2012 "What's on National's Emerald Aisle?"

[ksantilli]

You reserve the size you need, which would be an Emerald Reserve Reservation assuming you log in the EC sign in area. You can try to change your rate, but, keep in mind it would be at a walk up rate, which is usually higher for the change. The Emerald Aisle rate is for midsize and you take the chance that what you need will be on the aisle.
The Emerald Club site pretty much explains the ins and outs of the reservation process and the club rules. If you have specific questions not covered there, give National a call and ask.

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this! I really appreciate it!

 

[gmeh1]

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this! I really appreciate it!

You are most welcome, it was my pleasure!!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I picked up Monday, March 5 at around 9:30 PM side B.

Literally there was NOTHING on either the Aisle or Executive that was NOT a mini van or an SUV. I was very unhappy. The man working did find me a car and I will be sending National a complaint later today. Dumping the "Trash" on the business travelers was NOT suppose to be the way the EA is stocked! We don't want the gas guzzlers either!

 

[mkymouse4ever]

just picked up 3/8 11:30pm we snagged a brand new jeep liberty loaded with 200 miles on it. this was side a. lots to choose from 3 liberty jeeps, 1 jeep patriot, 1 nitro, camarys, altima nissan, 3 vans, 1 suburban suv, 1 dodge challenger, ford escape, nissan suv. this was executive and regular.

Happy hunting, mky

 

[gmeh1]

I picked up Monday, March 5 at around 9:30 PM side B.

Literally there was NOTHING on either the Aisle or Executive that was NOT a mini van or an SUV. I was very unhappy. The man working did find me a car and I will be sending National a complaint later today. Dumping the "Trash" on the business travelers was NOT suppose to be the way the EA is stocked! We don't want the gas guzzlers either!

Please do write the letter, but keep in mind that you are paying for a midsize, a car was found for you, there is nothing "trash" about a SUV or mini van, and it is NOT just for business travelers, most especially in Orlando.
"Whether traveling for business or leisure, Emerald Club® members love saving time and avoiding hassles when they bypass the counter at any of our 59 counter bypass locations. It's the easiest way to get on the road fast."
The aisle is stocked with whatever is available that is midsize or above. I am not sure why you would say it was not as it was "supposed" to be.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

The Emerald Aisle is MARKETED to business travelers. It should not be a dumping ground for "cars we can't get rid of ANY place else". The Executive Aisle is suppose to be a reward for good customers not "well no one will take this gas drinker, pass it off" The customers YOUR employer markets this to want CARS! Not TANKS! LOL! I was not the only complaining customer, and even you have said you are getting complaints.

This is how you wan to treat your best customers? REALLY? (And lucklily I had already written my email before I saw this response. AKA as "we don't care what our best customers feel about how we do business in Orlando . Otherwise it would have been included. Something you might think about in the future as you hold yourself out as a "represenative" ) I was not asking for an unwarranted upgrade, but to have the aisle FULL of only SUVs and Mini vans says to me "it's not about service it's about "pass the trash" I have NEVER seen that at ANY other location and I rent from National ALL over the country!


And since you want to quote the Terms and Conditions

For Executive it says the following:

"Executive and Executive Elite status:
Rent your way to even more rewards and recognition.

Emerald Club Executive® status is yours with 12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days in a calendar year. You'll enjoy all the benefits of Emerald Club® membership plus a higher level of privileges, including:

•Choice of Fullsize or better cars from our exclusive Executive area."


So where were the Fullsize cars? This says to me that I should have had at least ONE fullsize car LOL!

 

[cel_disney]

OCC - I think that some of this is your perception that SUVs/Vans are TRASH...I am a frequent business traveler, and I would have been THRILLED to have these to select from!!! One of my least favorite things about business travel is that I have to drive a car instead of an SUV, I am just uncomfortable in them and not accustomed to them since I drive an SUV at home.

Ironically - I am less likely to think about whether a vehicle is a gas guzzler when I am on business....since I am not the one paying for gas....but I understand that this is something many would consider...

I can understand that you might feel frustruated that there was only these vehicles to choose from and that a variety of selections is best, but please be respectful and dont represent ALL business travelers with your view.

 

[gmeh1]

The Emerald Aisle is MARKETED to business travelers. It should not be a dumping ground for "cars we can't get rid of ANY place else". The Executive Aisle is suppose to be a reward for good customers not "well no one will take this gas drinker, pass it off" The customers YOUR employer markets this to want CARS! Not TANKS! LOL! I was not the only complaining customer, and even you have said you are getting complaints.

