Why do people take luggage with them on ME?

[kdfogliano]

May I ask what contingency plans you have for when the airline misdirects your checked luggage - loses it, sends it to the wrong airport, or just plain neglects to have it leave your home airport the same day you do? And how waiting for your luggage at baggage claim would alleviate that?

when that happens I will let you know

 

[Missytara]

As just noted, DME does in fact know how many bags you checked. You should be asked how many bags you tagged when you get to DME checkin. That number is entered into the system. Each tagged bag is scanned, several times in the process, as it goes through different stages. When the bags are at the resort, it is easy for them to see if all bags have been received or if they need to look for any unaccounted bags.

That reminds me of one year, when we added a friend at the last minute. The ME desk told me just to take my extra tag (at the time, you got two), put a line through my name and write her name with a sharpie marker.

We went immediately to the ME counter after deboarding. When we got up to the ME counter, they pulled up our account and the CM thanked me for scratching out the name, but not going near the bar code so they could still read it. I was floored they already had our bags!

 

[kaytieeldr]

when that happens I will let you know

I appreciate that - except waiting until something happens and then dealing with it pretty much belies both the definition and purpose of "plan".

 

[AmongMadPeople]

As just noted, DME does in fact know how many bags you checked. You should be asked how many bags you tagged when you get to DME checkin. That number is entered into the system. Each tagged bag is scanned, several times in the process, as it goes through different stages. When the bags are at the resort, it is easy for them to see if all bags have been received or if they need to look for any unaccounted bags.

It is not a case of 'judging' people. We all (hopefully anyway) realize that there are going to be situations where some guests have no choice but to bring their bags to the bus with them. But, I still refuse to recommend that people leave the yellow tags off and then head to baggage claim upon arrival at the airport and retrieve their 10 checked bags and lug them to the DME bus with them. It truly does slow down the process.

I've never checked in (one person per party) so I didn't know they ever asked about bags. My mistake.

The only reason I replied to this thread was because of the judgment going on (not by everyone, but by a few). I chose not to quote any of it specifically though. I only replied because people who carry on their bags didn't have a fair voice, and maybe I should have edited my first comment.

 

[Lewisc]

Some of the people have "control" issues. They only want their luggage out of their physical possession as short a time period as possible. They want to be able to make an immediate claim if the airline misdirected their luggage. A waste of time. DME will automatically transport the luggage when it arrives on a later flight.
edited to add Some people think they have to wait in their room until their luggage is delivered. Others have control issues and aren't willing to leave their room, and start enjoying their vacation until they have their luggage.

Some more (IMHO) legit reasons:

1. Staying at FW, tent site. Tent is in checked luggage.
2. Golf tee time a few hours after landing. Probably won't get bags in time for golf.
3. Liquids (sun tan lotion) wanted ASAP. You can use your zip lock but may be more trouble then it's worth.
4. Some of the larger bags may actually be carry on.
5. International.
6. Didn't get tags ontime. Disney will get my bags from the unclaimed luggage office but I wouldn't want my bag going around the carousel waiting for someone to steal it.
7. Person is flying SW and a CM/TA told them they can't use DME luggage delivery.
8. Person needs the luggage ASAP. Maybe something for a business meeting, wedding etc. Wants to be able to check with the airline immediately if it's missing.

 

[Missytara]

What? Paranoia on the disboards???

I'm shocked!

Hard to believe, isn't it?????

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

5. International.

Well when it comes to International passengers from Canada assuming that they are not flying on a charter airline, we clear US Customs from the Canadian city we are flying out of and when we land at Orlando International Airport our flight is treated like any other domestic US flight when it lands. So those doing Magical Express can put the yellow tags on their checked luggage and when they get off the their flight they can go right to the Magical Express check-in desk. In fact last December when we flew WestJet from Toronto - Orlando I saw other guests in line with the yellow Magical Express tags.

 

[Lewisc]

Well when it comes to International passengers from Canada assuming that they are not flying on a charter airline, we clear US Customs from the Canadian city we are flying out of and when we land at Orlando International Airport our flight is treated like any other domestic US flight when it lands. So those doing Magical Express can put the yellow tags on their checked luggage and when they get off the their flight they can go right to the Magical Express check-in desk. In fact last December when we flew WestJet from Toronto - Orlando I saw other guests in line with the yellow Magical Express tags.

