Yikes....just booked SW spring break flight....Question??

[alldiz]

Hi,

Just booked Long Island to MacArthur....4/12...returning 4/24(Easter)

$1213.20 for 3

The cheap flight returning was already ($258) was gone in the afternoon....so I am taking the 7:45 pm flight. I am returning from a cruise 4/21...shoulda just went home....air was cheap that day....oh well...


Question....can I add the 10pp to my return trip to be automatically checked in....or is it too late?
Thanks
Also....does SW participate in taking your luggage to airport from hotel yet??
Kerri

 

[Psychodisney]

Yes, you can add early check in if you want to. As far as luggage transfer, if you take ME, yes they will take your bags.

 

[alldiz]

Yes, you can add early check in if you want to. As far as luggage transfer, if you take ME, yes they will take your bags.

So will I take my bags on bus with ME like always....or does SW participate in the airline checkin now...and I don't see my luggage till i get to NY?
Thanks
Kerri

 

[Psychodisney]

According to Mousesavers, Southwest is available for airline checkin at the hotel. I thought I remember reading somewhere that it was only available at certain resorts.

 

[alldiz]

According to Mousesavers, Southwest is available for airline checkin at the hotel. I thought I remember reading somewhere that it was only available at certain resorts.

On hold with SW now......

 

[alldiz]

According to Mousesavers, Southwest is available for airline checkin at the hotel. I thought I remember reading somewhere that it was only available at certain resorts.

Was on hold for a while with SW...and lady said they don't do it.
I hope she was wrong...that would have been sweet.
I felt like telling her to look on mousesavers
Kerri

Of course I just added the $10pp charge to automatically check me in on my return flight. Being such a peak period figured a guarantee A category was worth it. She said "A" is not guaranteed......ahem

 

[Jestocost]

Was on hold for a while with SW...and lady said they don't do it.
I hope she was wrong...that would have been sweet.
I felt like telling her to look on mousesavers
Kerri

Of course I just added the $10pp charge to automatically check me in on my return flight. Being such a peak period figured a guarantee A category was worth it. She said "A" is not guaranteed......ahem

Southwest passengers always have been able to use all inbound DME services including luggage transfer.

As of earlier this year, SWA passengers staying at all WDW resorts except CBR and OKW were able to use RAC to get boarding passes and check luggage on the way home. I have heard at least one report that OKW is now up and running with RAC as well.

My assumption is that SWA will not be an official RAC "participating airline" until the service is available at all resorts and that many Disney CMs and SWA employees will not be aware that the service is available until that time.

However, I have used RAC as a SWA passenger twice and can personally vouch for the fact that it is available.

With regard to EBCI, the SWA rep was correct that using the service does not guarantee an 'A' boarding group. It checks you in 36 hours before your scheduled departure--which is 12 hours before people checking in manually can do it--and assigns your boarding number based on what is available at that time. In almost all cases, that will get you in the A group. There have been one or two reports of EBCI passengers getting the 'B' group, but those have been at busy SWA transfer points like MDW and BWI.

Even if you are using RAC with SWA, I would still do EBCI or check myself in at 24 hours. There have been some reports that IF you use DME on the way in to WDW that RAC will do your SWA check in automatically at 24 hours, but that has not been my experience and I would not rely on that happening. Do NOT wait until you can use the RAC desk to check in--since at the earliest that will be 12 hours before your flight--to check in for your SWA flight. RAC can print out your BPs after you have checked in earlier and handle your bags regardless.

 

[Donut23]

I'm not sure anyone mentioned........

You can add The BIRD (Early Bird) anytime so don't panic. You have time.

 

[alldiz]

Southwest passengers always have been able to use all inbound DME services including luggage transfer.

As of earlier this year, SWA passengers staying at all WDW resorts except CBR and OKW were able to use RAC to get boarding passes and check luggage on the way home. I have heard at least one report that OKW is now up and running with RAC as well.

My assumption is that SWA will not be an official RAC "participating airline" until the service is available at all resorts and that many Disney CMs and SWA employees will not be aware that the service is available until that time.

However, I have used RAC as a SWA passenger twice and can personally vouch for the fact that it is available.

With regard to EBCI, the SWA rep was correct that using the service does not guarantee an 'A' boarding group. It checks you in 36 hours before your scheduled departure--which is 12 hours before people checking in manually can do it--and assigns your boarding number based on what is available at that time. In almost all cases, that will get you in the A group. There have been one or two reports of EBCI passengers getting the 'B' group, but those have been at busy SWA transfer points like MDW and BWI.

Even if you are using RAC with SWA, I would still do EBCI or check myself in at 24 hours. There have been some reports that IF you use DME on the way in to WDW that RAC will do your SWA check in automatically at 24 hours, but that has not been my experience and I would not rely on that happening. Do NOT wait until you can use the RAC desk to check in--since at the earliest that will be 12 hours before your flight--to check in for your SWA flight. RAC can print out your BPs after you have checked in earlier and handle your bags regardless.

Thanks.....I will stick with the EBCI.....I'm very psyched to hear that I can now check my bags at the hotel for airport....on the way home.
I'll be flying Easter sunday so that should help a lot
Thanks

Craziest thing is I alway go and get my own luggage for ME bus....if room is ready i want my stuff. I just feel "safer" knowing where my stuff is. On the way home.....who cares....LOL...I have more stuff at home
Kerri

 

[Disneynutbsv]

I just booked April as well, $1172 for 4, but we need to leave 1 1/2 days earlier than I was planning. Hopefully get a stay at a universal hotel for those days before I check into the condo.

 

[dis2cruise]

On hold with SW now......

Me too

 

[Hankshouse]

We flew SW and were at AKL in August and were able to use the resort airline check in desk for the first time for our return trip home. Yippeee! One thing I wanted to mention was be sure you check for the times it is open at your resort. The desk at AKL was open until around 1pm (I think) and all luggage for return flights needed to be checked in by then. Have a great trip!

 

[emmabelle]

The desk at AKL was open until around 1pm (I think) and all luggage for return flights needed to be checked in by then.

and they really do mean it when they say 3 hours before your flight. We got down there with like a 15 minute buffer since we were running late as usual. Because of the line at RAC, by the time they took us, the attendant was able to check in four bags, but by the time he went to check in the fifth bag, it was too late. We had to carry the fifth bag on the bus with us and then curbside check in that bag.

One of our bags actually made a side trip to Indiana too, without telling us! I'm glad it happened on the way home instead of going to WDW, who really needs 5 suitcases of dirty laundry anyways. The airport drove it to our house the next day, so it was all good.

 

[Missytara]

We flew SW and were at AKL in August and were able to use the resort airline check in desk for the first time for our return trip home. Yippeee! One thing I wanted to mention was be sure you check for the times it is open at your resort. The desk at AKL was open until around 1pm (I think) and all luggage for return flights needed to be checked in by then. Have a great trip!

All the RAC's are open 5:00 am to 1:00 pm. You must have your luggage checked in NO later than three hours before your flight and no more than 12 hours before your flight.

 

[MEM]

I just booked April as well, $1172 for 4, but we need to leave 1 1/2 days earlier than I was planning. Hopefully get a stay at a universal hotel for those days before I check into the condo.

Wow, you did pretty well! I just booked our April trip yesterday out of TF Green and most flights were already sold out. My total is $2200 for four, even leaving for MCO a day earlier. I have NEVER spent that kind of money on airfare.