When is Virgin America be added to DME?

[gfyjny]

We're planning on flying Virgin America for our June 2012 trop WDW. Non stop is a must with an infant flying from SFO to MCO. I noticed that Virgin America is still not listed as one of the participating airlines. Does anyone know if or when they will be added?

 

[dudspizza]

We're planning on flying Virgin America for our June 2012 trop WDW. Non stop is a must with an infant flying from SFO to MCO. I noticed that Virgin America is still not listed as one of the participating airlines. Does anyone know if or when they will be added?

No clue if they will ever be added.

Keep in mind you can still use DME, the only thing that you cannot use is the Remote Luggage check in service at the resorts for the return trip home. You still get the luggage transfer when you come in to MCO by using the yellow tags provided by DME, the only thing you would have to do is take your bags under the bus to the airport when going home and check them at the airline counter...

Duds

 

[DebbieB]

I doubt they will add them. They don't work with the smaller airlines - Sun Country, Spirit, Frontier, etc. Just the majors. Southwest was just added in the last couple years because their reservation system was not compatable with the resort check-in system. They have to be able to access their reservation systems.

 

[jsilvers]

Southwest was just added in the last couple years because their reservation system was not compatable with the resort check-in system. They have to be able to access their reservation systems.

Virgin America previously used iFlyRes - the same reservation system used by AirTran, which is a participating airline. It has now switched to Sabre, which is the world's largest airline distribution system. So I doubt that compatibility has anything to do it.

 

[DebbieB]

Virgin America previously used iFlyRes - the same reservation system used by AirTran, which is a participating airline. It has now switched to Sabre, which is the world's largest airline distribution system. So I doubt that compatibility has anything to do it.

The main reason is probably the low number of passengers but I mentioned Southwest because they are a large airline and took awhile to be participating.

 

[gfyjny]

I read on wikipedia that they are planning on adding Virgin America but didn't list the date. Maybe I can call customer service and ask if there is any plan on adding Virgin America for luggage check service for DME. We're going to be traveling with a four months old baby and really looking forward to non stop flight, especially on Virgin America.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, it's just the way home. And the plane itself is going to make up for any hassle of taking bags with you to the airport and checking them in yourself. I promise. You will lose your troubles once you see that mood lighting.

I just wish that....that flight wasn't so expensive whenever I look, they didn't charge for the first bag, and they had a policy more like alaska and southwest when it comes to price drops!

Other than that, they are the perfect airline.

(just know that when I've taken it to and out of SFO there have been delays...so come PREPARED to wait a bit if there's "weather".)

 

[goofy4tink]

Long story short....every single person arriving by plane, into MCO, can check their bags and have them handled by DME as long as they have attached the yellow DME luggage tags on them. It does NOT matter what the airline is. Period.
'Participating airline' matters only for your return flight, from MCO to your home airport. And it matters only for checking your bags at your resort and getting your boarding passes issued then, vs checking bags and getting boarding passes issued at MCO. If you are not flying on a 'participating airline' for your return flight, and Virgin America does not participate at this point, you just take your bags with you to the DME bus. The bags will be loaded underneath your bus, and then handed to you when you get to MCO. You will then check your bags and get your boarding passes the 'old-fashioned' way...at the airline counter.

But you still get to ride the bus, you still get your lugggage delivered to your resort room upon arrival at WDW.
When Disney says 'participating' they are talking about the RAC system, not DME. RAC (remote airline checkin) is not run by DME or Disney. It is an entirely different operating system. Think curbside checkin...but the curb is a loooooong way from MCO.

 

[gfyjny]

Long story short....every single person arriving by plane, into MCO, can check their bags and have them handled by DME as long as they have attached the yellow DME luggage tags on them. It does NOT matter what the airline is. Period.
'Participating airline' matters only for your return flight, from MCO to your home airport. And it matters only for checking your bags at your resort and getting your boarding passes issued then, vs checking bags and getting boarding passes issued at MCO. If you are not flying on a 'participating airline' for your return flight, and Virgin America does not participate at this point, you just take your bags with you to the DME bus. The bags will be loaded underneath your bus, and then handed to you when you get to MCO. You will then check your bags and get your boarding passes the 'old-fashioned' way...at the airline counter.

But you still get to ride the bus, you still get your lugggage delivered to your resort room upon arrival at WDW.
When Disney says 'participating' they are talking about the RAC system, not DME. RAC (remote airline checkin) is not run by DME or Disney. It is an entirely different operating system. Think curbside checkin...but the curb is a loooooong way from MCO.

Thank you for the clarification. We'll see how we would do with a four years old and four months old. I guess my husband can do all the handling of luggage. LOL
Yeah, I really want Virgin America and the price is actually cheaper than Southwest Airline. I'm sure Southwest would have some deals sooner or later. You can't beat non-stop flight when you are traveling with an infant though.

 

[EpcotGuy]

United also has nonstop flights from SFO to MCO.....

 

[bumbershoot]

United also has nonstop flights from SFO to MCO.....

United doesn't have amazing, comfy planes and seats, with lights that go from pink to blue to purple (very calming), and they don't have the award winning "Red" entertainment system at every seat....


We'll be taking United in a few months out to Florida, but only because we have miles for the flight to be free, and we don't have that for VA (and with hubby's United status he gets 3 free bags)... But we surely do wish we could be on VA!

 

[DVCBELLE]

Thank you for the clarification. We'll see how we would do with a four years old and four months old. I guess my husband can do all the handling of luggage. LOL
Yeah, I really want Virgin America and the price is actually cheaper than Southwest Airline. I'm sure Southwest would have some deals sooner or later. You can't beat non-stop flight when you are traveling with an infant though.

There isn't much handling of the luggage to do - have bell services come pick up the luggage and they will put it on the bus. When you get to the airport, they will unload it for you and then you can have a skycap help you. You will do more handling of the luggage at your home airport than you will on the Orlando portions of your trip.

 

[JW9DVC]

Song Airlines by Delta was nice. Detla killed a good thing. First time and it was amazing.

We are so looking forward to VAX!!! Having the entertainment center in front of you is just an added bonus. February can not come soon enough.

Nice thing about DME is that you do not get charged the baggage fee on the return trip.