Car rental pick up time question

[rdrjj5]

I was originally suppose to fly in to orlando arriving at 11:50 pm so I reserved my rental for 12:30am the next day. Well I have changed my flight and will arrive at 10:30pm and went to change the reservation and the 4 day rental went up $30! ( I rechecked the original reservation and it remained the same) I will be dropping off on the 4 day at 6pm so going over on time is not the reason. Has anyone shown-up an hour early at the rental counter and did you have any problems?
thanks

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by rdrjj5
I was originally suppose to fly in to orlando arriving at 11:50 pm so I reserved my rental for 12:30am the next day. Well I have changed my flight and will arrive at 10:30pm and went to change the reservation and the 4 day rental went up $30! ( I rechecked the original reservation and it remained the same) I will be dropping off on the 4 day at 6pm so going over on time is not the reason. Has anyone shown-up an hour early at the rental counter and did you have any problems?
thanks

There should not be a problem. You can call the reservation number and see if they can change the time for you, they often do that without a change in the rate. Who are you renting from?

 

[SB in KY]

There should be no problem showing up an hour or 2 early. The return time is based on the time the car signed out to you, not on the reservation time.

I would just show up at the counter, hand them your confirmation and not even mention it....I would bet 99% that they won't care/notice.

I ended up changing flights last month into Chicago and arrived 3 hours earlier than planned... the clerk laughed and said "this is a switch...usually people show up 3 hours late, but never early!" She said they have to hold your car for 4 hours after the reserved time, so she figured as long as vehicles were on the lot the 4 hour rule would work in the other direction also.

 

[rdrjj5]

Gail,
We are renting from alamo. If there is a problem, we will just have to wait.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by rdrjj5
Gail,
We are renting from alamo. If there is a problem, we will just have to wait.

I doubt there will be a problem with Alamo. What happens if you try to modify the existing reservation? If you have already covered this, excuse the repeated question.

 

[seashoreCM]

I have often been given cars early, also once in awhile (the same rental agencies) they would not give me the car early (but did give me the car on time.)

In one instance the rental agent offered to give me a car 4 hours early in exchange for my paying for an upgrade. I declined.

It is not unusual for the rental to be more expensive if you try to rebook it with different times.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[NotUrsula]

I've only had a problem with this when the day of the week that I've been picking up the car mattered, such as when I had a weekend rate that was only available starting at 6 pm on Thursday. When it's something like that, I just take my time strolling through the airport, and killing an hour isn't hard.

 

[rdrjj5]

I did try changing the arrival time but it does change days and the price went up so I'll stick with the original reservation and if I have to wait the hour I will. I'm just glad that we could switch the airport closer to home.