Budget Car Hire Question?

[pacman9a]

Hi

I have read recently that when you get to the car hire desks that there is a different queue for each grade of car.

My questions are is this correct for Budget? I have a free upgrade from USrentacar (Thanks Wayne for the tip ) from intermediate to premium so should I join the queue for premium and hope that they will have one available or queue up at intermediate and hope to get bumped up?

TIA

 

[mcarthur205]

We used Budget in April and collected our car at the desk at MCO. There is only one line there - first come, first served - and it was busy, we waited a long time for our car. It was Easter though, it may not be so bad at quieter times of year.

 

[Tony Toon]

This is the first time we haven't used Budget and arrived last Tuesday. It is still just one queue and on Tuesday looked very short, unlike the Alamo queue we were in which was enormous. Luckily DS and I had sent DH on ahead first while we picked up the suitcases so it wasn't too bad for us. Got a nice Mazda 6 which swallowed our 4 large suitcases in the boot.

Mrs TT

 

[wayneg]

Both my rentals thru USrentacar/Budget I have used this link https://registrations.carrentalsupport.com/index.php?partnercode=e=&bookedBrand=Budget
Pre-register all your details then you don't goto the desk at all, keys will be waiting for you at the kiosk in the carpark. Saved me about 1 hour each rental, takes 5 mins to collect with pre-reg.

 

[brehede1]

Hi all,

I just booked a car with Usrentacar (at a good price!) due to recommendations from this site. I used Budget mainly because of the ability to register ahead. I did this today and received an e-mail confirmation of registration.

There was an error with the pick-up time so called USrentacar to check. They said that my registration only allowed me to join a fast line, not go directly to car park. I rang Budget at the airport and was told the same thing. Do you know whether this has changed - I am not looking forward to waiting for more than an hour for a car!

Thanks!
Deirdre

 

[wayneg]

Hi Deirdre
I did it last August and again in May this year, no change, hope it hasn't since. Its a fast line in the carpark at the Kiosk where you collect keys. Unless they have brought it inside same as Dollar I don't understand their response.

 

[TOONMADLAD]

Both my rentals thru USrentacar/Budget I have used this link https://registrations.carrentalsupport.com/index.php?partnercode=e=&bookedBrand=Budget
Pre-register all your details then you don't goto the desk at all, keys will be waiting for you at the kiosk in the carpark. Saved me about 1 hour each rental, takes 5 mins to collect with pre-reg.

Still the same Wayne, I picked up my car (Budget) last Friday from the kiosk on the upper level in the car park with the free upgrade, from getting off the plane to picking the car up was about 25 mins, Budget were very efficient and would definately use them again

 

[wayneg]

Still the same Wayne, I picked up my car (Budget) last Friday from the kiosk on the upper level in the car park with the free upgrade, from getting off the plane to picking the car up was about 25 mins, Budget were very efficient and would definately use them again

Glad its still the same. I think it depends which side of airport you come out at to which level. Last August we had to go up the escalator to kiosk, this May was on ground level.
Hope you got a good car, we have had 2 nice ones thru them others say Budget has an older fleet.

 

[TOONMADLAD]

Got a really nice car, it's a Hyundai Sonata with around 12000 on the clock, bodywork and interior spotless, it's the 1st time I have used Budget and will certainly be using them again, providing the price is right

 

[Disbabe]

We booked with usrentacar also and had a free upgrade - we're out in a not so sunny florida right now (its now our 2nd day). Didn't get the free upgrade as its on an availability basis and they were so booked the notice on the desk said they could not rent cars to anyone who hadn't already booked! We could have changed the car today if we wanted, but no point. Seems weekends are the busiest and perhaps the free upgrade is less likely at a weekend? Who knows
Never mind - we got a really nice and spacious car anyway - a Chevrolet Malibu - got 3 medium cases and 2 small cases in the boot as well as most of the hand luggage - which is better than some of the boots we've had in the past

 

[wayneg]

They must be short of cars to put a sign up like that. We usually arrive Thursdays, will be again next Thursday so maybe that helps the availabilty for upgrades.
Collecting from Tampa airport next week though, see how that goes.