Alamo pricing - I'm confused

[FigmentSpark]

So, I've been watching the pricing on the Costco site for Alamo for some time now and found it to be the cheapest for my dates. For 'fun', I went directly to the Alamo site and found the pricing was lower. Then, I put the Costco contract id in, thinking I might find a coupon or something, and as soon as I put in the Costco number, the price went up.

What's going on? Is it better to book directly with the site or with Costco? I know that Costco gives me a second driver and unlimited mileage. Could that be the difference, but one I'm actually paying for without realizing it?

 

[Ryan2016]

That is strange because we used the annual pass holders coupon and we also got unlimited mileage.

it maybe because Alamo set a rate with Costco and now they had to drop their rates to compete with the other companies

 

[AliceIn]

So, I've been watching the pricing on the Costco site for Alamo for some time now and found it to be the cheapest for my dates. For 'fun', I went directly to the Alamo site and found the pricing was lower. Then, I put the Costco contract id in, thinking I might find a coupon or something, and as soon as I put in the Costco number, the price went up.

What's going on? Is it better to book directly with the site or with Costco? I know that Costco gives me a second driver and unlimited mileage. Could that be the difference, but one I'm actually paying for without realizing it?

What month?

 

[Ryan2016]

October

 

[FigmentSpark]

Mine is March. I can't seem to find the other rate, now, either. I wonder if I have a cookie that's remembering things, because it knows my dates, too. I might try another browser.

 

[FigmentSpark]

So, I figured it out. The cheaper rate was on the Alamo.ca site. I was able to put my Costco contract number in and got $100 USD cheaper rate than the Alamo.com or Costco.ca site. Very weird.

Now, I just have to know if I can book the extra driver on line or if we will have to go to the kiosk for it. It's my husband doing the driving, but my Costco/Alamo Insider's number. So, should I leave it like this, or sign him up for Alamo Insiders and rebook under his name?

 

[awalker1015]

So, I figured it out. The cheaper rate was on the Alamo.ca site. I was able to put my Costco contract number in and got $100 USD cheaper rate than the Alamo.com or Costco.ca site. Very weird.

Now, I just have to know if I can book the extra driver on line or if we will have to go to the kiosk for it. It's my husband doing the driving, but my Costco/Alamo Insider's number. So, should I leave it like this, or sign him up for Alamo Insiders and rebook under his name?

I had the same dilemma. I found out that if you pull up your reservation and go to online check in you can add the additional driver there. It will give you the option to go ahead and put in a CC to bypass the desk. Or you can wait and do that part closer to your dates.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Excellent! We are arriving late and I'd like to avoid the desk if possible.

 

[bumbershoot]

You could easily just get him his own Insiders account.

 

[nacho113]

So, I figured it out. The cheaper rate was on the Alamo.ca site. I was able to put my Costco contract number in and got $100 USD cheaper rate than the Alamo.com or Costco.ca site. Very weird.

Now, I just have to know if I can book the extra driver on line or if we will have to go to the kiosk for it. It's my husband doing the driving, but my Costco/Alamo Insider's number. So, should I leave it like this, or sign him up for Alamo Insiders and rebook under his name?

Sometimes you will get a different rate if you change the "Resident Of" line on the Alamo website.
If you login to Alamo.ca it generally defaults to "Resident of Canada" (same is true on Costcotravel.ca)
Logging in at Alamo.com defaults this field to "Resident of United States" (and on costcotravel.com)
It is changeable on either site but you must set this field correctly depending on your residency (and drivers licence), otherwise you may be ineligible for the rate.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I'm finding that it pays to check every day, too. I booked last night and today the price dropped $60! So I cancelled and rebooked (well, rebooked and then cancelled).

 

[Lynne G]

Yep, I keep checking Costco's website and Alamo's like FigmentSpark. Can cancel either sites' ressies, if you find a better rate. Right now, Alamo's is better for both times I need, and now, if you use the Costco rate on the Alamo site, it asks for your Costco number. With my Alamo site ressies, using Costco code, I still get the free extra driver and unlimited miles that the Costco code gives. I've never had a problem. I have rinsed and repeated so many times for both my rentals coming up. I never pay up front, so I can cancel up until the last minute. The car rental market goes up and down, as any demand market does. I am paying more for my December holiday time, than my October time of almost the same number of days. And for the December time, so far, the rate I got months ago still seems the best. For October, it's come down quite a bit from my first, much earlier ressie. I even check up until the day I travel. You never know, and cancelling is easy. A click or a phone call.