Alamo no longer allows Skip the Counter with Costco reserved vehicles.

[davper]

I am currently on hold with Alamo CS waiting to speak with a supervisor.

I have been trying to enter my payment for Skip the Counter and it won't let me. It gives me an error saying the coupon is invalid.
I called yesterday CS yesterday. The rep said I had to wait until I had less than 24 hours before pickup.

So this morning I try again. No change. I call CS and they are saying that because I use Costco, they do not allow Skip the Counter service.

Skip the counter is the only reason I use Alamo. This will be the last time I use Alamo.

Just got the supervisor. They said that they had an update to the policies and website. Any reservation not made directly through Alamo, will not be allowed to do skip the counter.
Then he goes on to say that it is because I have a 2nd driver.
So I do not know what to believe. I just know this is my last Alamo reservation.

 

[davper]

I took the 2nd Driver off the reservation and it still would not allow it.

 

[ktate82]

We have an Alamo reservation, and it allowed us to do online check in. But we did it several weeks ago for a rental next week. We also booked directly through Alamo using the Costco discount codes. I wonder if that made a difference. Sorry you are having trouble getting checked in.

 

[davper]

I tried calling the Costco CS line and that just brings me to alamo. There is no option to get to a human.

GREAT WAY TO START MY VACATION

 

[PatMcDuck]

I just did one last night. I booked with Costco, then logged into the Alamo site, entered the ALAMO reservation #, not the Costco one. Then I clicked skip the counter, and entered all my info, CC #, etc and it has me print the skip the counter ticket.

I book right thru the Costco website, not the Alamo site. I like using the Costco site, they enter a coupon automatically, so easy, and if I need to cancel I can do it easily on the Costco travel site.

 

[davper]

I just did one last night. I booked with Costco, then logged into the Alamo site, entered the ALAMO reservation #, not the Costco one. Then I clicked skip the counter, and entered all my info, CC #, etc and it has me print the skip the counter ticket.

I book right thru the Costco website, not the Alamo site. I like using the Costco site, they enter a coupon automatically, so easy, and if I need to cancel I can do it easily on the Costco travel site.

This just makes me more angry. Because I did the exact same thing. This is my 3rd trip on less than 3 months and this has been my only problem.

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

hmmm - I just did it this 2 minutes ago. Had no issues. Are you an Alamo Insider? I booked online at Costco, went to Alamo, linked my reservation, clicked "skip the counter" and was good to go.

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

I have heard some random reports of Alamo randomly selecting people using the Costco (and other) discount codes to ensure that they are entitled to the discount. Happened to us with Avis not so long ago.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I just did this at WDW . i also did it today in another city and no issues at either

 

[MI_firefighter]

This afternoon I booked on the Alamo site and used the code I found on the Costco site. Once it was confirmed, they let me check in and also do the skip the line feature. I have printed all the paperwork that I need to just walk out to the car from what I understand. What I thought was strange is that I just went to Costco.com and the code popped up. It never asked for my membership number.

 

[PatMcDuck]

When I book thru Costco Travel site, I have to enter my Costco membership number every time, as a login. I am also an Alamo Insider, and login there before I enter the (Costco originated) Alamo confirmation number to to the Skip the Counter thing.

 

[MI_firefighter]

I thought it was strange for sure that it was just on the regular site. The Costco code also gave me a free bump to the next level which is a standard. I have read elsewhere that Alamo at MCO doesn't have standards and so there may be another bump up. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[davper]

hmmm - I just did it this 2 minutes ago. Had no issues. Are you an Alamo Insider? I booked online at Costco, went to Alamo, linked my reservation, clicked "skip the counter" and was good to go.

Yes, I am an alamo insider

I have heard some random reports of Alamo randomly selecting people using the Costco (and other) discount codes to ensure that they are entitled to the discount. Happened to us with Avis not so long ago.

They didn't even ask me for my Costco card at the counter.

 

[keishashadow]

I tried calling the Costco CS line and that just brings me to alamo. There is no option to get to a human.

GREAT WAY TO START MY VACATION

They have always respond to my emails and resolve my issues within a hour or so when I've asked for modifications to reservations (extending trip by a day or two or moving it up or back more than a few hours).

