Car rental question

[son3disfan]

I rented a car online last week for March and got a rate of $131.45 a week from National.
Total with taxes for 2 week trip was $313.52.
I have confirmation printed out.
Today , I went back checking new coupons - the rate was so much higher. Just for fun , I thought I'd try my discount numbers again and see what comes up.WELL...
the price was DOUBLE!! $ 468.oo How can that be ? I made sure I put in the EXACT numbers on my confirmation....
AAA discount 6100253
and $25.00 off coupon from Mousesavers. How can that be ? Is it because I booked in 2006? and now 2007 rates are higher?
I hope I don't have any problems when I get there.
Anyone care to comment? I'm so new to this car rental thing. Everyone says to check rates regularly because they might go down . I didn't think they'd go up. Will they still give me what's on my confirmation? ( I'm also a new EC member).

 

[son3disfan]

I guess I should keep my posts short and to the point..
DO RENTAL RATES TEND TO GO UP ? AND AM I SAFE WITH A CONFIRMED RESERVATION?
How's that...

 

[bavaria]

yes + yes

 

[RainbowsMist]

Not a rental car expert by any means, but I would think that your original quote would be good.

From someone that's been watching rental car rates for 10 months now it's been my experience they have done nothing but gone up since last April I should have booked back then.

Good Luck!

 

[son3disfan]

Not a rental car expert by any means, but I would think that your original quote would be good.

From someone that's been watching rental car rates for 10 months now it's been my experience they have done nothing but gone up since last April I should have booked back then.

Good Luck!

Thanks! I thought they were supose to go down!

yes + yes

Thanks!

 

[mtmbyck]

we also experienced the same thing returning a vehicle to the airport early in the morning before the offices are open. It was a Budget Rental Car and I was quoted around $500 for the 2 weeks and when we returned it, which was very early AM before our flight and their offices were not open, an attendant uses a machine and rings through the charge and it was almost DOUBLE!! We need to rent again this year Mar 3 - 17th so any tips would be great.

 

[son3disfan]

I hope you didn't pay double!
That's what I'm worried about! Especially if I'm doing the Emerald club where they SEND you the invoice! I would be just crushed if my bill was double and I was all the back here in Canada.

 

[bavaria]

Print out your confirmation. If your final total is for the same dates/times/location and differs, call National customer service to dispute

(sorry, tried to keep that short! )

 

[TinkOhio]

I've also read that when you are checking to see if rates have gone down, do it as a new quote. That way , if things are only going up, you still have the original one in tact. Your can always book another if rates do go down, then just cancel the old one.

Good luck!

 

[Pumbaa_]

exactly!

It is very easy to cancel with National. I play with the codes until I find one I can live with, and then keep checking. I have rebooked as alte as the day before I left with no problems (just don't forget to cancel the original one!!)

Bring your confirmation with you and when you check in with the car, they give you a printout of the charges.

Good luck!

 

[son3disfan]

exactly!

(just don't forget to cancel the original one!!)


Right now I am holding two different Ressies. One for a midsize car ( Emerald Isle) and one for a midsize SUV ( Emerald reserve). I was planning on keeping both of them , hoping that the EI might have an upgrade ( like a minivan ). If they didn't then I still have my Emerald reserve. Is that allowed?? Is it O.k.? Wow, I don't want to break any rules!

 

[wdwfan1]

If you do not cancel prior to the rental date, they can charge you for both cars. The entire charge for the one you actually rent, and (I believe) 1 day for the other car. Read the terms on the website.

 

[DonnaL]

By all means make sure you cancel one of those ressies before the date of the reservation. I've often had several reservations at one time, but, keep them all together in one folder until I decide which one I'm keeping (usually based on pricing/discounts) then immediately cancel the other(s) and print out the cancellation confirmation (just in case a computer error says I didn't cancel and I get charged). I'm still waiting for my National reservation for 1/13 to come down, but, it doesn't look good at this point. The lowest I can get it is $299 + $25 gas gift card for using American Express. That's for a Chevy Uplander minivan.......I hate to pay that much for a rental vehicle, but, we need a van this trip since there are six of us. I could get Dollar for less, but, we have two drivers and since we're EC members with National the second driver is free (not really with the price)....with Dollar we'd need to pay the additional driver fees so it would essentially be more in the long run.

 

[son3disfan]

[
Wow ,Thanks guys. I had no idea I needed to cancel . You guys just saved me alot of money ( again)
It's amazing how much I DON"T know about travel....
What would I do with out the DIS!
THANKS AGAIN!