I used one word--International. It was intended to apply to those guests who either don't get DME tags or who clear customs in Orlando. It doesn't apply to most passengers from Canada.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I used one word--International. It was intended to apply to those guests who either don't get DME tags or who clear customs in Orlando. It doesn't apply to most passengers from Canada.

My mistake, although there are still some charter airlines from Canada where if you fly them it means clearing Customs in Orlando. So it does apply to some passengers from Canada, but nothing like those who fly in from Europe.

 

[bumbershoot]

when that happens I will let you know

Dh had two bags delayed for over 24 hours just this last year. Thankfully he was coming home, which meant I could just wash the clothes he was wearing for the next morning. See, DH and I don't have many clothes, and when he goes on a business trip, he's taking ALL of his clothes with him. If he ever has a delay on a trip, he's going to look a bit messy until it catches up with him.

So although it hasn't happened to you, it could, and I'd really recommend that you put at least a change of clothes (or at least underwear!) for everyone in your carryons, just in case....

 

[Kurby]

i haven't read all the pages so i'm not sure if this has already been said but baggage collection is only available for American airlines. Those of us coming in from Canada have to get our own bags.

we've never taken it before but we will next trip because we aren't driving in the snow to get down

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

i haven't read all the pages so i'm not sure if this has already been said but baggage collection is only available for American airlines. Those of us coming in from Canada have to get our own bags.

we've never taken it before but we will next trip because we aren't driving in the snow to get down

That's not true because like I said before I have seen other guests in the line at WestJet with the yellow Magical Express luggage tags and I have also seen them in the line at Air Canada.

 

[Kurby]

really? well thats good to hear. i wonder if they changed that because i'm almost positive a few years ago they didn't

could be wrong - like i said we haven't flown in about 8 years

 

[seashoreCM]

Automagical delivery of baggage from any airplane to resort room was in effect from day one of Magical Express.

The words "participating airline" confused a lot of people, CM's too. To this day some CM's still say that from some airlines or from some countries you have to claim your bags including before 10 PM and bring them to the bus.

 

[Kurby]

so then when we fly out of toronto everything will arrive without any worry? flying with air transat.

i think the "participating airlines" confused us too.

 

[bumbershoot]

Kurby, if you have a US travel agent, they can send the yellow tags to you. If you don't, they won't send you the yellow tags, but you can describe the bags and give the luggage tag things (you know, the receipts when you check them) to the ME people and they will look for your bags. The only issue is if you have to collect your bags for customs...but people have said on this thread that you can collect them, do customs, then put them onto another carousel where they will be taken back to the system to be caught by the ME people.

 

[Kurby]

can you collect them then give the to me when you check in?

 

[bumbershoot]

can you collect them then give the to me when you check in?

No one has mentioned that possibility in this thread so I doubt it. And giving them to ME would basically be what the OP was talking about...people taking them on the ME buses (putting them underneath, I imagine) instead of letting them just be delivered.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

so then when we fly out of toronto everything will arrive without any worry? flying with air transat.

i think the "participating airlines" confused us too.

The participating airlines means with those specific ones you can check-in for your flight at the resort you are staying at and get your boarding passes, so you won't need to do that at Orlando International Airport. Now since Air Transat is not one of those airlines because it goes to Canada you can't do that, however like I said before when you arrive at Orlando International Airport your flight will be treated like any other domestic flight when it lands. So you can put the yellow tags on your luggage and go right to the Magical Express check-in desk once you get off the plane and into the main terminal.

Also with Air Transat you will clear pre US Customs in Toronto so that means you won't need to do any of that when you land in Orlando, which is what I mean by your flight being treated like the other US dosmestic flights which land there.

 

[seashoreCM]

can you collect them then give them to DME when you check in?

No, but at DME's debut (or at least there was a rumor to that effect) that during peak times guests were required to give them to DME for automagical room delivery upon arrival at the welcoming area to reduce the amount of baggage under the bus.

Now who among us was griping about the amount of baggage under the bus and would they champion the inception (return?) of this idea?