Does Alamo still not have a "standard" category @ MCO?

[jgraney106]

Does anyone know if Alamo still doesn't have a "standard' category in the garage at MCO? We reserved a standard with them for September, and the model example given is a Chrysler 200. We also have a standard reserved with Dollar for the same time period. Dollar's standard example is a Mitsubishi Galant. One of these will be cancelled. There is only an $8.00 in price,so that's not an issue. We are only a party of three , so a standard is fine, but my husband would probably take a full size if offered.
Can anyone out there give we the pros and cons of either rental agency. Thanks for your opinions!

 

[skelooch]

Alamo does not have a standard aisle, you will be directed to the full size aisle.
I had a standard reserved 2 weeks ago and recieved a full size. I selected a Chevy Impala from the full size aisle.
I use both frequently and never had any problems with either.

 

[jgraney106]

Skelooch, do you know if Dollar gives you a full size instead, because they too have no "standard" catagory ?

 

[brettb]

Alamo does not have a standard aisle, you will be directed to the full size aisle.
I had a standard reserved 2 weeks ago and recieved a full size. I selected a Chevy Impala from the full size aisle.
I use both frequently and never had any problems with either.

Did you happen to notice what they had besides Impalas on the standard aisle? Thanks!

 

[gmeh1]

Skelooch, do you know if Dollar gives you a full size instead, because they too have no "standard" catagory ?

They have a standard category. Dollar has a very limited selection of cars, or did before the merge with Hertz (still not sure if that is finalized). They have two rows of cars as verses 4 very large rows of cars with Alamo.

 

[gmeh1]

Did you happen to notice what they had besides Impalas on the standard aisle? Thanks!

The don't have a standard row, you select from the full size row. You will find Impalas, 200's, Altimas, sometimes Camrys and a few others, depending on the location. It varies from day to day.

 

[gmeh1]

Does anyone know if Alamo still doesn't have a "standard' category in the garage at MCO? We reserved a standard with them for September, and the model example given is a Chrysler 200. We also have a standard reserved with Dollar for the same time period. Dollar's standard example is a Mitsubishi Galant. One of these will be cancelled. There is only an $8.00 in price,so that's not an issue. We are only a party of three , so a standard is fine, but my husband would probably take a full size if offered.
Can anyone out there give we the pros and cons of either rental agency. Thanks for your opinions!

They stopped making the Galant in 2012(if memory serves). Dollar does not keep their web site current.
I really cannot give you an ubiased opinion as I worked for Alamo/National and like them. I like the fact that you can have an additional driver for free if you join the Insider's program with Alamo, you can select your own car, you can use the check in online if you don't have a coupon or additional driver or the kiosk in the terminal if you do have a coupon or additional driver. If it is only an 8.00 difference, regardless of my bias, I would go for the one that allows me to select my car. It would not be fair for me to comment on Dollar as I have never used them, I have, however, read their requirements for payment, additional drivers and I was less than impressed. http://www.dollar.com/AboutUs/GeneralPolicies.aspx
Alamo does not put a hold on your card, you can use a debit card without them running a credit check on you (you do need proof of a round trip/return travel). These are little things that don't bother a lot of people, but, they bother me and that is why I would not use them.

 

[MrsDoubtfire]

They stopped making the Galant in 2012(if memory serves). Dollar does not keep their web site current.
I really cannot give you an ubiased opinion as I worked for Alamo/National and like them. I like the fact that you can have an additional driver for free if you join the Insider's program with Alamo, you can select your own car, you can use the check in online if you don't have a coupon or additional driver or the kiosk in the terminal if you do have a coupon or additional driver. If it is only an 8.00 difference, regardless of my bias, I would go for the one that allows me to select my car. It would not be fair for me to comment on Dollar as I have never used them, I have, however, read their requirements for payment, additional drivers and I was less than impressed. http://www.dollar.com/AboutUs/GeneralPolicies.aspx
Alamo does not put a hold on your card, you can use a debit card without them running a credit check on you (you do need proof of a round trip/return travel). These are little things that don't bother a lot of people, but, they bother me and that is why I would not use them.

@gmeh ~ As always, thank you for your input. I got a decent quote from Dollar for our upcoming trip, but also managed a great quote from Alamo after some diligent (daily) checking. Those little things that you mention DO bother me also. I am not looking to "finance" a car from Dollar - so why run a credit check on me? Their policies turned me off as well.

I am a fan of Alamo. We have rented from them for the past few years - and it has gotten better and better. Using the kiosk last year was SUPER easy. We will do the same this year. Hope we score a nice ride

 

[jgraney106]

They stopped making the Galant in 2012(if memory serves). Dollar does not keep their web site current.
I really cannot give you an ubiased opinion as I worked for Alamo/National and like them. I like the fact that you can have an additional driver for free if you join the Insider's program with Alamo, you can select your own car, you can use the check in online if you don't have a coupon or additional driver or the kiosk in the terminal if you do have a coupon or additional driver. If it is only an 8.00 difference, regardless of my bias, I would go for the one that allows me to select my car. It would not be fair for me to comment on Dollar as I have never used them, I have, however, read their requirements for payment, additional drivers and I was less than impressed. http://www.dollar.com/AboutUs/GeneralPolicies.aspx
Alamo does not put a hold on your card, you can use a debit card without them running a credit check on you (you do need proof of a round trip/return travel). These are little things that don't bother a lot of people, but, they bother me and that is why I would not use them.

Thank you for all this great info you gave for consideration. Sounds like Alamo might be a wiser choice for us ,all things considered. I really appreciate this info!( some of which I never was aware of).Thank you again for you help!

