US Airways and DME

[TyGuy]

Here's a response I received from US Airways regarding DME. Doesn't offer much hope for our trip in November.

Thank you for contacting Customer Relations at US Airways. We welcome
all inquiries, concerns, and compliments.

My understanding is that this offer is only for this year and you must
be staying at a Disneyworld hotel. We are not officially involved with
this program. I do not know if we will be involved in the near future. If
you booked your reservation thru a Travel Agent, ask them about this
program.
The web site is www.disneysmagicalexpress.com .

Regards,


Phil Strout
US Airways Customer Relations
Corporate Headquarters
800-363-2542

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 1:08 PM
To: customer.relations@americawest.com
Subject: Customer Email
Importance: High


Message
We are traveling to Walt Disney World this November on US Airways.
According to the BAGS website, US Airways has joined their program. However, US
Airways is not listed as a "participating" member of Disney's Magical
Express. Could you tell me if US Airways intends to join Disney's
program and, if so, when it might start?

Thank you

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Here's a response I received from US Airways regarding DME. Doesn't offer much hope for our trip in November.

Thank you for contacting Customer Relations at US Airways. We welcome
all inquiries, concerns, and compliments.

My understanding is that this offer is only for this year and you must
be staying at a Disneyworld hotel.

<snip>

Phil Strout

Mr. Strout is mistaken that "this offer is only for this year" (Magical Express is currently supposed to run through 2011) — and he doesn't even know that it's Walt Disney World, not Disneyworld.

As a Customer Relations guy, Mr. Strout gave the right answer. US Airways is not currently on Disney's Remote Airline Check-in list, and that's all that someone in his position would know (or should know). Until the answer is yes, the answer is no.

However, I would not be surprised if there are ongoing talks between Disney, BAGS Inc., and US Airways. Disney wants to elevate the perceived value of staying at a Disney Resort, so Disney wants as many airlines as possible to participate. Of course, BAGS Inc. wants as much volume as possible, and another airline would mean more volume. So the question is, why is US Airways not onboard?

Some people on this board have speculated that airlines have to pay to participate. I've speculated that airlines don't have to pay direct costs (otherwise none of the financially strapped airlines would participate), but there may be other issues, such as legal issues, that need to be resolved. (And legal issues can translate to costs if there are concerns about liability/indemnification.) There may even still be technical issues, even though US Airways is officially listed as participating with BAGS Inc.

Northwest was also on BAGS Inc.'s list for many months before the sudden announcement that Northwest had joined the Remote Airline Check-in participating airline list.