Budget Rental at LAX?

[pxlbarrel]

Has anybody rented a car from Budget at LAX before? I usually rent from National but have gotten a good deal on an SUV. I enrolled in the Fastbreak and wondered if it's like National where you just go to the car and drive off to the gate with it or do you still need to go inside.

I'm about to cancel my National reservations...the one using legitimate codes and the one using the questionable 67 code. (Ok, I'm a wuss ... )

 

[brenda1966]

The biggest question is WHEN are you picking up this car?

I have rented from Budget at LAX summer 2006 and it was a $*%&%* nightmare!

I was supposed to pick up my car midday on a Saturday in July. When I got there, the line snaked around the side of the building. There was no escaping standing in this line that took 2 hours to get me to the front desk. When I got there, I was told my car "was not ready". I was fuming and near tears. Finally they offer me a full sized van to get rid of me. So, nearly 2.5 hours later I am in my car, mad and late to my next destination. I will never rent from BUDGET out of LAX on a weekend in the summer.

The staff working there were very casual and didn't seem to care. They just shrugged it of and said "this is how it is in the summer!"

So, beware.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

My experience:

I've rented from there twice during the week, and didn't have any issues. I think there WAS a line the first time I was there, but was taken care of fine, got & used the car, and returning it was a snap.

 

[pxlbarrel]

The biggest question is WHEN are you picking up this car?

I have rented from Budget at LAX summer 2006 and it was a $*%&%* nightmare!

I was supposed to pick up my car midday on a Saturday in July. When I got there, the line snaked around the side of the building. There was no escaping standing in this line that took 2 hours to get me to the front desk. When I got there, I was told my car "was not ready". I was fuming and near tears. Finally they offer me a full sized van to get rid of me. So, nearly 2.5 hours later I am in my car, mad and late to my next destination. I will never rent from BUDGET out of LAX on a weekend in the summer.

The staff working there were very casual and didn't seem to care. They just shrugged it of and said "this is how it is in the summer!"

So, beware.

Yikes!!!! We're renting on a Saturday two weeks from now.... at noon!!!

Does Fastbreak allow me to bypass that line though?

 

[brenda1966]

Yikes!!!! We're renting on a Saturday two weeks from now.... at noon!!!

Does Fastbreak allow me to bypass that line though?

This was 2 years ago, so maybe they have a VIP line now. I would certainly find out! Back then everyone had to stand in this same, non-moving line.

This year I am trying avis. And I get into LAX so early I don't expect to see any lines. LOL.

 

[Mr.Bubbles]

We just got back yesterday from our trip to LA. We rented a car with Budget at LAX and used Fastbreak. We arrived on a weekday at 9:30 p.m. to pick up our car. The shuttle driver asked if we were using Fastbreak and he dropped us off at the shelter instead of by the main building where everyone else got off. In the shelter was a television monitor with customer names rotating telling you which section to go to to pick up your car. Our name was not on that, but it was on a sheet of paper attached to a clipboard right next to the television. It told us to go to section #1. We went there and there were only 3 cars to choose from. We opened the car, put our stuff in and drove to the gate to leave.

The line of people inside the main builiding was not too long, but you did have to wait in line.

When we returned we were supposed to just have them check our car in and go. But...the guy with the scanner said that the outgoing mileage in his scanner did not match the outgoing mileage that was written on the card when we left with the car. So, I had to go inside. Once inside, it didn't matter if you were a Fastbreak customer or not when returning. I had to wait in line. It took me a while. The agent at the desk said there was an error in the scanner, she fixed it and we were good to go. But, we had to show her that the mileage written on the card hanging on the mirror when we left with the car was what the actual mileage was. The scanner tried to show that we had driven over 1,500 miles! We only had the car one day and drove 50 miles. This was an issue since we had driven under 75 miles we did not have to fill up the car with gas, but just pay a flat rate of $14.

Anyway, it was easy to pick up the car, problematic to return it and make sure you SAVE every piece of paper in the car when you pick it up.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Thanks for the warnings and reassurances! Two more weeks and I'll be basking in the glow of California sunshine! Woowhoo