EA and luggage pick up

[d.kurz]

Hi there!

We are flying into Tampa and have a car reserved with National
in the Emerald Aisle.

Should one of us proceed to the EA and the other to baggage
claim?

What do you usually do?

Thanks!

 

[Lulu]

We are flying into Tampa as well, but I did not think there was an Emerald Aisle there. That is what the reservationist told me, but she said I could still get a discounted rate. Anyway, I hope you are right! I would love to change my reservation around. Anyone know for sure?

 

[Gillian]

Lulu, my EC membership materials say there is an EA at Tampa. And when I try to make a reservation on the internet, EA is a choice for level of service. I called a few times this week & it didn't seem like their customer service people really knew what they were doing. One had to look up the answer to every question I asked, even the ones that seemed simple to me.

I know the baggage claim area is near the car rental counters in tampa, but I'm not sure where National's cars are. We didn't rent a car there, so I'm sorry I can't help with the first question.

 

[wildaboutmickey]

There is EA at the Tampa airport we were there this winter and got a PT Cruiser, it was located right out the doors. I do not recall where baggage claim is (we did carry on)

 

[travelcoupons]

There is a red and a blue baggage claim area (similar to the setup in Orlando). You have to go down an escalator to get to the baggage claim area and you cannot go directly from the red to the blue area without going up and then down an escalator.

I think if I remember right, the EA / national is on the blue side. I wouldn't split up as part of the beauty of EA is no waiting. You can all go out, get in the vehicle and go. Plus, it can take a LONG>>>> time for baggage to come sometimes and you may have to park the car and come back in to see what is going on.

here's a map: http://www.tampaairport.com/maps_bagclaim.html

 

[d.kurz]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Pembo]

We used EA at Tampa just this past April. We flew Southwest and our baggage claim was directly across from the EA lot/garage. We picked up our bags(which came pretty quick) and walked out the door, across the path and into the garage to a car. Not a lot of choices on a Sunday morning but we had a Buick Le Sabre, loaded.

Return was easy too! Again we pulled in the garage, unloaded the car, and walked right up to the SW baggage check.

I say it depends on how much luggage you have and if you can carry it easily whether or not to pick up first.

Have fun!!!! The drive over from Tampa is pretty quick and easy!

 

[Lulu]

Did any of you get to use Emerald Aisle with a minivan rental? When I punch it into the national website it is coming up that I either have a site that does not have Emerald Aisle or it is not valid on my type of car, then it changes me to counter service. I got an excellent rate ten days of minivan for $350, but I would like to bypass counter. I am not sure I understand this whole thing very well. I did call National (as stated earlier on this thread), but they said there was no Emerald Aisle service. Now, I am begining to think maybe it was because of the minivan. Can anyone help?

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Did you try "Emerald Choice" in the Level of Service drop down box? Emerald Choice gives you your choice from the aisles specific to the class of car you are reserving. If you want to be assured of a minivan or SUV and don't want to take a chance that none will be available at the EA, reserve it using EC instead. The rate will likely be higher than an EA reservation for full size or intermediate, but you will get the minivan. The EA reservation for full size or intermediate does not guarantee anything more than this. I have recently been reserving full size at the EA, since rates have been coming up the same as intermediate; if no full size cars are available on the EA, I can then choose a full size from the full size aisle.

Ralph

 

[jeffreyml]

On our visit to Tampa last August there was a good selection of cars on the EA. We had our choice from Convertibles, SUV's, Mini Van's, Full Size and Intermediate. We will be returning in June and have reservations for a Full Size at $130 base rate per week with the DC and EG discounts it comes to $270 FOR 2 weeks including all taxes and fees.

We love the ease that EA provides our family. After checking all of the major car rental sites, we feel that National provides the best overall value. When you receive your rental confirmation, all of your fees are on the page. Some other companies lure you with what seems to be a great rate, but then they add the extras on when you actually arrive to pick up your car.

As far as EA or EC goes, you can only receive EA if you reserve up to a Full Size car. If your reservations are for premium and above you will be bumped to the counter or EC.

We usually pick our luggage up and then proceed to the EA. We just load everything on to one of those carts you rent for a $1 and head out to the EA. This helps to keep everyone together and cuts down on repeated trips to the terminal.