Car rental types available, based on time/day of the week - National/Alamo

[hurleysweety]

Arriving at 5-6pm on a Wednesday. What kind of selection of cars can I expect from Alamo or National? Will all the earlier travelers have taken the better of their inventory? Or will they continue to replenish, even on a Wednesday?

Also, I've never rented from a company that chooses the car for you. Does time of day/day of week impact you at those companies too? (Getting much cheaper rates at Dollar)

 

[kaytieeldr]

They continue to replenish. People take, people return.

 

[hurleysweety]

I guess I'm just curious if we'll have an overload or be stuck with "leftovers." On our last trip we definitely had leftovers. We went to both sides and waited about 45 mins and nothing...kinda disappointing.

On our trips before that we arrived earlier in the day and they had sooo many mini vans and SUVs they were starting to park them in the midsize row. I've never seen the lot so full.

Just wondered if there was a rhyme or reason for that?

 

[kaytieeldr]

No rhyme or reason. I usually use Magical Express in Orlando, but rent from Alamo/National in Las Vegas - and pretty much always around the same time, but different days. Sometimes the selection is phenomenal, sometimes it's non-existent, sometimes it's minimal.

 

[hurleysweety]

Hmm...ok. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. Just wondered if they stocked more cars on weekend mornings for arrivals, or got overloaded on Sunday nights because of departures. Just curious! Looks like its all part of that darn rental car game!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

IT's a rental car. You aren't buying it. I certainly wouldn't waste a lot of time "waiting" on a better car.

You can ask the attendant if they are bringing up anything you want, but the truth is that there is no guarantee at any time. Conventions, business travel, holidays etc can ALL have bizarre impacts on "car turnover"

 

[kaytieeldr]

Car rental companies don't "stock more cars" at different time or on different days. They can't. They don't have a hidden stash somewhere. What's available when depends ENTIRELY on what's returned/prepped and then placed in the selection area of the garage at any given moment.

People who rent cars pick them up and return them at all different times on all different days year-round.

Dollar assigns your car. Period. They won't assign you a car that hasn't been returned - shouldn't, anyway.

 

[hurleysweety]

delete