UPDATE - Resort Airline Check-In Desk and Airline Luggage Fees

[JPVonDrake]

Effective June 1, Resort Airline Check-In will accept one bag per passenger for Guests who fly AirTran, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, and US Airways. Guests with multiple bags on these airlines will have the option to check additional pieces through their airlines' ticket counters at Orlando International Airport or they may call Baggage Airline Guest Services to pay their airline's excess luggage fees in advance of checking in at the Resort Airline Check-In desk.

Effective June 1, Guests flying on American Airlines who wish to check bags must call Baggage Airline Guest Services to pay their airline bag fees in advance of checking in at the Resort Airline Check-In desk. Otherwise, Guests must check-in at the airport.

Guests flying on Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are not subject to bag fees at this time. Alaska Airlines will be subject to excess bag fees effective July 1.

For all airlines, luggage must be 50 pounds or less in order to use the service and it must comply with their airline's size dimension baggage policy. Overweight and oversized luggage cannot be accepted at the Resort Airline Check-In desks. Remember, the Resort Airline Check-In desks are unable to collect luggage fees on behalf of the airlines.

The excess luggage fees vary by airline. Guests are encouraged to inquire with their specific airline as to what fees apply. Some airline loyalty programs may waive these fees for members. Please check with your airline directly.

The number for Baggage Airline Guest Services is 407-284-1231. Guests may contact Baggage Airline Guest Services seven days a week between the hours of 7:00 am and 11:00 pm. There is no phone charge to call from your Disney Resort in room phone. Baggage Airline Guest Services accepts only the following credit cards: MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. No other forms of payment can be accepted.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

:sohappy::sohappy:

JP - thanks as always!! :wave::wave:

 

[Disneykidder]

tHANKS FOR THE INFO...VERY INTERESTING!!

 

[OneLuckyMom]

JP - I'm flying American in August, but got my ticket back in January so the $15/first bag charge doesn't apply to me. Do you know if I will be able to do resort check-in (without paying the $15 fee), or will I be forced to check in at the airport in order to avoid the fee?

 

[carenyllie]

I could be wrong but I believe the bag check fee on American begins June 15, regardless of when you buy your ticket. If you are traveling in August, it does apply to you.

 

[OneLuckyMom]

I could be wrong but I believe the bag check fee on American begins June 15, regardless of when you buy your ticket. If you are traveling in August, it does apply to you.

The first bag fee does not apply for tickets purchased prior to June 15. The second bag fee does not apply for tickets purchased prior to May 12th.

Here is the link to the American website with all the info: http://www.aa.com/apps/netSAAver/Vi...entRepository&itemDescriptor=PromotionContent

The text from the "View all Exceptions" page:

The following customers will not be charged a service fee to check a bag provided the bag is within the weight allowance:

For the first checked bag, customers who buy a ticket before June 15, 2008, or who fly before June 15, 2008
For the second checked bag, customers who purchased a ticket before May 12, 2008
Customers originating travel in the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or Canada and traveling to an international destination beyond the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or Canada
Customers originating travel outside the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or Canada and traveling to an international destination
Customers who purchase full-fare tickets in Economy Class
Customers who purchase Business or First Class tickets
Customers flying on AA codeshare flights not operated by American Airlines, American Eagle or AmericanConnection®
Customers traveling on government or military fares
Military passengers on active duty
AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum® or AAdvantage Gold® members
oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby members
Customers flying on the same reservation as an AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum or AAdvantage Gold member or oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby member regardless of frequent flier status or fare type (not applicable to group bookings)
AAnytime® Economy Class AAdvantage award tickets, MileSAAver(SM) or AAnytime First and Business Class AAdvantage award tickets
First and Business Class upgrades confirmed prior to check in
AAirpass travel

 

[durangojim]

The other thing we noticed when we flew home this past Tuesday from the WL was that they were measuring each bag with a measuring tape. Fortunately our bags were within the size limit, but just something else for all of us to have to deal with

 

[Computer Magic]

The first bag fee does not apply for tickets purchased prior to June 15. The second bag fee does not apply for tickets purchased prior to May 12th.

Here is the link to the American website with all the info: http://www.aa.com/apps/netSAAver/Vi...entRepository&itemDescriptor=PromotionContent

The text from the "View all Exceptions" page:

The following customers will not be charged a service fee to check a bag provided the bag is within the weight allowance:

For the first checked bag, customers who buy a ticket before June 15, 2008, or who fly before June 15, 2008
For the second checked bag, customers who purchased a ticket before May 12, 2008
Customers originating travel in the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or Canada and traveling to an international destination beyond the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or Canada
Customers originating travel outside the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or Canada and traveling to an international destination
Customers who purchase full-fare tickets in Economy Class
Customers who purchase Business or First Class tickets
Customers flying on AA codeshare flights not operated by American Airlines, American Eagle or AmericanConnection®
Customers traveling on government or military fares
Military passengers on active duty
AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum® or AAdvantage Gold® members
oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby members
Customers flying on the same reservation as an AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum or AAdvantage Gold member or oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby member regardless of frequent flier status or fare type (not applicable to group bookings)
AAnytime® Economy Class AAdvantage award tickets, MileSAAver(SM) or AAnytime First and Business Class AAdvantage award tickets
First and Business Class upgrades confirmed prior to check in
AAirpass travel

You are correct I checked that as well. I just made the deadline. However, I see this as a headache and confusion for us flyers. Get ready to say alot of "but we are not affected by this charge".