 

[gmeh1]

Thank you for all this great info you gave for consideration. Sounds like Alamo might be a wiser choice for us ,all things considered. I really appreciate this info!( some of which I never was aware of).Thank you again for you help!

You are most welcome. Enjoy your trip.

 

[gmeh1]

@gmeh ~ As always, thank you for your input. I got a decent quote from Dollar for our upcoming trip, but also managed a great quote from Alamo after some diligent (daily) checking. Those little things that you mention DO bother me also. I am not looking to "finance" a car from Dollar - so why run a credit check on me? Their policies turned me off as well.

I am a fan of Alamo. We have rented from them for the past few years - and it has gotten better and better. Using the kiosk last year was SUPER easy. We will do the same this year. Hope we score a nice ride

You are most welcome. I hope you have a great trip and score a fantastic ride. Remember, if you don't see something you like, ask. You never know what "magic" they can do.

 

[brettb]

You are most welcome. I hope you have a great trip and score a fantastic ride. Remember, if you don't see something you like, ask. You never know what "magic" they can do.

Does Alama/National have any Hyundai Genesiseseses in their fleet? If so, what class? (I know Avis has had then in the Premium class.)

Thanks!

 

[rlduvall]

You are most welcome. I hope you have a great trip and score a fantastic ride. Remember, if you don't see something you like, ask. You never know what "magic" they can do.

I can attest to this.

In December of 2011 the premium row for National only had a few Mercury Marquis [I think that's what it was] and one Chrysler 4-door 300M. While the 300M is a nice car, this was a solo trip and I wasn't really looking for something so big. I approached the garage employee and very nicely explained my situation; knowing I might be out of luck. The next thing I knew, she was calling around and had a hot red Infiniti G37 brought over to me. I could have kissed her.

Honestly, I have had fantastic customer service with both National and Alamo.

 

[rlduvall]

Does Alama/National have any Hyundai Genesiseseses in their fleet? If so, what class? (I know Avis has had then in the Premium class.)

Thanks!

We just looked at one of these for our July driving trip at the Tulsa airport [always like to rent locally when driving a long distance]. They were considered Premium at that airport.

 

[gmeh1]

Does Alama/National have any Hyundai Genesiseseses in their fleet? If so, what class? (I know Avis has had then in the Premium class.)

Thanks!

I believe they do and they are either in the the Premium or Luxury class, most probably in the Premium. Avis now shows the 300 as their Premium.

 

[gmeh1]

I can attest to this.

In December of 2011 the premium row for National only had a few Mercury Marquis [I think that's what it was] and one Chrysler 4-door 300M. While the 300M is a nice car, this was a solo trip and I wasn't really looking for something so big. I approached the garage employee and very nicely explained my situation; knowing I might be out of luck. The next thing I knew, she was calling around and had a hot red Infiniti G37 brought over to me. I could have kissed her.

Honestly, I have had fantastic customer service with both National and Alamo.

I LOVE that G37, I rented a black one last year. They used to be Premium and probably still are in some locations but, National/Alamo lists them as Full size elite on their web sites. LOL.

 

[letsgo!]

I was wondering this as well, as we were told this last year.

When we went to choose our car, we got a Charger, but in the aisle (marked either mid-size or standard, I can't remember) there were Corolla's (which I certainly don't consider to be full size) There were only about 5 cars to choose from, and they were all either Chargers or Corollas (I see now that on the Alamo website they have Chargers listed as a full size)

I'm almost positive I saw an aisle marked full size, where they did have Impalas and such, but we were not allowed to choose from there (from my understanding)

We were fine (size wise) in the Charger, but was wondering if it was worth it to actually book a full size or not.

 

[gmeh1]

I was wondering this as well, as we were told this last year.

When we went to choose our car, we got a Charger, but in the aisle (marked either mid-size or standard, I can't remember) there were Corolla's (which I certainly don't consider to be full size) There were only about 5 cars to choose from, and they were all either Chargers or Corollas (I see now that on the Alamo website they have Chargers listed as a full size)

I'm almost positive I saw an aisle marked full size, where they did have Impalas and such, but we were not allowed to choose from there (from my understanding)

We were fine (size wise) in the Charger, but was wondering if it was worth it to actually book a full size or not.

I will try this again. You can rent a standard size car at MCO. They do not have a standard size row/area. You will choose from the full size row/area.
Chargers are full size cars, Impalas are full size cars, Chrysler 200 are standard size cars. Corolla's are mid size cars. If you saw only Corollas you were looking at the midsize row/area. You misunderstood. If you book a standard car, you go to the full size row/area. You will never be downgraded in car class, which is what would happen if you rented a standard and had to select from the midsize area. The rows are clearly marked, look up at the signs. midsize and full size are in the same row, but, the overhead signs tell you where one category ends and another begins. they also use poles to separate the areas. If you have questions, ask an attendant.

 

[letsgo!]

I will try this again. You can rent a standard size car at MCO. They do not have a standard size row/area. You will choose from the full size row/area.
Chargers are full size cars, Impalas are full size cars, Chrysler 200 are standard size cars. Corolla's are mid size cars. If you saw only Corollas you were looking at the midsize row/area. You misunderstood. If you book a standard car, you go to the full size row/area. You will never be downgraded in car class, which is what would happen if you rented a standard and had to select from the midsize area. The rows are clearly marked, look up at the signs. midsize and full size are in the same row, but, the overhead signs tell you where one category ends and another begins. they also use poles to separate the areas. If you have questions, ask an attendant.

Thank you for the clarification (again ) I know it's been addressed several times already.

 

[gmeh1]

Thank you for the clarification (again ) I know it's been addressed several times already.

You are welcome. This seems to be confusing to a LOT of people. You should see what it is like when you are face to face with someone. It also does not help when the employees don't know the policy. I think they sleep through training.