This is how you wan to treat your best customers? REALLY? (And lucklily I had already written my email before I saw this response. AKA as "we don't care what our best customers feel about how we do business in Orlando . Otherwise it would have been included. Something you might think about in the future as you hold yourself out as a "represenative" ) I was not asking for an unwarranted upgrade, but to have the aisle FULL of only SUVs and Mini vans says to me "it's not about service it's about "pass the trash" I have NEVER seen that at ANY other location and I rent from National ALL over the country!


And since you want to quote the Terms and Conditions

For Executive it says the following:

"Executive and Executive Elite status:
Rent your way to even more rewards and recognition.

Emerald Club Executive® status is yours with 12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days in a calendar year. You'll enjoy all the benefits of Emerald Club® membership plus a higher level of privileges, including:

•Choice of Fullsize or better cars from our exclusive Executive area."


So where were the Fullsize cars? This says to me that I should have had at least ONE fullsize car LOL!

Again, Vans and SUVs are not trash!!! I would ask that you stop putting "words into my mouth", I never wrote anything that said

we don't care what our best customers feel about how we do business in Orlando

or anything close. What I did was include a direct quote from the EC website. How you came up with that comment is well beyond me. You know perfectly well you could have walked no more than 10' and selected a car from the full size row or you could have spoken to someone (as you ultimately did) and they would have found you a car. I spent a good part of Monday getting people cars or escorting them over to Alamo for them to select a car, that is what we do, they understood that we were in a very heavy rental time and appreciated the help. Yes, people have complained, but, as I stated before that was primarily Alamo and it was not all that many. People complain if the color they want is not available, they complain if the weather is too hot, too cold, the walk was too long from baggage, that the compacts are too small or all they have is Impalas and Altimas in the full size row.
We have been extreamly busy and have had to put what we have a surplus of in various rows. It is NOT junk, people don't want to pay for more than a compact, midsize or fullsize car, and most people appreciate the upgrade. Orlando is unique in the fact that many vacationers use National and are EC members, since it is free. We try to keep both aisles well stocked, but, when demand exceeds supply, we do what we have to do and rush around like ferrets to cater to our customers who are not happy with what they see. It is our job and most of us do it quite well.
You can include anything I have written in any communication you have with my employer. I have not insulted you or given the impression that we don't care for our customers. I spend a lot of time here trying to help people which is something I enjoy. The fact that I do represent my company is what holds me back, all to often, from really letting people know how I feel about people with an entitlement attitude. Holds me back on a daily basis when EE's treat employees like dirt, complain to employees who have absolutely no control over policy and do not understand supply and demand.
The high spots, which (thankfully) are many, are when customers actually appreciate the going 110% for them and see that they are very very important to us, EC, EE or just regular renters.

 

[gmeh1]

OCC - I think that some of this is your perception that SUVs/Vans are TRASH...I am a frequent business traveler, and I would have been THRILLED to have these to select from!!! One of my least favorite things about business travel is that I have to drive a car instead of an SUV, I am just uncomfortable in them and not accustomed to them since I drive an SUV at home.

Ironically - I am less likely to think about whether a vehicle is a gas guzzler when I am on business....since I am not the one paying for gas....but I understand that this is something many would consider...

I can understand that you might feel frustruated that there was only these vehicles to choose from and that a variety of selections is best, but please be respectful and dont represent ALL business travelers with your view.

OCC got what he wanted as would any other customer if it was possible. OCC also knows he/she could have selected a car from the regular rows or asked the greeter for help, which apparently happened. OCC also knows he/she could have walked a few feet to Alamo and selected one of their cars or asked for help at the kiosk. We try very hard to keep our customers happy, treat everyone like VIPs but, it is sometimes not possible to keep everyone happy, but, we do try.

 

[nacho113]

Anyway... back to the original thread.

10:30pm arrival at MCO Terminal B Jan 22/2012 wife and I managed to snag an Infiniti G37, best I've come across since I started renting from National.
There was several Grand Caravans, a couple of Traverse, some Chrysler 200's, a Mustang convertible, a couple of Kia Souls, a Santa Fe, a really big SUV - Suburban I think and they were moving over some Impala's or Malibu's in when we were waiting to checkout. I thought it wasn't a bad cross section of auto's for this late in the evening.
I was actually loading our luggage into the Mustang Convertible when I saw the Infiniti come around the corner so we grabbed it before the rep was even out of the car

Flying into Sanford in April, to bad National doesn't have EA there.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

nacho, way to go. Don't think i could of not taken that mustange.

Gmeh, we where very happy with nationals service and selection when we where there. We must of had 3 different people ask if we needed help or any questions.
Great job!

