Dollar Rental via Virgin - Both sides of MCO?

[nemmie]

Hi all,
We usually don't rent a car from the airport but last time (Feb) and this time in May we sort of had to due to circumstances.
In Feb we went to B side as I thought it would be less crowded than A seeing as we just got off the Virgin flight. We had booked car hire with Dollar but via Virgin.
We have Dollar express so utilised the express queue and the woman, who was not helpful at all, made a big deal about us being on the wrong side of the airport as Virgin are on A side. She did eventually process our car but I was bemused by her attitude towards the whole thing.
Has anyone else had this problem getting the car on B side? Or were we just unlucky with Miss Grumpy-pants?
TIA

 

[Claire L]

To be honest we found the A side to be very quick and efficient in February, much better than when we went in May last year. If booked through VH I think Dollar do prefer you to use the VH collection desk as they probably have the cars all ready and waiting as they know what type is likely to be collected from each flight.

Claire

 

[nemmie]

Sorry I was not clear in my first post.
Whilst we did book via Virgin for car hire (the Virgin Atlantic site books via Virgin holidays) we are not part of a package so we need to collect from a Dollar desk. Well at least thats what Virgin told me when I enquired about that last time. So I was under the impression Grumpy Dollar woman was refering to the Dollar desk over on A side rather than the Virgin Holidays desk.
However you saying that A side was ok has may me re-think going to B side. Anyone else had experience?? We fly Upper so are usually through before huge crowds start to form but still always looking to minimise wait times lol.

 

[Claire L]

I booked our car through the VA site and was surprised to find our voucher was from VH but it worked fine going to the VH desk.

Claire

 

[wayneg]

If you have a Virgin voucher you should goto Dollars Virgin collection desks. I am suprised they processed you at the regular desk, DISWolves(Nigel) was infront of me August 2007, they would not serve him even with his express card, he had to go over to Virgin/Dollar desks.

Personally I would not take the Virgin car, book elswhere and use my Express card, find a lot better than Virgin.

 

[nemmie]

I'm guessing you cannot use the dollar express card to jump the queue though?
Is there a Dollar desk on A side as well as Virgin Holidays or just the VH desk?

 

[nemmie]

I use Virgin because they are the best price to miles comparision for us but their customer service leaves a lot to be desired for sure.
I called specifically because I had heard I needed to go to a Virgin desk and not a Dollar one and the customer service guy told me Dollar not Virgin so its all rather confusing.
Also this from the VH website
''In Florida Dollar offer Express car pick up which allows the details of the drivers to be entered on-line before the holiday so that time is saved on arrival when the car is picked up. ''
confuses matters more.

 

[wayneg]

Regular desks at both A & B, Virgin is just the one side. As for using you Express at Virgin desks it depends who is on duty, some let you goto front others don't.

 

[Claire L]

I'm guessing you cannot use the dollar express card to jump the queue though?
Is there a Dollar desk on A side as well as Virgin Holidays or just the VH desk?

Both types of desks and we were in PE and got there really quick and there was no wait to be served.

Claire

 

[nemmie]

So from your advice I'm thinking we should try going to the A side this time and hope there is no queue. I guess if there is I can get hubby to go try the dollar desk whilst I wait in the queue and play the ''who gets served first'' game. lol. Thanks Claire and Wayne.

 

[Claire L]

With Virgin now being in Terminal A the luggage second claim is right by the car hire desks so you can get the car sorted and by then the luggage should be coming off

Claire

 

[nemmie]

Thanks Claire. We always take our luggage on the monorail with us to save the wait but's thats a great tip for people who have too much to carry.

 

[Zeebs]

Hubby was convinced he had heard an announcement to say our transferred luggage would be at terminal B.... I did point out it said A on the signs, but anyway we trekked all the way over to B to discover nope luggage not here.

Anyway while we were there we went to Dollar to get our car. No problems with it at all. We have Dollar Express, but there was no one else waiting. When I got over to collect bags from A the line for Dollar was huge.....

So I was pleased that I had picked mine up at B, if you have booked with dollar or and affillitate (usrentacar is who we booked through) then it shouldn't matter which terminal you use, all the cars are picked up from the same place.

Hope this helps

Kirsten

 

[Claire L]

So I was pleased that I had picked mine up at B, if you have booked with dollar or and affillitate (usrentacar is who we booked through) then it shouldn't matter which terminal you use, all the cars are picked up from the same place.

Hope this helps

Kirsten

There is a different parking garage for terminal A and B so it does differ a little as to where you get your car.

Claire

 

[nemmie]

Hubby was convinced he had heard an announcement to say our transferred luggage would be at terminal B.... I did point out it said A on the signs, but anyway we trekked all the way over to B to discover nope luggage not here.

Anyway while we were there we went to Dollar to get our car. No problems with it at all. We have Dollar Express, but there was no one else waiting. When I got over to collect bags from A the line for Dollar was huge.....

So I was pleased that I had picked mine up at B, if you have booked with dollar or and affillitate (usrentacar is who we booked through) then it shouldn't matter which terminal you use, all the cars are picked up from the same place.

Hope this helps

Kirsten

Thanks for your input Kristen, this was what I had orginally thought.
After all this I def will revert back to getting a private car pick us up from the airport each visit. Cost's a little extra but picking up the car from the airport rather than the Royal Plaza DTD is really one stress I can do without after a 8hour flight.
It will be a tad easier this trip as we are flying down from New York BUT our flight gets in 10 mins after the late Virgin flight from LGW lands so we could still encounter the queue's if all is on time.
Still can't wait to be being ''stressed'' over this in 4 weeks time lol

 

[penlanspice]

Hey Gemma, long time no see.

Drop me a line.

Sam

xxxxx

 

[nemmie]

Hey Girl!
Email sent babes.
Hopefully you still have the same email! lol

 

[Claire L]

Thanks for your input Kristen, this was what I had orginally thought.
After all this I def will revert back to getting a private car pick us up from the airport each visit. Cost's a little extra but picking up the car from the airport rather than the Royal Plaza DTD is really one stress I can do without after a 8hour flight.
It will be a tad easier this trip as we are flying down from New York BUT our flight gets in 10 mins after the late Virgin flight from LGW lands so we could still encounter the queue's if all is on time.
Still can't wait to be being ''stressed'' over this in 4 weeks time lol

At least coming from NY you will be an internal/domestic arrival so will not be held up with immigration etc

Claire

 

[nemmie]

Def the biggest bonus Claire!

 

[granmaz]

So, can we summarise this please?

We have a Dollar car booked through Virgin Atlantic, but it will be a voucher from Virgin Holidays right? Because of this we have to go to Terminal A, and are not really supposed to use the Dollar Express line(we have joined) because Virgin Holidays have their own desk. However, we could try the Express line. I'm sure my husband used the Express line last year when we booked through Virgin Holidays though.

If a Dollar car is booked through another outlet, or direct with Dollar, it doesn't matter which side you go to and you can use the Dollar Express line if you have joined.

Things just get so complicated these days.