Alamo Tips

[Sora777]

I have a standard car reserved. Am I going to be able to pick from the aisle?

 

[gmeh1]

I have a standard car reserved. Am I going to be able to pick from the aisle?[/QUOTE


with a standard car with Alamo, you select from the full size row.

with a standard car with National you select from the full size row.

You only get to select from the aisle if you are a National Emerald Club member.

 

[gmeh1]

We fly SW so I believe it's the A side because I remember going left to get to the Alamo Van row.

Yes, SWA is side A. and you will go left to Alamo.

 

[Sora777]

I have a standard car reserved. Am I going to be able to pick from the aisle?[/QUOTE


with a standard car with Alamo, you select from the full size row.

with a standard car with National you select from the full size row.

You only get to select from the aisle if you are a National Emerald Club member.

I am both a national emerald club member and Alamo insiders member. I reserved with Alamo. Hopefully I can just hit the kiosk and then go to the row.

 

[dioxide45]

Hi! I searched the forum for this but wasn't able to locate the answers to my specific questions....

So, I have only rented a car once and that was National EA (super easy). For our next trip the best deal I have found so far between National and Alamo (and I am being a diligent DISser transportation student and checking multiple time a day) is $222 (all in) for a Alamo Full-Size 10/22-10/29.

I have added my additional driver (DH) said I don't want the insurance and no other extras. So 3 questions:

*Do I want extras? I'm thinking mostly about the fuel fill-up, is this necessary or more for convienence?

This is convenience only. You will undoubtedly overpay for fuel if you do the prepay fuel option. With prepay fuel you pay for a full tank at the begining of the rental at a slightly discounted rate over the average local prices.

They discount it slightly to make it look attractive. However you have to roll in on fumes to make it cost effective. If you roll in with even a half gallon in the tank, you have paid more than the average rate of fuel at the local gas stations.

If you have an early morning flight or don't want to bother with finding a gas station before returning the car, by all means buy it for the convenience. Don't buy it hoping to save money. Imaging going back in with a half tank of gas knowing that you paid for a full one? Are you going to drive around the day before departure to use up that gas in the tank? I would think not.

Sunpass for tolls? I was just planning on paying the tolls OOP b/c we will only pass them on the way from MCO to WDW and back to MCO (and really they are not that expensive).

This isn't a bad deal anymore in Florida. A daily convenience fee on the days you pass through a toll plus the cost of tolls. Not real bad, but just pull through the cash lanes if you want to save some expenses.

*Are there any watchouts that I may not anticipate?

*If I do online-check in and skip the kiosk do I still get to pick any vehicle from the full-size isle?

Yes

TIA and I appreciate your help.

 

[gmeh1]

Just a note: It does not matter how or when you check in, or what coupons you use etc. If you are renting from Alamo, National or Enterprise, you can select your own vehicle from the appropriate row. We do NOT assign cars.

 

[Jperiod]

I have a standard car reserved. Am I going to be able to pick from the aisle?[/QUOTE


with a standard car with Alamo, you select from the full size row.

with a standard car with National you select from the full size row.

You only get to select from the aisle if you are a National Emerald Club member.

I'm a national executive member, but have a mid-size alamo reservation this time. Where would I be able to pick, just the mid-size rows?

 

[dioxide45]

I'm a national executive member, but have a mid-size alamo reservation this time. Where would I be able to pick, just the mid-size rows?

If you are an Emerald Member then you can select from the mid size row or the Executive Isle.

 

[goofy4tink]

I work for National/Alamo, they do charge for extra drivers, look on their reservation page. It totally depends on what codes and coupons you use. Try running a regular reservation without any codes and see what happens when you add an extra driver.

Now, I do know that other agencies do charge for additional drivers and I also know that the company that signs my paycheck charges for them too.

From their website:

Additional Driver

Additional Drivers:
•All additional drivers must meet all rental qualifications.
•Must appear at the rental counter with the primary renter.
•Must present a valid driver's license.
•Must sign the rental agreement.
•An additional daily fee may apply for any Additional Drivers

Well....not being argumentative, but there are instances where an addtl driver doesn't have to pay addtl fees. It does say, above, that 'daily fees MAY apply'. We have a full size car booked through National for our Oct stay. Picking up at Sanford.....we are not paying for me to be the addtl driver. The reservation, in my dh's name since he holds the contract through his company, says that business associates and spouses do not have to pay addtl driver fees.
I know that I was very careful when booking our car rental. I do the driving...but my dh is the one with the credit card, so he has to be the lead person on the car rental. I had booked, at one time or another, rentals through Budget, Dollar and National...all allowed me to be the addtl driver with no addtl daily fees. Stayed with National due to it's having the lowest cost for the larger vehicle.

 

[mommy*RN]

Does National stock crossovers and do any of these crossovers (Alamo or National) at MCO hold more than 5 passengers? I feel like I'm playing russian roulette, but I can't seem to find a decent price on a minivan but got an "okay" rate on a crossover...but I need to hold 6 people. Getting so frustrated.

Thanks for all the information though -- this was a great thread!!

 

[gmeh1]

I'm a national executive member, but have a mid-size alamo reservation this time. Where would I be able to pick, just the mid-size rows?

Great that you are a National Exec. Member, but, you will still have to select from the mid size row at Alamo.

 

[gmeh1]

If you are an Emerald Member then you can select from the mid size row or the Executive Isle.

