EA newbie with ???

[rafikimom]

Newbie with National's EA. I haven't received my card yet and I'm hoping to by our trip. I'm guessing I need to show it at time of rental? Now I'm trying to understand just how this works. Help me out all you veterans! I've got my reservation with my EA #, now when I show up in Orlando airport, I go over to National. No checking in, right? I just locate the Emerald Aisle and go over and pick out a car? You don't check in with anyone, correct? Then you drive the car to the exit and that's where the transaction takes place? Do they take care of the coupons at that point? This is what I've gotten from most of the threads here and on National's website. Please correct me if I'm wrong anywhere. It just sounds sooo easy!

 

[kda]

Sounds right. We never check in with anyone, and hand over the coupon when we drive out. Select any car on the EA.

 

[GeminiMom]

rafikimom,
I'll be a 1st time EA user for our upcoming June trip & I too thought "hmmm, this sounds too easy". When I explained the process to DH & said "......and then you just get in a car, check out & drive it off the lot", he replied with a "You mean when YOU get in the car & just drive off, just my luck
I'LL be arrested for grand theft auto!"

Everything you say sounds about right from all the great info I've gotten from these boards, but I can't say from first hand experience.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

We're new to Emerald Club, too, but one thing that popped up when I reserved online so I called their 1-800 number to confirm: if you use a coupon, you have to go to the counter. My coupon is for $20 off (through BJ's) and everytime I tried to use it to reserve online, a box popped up that said I had to change to counter service rather than Emerald Reserve (we're renting a minivan). Then my level of service said "counter" on my reservation. I was disappointed that using a lousy $20 coupon meant standing in line, so I called their toll-free number and sure enough the woman said I needed to check in at the counter with a coupon. Doesn't seem right to me -- anyone have actual experience?

 

[disneyfor3]

I've always used coupons at the Emerald Aisle without having to go to the counter. You might try clearing your cookies and temporary internet files and then trying to rebook the reservation. I've heard that sometimes you can get errors and this clears them.

And yes, you just go out to the Aisle which is clearly marked, pick a car which has the keys in it, drive to the exit lane where someone is in a booth, give them your reservation print-out and coupon, and you're done.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Figment&Piglet
We're new to Emerald Club, too, but one thing that popped up when I reserved online so I called their 1-800 number to confirm: if you use a coupon, you have to go to the counter. My coupon is for $20 off (through BJ's) and everytime I tried to use it to reserve online, a box popped up that said I had to change to counter service rather than Emerald Reserve (we're renting a minivan). Then my level of service said "counter" on my reservation. I was disappointed that using a lousy $20 coupon meant standing in line, so I called their toll-free number and sure enough the woman said I needed to check in at the counter with a coupon. Doesn't seem right to me -- anyone have actual experience?

No, that is not correct. Clear you cookies and try again. The only coupons that you need to go to the counter for are upgrades.
Are you selecting ER or counter when you make the reservation? I use coupons all the time (and a voucher issued by National the last time) and never even saw the counter.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by rafikimom
Newbie with National's EA. I haven't received my card yet and I'm hoping to by our trip. I'm guessing I need to show it at time of rental? Now I'm trying to understand just how this works. Help me out all you veterans! I've got my reservation with my EA #, now when I show up in Orlando airport, I go over to National. No checking in, right? I just locate the Emerald Aisle and go over and pick out a car? You don't check in with anyone, correct? Then you drive the car to the exit and that's where the transaction takes place? Do they take care of the coupons at that point? This is what I've gotten from most of the threads here and on National's website. Please correct me if I'm wrong anywhere. It just sounds sooo easy!

You won't need your card, it is linked by your license and credit card.

 

[CarolMN]

I'm an Emerald Club member and have rented from National at MCO several times. Have reserved full size, intermediate and minivans. Sometimes ressie says I get EA service, sometimes Emerald Reserve and sometimes counter. I never use the counter (even when it says counter. I do not use the upgrade coupons - too much hassle and there's no guarantee. Just depends on what they have "extra" at the time you arrive).

Anyway, after you collect your luggage from baggage claim, you go down one level, walk across the street to the garage and find the National row/aisle for your car size reservation. (Just read the signs). You pick out your car and follow the signs to the exit. Give the agent your stuff (I give credit card, EC card, coupon and paperwork that was in car). Agent does his/her thing, and then your vacation begins!

It really is just that simple!

P.S. You probably don't need your EC card - I think it helps the agent find your reservation quicker, but they can find it without it.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by CarolMN
I'm an Emerald Club member and have rented from National at MCO several times. Have reserved full size, intermediate and minivans. Sometimes ressie says I get EA service, sometimes Emerald Reserve and sometimes counter. I never use the counter (even when it says counter. I do not use the upgrade coupons - too much hassle and there's no guarantee. Just depends on what they have "extra" at the time you arrive).

Anyway, after you collect your luggage from baggage claim, you go down one level, walk across the street to the garage and find the National row/aisle for your car size reservation. (Just read the signs). You pick out your car and follow the signs to the exit. Give the agent your stuff (I give credit card, EC card, coupon and paperwork that was in car). Agent does his/her thing, and then your vacation begins!

It really is just that simple!

P.S. You probably don't need your EC card - I think it helps the agent find your reservation quicker, but they can find it without it.

what makes the agent find your reservation is your printout with the confirmation number on it, highlighted. Always bring it with you.

 

[rafikimom]

Thank you all for the great info!! It sounds so easy. What a way to start a vacation, no line-no waiting!

 

[Figment&Piglet]

Thanks, everyone (especially Gail), too! I did clear my cache/cookies, and yet still it "bumps" my reservation to counter despite my having selected Emerald Reserve. But, it sounds from your personal experience like I should just ignore that and proceed to the booth in my minivan with my coupon in hand.

One more question though: I made my reservation a few months ago, just prior to joining EC. Then I joined EC to see if I could get the rate any lower. Unfortunately, it's now higher: If I rebook my reservation (which is what I was trying to do when I kept getting bumped to Counter) using my EC numbers, etc., my reservation is now $20 more (thus negating the coupon--one of life's little ironies, I guess!). When I was on the phone (i.e., with the person who said I had to go to the counter with a coupon -- maybe I should try someone else, LOL), they said they couldn't "switch" my current reservation/rate over to an EC reservation. Does this sound right, either?

Thanks!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Figment&Piglet
Thanks, everyone (especially Gail), too! I did clear my cache/cookies, and yet still it "bumps" my reservation to counter despite my having selected Emerald Reserve. But, it sounds from your personal experience like I should just ignore that and proceed to the booth in my minivan with my coupon in hand.

One more question though: I made my reservation a few months ago, just prior to joining EC. Then I joined EC to see if I could get the rate any lower. Unfortunately, it's now higher: If I rebook my reservation (which is what I was trying to do when I kept getting bumped to Counter) using my EC numbers, etc., my reservation is now $20 more (thus negating the coupon--one of life's little ironies, I guess!). When I was on the phone (i.e., with the person who said I had to go to the counter with a coupon -- maybe I should try someone else, LOL), they said they couldn't "switch" my current reservation/rate over to an EC reservation. Does this sound right, either?

Thanks!

Nope, that does not sound right either. Call the EC member hotline, should be on your card and see if they can link it for you.