Car Rental at LAX Alamo vs. Avis vs. Budget

[CareHeartsDisney]

We currently have standard SUVs reserved at LAX with Alamo, Avis & Budget for 8/5-8/14. We usually rent from Alamo when we travel to Orlando. We have liked skipping the counter and choosing our vehicle. We typically pay for a standard car and have been able to get an SUV or a minivan. Does Alamo work the same way at LAX when using Alamo Insiders & electing to skip the counter? What about Budget and Avis? Do they work the same way if you sign up for their program and skip the counter? Alamo is a little more than the others but if there’s a better chance of getting a bigger vehicle, I’ll pay the extra money. Thanks!

 

[Lynne G]

When I went to LA last, I did rent from Alamo. Still had to go to counter, but I had checked in as member, if I remember was not too bad to get to the car. And none of the rental companies are in the airport. So you have to find where to wait, and wait for the shuttle. We have been to LA twice, and I don’t think the shuttle was waiting for us and having to wait for a time, before one came. Shuttle takes another 10 or more minutes if traffic. But that was a couple of years ago, so hope someone has more recent experience for you. But that’s what I remembered from our trips.

 

[NurseKim]

I am renting from Alamo out of LAX soon for the first time. I checked my reservation on the Alamo site and was able to fill in all of my information online and am able to skip the counter. I'm not an insider either!
I rent from Alamo at MCO as well and have never asked for an upgrade so I can't help there.
I check reservation prices frequently and they have doubled from when I booked 6 weeks ago.

 

[CareHeartsDisney]

I have been seeing rates fluctuating quite a bit, even within the same day, when checking the Costco Travel website. I rebooked several times since the rates have actually been decreasing for my dates.