 

[n2mm]

nacho, way to go. Don't think i could of not taken that mustange.

Gmeh, we where very happy with nationals service and selection when we where there. We must of had 3 different people ask if we needed help or any questions.
Great job!

You can add me to the list of a happy National Executive Aisle member. I know that if there's nothing in the aisle(s) I can choose a full size car (Ex. members). I love choosing what best fits our needs during each trip. We've also had excellent service from some of the attendants whether picking up or dropping off. I have a trip next month and the National rates are triple of other companies and it's killing me to have to look elsewhere, but I'm holding out hope that National rates will become a little more competitive to what I'm seeing elsewhere. I have a 24 day trip, so we are talking about a long rental! It's crazy that I can get some decent rates with Alamo, but not National. I'm still a long way out (6 weeks) so I know there's still hope!

 

[dishguy1977]

You can add me to the list of a happy National Executive Aisle member. I know that if there's nothing in the aisle(s) I can choose a full size car (Ex. members). I love choosing what best fits our needs during each trip. We've also had excellent service from some of the attendants whether picking up or dropping off. I have a trip next month and the National rates are triple of other companies and it's killing me to have to look elsewhere, but I'm holding out hope that National rates will become a little more competitive to what I'm seeing elsewhere. I have a 24 day trip, so we are talking about a long rental! It's crazy that I can get some decent rates with Alamo, but not National. I'm still a long way out (6 weeks) so I know there's still hope!

I'm waiting for National rates to go down too! I just got bumped up to Exec and looking to try it out for the first time at the beginning of May but if they don't go down I am going to have to go with Alamo. Seems silly that I can get a midsize from Alamo for 1/3 of the price of National and they are literally coming from the same pool of vehicles!!

 

[n2mm]

I'm waiting for National rates to go down too! I just got bumped up to Exec and looking to try it out for the first time at the beginning of May but if they don't go down I am going to have to go with Alamo. Seems silly that I can get a midsize from Alamo for 1/3 of the price of National and they are literally coming from the same pool of vehicles!!

I agree! They haven't let me down yet, so still waiting and watching. Congratulations on your upgrade to Executive Aisle. It will spoil you and you won't want to drop back to regular aisle service afterwards.

 

[gmeh1]

nacho, way to go. Don't think i could of not taken that mustange.

Gmeh, we where very happy with nationals service and selection when we where there. We must of had 3 different people ask if we needed help or any questions.
Great job!

Thank you!!!

 

[nacho113]

nacho, way to go. Don't think i could of not taken that mustange.

I actually had a convertible booked from TPA but we had plane trouble in the morning and ended up being redirected to MCO. I booked EA @ $97 for the week (less the $35 EC coupon) and ended up with the Infiniti. A couple of minutes more and we would have driven out with the Mustang, but the shiny red G37 came around the corner just as we were loading ... couldn't resist. Never going to own one of those, not on my salary anyway

 

[NJmouse]

Has anyone rented a standard SUV or Crossover SUV from National? Are they all on the same aisle or does each one have its own aisle. Wondering if they are in the Minivan aisle.

 

[gmeh1]

Has anyone rented a standard SUV or Crossover SUV from National? Are they all on the same aisle or does each one have its own aisle. Wondering if they are in the Minivan aisle.

Crossovers are with the standard SUVs and minivans are with minivans, they do not have their own row, but, they do have their own sections within the non Emerald rows.

 

[NJmouse]

Thanks gmeh1. My friend is bringing her scooter. Trying to decide if it will fit in a crossover with 4 pieces of luggage. We had a Dodge Caravan last year only because we reserved a full size car and there were none left and the attendant told us to take the Caravan we know the scooter will fit in there without taking it apart. Just wondering if it will fit in a crossover or standard SUV with the luggage. The minivan is costing me $860 right now for 10 days that is alot.

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks gmeh1. My friend is bringing her scooter. Trying to decide if it will fit in a crossover with 4 pieces of luggage. We had a Dodge Caravan last year only because we reserved a full size car and there were none left and the attendant told us to take the Caravan we know the scooter will fit in there without taking it apart. Just wondering if it will fit in a crossover or standard SUV with the luggage. The minivan is costing me $860 right now for 10 days that is alot.

I really don't think a crossover is going to work for you, not to sure about the SUV either. Not sure when you are going, but, it looks like a mini van or a full size SUV would be the way to go, but, with the full size SUV, you have the height of the vehicle to cope with, difficult for someone who uses a scooter to get into, same with the SUV or crossover.