Avis vs Hertz vs Budget at MCO

[artesian]

I'm sitting on a few different ressies all with a few dollars of each other. Budget I used in Jan and know already I'd rather not use them even though the cheapest. Hertz and Avis I have no experience at all. Do they both assign a car or is it a go pick the row type rental? Lines any better or worse? Check in pain level? Looking for any insight to help me decide.

 

[sponica]

I haven't rented from Avis at MCO, but if you're part of the preferred program and rent a standard size or larger, you can pick your own car (although I think the first time you have to confirm you are who you say you are). My memory might be hazy as it's been a long time since I rented a car.

 

[Mickey’s my Spirit Animal]

Good morning Artesian!
I have recently reserved with Hertz at MCO airport in Florida. As I am a Hertz Gold Member, my name was listed on a monitor instructing me the row to pickup to vehicle! I reserved through Delta. I am unfamiliar with Avis. Sponica’s response is a similar process for Hertz as well!

 

[artesian]

Good morning Artesian!
I have recently reserved with Hertz at MCO airport in Florida. As I am a Hertz Gold Member, my name was listed on a monitor instructing me the row to pickup to vehicle! I reserved through Delta. I am unfamiliar with Avis. Sponica’s response is a similar process for Hertz as well!

My issue is I rented through Costco so I can't enter my info. I'm glad it's more of a row and pick a car. My experience with in Jan with Budget was they assigned me a car. Car one heavy cigarette smell. Car two cigar smell not horrible but was too annoyed to go back again. Hence me wanted to avoid Budget at MCO

 

[artesian]

Found this interesting. I signed up for the Avis program and tied my Amazon account to it. With a res you can get back 10% in an Amazon gift card. That pushed me $40 below my lowest rate if I prepay.

 

[Mickey’s my Spirit Animal]

My issue is I rented through Costco so I can't enter my info. I'm glad it's more of a row and pick a car. My experience with in Jan with Budget was they assigned me a car. Car one heavy cigarette smell. Car two cigar smell not horrible but was too annoyed to go back again. Hence me wanted to avoid Budget at MCO

I concur! I absolutely hate cigarette smell! You were right to avoid budget! My preferred rental car company is actually Enterprise! As for the Costco ressie, contact the actual car rental company (Avis or Hertz) with the Costco info so that you can see and manage your reservation! Although I reserved through Delta, I can see my Hertz reservation on hertz.com after I logged in! Just a thought!

 

[sponica]

Found this interesting. I signed up for the Avis program and tied my Amazon account to it. With a res you can get back 10% in an Amazon gift card. That pushed me $40 below my lowest rate if I prepay.

It's been a while since I've rented, but if I remember correctly, if you rented standard or larger you basically got to pick, if you rented intermediate or compact it was an assigned car? Yeah we couldn't fit golf clubs and 2 large suitcases in the ford fiesta, so I basically just paid the upcharge to get whatever car I wanted.

 

[Mickey’s my Spirit Animal]

Found this interesting. I signed up for the Avis program and tied my Amazon account to it. With a res you can get back 10% in an Amazon gift card. That pushed me $40 below my lowest rate if I prepay.

Thank you for the update on the Amazon savings!

 

[Spartan86]

Found this interesting. I signed up for the Avis program and tied my Amazon account to it. With a res you can get back 10% in an Amazon gift card. That pushed me $40 below my lowest rate if I prepay.

I think if this is your first Avis rez as preferred renter you will need to stop at the garage kiosk to verify your CC and DL. I had an email, perhaps the rental confirmation email that detailed the need to do so. This was earlier this year in a somewhat quieter time, but it was a quick task. I believe I may have used a similar Amazon promo on that rental.

 

[sghokie]

I rented from avis last week.
the line took forever, budget had a super long line.
Avis people were like the DMV workers in zootopia.
Budget was much faster at getting people through.

If I could do it again I would take an uber to the hotel and then get a car at the Dolphin.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

I have rented from either Avis or Hertz every trip for the last 10 years....with one Budget rental thrown in there. I have Avis Preferred and Hertz Presidents Circle status and the Budget Fast Breaks. While I've really never had an issue with either, Hertz is a bit of a dumpster fire at the corporate level at the moment due to their recent bankruptcy and reorganization.

All three offer some sort of skip the line program. I would make sure to sign up for that. Then my suggestion on whom to rent from, in order, would be Avis-Budget-Hertz. A few years ago I was almost exclusively renting from Hertz....but right now they just aren't at the top of their game.

 

[Cheburashka]

My issue is I rented through Costco so I can't enter my info.

I always rent via Costco and they do have a blank to fill in your membership number for any particular rental company.

 

[Boardwalk III]

I rented from avis last week.
the line took forever, budget had a super long line.
Avis people were like the DMV workers in zootopia.
Budget was much faster at getting people through.

If I could do it again I would take an uber to the hotel and then get a car at the Dolphin.

I was hoping to do this (Dolphin pick-up) in November but is it true that is no longer an option?

 

[Gitelfor]

I was hoping to do this (Dolphin pick-up) in November but is it true that is no longer an option?

That location has been closed for quite a while, with no info available if/when it will reopen.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

We did Budget last week and we are fastbreak members. They had a giant sign up that Fastbreak was closed so to stand in regular line. The line took an hour, lady at counter said sign was wrong, fastbreak counter was open. She assigned us a vehicle, sent us on our way. Fastbreak counter in garage had about 10 people in it and 1 person working so not any better. Car assigned was dirty inside, had scratches in multiple places outside, an Avis employee was able to change our rental to a different car in a matter of minutes.

 

[patclairesmom]

We rented from Budget a couple of weeks ago and live was over an hour maybe longer. While I was online in from of the Avis booth and I went online and was able to book the same type of car for a similar cost.