Do any car rental companies at MCO--

[Uncleromulus]

Offer on-line check in and payment such that all I have to do is walk to the car and leave?

Alamo USED to, but last time after doing all the online stuff I was then told I would have to go to the counter anyway!! Never used to be that way and I found it extremely annoying.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Offer on-line check in and payment such that all I have to do is walk to the car and leave?

Alamo USED to, but last time after doing all the online stuff I was then told I would have to go to the counter anyway!! Never used to be that way and I found it extremely annoying.

As a National Car Rental Emerald Club member, my credit card is on file as part of the profile that I maintain. There's no need for any sort of "online check-in," and there's no need to go to a counter at most airport locations. If I have a reservation, I simply pick a car from the aisle that matches my reservation. I then drive to an exit checkpoint where I present my drivers license.

(If anyone could just "walk to the car and leave" without going through a checkpoint, any car thief could drive off with any car.)

The actual payment occurs when I return the car, not ahead of time. (There may be a temporary credit card hold for some renters.)

Until a few years ago, I rented from Hertz. As a Hertz Number One Gold member, I would look for my name and car space number on a locator board. I would then drive to an exit checkpoint where would I present my drivers license.

 

[OKW Lover]

I use Avis (was "Preferred" now I'm "First") and just walk over to the garage without the need for a stop at the counter.

I get an email from Avis telling me what space my car is in (usually shows up when I turn the phone back on at landing) but if that doesn't come through there's a board in the garage. Just walk to the car, inspect, load your luggage and drive to the check-out booth where they check your license.

If you don't care for the pre-assigned car there are others in the Exchange row that you can pick for the same price, or go to the upgrade row and take one of them for more money.

 

[MinnieForMe]

We've always just walked out to the garage with Alamo. It still says you can do it on their website. What has changed? Did you use a coupon?

Thanks. This will be a deal breaker for us using Alamo.

We have also walked right out to the garage using Budget at MCO.

 

[LisaS]

Alamo USED to, but last time after doing all the online stuff I was then told I would have to go to the counter anyway!! Never used to be that way and I found it extremely annoying.

When was that? We booked Alamo back in Oct and went straight to the garage. We didn't even have to go to a kiosk. We are both Alamo Insider members and used the online check-in a few days before our trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

Three hours ago I walked right out to the Alamo area, went to the full size row (there was a greeter! That was new for me), got in a car and went to the exit. I did online checkin a couple days ago, giving them my cc and DL info, and printing out the page that generated.

No problems and just as easy as our national experiences.

Oh and his was my first time renting with Alamo. Just signed up for Insiders recently!

 

[Uncleromulus]

This was in may--I did all the online check in and payments and then got a notice I still had to go to the desk. The reason (when I called to inquire) was that "plans change"

And tho not "preferred" we used Alamo several times before with the usual just walk to the garage. pick a car and go.

And Horace--of course you can't just leave w/o going thru a manned exit---

 

[MinnieForMe]

Did you by any chance try to get the car and drive out? Did you get the note before you left or did the garage turn you around? I have to admit after checking in online and giving them my credit card, I would have ignored the note and headed straight for the garage with my completed paperwork. If they turned me around, so be it!

I did check on TripAdvisor and no one else has commented on it recently. Hopefully, it was just random and bad luck! Fingers crossed that it still works for me in February. Like you, it's the reason we pick Alamo. I'll let you know!

 

[bumbershoot]

This was in may--I did all the online check in and payments and then got a notice I still had to go to the desk. The reason (when I called to inquire) was that "plans change"

And tho not "preferred" we used Alamo several times before with the usual just walk to the garage. pick a car and go.

And Horace--of course you can't just leave w/o going thru a manned exit---

Go a notice...meaning the email you received after doing checkin stated that you had to go to the desk? What else did it say? Could you have had a coupon that had to be shown, were you using a debit, anything else out of the ordinary?

My email heading said "Alamo Reservation Confirmation "etc" has been Checked-In", in red it stated I had to print the email to bypass the counter, etc. lots of communication. Seems like an email sent to you saying the opposite might be as communicative?

Regardless, it's not a new policy that you can't bypass the counter since I just did it. Must have been something specific about that circumstance.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Wish I knew--no coupons, debit cards etc--just booked like I always do and then got an e-mail.

I'll get on their site and for our April trip this year, I'll do everything online and as Minnie suggests just walk right on by the counter and get in a car!!!

Thats the way it SHOULD work if you take the time to prepay and check in online!!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

WThats the way it SHOULD work if you take the time to prepay and check in online!!

Out of curiosity, what do you consider the advantage of using "prepay and check in online" rather than registering for Alamo Insiders, National Emerald Club, Hertz Number One Gold, or something similar?

Before this thread, I never realized that some people have to check in online and prepay before they can get their car.

I just make reservations with National, often many months in advance. After I arrive at my destination airport, I just get in a car (from the aisle that matches my reservation) and present my drivers license at the exit gate. My credit card is not billed until I return the car.

No need to check in online. No need to prepay.

 

[bumbershoot]

Wait, you prepaid? That's a separate thing I gave them my info but did NOT prepay. As soon as I was in my insider account the option to book as a prepay was gone.

The prepay might be what caused the inability to just go out to the car.

And even though they had my info the guy at the exit still needed to see my card.

 

[bumbershoot]

Out of curiosity, what do you consider the advantage of using "prepay and check in online" rather than registering for Alamo Insiders, National Emerald Club, Hertz Number One Gold, or something similar?

Before this thread, I never realized that some people have to check in online and prepay before they can get their car.

I just make reservations with National, often many months in advance. After I arrive at my destination airport, I just get in a car (from the aisle that matches my reservation) and present my drivers license at the exit gate. My credit card is not billed until I return the car.

No need to check in online. No need to prepay.

Horace, National doesn't have the online checkin. Doing it with Alamo allowed me to behave exactly as I do with national, minus the EA part. Went to the aisle I booked and picked a car.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Can't see what prepay would have to do with it--in fact, it should make it EASIER!!!

And I guess I never "registered" with any rental company since we rent just once a year---

 

[MissyBrenda]

We've narrowed down our choices to Alamo and Enterprise, based on rates from Costco. I'm so used to National's Emerald Aisle, so would like to bypass the counters again using one of these 2 car companies. I've read above that Alamo does it - does Enterprise? Just want to avoid long lines in June!

Thanks - Brenda