Car Hire from Airline network any opinions

[snookhams]

I have been make a few enquiries re car hire for our Aug 04 trip as we usually use Autos abroad which are no longer trading (or so I understand) and have a really good quote from airlinenetwork.co.uk of £643 for a 7 seater minivan fro 22 days, the next quote I have is over a £100 more. Has anyone used this company with BAD results or is everyone more than happy with them! Thanks

 

[juliebro]

I'm in the same position as you. I have a quote from Airline Network which is much more competitive than any other quote - especially when taking into account the extra insurance cover they provide. They were recommended to me on the board, but I'd like to know if anyone has had any bad experiences too.

We travel at the end of March.

Julie

 

[amf]

Hi......we used Airline Network in Sept/Oct, hiring a 7 seater mini van and had great service. I didn't even need to leave a CC imprint as all insurances etc included in the price, with no excesses.

I'm also looking at hiring a mini van for 3 weeks for our holiday next July and I see that the prices, whilst good, are about £60 (for 3 weeks) up on our recent trip. I noticed that their prices got lower closer to departure time last time (maybe just the strong £) but I'm holding off just now.

I'm also looking at Skycars and Vehicle Hire Direct who also have decent prices.

 

[RUSHBURY]

Hi

We rented 2 x 7 seater for our 2 x groups in Oct '03 from Airline Network with absolutely no problems - great service etc.

As previously mentioned we didn't leave a CC imprint etc.

We are also looking at using them for our next holiday in Oct '04 and have no problem in recommending them or using them again.

Helen

 

[mike230652]

snookhams

We used Airline Network for our holiday.....returned on 11/12....and they were the best agency we've ever used by far. I had to ring them re: a problem with my driving licence and they sorted it with the US end with absolutely no fuss ( or cost ! ).

They were spot-on, booking was very easy, we paid £311 for 2 weeks for a Dodge Stratus...this included ALL insurances ( unlike some out there ) plus free tank of petrol and any driver. Car collection was a doddle, staff friendly and the car was immaculate.

Couldn't recommend them highly enough ! I know we'll definitely be using them next time.

mike230652

 

[Claire4dpins]

This sounds interesting - what actual car hire firm do they use? Is it one that is on airport (Orlando International) - or is it a smaller operation that I would not have heard of?

Thanks,
Claire

 

[GO2209]

I have found Airline Network to be excellent. On both Florida trips with them, the rental agency was Dollar.

 

[amf]

Yes, Dollar with us too. Queue for the paperwork non existant (flying bmi/United).

We travelled back to MCO part way through the holiday to drive some friends going to Orlando for the first time to their resort. They were flying Virgin and it looked as everyone off the plane had booked Dollar. The queue was horrendous We are flying Virgin for the first time in July and the experience is making me think twice about hiring a Dollar car.

 

[snookhams]

Thanks for all replies, I think that I am going to book with Airline network, not to worried about the queues as when we used autosabroad (last 3 trips) they also used Dollar and we flew Virgin everytime and did not wait for any longer than 15 mins. and that included time for them to get extra vehicles from there depot, should not be too long a wait this time as we are flying PE and I understand that we exit the plane with 1st Class and get through the airport alot quicker (aren't the lines at immigration something, always waited there longer than we waited in the Dollar lines)

 

[juliebro]

I've booked today online with Airline Network for our car hire for next Mar/Apr. The feedback on the boards all looked very positive and the car will be provided by Dollar. I checked the insurance and the rates with Dollar themselves, and they couldn't give me a rate as cheap - and the Airline Network price includes uninsured driver insurance too - which Dollar charge an extra $5 per day for!

Julie

 

[GO2209]

I booked a Fly-Drive through Virgin for Sept 2003. Although the car was with Dollar I was sent to a Virgin/Dollar desk to collect the car, rather than the 'real' Dollar desk.

The queue at the Dollar desk was shorter than the Virgin one, so I would expect it to be quicker with an Airline Network voucher?

 

[amf]

AFAIK the Virgin/Dollar desk is only (and strictly) for those booking through Virgin Holidays. Our friends booked with Virgin Travelstore and had to wait in the normal queue, after enquiring at this desk.

Its heartening to read comments re small queues at Dollar after flying Virgin. Could this be a day of the week thing.....our friends flew in on the 3rd Saturday flight from LGW (1st Saturday in October)?

Edit....sp

 

[GO2209]

We flew Virgin MAN-MCO on Saturday 13th September. Short queues at the rental desks. Actually, short queues everywhere! With the exception of Manchester airport - computer failure created havoc at checkin.

I posted a trip report in the UK Trip Reports section...

 

[amf]

Dup

 

[amf]

Thanks GO2209

As we are flying MAN - MCO the first Saturday in July I was a bit worried about booking Dollar, based on that experience with our friends. From what has been said it appears that this experience might not be the norm. Certainly I'm happy to keep an open mind.....and no doubt the cheapest quote (with the best T&Cs) will win the day

I shall have a look for your TR....thanks again

 

[BiGGy]

We used Airline Network too during 10/11 found them very helpfull and when we went to pick the van up was in and out very quick with dollar not needing an imprint or anything.

1 word of advice when we booked it we put the pickup time and dropoff time, was told by dollar when i took the van back 'late' that the time you pick it up is the time it has to be back regardless of what you put on the booking with Airline Network.

will be getting a quote off them in the next few days myself for nov/dec 04

rgds

BiGGy

 

[MalcolmC]

Virgin Holidays does have its own (Dollar) desk at MCO where they try to foist upgrades etc. on the poor, unfortunate, first time traveller.

We booked a VH fly-drive last June, but with the minimal (1 week) car hire. I then booked the "real" car hire chaeper than VH elsewhere. The VH reps were quite perplexed when I just ignored them and their queue and walked up to the empty Dollar desk and got the car sorted in about three minutes!

No CC imprint required, either. Though, I think that is more to do with having prepaid the insurances in the UK, than anything else.

 

[chunkster20uk]

I saw on mousesavers a discount code for Dollar of 'KISS3' I had a quick play and seems like a good discount compared to dollar with Airline Network, but I may be wrong.

 

[juliebro]

Where do you enter the discount code?

Julie

 

[chunkster20uk]

Dollar

Go to the link above.

Enter pick up and drop location and continue.

On the next page you put in dates, car etc, in the middle is a box 'Promo Code' just put KISS3 in there!!