confused about car rental

[meg8017]

Hi, sorry if this is a stupid question. I've only rented a car once! Let me start by saying we have a reservation with National (I am an Emerald Club member) for a week in May, picking up on a Saturday at around 2. I have read several reports of people saying there were slim pickings on the lot, no minivans or suvs. My confusion is this...will they not hold a minivan for us? We are a party of 5, 3 adults 2 kids in car seats. We will NOT fit in a car. (will have 3-4 suitcases, a double stroller and carry ons.) I am really nervous now!!
Should I make a second reservation with another company?

 

[DebbieB]

Hi, sorry if this is a stupid question. I've only rented a car once! Let me start by saying we have a reservation with National (I am an Emerald Club member) for a week in May, picking up on a Saturday at around 2. I have read several reports of people saying there were slim pickings on the lot, no minivans or suvs. My confusion is this...will they not hold a minivan for us? We are a party of 5, 3 adults 2 kids in car seats. We will NOT fit in a car. (will have 3-4 suitcases, a double stroller and carry ons.) I am really nervous now!!
Should I make a second reservation with another company?

They are talking about the Emerald Aisle. If you are an Emerald Club member and reserve an intermediate, you can pick anything from the row marked "Emerald Aisle". You are guaranteed an intermediate but they usually have upgrades to full size, sometimes SUV's or Vans.

If you reserve a Mini-Van, you will go to the row marked for Mini-Vans. They should have them, especially in the afternoon.

 

[gmeh1]

Hi, sorry if this is a stupid question. I've only rented a car once! Let me start by saying we have a reservation with National (I am an Emerald Club member) for a week in May, picking up on a Saturday at around 2. I have read several reports of people saying there were slim pickings on the lot, no minivans or suvs. My confusion is this...will they not hold a minivan for us? We are a party of 5, 3 adults 2 kids in car seats. We will NOT fit in a car. (will have 3-4 suitcases, a double stroller and carry ons.) I am really nervous now!!
Should I make a second reservation with another company?

They don't "hold" vehicles. However, should you arrive and not find a minivan in the minivan area, go to the kiosk and ask for one. There should be someone there until about 11pm after 11pm go to the Alamo booth in the garage, they will more than happy to help you.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You are not guaranteed the car you reserve. Yes, it is possible the car type you prefer will not be available.

 

[clarkshel]

You are not guaranteed the car you reserve. Yes, it is possible the car type you prefer will not be available.

If this happens they will upgrade you for free. Had his happen a couple times. One time we reserved a minivan. The van was there when we went to pick it up. There was 6 of use. Well at the courier they asked us if we wanted a Hummer instead. We asked to look at it first. As soon as we saw it we knew it wouldn't fit all of us and our luggage. By the time I got back to the desk, they said they rented out our minivan already. They gave us a free upgrade to a full size van. One of those 12 passenger ones.

 

[JessM]

There was lots to chose from in the Emerald Aisle the last time we were there. We ended up taking a nice SUV for the intermediate price. If you reserve a mini van they will have a mini van for your or upgrade you to an SUV. IMO (I do a lot of work for rental car companies) National/Enterprise/Alamo (all the same company) are some of the best to work with customer service wise. Hertz is great also but they are more expensive. Budget/Avis you are likely to end up with whatever they got. I'd stick with National

 

[meg8017]

ok, thanks for the replies. I wasn't sure if they would upgrade us or what would happen. I'll stick with National and hope for the best.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

If you reserve a Minivan ("Dodge Grand Caravan or similar"), you will get a minivan. It might not be Dodge Grand Caravan, but it will be something along those lines.

If you reserve a Midsize, and you're an Emerald Club or Emerald Executive member, you might find a minivan on your aisle. You might find an SUV with passenger and cargo capacity similar to a minivan. However, you might only find a bunch of 4-door sedans, such as Chevrolet Impalas.

If your family and luggage will not fit in a 4-door sedan, reserve a minivan, even though the rate is higher.

The last time I rented from National at MCO, there were only 4-door sedans on either aisle. The prior time, there was a snazzy Volvo SUV on the Executive aisle.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If you reserve a Minivan ("Dodge Grand Caravan or similar"), you will get a minivan. It might not be Dodge Grand Caravan, but it will be something along those lines.

Not if they run out of minivans. It happens! No car is guaranteed.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Not if they run out of minivans. It happens! No car is guaranteed.

You're giving the impression that car rental reservations are worthless. I don't agree. Minivans are a bookable car class.

Yes, it's possible a car rental location might be out of a car class, such as a minivan, that someone reserved -- but the car rental location will make it right. At Orlando's A side, that could mean bringing over a minivan from the B side. Or it could mean offering a full-size SUV. But, most likely, minivans will be there for the customers who reserved them.

I've have hundreds of car rentals over a period of three decades. I've always received the car class I booked or an upgrade.

I've had cases when I tried to reserve a minivan, but the car class was sold out so I had to reserve a different car class. But that's a different matter.

 

[meg8017]

I did reserve a minivan so hopefully it will be fine. I didn't realize there were 2 sides, so at least that means more cars available!

 

[gmeh1]

I did reserve a minivan so hopefully it will be fine. I didn't realize there were 2 sides, so at least that means more cars available!

Yes, two sides, more cars and a VERY long walk from one side to the other.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Yes, two sides, more cars and a VERY long walk from one side to the other.

Yes, it's a very long walk from one side the other, with a need to change levels a couple of times. If someone just wants to compare cars available on each side -- for example, to glance at the Emerald Aisle or Executive Aisle offerings on both sides -- it would not be worth it to most customers.

(For those who are not familar with MCO, the sides are officially Terminal A and Terminal B, although they're really two sides of the same huge terminal building.)

However a customer with a reservation for a specific, bookable car class, such as a minivan, will not be told, "We don't have a minivan here. Go check the other terminal." The car rental company will bring over a minivan from the other terminal or from its off-airport maintenance and storage facility, or will provide the next minivan (or suitable upgrade) that is returned (as soon as it's washed).

 

[gmeh1]

Yes, it's a very long walk from one side the other, with a need to change levels a couple of times. If someone just wants to compare cars available on each side -- for example, to glance at the Emerald Aisle or Executive Aisle offerings on both sides -- it would not be worth it to most customers.

(For those who are not familar with MCO, the sides are officially Terminal A and Terminal B, although they're really two sides of the same huge terminal building.)

However a customer with a reservation for a specific, bookable car class, such as a minivan, will not be told, "We don't have a minivan here. Go check the other terminal." The car rental company will bring over a minivan from the other terminal or from its off-airport maintenance and storage facility, or will provide the next minivan (or suitable upgrade) that is returned (as soon as it's washed).

Right you are, totally. I used to do that walk from A to B daily and I was able to use the "shortcut", even with that, it was a darn long walk. I felt bad for the people who were meeting others and landed on the wrong side. I gave them directions and sent them on their way.