow you the check-in, print your boarding passes, check your bags, even change your seats or upgrade, if other seats are available.
- Know the airline and TSA restriction on luggage. Most airlines have a 50lb minimum on bags and they do enforce it. Expect to pay if you are over. Know how many bags and what size you can check/carry-on. Know what is/isn't allowed in carry-on. It still amazes me at what people will argue with the TSA about. If in doubt, don't bring it, put it in your ziplock bag or be prepared to toss it when asked.
Sorry no advice to offer when mother nature intervenes as she seems to have done a lot lately in several cites, DFW included.
Hope this information is helpful to some.
JoAnn
Some tips:
- have assigned seats if your airline offers them. If you have seat assignments, you are less likely to get bumped from the plane if it is overbooked - as long as you show up on time.
- show up 2 or more hours before your flight, certainly no less than 1 hour. The airlines are very strict on new restrictions for the cutoff time to check bags, generally it is 45 minutes before departure for flts within the U.S. but check with your airline. I can't tell you the number of people I have seen miss their flight because they missed the cutoff to check their bags. They had time to make the flight but their bags did not. Even if you are in line in time but miss it due to the line length, they will not make exceptions.
- If you don't check-in by the cutoff time, usually 30 minutes before departure (again check with your airline), they will also give away your seats if the flight is overbooked and there are passengers who don't have seat assignments. If the flight is overbooked and you lose your seats, you may get bumped. If you are late, you most likely are standby for the next available flight, see above - could be awhile.
- Use the self check-in kiosks, if your airline offers them. They can be your friend and help you avoid the long lines. Not sure why more people don't use these but I use them nearly everytime now, including international travel. During our recent trip to WDW, the line at Orlando for our return home was huge, even at 745AM. We had checked in at the resort since our airline was a participating carrier with DME. I observed they was almost no line at the kiosks. Usually there is an agent there to help you and all you need is your flight number or frequent flyer number. For most airlines, the kiosks allow you the check-in, print your boarding passes, check your bags, even change your seats or upgrade, if other seats are available.
- Know the airline and TSA restriction on luggage. Most airlines have a 50lb minimum on bags and they do enforce it. Expect to pay if you are over. Know how many bags and what size you can check/carry-on. Know what is/isn't allowed in carry-on. It still amazes me at what people will argue with the TSA about. If in doubt, don't bring it, put it in your ziplock bag or be prepared to toss it when asked.
Sorry no advice to offer when mother nature intervenes as she seems to have done a lot lately in several cites, DFW included.
Hope this information is helpful to some.
JoAnn
The 3-1-1 rule states that the liquids must be no larger than 3oz. each, in a 1 qt. baggie and 1 baggie per passenger. My husband and I manage fine with the 1 bag each. You may need to downsize.
