Early Check-in Payment with Alamo Through Costco

[toocherie]

If I have reserved an Alamo vehicle with Costco will I get an email giving me the opportunity to pre-pay so I can skip the line? Or do I have to purposely go to the Alamo website and do so? (I am an Alamo Insider but did not use that info to get the reservation.) Thanks!

 

[PatMcDuck]

I Use Costco too. I go to the Alamo website, stick in the Alamo reservation number, and do the checkin procedure. It is not a prePAY, but you do enter your CC info and 2nd driver info. You can print the QR code thing, and go straight to car and quickly get thru the exit.

 

[bumbershoot]

It is not a prePAY, but you do enter your CC info and 2nd driver info.

Agreed.

You should just be able to enter in the reservation to Alamo and have the option to checkin. Shouldn’t be a need to wait for an email.

 

[toocherie]

Thanks Pat and Molly!

 

[jcvalenti]

And for anyone checking this thread, if you did a Costco Alamo rental and have not yet signed up for Alamo Insider (it's free) ... this is definitely the way to do it. Costco receipts will print both a Costco reservation # and an Alamo reservation number. When you get close to your trip, go to Alamo, join their insider program, and then you can check-in early. You can then just skip the entire counter at Orlando International and go straight to the garage across the street from baggage claim and get into whichever car you want in your reserved class row and drive it straight to the exit gate. Saves about 15 to 45 minutes, depending on how long the line at the counter is (and let's face it - once the plane lands you don't want to waste ANY time getting on with your vacation).

 

[Mickeymickey197555]

My 2 nd driver is flying into Sanford, if I add the 2nd driver online will they ask for her I’d at the exit? We are flying into Orlando international

 

[Bullseye]

You don't need to prepay to skip the counter. If you do "Online Check-In" and "Skip The Counter" you can go straight to your car and the only person you see on the way out is the gate attendant. All they want is your drivers license, credit card you made the reservation with, and your "skip the counter" document. When you return the car they will give you a receipt and that's when they charge your account.

https://www.alamo.com/en_US/car-rental/checkin.html

 

[Lewisc]

Unless something has recently changed COSTCO members who book a vacation package which includes a rental car can't check in online but can use a kiosk.

 

[nacho113]

My 2 nd driver is flying into Sanford, if I add the 2nd driver online will they ask for her I’d at the exit? We are flying into Orlando international

They will want to verify both drivers licences and your credit card at the exit booth

 

[Missyrose]

Unless something has recently changed COSTCO members who book a vacation package which includes a rental car can't check in online but can use a kiosk.

We've rented five cars from Alamo through Costco in the past two years and have used early check-in on all of them. Never had to use the counter or kiosk, just went straight to the car.

Costco gives you the Alamo reservation number on your confirmation email, you just plug that in to your Insider account.

Does the package confirmation not have the same information?

 

[Lewisc]

With a vacation package payment is made to COSTO. The Alamo reservation shows up as paid in full. You don't get to check and rebook the car in order to lower your rate, it's a package.

Some destinations, some hotels, won't let COSTCO book hotel only using contracted rates.
Edited to add, I'm not sure if I could have checked in online but I still would have to use a kiosk or counter. The reservation isn't eligible to skip the counter.
• Reservation cannot be prepaid or direct billed to a 3rd party (i.e. Voucher, Business Account, etc.).

 

[Ralph&Pam]

They will want to verify both drivers licences and your credit card at the exit booth

Although they will certainly verify the credit card and the driver’s license, I have never been asked for my DW’s license. I know they can, and she is always in the car with me anyway, but the one time I handed her license to the attendant along with mine, it was handed right back to me before the rest of the transaction was done. On the other hand, I had to check in at a kiosk in San Diego (on-line check-in was not available) and had to scan both DLs in order to complete the process.

 

[jackglick]

I have a car booked through Costco but with Avis. Can I do check-in and add the additional driver without going to the counter with Avis also?

 

[Rich M]

I have a car booked through Costco but with Avis. Can I do check-in and add the additional driver without going to the counter with Avis also?

With AVIS you need to put your wizard number into your reservation when you book. Then you must have a credit card on file on your wizard profile. If you have all that done when you get to garage your name will be on the board telling you what number your car is in. They pre-pick out your car and your rental agreement is in it also. You show your DL and the rental agreement at the gate and you go.

 

[tb1972]

I typically book directly with Avis to use rewards. However, this July I booked through Costco and chose an Alamo car. If I pre check in, when do they charge my credit card - the time of pick up or return?

 

[Rich M]

I typically book directly with Avis to use rewards. However, this July I booked through Costco and chose an Alamo car. If I pre check in, when do they charge my credit card - the time of pick up or return?

They put a hold on your card when you pick up the vehicle and a $1 hold if you check in online and skip the counter prior to pick up. I have had a rental for two weeks from Alamo before and the hold will drop off sometimes prior to the two weeks being up and then they charge you completely when you return the vehicle.

 

[GoingToFlorida]

Exactly...the hold is either $1 or the full cost. You can see it if you look online in the pending transactions. That way, they’ll be pretty sure that your credit limit will allow it.