Anyone have experience with Thrifty?

[kellyf2626]

So, we booked a rental car through Thrifty, and I have to say I am a little nervous. The rate was significantly lower than the other rental car companies? I am just wondering why?

Does anyone have experience renting from Thrifty? Are they located right at MCO - or do we have to take a bus to the rental site?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

Last April we reserved a Full size car from Thrifty.
We were given a Brand New Lincoln Town car, $115 total for the week.
This March 31st, I have a reservation for a full size car from Thrifty, $150 total for the week. They were fast, friendly and easy to deal with, no coupons, special passwords, or secret codes.
Good Luck,
Joe

 

[Dewy]

We rented with them a couple of years ago and the experience was good. The car was a Ford Tarus with less than 5K on the odometer. We booked because of price too.

I think their prices are lower because they are not at the airport. You will need to take a shuttle to their location. They are about 4 miles from MCO and the I was at the counter in about 10 minutes from the time I borded the bus. If I had a good rate, would not hesitate to use them again.

 

[inkkognito]

We have rented from Thrifty several times and it was almost always a great experience (even a few free upgrades). The only negative was one agent who was very pushy on the insurance. I asked him to stop the spiel because I didn't want it, and he got really snotty and insisted on going through the whole thing. But that only happened once, and I joined their Blue Chip club to make sure it wouldn't happen again. Even though they are off-site, their bus service is very prompt. Odds are that you will have a good experience.
Barb

 

[tor]

Thrifty was great i feel it was easier then dealing with the on airport places cause you dont have to drag your luggage through the garage to get your car and if you sign up for blue chip you wont even be asked about insurance and there is almost no wait price was 108 intermediate for week during presidents week

 

[jiminy14]

We switched from National to Thrifty about two years ago and have been very pleased with the experience. We always book a full-size car and we have been upgraded on our last four rentals (three times to a mini-van, once to a brand new Chrysler 300C). Yes, they are off-site but the shuttle ride is short and runs about every 10-15 minutes from the rental car level. My DH goes to pick up the car and my DDs and I retrieve the luggage. We are currently booked for two weeks in May for $238 total.
Make sure you sign up on their website for the Blue Chip program. You get a special check-in line and no insurance spiel.

 

[kellyf2626]

Thanks for all the replies! I feel much better now!

So it sounds like the Blue Chip program is the way to go. I will look online to sign up for that. Does is cost anything? I will have to investigate! I was nervous b/c I thought they were not right at the airport, but it sounds like that is not a big deal!

Thanks again!

 

[emmabelle]

We just used Thrifty for a one way from Ft. Lauderdale to Ft. Myers, they gave us a brand new Seabring, they were great, no line picking up or dropping off. We already have them booked for MCO in August.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

We were very pleased w/ Thrifty. We used then last November. No problems whatsoever! I was worried about it as well beforehand, but would now use them again in a minute. Have fun!

 

[kddlm]

We used Thrifty last Oct. at MCO.......NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER! DH took the shuttle to go get the car while me and kids waited for luggage. He was already back with the car by the time I was collecting our last piece of luggage. Have since signed up for the Blue Chip program (free by the way) for even speedier service (not that it was slow to begin with!) I'm sure you'll be totally satisfied!

 

[travlnman1]

We have reservations with Thrifty too, and I was getting nervous.
But, the rate just can't be beat.
We have a FULL size van, not mini-van, for a weekly rate of 215.99 plus taxes (266.13 total). Everyone else wanted almost $600.00!!

Question: Do you collect your luggage and go straight outside to catch the shuttle or do you go to a desk in the airport first?

 

[jiminy14]

There is no charge for the Blue Chip program and you can sign up for it on the Thrifty website.

travlnman1...there is no Thrifty desk at the airport. You have to take a shuttle to their facility. My DH usually goes to pick up the car while I get the luggage. He's usually back at the airport before I have all the bags. If this won't work for you then after you get your luggage you can take it on the shuttle with you over to Thrifty. The shuttle runs from the rental car level.

 

[travlnman1]

Thanks! Sounds like a plan.
I think I'll have DH wait for the bags with the kids and I'll go get the car.

I'm feeling good about renting from Thrifty!

 

[maux]

I have rented from Thrifty five times in the past three years and have never had a problem. Make sure you sign up for their Blue Chip program, it's free and well worth it! Also, if you arrive in the evening, make sure to tell the shuttle driver you're a Blue Chip member, they'll call ahead and have everything ready so all you have to do is sign and drive off!!


maux

 

[kellyf2626]

Ok...so I was in the process of filling out the info to be part of the Blue Chip program. But, I am somewhat uncomfortable giving a credit card # out that will just be "on file" somewhere. So, I didn't do it. Is there a real negative to not being part of this program?

 

[kddlm]

I see your skepticism in this world we live in today, but when you really think about it, we give our credit card out to even riskier people in my opinion. You probably have a credit card # on file at your local video store! As a member of The Blue Chip program there is a separate line you are able to go to aside from the general public and by renting from them you earn free rental days. We rented for 7 days last year and received a coupon in the mail for a free rental day (which we will use this year) and there have never been any unauthorized charges on my credit card. It is just a formality I'm sure!