maj

Joan

When we come back, we retrieve our luggage and I sit with it while my husband goes to get the car. He comes back, we put the luggage in the car and leave. We don't leave the luggage or car alone (or parked) and so far no one has told us we weren't allowed to do this.

rkkwan

joan - I don't know which airport you use, but at many airports, you can get better shuttle service with privately-owned lots outside the airport perimeter. They send the bus right to your car, help you take luggage from your trunk to the shuttle, and from the shuttle to curbside. You don't need to haul them any distance. [A tip would be nice though, if you have that much luggage.]

Way better than the on-site airport lots, and for less.

TxTravelPro

mwessel... the record locator is 6 characters, all alpha.
So maybe it will look something like this: FDRXCE
Travelocity may have an internal reference code but they will most likely have a reference to the AA/Sabre PNR (record locator) somewhere on your itinerary.
BTW... I always use the kiosk if alone but when I am traveling with family (who all have separate locators) we just check in at the counter.

mwessel

Thanks tons TXTravelPro!
I had sent Travelocity an email asking where to find the record locator on my itinerary and got a bogus answer back--that all I needed was my Travelocity Trip ID number to check in (and maybe that is true, but it seems to me they shouldn't have a problem with telling me what the record locator is!) But since you told me what to look for, I found it!

joan

rkkwan, thanks, I use Tampa airport-owned remote parking. Very convenient, with shuttle stops located at the end of almost every aisle (they definitely do not help you get your stuff out of your trunk though - I think I'd have a heart attack at that level of service . Once long ago we used the privately owned lot, but it was a little...seedy to say the least. Dirt lot, backed our car into the corner where the chain link fence was, you get the picture. I made my dad check his odometer before we left!

I am wondering though, using maj's method: when you first pull up to departing terminal and unload your stuff, if there's a line at the skycap stand - which there almost always is, will they let the driver just stand and wait? Or can the companion travelers get his boarding pass? They're very hinky at TPA about cars waiting around...

maj

We try to get there early enough that the lines haven't formed yet (usually take early morning flights--might be harder later in the day), so we haven't had that problem. When we went to Canada, we had to go through the regular check in counter, so I stayed with the luggage while my husband parked the car. We've always had to show a picture ID to get our boarding passes so I'm not sure they would let you get one for someone else. (although it appears from other comments that you can get it at a kiosk with only one card). Never having used it, I'm not sure what the advantage is of using a kiosk if you have luggage--why go 2 places--can't you just get your boarding pass when you check in your luggage at the counter?

TxTravelPro

2 comments...
1. You can check in from home if flying on AA and if 2 people are in the same reservation it will give you both boarding passes. Ditto with the kiosks. They check your IDs when you are going through security.
2. Why use a liosk if you have bags? Because it is faster! It seems everytime I use the regular counter check in line there are a bunch of people with reservation "problems". The kiosks do not accommodate those with problems so they move really quick.
I can check in using the first class line because I am platinum but I always use the kiosk... unless I want to change my seat to a bulkhead seat.