Car Rental

[switch15foot]

any suggestions for car rental out of LAX? Experiences?

Picking up mid day but have to drop it off at 4am?

 

[sherilaine]

We have used Budget - if you do sign up for their Fastbreak service, it is free, and in doing so you get dropped off at the Fastbreak section and you find your cars location on a clip board - you then go to that spot, drive your car to the exit and hand the attendant your rental information (which is found in the car), your credit card and drivers license. Takes them a few minutes and then you are off!

This trip we were able to reserve a car using airmiles and I am actually having second thoughts as that means not being able to use the Fastbreak service - I have not heard good things about picking up a car at the counter at that location unfortunately. Might have to change that.

I think all the rental offices are open 24 hours so an early drop off is not an issue and you won't see much in traffic!!

 

[switch15foot]

Looking through Costco ... Any experience with Enterprise at LAX? Or booking through Costco?

 

[Bigrob37]

I have booked through Costco every time I rent a car from LAX and never had any problems. I have not used Enterprise, only Alamo and Budget. Picking up a car from Budget counter had a very long slow moving line. Using Alamo they have touch screen centers to pick up your paperwork and then head out to any car in your category. Using them again this weekend.

 

[kristabelle13]

I've used Dollar my last two trips - sign up for Dollar express and you skip the line inside.

For reference, on US thanksgiving, my flight landed at 8:15am, got a shuttle at 8:35, I left Dollar at 9:05am (and honestly, I think on a non-holiday fully staffed, it would have taken 15 min less) and checked into the Tropicana at 9:55 and walked into DCA at 10:06am.

I also like that, at this location at least, with Dollar Express both times I didn't get asked about wanting insurance or an upgrade and it wasn't some high pressure sale job. I can't stand that. It makes me feel so uncomfortable.

 

[sherilaine]

I also like that, at this location at least, with Dollar Express both times I didn't get asked about wanting insurance or an upgrade and it wasn't some high pressure sale job. I can't stand that. It makes me feel so uncomfortable.

THIS - I agree! Using Fastbreak at Budget - they do not ask about insurance or anything of the kind, it is very hassle free and I hope it stays that way because I just cancelled my airmiles booking and booked through Costco so I can retain the ability to use Fastbreak this time around. Being able to skip the line up is a huge benefit to the start of ones vacation!

 

[switch15foot]

Just booked through Costco.ca, went with Alamo as it was the cheapest. I signed up for Alamo Insiders is there a way to add the member # to the reservation?

 

[corinne76]

Not the original poster, but can you sogn up for the express service if you go through Priceline or similar?

 

[sherilaine]

Not the original poster, but can you sogn up for the express service if you go through Priceline or similar?

I am not sure how Priceline works - if they work similar to Costco in that they are just getting you a better price but you can, once reserved, alter the reservation, cancel etc, then you'd be able to add any sort of car rental program # to your reservation. If you rent using air miles or some other kind of points where they make the reservation on your behalf and you cannot alter it, then it's doubtful. Then you'd likely have to get in the back of the line and wait when picking up your vehicle.