Alamo not accepting BJ's discount codes?

[katallo]

I'm trying to make an Alamo reservation using our BJ's membership. Each time, it states the discount cannot be applied. I called and they said Alamo was booked to capacity with discount coupons for that time period. So, I entered three other dates and still receive the same message. Is it possible Alamo has stopped honoring BJ's coupons? Honestly, that is one of the reasons we purchased the membership. Just curious to see if anyone else has had the same issue.

 

[Lewisc]

Check the "fine print". Most of the offers require a rental which includes a Saturday night. The 40% off deal expires 2/6/2011

 

[bicker]

And beyond that, many discounted rates in the travel industry are capacity-limited, and so it isn't unusual for a discount to be unavailable, for any discrete number of capacity slots (whether they be days for car rental, or seats on a flight, etc.), and/or completely unavailable more than a short period after the discount is announced (i.e., after other consumers have had a chance to grab all the discounted slots).

I think the travel discounts that BJ's offers are nice, but I personally wouldn't count on such extras to justify paying for membership. We're members because it gives us access to what they sell off the warehouse shelves, every day.

 

[Lewisc]

True but rental agencies don't generally have capacity controls on their discounts, that affect us. Face it a discounted rental rate (AAA,AARP,COSTCO, airline....) is almost a given for leisure renters.

The OP didn't give any details. It's possible he's booking during a time where discounts are subject to capacity controls. Maybe President's week.

Possible he's not meeting the requirements (Saturday rental). Trying to rent something like a one way rental or a car type which is subject to capacity controls. Maybe BJs has a new code. Maybe he's booking late in the year and the discounted rates haven't been loaded yet.

 

[katallo]

True but rental agencies don't generally have capacity controls on their discounts, that affect us. Face it a discounted rental rate (AAA,AARP,COSTCO, airline....) is almost a given for leisure renters.

The OP didn't give any details. It's possible he's booking during a time where discounts are subject to capacity controls. Maybe President's week.

Possible he's not meeting the requirements (Saturday rental). Trying to rent something like a one way rental or a car type which is subject to capacity controls. Maybe BJs has a new code. Maybe he's booking late in the year and the discounted rates haven't been loaded yet.

Lewisc, thanks so much for your helpful response. We are renting a weekly rate with a Saturday stay in Spring, but not close to Easter. It's just a little unusual for this to happen. We managed to secure a rental with Dollar using BJ's so that's great. It was actually less than Alamo.

Bicker, I didn't mean to confuse anyone. The travel discounts are one of the reasons we joined. We use BJ's quite frequently. As I said, it was just a little unusual since we have done this many times in the past.

 

[corky441]

Just as with airfare there are blackout dates also. It doesn't have to be a holiday for them to black out certain dates.

If they know they will be busy without offering discounts... they don't

 

[bicker]

True but rental agencies don't generally have capacity controls on their discounts, that affect us.

I haven't rented a car in so long, so I don't know. Hotels, though - that's another spot where I've hit capacity controls on discounted rates in recent years.

So airlines and hotels do, and rental cars do only for certain types of vehicles (like minivans?).

 

[dudspizza]

I have a reservation with National for March 10-20 using the Continental Code (5007160) and $40 off 10 day coupon. I recently checked to see if my reservations had dropped and got an error message saying that I could not use the coupon (on the new reservation) due to capacity for the coupon being reached.

Coupons and discount codes are capacity controlled with Alamo and National.

Duds

 

[bicker]

Okay, that was what I had thought I heard. So which is it? Are they or aren't they?

 

[Lewisc]

Any coupon I've seen limits you to a specific code. The fine print says you can't mix and match. Makes some sense. The rental agency may have a bottom line price. Sometimes you get it with the code sometimes with the coupon.

We've always been able to "beat the system" by mix and matching.

I went to BJs website and tried a couple of dates. The code and coupons were automatically entered. No issues.

I don't know if National/Alamo is now enforcing the coupon requirements better, if the posters are picking a car class that now has capacity restrictions (mini-van?), if they're picking dates near holidays or if rental agencies are putting capacity controls that affect us.

edited to add---I went to Continentals website. I only see rental deals with Hertz and Avis. Is the Continental code even still valid? Does the $40 off day day coupon limit use to a specific ID?

 

[dudspizza]

Any coupon I've seen limits you to a specific code. The fine print says you can't mix and match. Makes some sense. The rental agency may have a bottom line price. Sometimes you get it with the code sometimes with the coupon.

We've always been able to "beat the system" by mix and matching.

I went to BJs website and tried a couple of dates. The code and coupons were automatically entered. No issues.

I don't know if National/Alamo is now enforcing the coupon requirements better, if the posters are picking a car class that now has capacity restrictions (mini-van?), if they're picking dates near holidays or if rental agencies are putting capacity controls that affect us.

edited to add---I went to Continentals website. I only see rental deals with Hertz and Avis. Is the Continental code even still valid? Does the $40 off day day coupon limit use to a specific ID?

Here is the response I get when trying to use the coupon.
Capacity reached- Coupon ND1283FJA is not available.

I have used the Entertainment Book coupon with the Continental code many times. The code is listed on Mousesavers and is for use by Continentaly FF members.

I have had this happen in the past where coupons are not able to be used due to capacity controls. I travel at high times of the year. I am a school teacher and don't get to travel at down times... our travel is when the kids are off from school.

Duds

 

[Lewisc]

It's not clear if National is tightening up on the capacity controls or if National is starting to enforce coupon rules.

What happens if you use the Entertainment ID with the Entertainment coupon?