I am currently on hold with Alamo CS waiting to speak with a supervisor.

I have been trying to enter my payment for Skip the Counter and it won't let me. It gives me an error saying the coupon is invalid.
I called yesterday CS yesterday. The rep said I had to wait until I had less than 24 hours before pickup.

So this morning I try again. No change. I call CS and they are saying that because I use Costco, they do not allow Skip the Counter service.

Skip the counter is the only reason I use Alamo. This will be the last time I use Alamo.

Just got the supervisor. They said that they had an update to the policies and website. Any reservation not made directly through Alamo, will not be allowed to do skip the counter.
Then he goes on to say that it is because I have a 2nd driver.
So I do not know what to believe. I just know this is my last Alamo reservation.

You answer your question in your 2nd sentence. The coupon you originally used is now invalid. They will not permit you to check in online unless it is removed.

I'm sure you booked using it when it was still active (going to guess perhaps the $35 one).

There are still $25 ones that will work.

If you cannot modify the reservation to remove the coupon, email them (information is on website) and request it be removed and the $25 one added.

 

[keishashadow]

I thought it was strange for sure that it was just on the regular site. The Costco code also gave me a free bump to the next level which is a standard. I have read elsewhere that Alamo at MCO doesn't have standards and so there may be another bump up. Does anyone know anything about this?

Correct. If your reservation states "standard" you pick from fullsize aisle in MCO. Honestly, I don't see much of a difference between their mid-size and full-size picks at times

Note if you see something 'exciting' on mid-size such as a minivan or SUV, we've been able to select from that aisle instead of the full-size we booked. Not sure if this is standard policy or they have just accommodated us YMMV.

 

[bumbershoot]

You answer your question in your 2nd sentence. The coupon you originally used is now invalid. They will not permit you to check in online unless it is removed.

I'm sure you booked using it when it was still active (going to guess perhaps the $35 one).

There are still $25 ones that will work.

If you cannot modify the reservation to remove the coupon, email them (information is on website) and request it be removed and the $25 one added.

All he's mentioned is Costco though. You think he has Costco plus that coupon code? It would make sense given the managers mention of something invalid, but all the op has mentioned is Costco.

And the manager also said totally wrong things (given other peoples' very recent experiences) about booking indirectly and that it being because he has a second driver. Hard to believe the manager.

 

[keishashadow]

I have been trying to enter my payment for Skip the Counter and it won't let me. It gives me an error saying the coupon is invalid

All he's mentioned is Costco though. You think he has Costco plus that coupon code? It would make sense given the managers mention of something invalid, but all the op has mentioned is Costco.

And the manager also said totally wrong things (given other peoples' very recent experiences) about booking indirectly and that it being because he has a second driver. Hard to believe the manager.

No, he specifically mentions an error message re invalid coupon

Easy to add one of the Costco corporate codes via Alamo web site, then mix and match a coupon from another source...which has always been one of the nice features as to Alamo and coupons vs the other providers.

Calling equates to nothing IMO even if you get a supervisors name. It's Far more effective to argue a point when you have something in writing vs a he-said, she-said scenario...people mis-speak, policies change and things often get lost in translation.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was reading that as he was being given an error message, which any of us who use the WDW site know can mean nothing. Since he didn't state that he used a coupon, and didn't mention trying to take a coupon off the booking, for me that solidified that it was just an error message.

 

[keishashadow]

I was reading that as he was being given an error message, which any of us who use the WDW site know can mean nothing. Since he didn't state that he used a coupon, and didn't mention trying to take a coupon off the booking, for me that solidified that it was just an error message.

Lol ok entitled to your interpretation but from multiple res since May using the $25 coupon have received the coupon error code when trying to check in

Once emailed and it was honored at MCO.

MYR did so begrudgingly end of June to point where I removed it from all ongoing res

Perhaps the OP will return to enlighten us

 

[PatMcDuck]

When you are an Alamo member, and book thru the Alamo site (as OP said they did?), you are shifted to Costco Travel site, where it adds a valid (I think $25 right now) Alamo coupon automatically. then is asks for your Costco ID number, and completes the reservation. If OP reserved like this, the coupon should be valid.