Car Rental Help - National Emerald Club

[JELBoggio]

Wow, this is a little overwhelming!

I used the information on Mousesavers website and I'm trying to rent a car through National. I even signed up for the Emerald Club (mousesavers posted a free Emerald Club code) so that I can take advantage of the Emerald Reserve Club.

Anyway, I think I've found the best discounts (using code 5007125 for Emerald Club members from the mousesavers web site), but for some reason the best level of service is counter - not the reserve aisle (we want a mid-size SUV).

Can't figure out why I can't get it to work. Any Emerald Club Members out there that can give me some advice? I've spent too many hours trying to make this work! Also, when I cancelled one reservation, it stated that a cancellation fee may apply. Has anyone had a cancellation fee charged to them?

 

[KarenP99]

The aisle is ONLY for intermediate reservations.

Your reservation should be Emerald Reserve.

Call up customer service, they have been really great in my experiences!

 

[tkldisney]

I just looked at my reservation. We also have mid-size SUV and level of service is Emerald Reserve. This means that you pick out the type of vehicle you reserved. Emerald Isle is just for intermediate size (but you often find other vehicles there and they are ok to take)
Not sure why, but you should have option of reserve on the website. I don't think it even gave me option just automatically came up reserve.
I would try again and read what it says before you confirm, or do as Karen suggested and all. There is also NO cancellation fee if you cancel the reservation.

 

[sam98706]

I have almost the exact situation..I joined Emerld Club through Mousesavers and am renting a SUV and using that same code. I also noticed my level of service said "counter". However, I am also renting car seats..so I assumed that you could so Emerald Reserve Service when you are renting car seats.

Any chance you are renting something extra like car seats that is making you use counter service? Just a thought!

 

[JELBoggio]

I have almost the exact situation..I joined Emerld Club through Mousesavers and am renting a SUV and using that same code. I also noticed my level of service said "counter". However, I am also renting car seats..so I assumed that you could so Emerald Reserve Service when you are renting car seats.

Any chance you are renting something extra like car seats that is making you use counter service? Just a thought!

Yes, I am renting two boosters. I thought that might be the case in why it said counter, so I called the Orlando Airport National Car Rental directly. They said that was not the case - that I'd pick up the seats at a customer service counter at the lot.

After speaking with 4 different National reps after I posted, what they told me was that the reason it is counter service is that there is no Emerald Club Reserve at the airport - only Emerald Club Aisle. The difference, if I'm not mistaken is that the "Reserve" is for when you request a specific type of car -SUV, mini-van, full-size, etc. You would go to your row (SUV row for me) and pick your SUV. The Emerald Club Aisle is when you reserve an intermediate-type car, but what you end up with could be anything. Since we want an SUV, we were trying for the Emerald Club Aisle so we'd be sure to get an SUV.

A previous poster mentioned that she got the Emerald Reserve when she rented a mid-size SUV so now I'm not so sure that I got the right information from National. Can anyone tell me for sure if both an Emerald Aisle and an Emerald Reserve both exist at the Orlando International Airport?

I've spent too much time on this

 

[TammyC]

There is Emerald Reserve at Orlando airport (at least there was in November). Is it possible that when you booked your reservation online that you did not include your Emerald Club ID# thus assigning your ressie to the counter?

 

[JELBoggio]

There is Emerald Reserve at Orlando airport (at least there was in November). Is it possible that when you booked your reservation online that you did not include your Emerald Club ID# thus assigning your ressie to the counter?

No, it was included, but thank you for that suggestion. Each person I spoke to gave me a completely different reason why I wasn't getting Emerald Reserve - My membership didn't allow it, they only have counter service at the airport, I can't use the reserve and a discount. I'll try customer service one more time before I give up. I was just trying to make a speedy way to the car instead of standing in line with two little ones who just got off the plane and will want to go right away.

If I get anywhere with this, I'll be sure and post since I know I am not alone! Thanks to all who have taken the time to post and offer suggestions!

 

[tkldisney]

I just looked at my reservation. We also have mid-size SUV and level of service is Emerald Reserve.

I don't know what they are telling you, but they are wrong! They have ER in MCO. We rented a full size car in Dec. and it was also emerald reserve. The only available vehicles in the ER Full Size Car row was 7 passenger vans, so we got in a van drove to the window and she said that was all they had and no difference in $$.