This poster is renting from Alamo, NOT National this time around.
If he/she were renting from National this time around then the selection could be made from the EA, the Exec. A or the midsize row. You cannot take a midsize rental from Alamo and use it on the Emerald aisles at National.

 

[gmeh1]

Well....not being argumentative, but there are instances where an addtl driver doesn't have to pay addtl fees. It does say, above, that 'daily fees MAY apply'. We have a full size car booked through National for our Oct stay. Picking up at Sanford.....we are not paying for me to be the addtl driver. The reservation, in my dh's name since he holds the contract through his company, says that business associates and spouses do not have to pay addtl driver fees.
I know that I was very careful when booking our car rental. I do the driving...but my dh is the one with the credit card, so he has to be the lead person on the car rental. I had booked, at one time or another, rentals through Budget, Dollar and National...all allowed me to be the addtl driver with no addtl daily fees. Stayed with National due to it's having the lowest cost for the larger vehicle.

You are absolutely correct. First, I was addressing another poster's comment that Alamo NEVER charges an additional driver fee, which is misleading, as very often you do.
There are many instances with codes, contracts numbers etc. that the additional driver fees are waived.
I posted that from Alamo's page to make others aware that they may well be charged for an extra driver.
I do not know about other rental companies, I don't work for them. I have rented from Avis and I am a preferred member and as such would not be charged for an additional driver (unless the rules have changed in the past 5 years. ) I am a EC member and know the rules for that. I am an Alamo insider member and barely know the rules for that. I have not looked into the rules cause I am an employee and get a rather hefty discount on rentals and no charge for additional drivers.

Bottom line: I posted that info because I don't want people mislead by saying NEVER because it is not true. There are many ways to avoid the charge (legit), but, to assume that it is automatic is just wrong.

 

[gmeh1]

Does National stock crossovers and do any of these crossovers (Alamo or National) at MCO hold more than 5 passengers? I feel like I'm playing russian roulette, but I can't seem to find a decent price on a minivan but got an "okay" rate on a crossover...but I need to hold 6 people. Getting so frustrated.

Thanks for all the information though -- this was a great thread!!

The Ford Flex holds 7. Chevy Traverse holds 8. Not sure what class of crossover they belong to, but, it is a start.

 

[hallwalker]

Alamo tips are,
1. Know your market,
2. Look good,
3. Branch out from an auction-only strategy,
4. Key in on keywords,
5. Be a professional.

 

[gmeh1]

More Alamo tips:
when going to the exit booth please have your rental contract and license ready. The contract does not belong in your luggage, it is like your vehicle registration, it belongs in the car at all times.
We need to see the contract and license because we are assigning the car to your contract at the exit booth, we like to know where our cars are. We need to see the license to make sure YOU are the one that is on the contract. Mix ups happen.
Add your additional drivers at the counter. Spouses are NOT automatic, we need to see their license and they need to be listed on the contract.
Don't wait till you get to the exit booth to inspect your vehicle for damages, do it in the garage or while waiting in line.
Whenever possible, use the kiosk for check in, online check in is great, but, does require the exit agent to perform the same task as the counter agent, same goes for prepaid. We won't put a hold on your credit card until you show the exit agent the card and we can verify and swipe it. Again, this is for your "safety". If you want to wait till you get to the exit booth, that is fine, just don't be upset that you aren't out of the gate in 30 seconds and please, don't crab at the exit booth agent if the person in front of you has taken longer than 30 seconds to exit. I could write a book on the issues some renters present to us. IE: not having their license with them. You aren't going to leave without showing it.
If you use the kiosk, please, have the rental agreement, license and credit card ready when you come to the exit booth. We have to check this. If you are using a debit card for payment, please, have your round trip itenary with you, cannot accept the debit card without it.
Reasons for needing the proper documentation:
you could have dropped your rental agreement and someone picked it up and tried to exit with a vehicle rented in your name. That would be messy.
The counter agent could have given you the wrong rental agreement. That has happened. Took a bit of time to fix that.
Check the document before you leave the counter. Often if you only rent using your license mixups happen. I have seen dup.license numbers from different states get mixed up. Whenever possible, use your reservation number.
We appreciate our customers greatly, we strive to make your rental experience excellent. We are not there to give you grief, we are there to make sure that everything is correct before you leave the gate. Mistakes happen, it is unfortunate but real. We try to avoid them and try very hard to NOT cost you valuable vacation time.

 

[ShiPooOwner]

Bob, I have commented about this a few times in different posts.

As to the National and Alamo being franchised: the majority of our rental car locations are company-owned, with the remainder owned by licensees.

Actually, you can take your Alamo reservation (for instance), pick a car from National and exit at the National booth, or visa versa. The only thing you cannot do is take an Enterprise contract to anywhere but Enterprise, they are on a different system. I don't know why and really have never asked.

Is this true for Fort Myers as well? If I have a reservation for a compact through Alamo at RSW could I pick from the Alamo or National compact cars?

 

[Swimmergirl]

Add your additional drivers at the counter. Spouses are NOT automatic, we need to see their license and they need to be listed on the contract.

So, if I want to add a spouse to our reservation, do I have to use the counter? We'd like to use the kiosk if possible.

 

[Jperiod]

I've added my DH to the reservation online with his license number and such. Will he need to show is license as well when checking out? I'm not sure how MCO is laid out, but I was planning to get the car, install the car seats and then swing around to pick up him, luggage, and kids.

 

[GirlDreamer]

Everyone who is going be a driver in a rental car has to show a valid license at some point, don't know where that is at the airport though... It's usually where you pick up the keys at other places though.