Budget car? Flight reservation required now?

[loveswdw]

I usually do the book & cancel & rebook thing several times before a trip so I always start shopping the car rental agencies early. This morning, I was looking at Budget out of MCO and found a rate I could live with for now. I tried to book (October 2011 trip) and it wouldn't let me as I don't have the flight info. Being this trip is a while away, I don't have a flight yet (SW & AT don't even have their flights up for that time frame). When I tried the "I'm not flying" option, it told me that I need to book at an off-airport location.

When did putting in your flight info become mandatory to book at Budget MCO? And are most of the rental agencies doing this now? I didn't check the others yet.

 

[dudspizza]

I usually do the book & cancel & rebook thing several times before a trip so I always start shopping the car rental agencies early. This morning, I was looking at Budget out of MCO and found a rate I could live with for now. I tried to book (October 2011 trip) and it wouldn't let me as I don't have the flight info. Being this trip is a while away, I don't have a flight yet (SW & AT don't even have their flights up for that time frame). When I tried the "I'm not flying" option, it told me that I need to book at an off-airport location.

When did putting in your flight info become mandatory to book at Budget MCO? And are most of the rental agencies doing this now? I didn't check the others yet.

I have a trip coming up in March. I have booked with National, Enterprise, and Budget during planning for this trip (currently with National)....... none of them have required me to put in flight info....

Duds

 

[loveswdw]

Did you try a new reservation today? I just did it again for March and June 2011 out of MCO and still get that flight info is required. When you go to book the car (after the rates show up), then it gives you the screen where you input your name, flight info, etc. There's little red dots out next to everything that's required.

Now if I try to book a car from our Louisville airport, its not required. You can put it in if you choose but there's not a requirement to do so. Maybe its just an MCO thing??

 

[dudspizza]

I booked through http://www.costcotravel.com/ and was never asked for flight info... just checked again now.....

Duds

 

[seashoreCM]

1. Some rental agencies offer lower rates to visitors compared with rates to local residents. They may require showing of a boarding pass.
2. When the rental agency accepts or requires a flight number it might be held to honoring the reservation if the flight (and your pickup of the car) is really delayed.

 

[sam_gordon]

Pick an airline and flight # and put it in. After you book flight, call or edit online and update.... simply tell them your plans changed.