For my reservation in 3 weeks, my confirmation says Emerald Reserve.
I didn't even have to select any level of service. I logged in, clicked on specials to go, selected the 25.00 E-coupon for midsize suv & clicked make reservation. Put in my info, I had to edit vehicle selection for suv because my profile has intermediate. Clicked rate quote, was thrilled with the price and then just reserved the suv. I am using their contract id 5007125, with rate code CADY. (Nat'l selected the rate code once I asked for rate quote)

 

[DonnaL]

I agree with above posters .....MCO has both Reserve and Aisle service.
Try to go to the National website and go to your reservation # THROUGH the
Emerald Club screens. I have a ressie for October and I noticed when I made the ressie (even using Emerald Club #) through the regular National ressie screens it wasn't showing as Emerald Aisle service on my completed ressie.
So, I went back to home screen and went in through the Emerald Club screens and used my original ressie # and EC # and sure enough, when it came up this time it was showing EA service. Hope this helps you.

 

[beattyfamily]

The only TWO reasons you can get bumped to "Counter" with Emerald Club membership is either an upgrade coupon OR if you are renting carseats.

You are getting "Counter" because you are renting carseats.

It's so sad that their customer service people couldn't give you the correct information.

If you book anything other then an Intermediate, you would have "Emerald Reserve" service.

When you book an Intermediate, you get "Emerald Aisle" service.

 

[cinmell]

I have a midsize SUV booked for May and my reservation say tier: Emerald Club. My confirmation email says to proceed directly to the rental lot and the car class reserved to choose your vehicle.

I just called National to verify this and I was told even though I have an suv, I do not go to the counter and I should go directly to the Emerald Aisle. He also said Emerald Aisle/Emerald Reserve are the same thing.

 

[beattyfamily]

I have a midsize SUV booked for May and my reservation say tier: Emerald Club. My confirmation email says to proceed directly to the rental lot and the car class reserved to choose your vehicle.

I just called National to verify this and I was told even though I have an suv, I do not go to the counter and I should go directly to the Emerald Aisle. He also said Emerald Aisle/Emerald Reserve are the same thing.

I think he's mistaken.

The Emerald Aisle is clearly marked. It's full of Intermediates and if you're lucky, something better, but you are only guaranteed an Intermediate. It's for Intermediate reservations only. It will say Emerald Aisle on your reservation or your email confirmation.

Emerald Reserve is the level of service for any other size. All aisles are also clearly marked. You'd go to the mid-sized SUV aisle.

There is also a third kind of level of service but most here don't qualify for it...Executive Aisle, which is also clearly marked. It's right next to the Emerald Aisle. It's for (very) frequent renters. There are couple of renters on the DIS lucky enough to have this level of service. They are guaranteed a Full size but could get much better.

 

[cinmell]

My main concern when I called was to make sure I was able to bypass the counter and he assured me twice that I could proceed right to the lot. Has this been your experience with Emerald Reserve?

 

[beattyfamily]

My main concern when I called was to make sure I was able to bypass the counter and he assured me twice that I could proceed right to the lot. Has this been your experience with Emerald Reserve?

Oh yes. You shouldn't have any problems. As long as you booked it logged in to Emerald Club, didn't use an upgrade coupon or rent carseats, you should be fine.

It should say right on your reservation and also your confirmation email that it's Emerald Reserve service and to just head to your aisle and pick a car!

It so easy and fun (we LOVE picking our own car!)

Its one of the MAIN benefits of joining the Emerald Club, no counter.

 

[cinmell]

Oh yes. You shouldn't have any problems. As long as you booked it logged in to Emerald Club, didn't use an upgrade coupon or rent carseats, you should be fine.

It should say right on your reservation and also your confirmation email that it's Emerald Reserve service and to just head to your aisle and pick a car!

Yup, I definitely booked after I logged into Emerald Club and my email confirmation says level of service is Emerald Reserve.

I'm happy that I won't have to go to the counter, I got nervous for a minute.

 

[JELBoggio]

Spoke to a really nice National rep last night - she told me that it has to be counter because of the boosters I'm renting. She tried to "work it" a couple of times in my reservation to get me the Emerald Reserve, but it was impossible. I thought the booster seat rental was the reason for counter, but when I spoke to a different rep earlier, they said that was not the case.

I'm going to take that reason as to why it's counter service unless someone else tells me that they used the reserve and rented car seats!

Thank you all so much for responding! I'm hoping that the counter line moves fast! I'm arriving on a Tuesday so let's hope that's not a busy day!