Signature Express Baggage Service

[djhsolara]

Could anyone provide information on how this works? Is this available to everyone onboard? Is it offered in Ft Lauderdale (and with US Airways)? Is there a charge? Any other pertinent information?

Thank you!!

[jtl513]

For $15 you basically check your bags (max 2) on the ship and next see them again at your home airport carousel. (Hopefully! :) ) Yes, it is available in FLL, to everyone ... on most HAL ships and most airlines.

Here is a link (http://www.hollandamerica.com/guests/category.do?category=packing&topic=signatureExpress), giving the 9 ships that offer it (Westerdam is one) but unfortunately they don't say if US Airways is one of the participating airlines.

Edit: One other restriction that isn't spelled out in that link blurb - it's not available for "early" flights. I think the earliest is 12:30p

[djhsolara]

For $15 you basically check your bags on the ship and next see them again at your home airport carousel. (Hopefully! :) ) Yes, it is available in FLL, to everyone ... on most HAL ships and most airlines.

Here is a link (http://www.hollandamerica.com/guests/category.do?category=packing&topic=signatureExpress), giving the 9 ships that offer it (Westerdam is one) but unfortunately they don't say which airlines will do it.


Thank you so much for the helpful information!!

Do you know...is it $15 per person or per cabin?

[jtl513]

Thank you so much for the helpful information!!

Do you know...is it $15 per person or per cabin?Now that you mention it, no I don't! (The only person I know that used it was traveling alone.) I'm pretty sure it's per person, but if 2 people were on the same plane and only had one bag each you might be able to do it for just the $15.

p.s. - did you notice that I edited my first reply a bit?

[djhsolara]

Thanks for pointing that out. We have our flight around 5PM and I would so love to not have to worry about luggage...it will just make for a nicer time and we may actually be able to go enjoy lunch in Ft Lauderdale for a little before flying home without having to worry about luggage.

[Sundagger]

Thanks for pointing that out. We have our flight around 5PM and I would so love to not have to worry about luggage...it will just make for a nicer time and we may actually be able to go enjoy lunch in Ft Lauderdale for a little before flying home without having to worry about luggage.

In April I also had a late flight out of FLL and was wondering what to do with the luggage. This service turned out to be great for me. It was $15 per person, but that was for two bags apiece. If you only have two bags between you, it would only be $15. I was on Delta - it covered most of the legacy airlines, but I'm not positive about US Air.

[meterman2]

Could anyone provide information on how this works? Is this available to everyone onboard? Is it offered in Ft Lauderdale (and with US Airways)? Is there a charge? Any other pertinent information?

Thank you!!

It is $15 per per person (2 bags each max). If your airline is eligible, you will receive your boarding pass along with special tags (the day before you disembark) (they look like the tags the airline puts on your bags-not the regular color coded disembarkation tags). Our bags were coded AAAA and we were off the ship on the third call for a 12:30 p.m. flight. After you retrieve your bags and clear customs and walk outside - to the left in FLLL), there is a rope line (fast) with people who take your bags and load them on a box truck. Either there or at the airport (I never seen them again until Boston) the regular airport tags are affixed (example DLL 1629-BOS). We hopped on the bus (HAL transfer) and that was that. Because of the "boarding pass part" , you have to get the service for both of you even if you have 1 bag each. We have done this twice and it has been smooth (on Delta). My only fear was that we never get that little "baggage receipt" the airline check-in normally sticks on the ticket sleeve. Good luck!

[Northshorecruisers]

You can email HAL and ask for a list of airlines that are partnering with them on this. I inquired because we were thinking of doing it at the end of our cruise in San Diego.

[CroozeAddict]

This is the URL to the baggage service that is contracted with HAL. Everything you need to know is there. Have fun!

http://www.airportbags.com/

[fitters]

For $15 you basically check your bags (max 2) on the ship and next see them again at your home airport carousel. (Hopefully! :) ) Yes, it is available in FLL, to everyone ... on most HAL ships and most airlines.

Here is a link (http://www.hollandamerica.com/guests/category.do?category=packing&topic=signatureExpress), giving the 9 ships that offer it (Westerdam is one) but unfortunately they don't say if US Airways is one of the participating airlines.

Edit: One other restriction that isn't spelled out in that link blurb - it's not available for "early" flights. I think the earliest is 12:30p

FYI...In Ft. Lauderdale, you still must collect your baggage in the big warehouse (separate area) and walk them through customs...then hand them off to the airline people waiting outside the port terminal.

[pms4104]

It was $15 per person, but that was for two bags apiece. If you only have two bags between you, it would only be $15.
I'm not certain that this is entirely correct. The $15/person covers the boarding pass as well as bag check, so it would seem the $15 fee would also be assessed to those who have only carry-on stuff. Imagine 4 people with a total of 2 bags ... doesn't seem right that $15 would cover the entire party. JMHO

[Sundagger]

I'm not certain that this is entirely correct. The $15/person covers the boarding pass as well as bag check, so it would seem the $15 fee would also be assessed to those who have only carry-on stuff. Imagine 4 people with a total of 2 bags ... doesn't seem right that $15 would cover the entire party. JMHO

You may be correct - I was traveling solo, so multiple passenger groups didn't cross my mind. There was a question on another thread where a couple had only two bags and was wondering what the charge was. It isn't specifically covered on the HAL site.