I think the airlines is going to hurt Disney more then the ecomony well. I don't see myself traveling by air for sometime after this trip, until the airlines settle down.

 

[nibblesandbits]

thanks for the info JP! :wave:

 

[imamouse]

Thanks, JP. I appreciate your update, as always. :wave:

The lines at the resort airline check-in desk is always long and slow (in my experience) - this is going to slow things down even more. I think better signage at the resort airline check-in would help, especially since the wait is so long, you'd have plenty of time to read the rules.

I don't (and won't) fly AA, but it seems to me that if you should pay the bag fee at the time of booking - for the RT. If you had additional bags to check for the return flight, that's the sticky wicket.

I'm glad I'm renting a car for my Sept trip. Let's hope the bumps are smoothed out of the system by Dec (using DME).

 

[smk]

Is it just me or is all this getting very complicated (not with Disney, I understand they had to change the rules too)....when you bought your ticket, before or after a certain date, how much it weighs, one bag or two, what airline you are flying, check in at the resort or airport or curbside at the airport, how many carry ons you have, how much liquid you have with you, is it in a QUART size bag and only a QUART size bag, etc....to many hassles to fly anymore! IMHO. :brick:

 

[Nansafan]

JP, as OneLuckyMom said, the baggage fee on American does not apply if you purchased your ticket before June 15th. How will the Resort Check-in people handle this? We are flying American down on 6/23 and home on 7/1. We purchased our tickets in March. Thanks for the help.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I have a question, too. Most likely we will be booking 1st class w/Continental (for comfort and non-baggage-issues). 1st class is allowed 3 checked bags each (still). Will I end up hauling my own luggage to the airport or is there some way the airline check-in people will be able to tell that the 1 bag rule doesn't apply to us? If the airline check-in folks will still only let us check 1 bag I'll just store my luggage w/bell services and book my own transportation to the airport.

Thanks muchly! :wave:

 

[JPVonDrake]

JP - I'm flying American in August, but got my ticket back in January so the $15/first bag charge doesn't apply to me. Do you know if I will be able to do resort check-in (without paying the $15 fee), or will I be forced to check in at the airport in order to avoid the fee?

JP, as OneLuckyMom said, the baggage fee on American does not apply if you purchased your ticket before June 15th. How will the Resort Check-in people handle this? We are flying American down on 6/23 and home on 7/1. We purchased our tickets in March. Thanks for the help.

I have a question, too. Most likely we will be booking 1st class w/Continental (for comfort and non-baggage-issues). 1st class is allowed 3 checked bags each (still). Will I end up hauling my own luggage to the airport or is there some way the airline check-in people will be able to tell that the 1 bag rule doesn't apply to us? If the airline check-in folks will still only let us check 1 bag I'll just store my luggage w/bell services and book my own transportation to the airport.

Remember, the Resort Airline Check-In service is operated by a third-party company approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on behalf of the participating airlines. The Cast here will be able to fully access your flight information so they can print your boarding passes.

As such, they will also be able to determine how many bags you are approved for, if you are a member of an airline loyalty program that may waive your fees, or if you contacted Baggage Airline Guest Services to pay for additional baggage with a credit card. They will then check as many bags as allowed and/or prepaid for. Only baggage not pre-approved in advance with the airline would need to be checked at the airport.

Also please remember, Disney's Magical Express is a separate service from Resort Airline Check-In Desks. You do not need to use one to use the other. The Magical Express Motorcoaches will transport as many bags as you wish, regardless of your Airline or their baggage policies.

Technically, you don't even need to be flying out to ride Disney's Magical Express. Several Guests every day use Disney's Magical Express transportation back to the airport on their date of check-out to transfer to a Cruise Line shuttle, to rent a car, or otherwise continue on to other destinations.

 

[disneytopdog]

Thanks for clearing this up. I to have purchased my American Airlines tickets in May so the $15 for the first bag will not affect me for my September trip.

You provided more info then American could, even after speaking to 3 different people at there 800 number.

 

[Sherrybaby]

This completely ticks me off. I did not know this and we were planning to take 2 bags apiece--one empty for our WDW purchases.

With AirTran not only do you have to pay now to choose your seats in advance $6 each for each flight now you have to pay for luggage too!

All of these little, extra fees added on taxes, 911 fees, etc make my tickets about $100 more than the listed price.

I agree, I won't be flying anytime soon again either.

And I also agree that WDW will suffer some because people will be worrying more about bag weight and paying extra so they won't be purchasing as much. I know I won't have the room to bring it back home.

Nice to know this 2 days before my trip!

Sherry

 

[Nansafan]

Thanks again JP. This American thing had the 10 of us in a tizzy. We specifically booked with them to use the airport check-in benefit at the resort.

 

[makonyy15]

Thanks for clearing this up. We purchased our tickets for US Airways flights to WDW for our June trip back in December, so I knew the extra bag fees didn't apply to us yet, but I was unsure if Resort Check-in would be able to handle this. Glad to see we can still check-in with two bags at the resort for this trip.

 

[Disneykidder]

Do you have to pay to use the toliet?:ROFLOL:

 

[Sherrybaby]

I just thought of something else--this charge will be incurred on BOTH flights. So if you have 2 people taking 4 bags total the charge will be $40 IF you check in online. BS!

Also, where can I check in at my resort for my trip home? I'm staying at the Beach Club and I'm using Tiffany Towncar, not Disney transport.

Thanks,
Sherry