Emerald Aisle Pickings - Any Luck?

[Tommybob]

Has anyone had luck with getting good selections (upgrades) from the Emerald Aisle @ National? Are there certain times or days that someone would have better luck, and does'nt National have to gaurantee you at least the car you reserved? When it's all said and done, is the Emerald Club worth it?

Thanks

 

[DebbieB]

I think it's worth it. #1 you get to skip the counter. I've always got a full size car, I could have had vans or SUV's but didn't want them. I got a Toyota Camry last December that only had 200 miles on it, drove like a dream (now I want one for myself....), there were also convertibles available on that trip. This past May they only had full size or 2 pickups, I took a Lumina with 1,000 miles on it (I try to find a car with low miles). Considering I got the card free, there is nothing to lose to not make it worth it!

 

[Tommybob]

thanks for the info!
Your right about the pick up and return convience, that in its self makes it worth it. It would be great if I could get a mini-van for a full size rate. Do you know whose make mini- vans they had

 

[Lewisc]

Tommybob
DON'T RELY ON A FREE MINIVAN UPGRADE WITH EA. Although people have posted getting one many other people (including myself) have not seen mini-vans available. Other have posted National is considering not putting minivans and SUV's there anymore. EA is great, almost all of us got free membership, avoids a line and allows you flexibility in picking your car. National doesn't promote extra upgrades anywhere in their website. The point is ease in renting and the ability to pick car color, some choice of model, etc. IT'S THE PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD that promote the extra upgrade. You may get lucky but reserve what you need.

 

[DebbieB]

Out of the 3 times I used EA in the past year, only once did I see vans on the aisle, that was in February. Not sure of the models. In December & February, they also had Blazers & Jimmys.

FYI - Everyone at MCO gets to pick their own car, Emerald Club or not. If you have a non-Emerald Club reservation at MCO, you go to the counter and the clerk marks the size you reserved on the outside of your folder with your paperwork. You go to the garage and pick out of that size aisle only (economy, intermediate, etc. - not Emerald Aisle). Everyone also gets the fast hand held return.

 

[lawgs]

just got back this weekend....but we had a peculiar situation since we got in at midnight and were not picking the car up for a while ....so we would just have the car for 7 days....

there were a lot of buick le sabres when we got there 1 monte carlo and 1 aurora ( which we took)....it was the same on both sides A and B


when we returned on sept 2 at about 3 in the morning there were very few cars in any of the classes ( of course it was labor day weekend) but the aisle only had three mini vans on the b side......

we were happy with the aurora ....a nice car....the first time we had seen them on the aisle...it was fully loaded and did us well for the week....


ONLY down side was it was so HOT there this time....and hardly any relief from the rain.....


btw....gas was anywhere from 1.25 to 1.69 when we were there


we filled up at the intersection of orange blossome trail and central florida parkway ...on the way back......even at 3 in the morning they were open....

it was a BP amoco station....very new

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Lewis,
Well said. There is a large difference in the connection of what is written and what people see/read.
"Full size or your choice at the aisle" does NOT translate into "there will be a ton of mini vans, suvs, trucks or convertables". You are guaranteed what you book, nothing more. The perq of being a member is the fact you can bypass lines at the counter, it does not include a fantastically expensive upgrade.

 

[Tink42]

Just returned yesterday from week at WDW. We used emerald aisle on Aug. 27 at about 6:30. We took the last blazer on the aisle, there were only cars (immediate and full size) left after that. But we liked not stopping at the counter, walked right out to the aisle and got in the Blazer. Blazer was great, 500 miles, clean and ready to go. We did fill up with gas before driving back to the airport but they still charged us for 2 gallons @ 1.44/gallon.

 

[lagasan]

We picked up a car Monday 8/20 at about 11 AM. Top-of-line Dodge Intrepid with aluminum wheels, leather seats, 4(or5?) disc CD changer... very nice. There were many(10-15) other cars on the aisle. SUVs, minivans, big cars (like a crown victoria..not sure of actual make). B side of terminal.

They charged me for gas when I returned. I think it was 1.60/gallon...

Also used the aisle at Dulles in washington dc. The selection was all intermeniate and midsize cars. We got a Hyundai..can't remember the model.

I guess after the long vacation...my memory is shot!

 

[Pluto4President]

If for one, don't really think that anyone here is promoting a definate upgrade. I always post and most often read the famous line, "you'll get at least what you reserve". Everytime I have used it there has been an asssortment of vehicles. Actually in one post not too long ago, someone posted that they reserved two vehicles in case they didn't get a mini-van. I disagreed with that logic because it ties up their inventory and coupon capacities for the rest of us trying to reserve what we reserve. Anything else is just a perk!

 

[BrianBWV]

Hi,

We arrived at the Aisle on 8/29 at 1:30PM, and were surprised that there were only two cars available: Buick Century and some other sedan all the way at the end of the Aisle. We took the Century (had only 654 miles on it), but wondered what would have happened had we arrived ten minutes later. By the time we took the Century, our only requirement was that the air conditioning be functional. It turned out to be a wonderful ride.

BrianBWV

 

[DMRick]

8/28. 11:00am

Only 4 full size cars on the aisle..the gal there asked if we wanted a van..we said yes, then daughter spotted the convertibles. She had me ask the gal..she said sure..and gave me a note to hand in. She said we wouldn't fit..but my daughter wore some of the luggage. It was a blast. Gas fill up on return was 1.44 gal, and they guestimated it at 10 gals.

 

[Lewisc]

PLUTO--I WASN'T REFERRING TO YOU ABOUT PROMOTING EXTRA FREE UPGRADES. There are posters who book a backup mini-van reservation with National (or another agency) as well as posters who ask about what is available on EA who (from the size of the family) probably can't function without a minivan. Other posters have asked what is the point of EA if you can't get "cool upgrades". EA is a great program (particularly since it's free for most of us).

 

[Pluto4President]

No problem Lewis, I try to deter people from booking the double ressie as I posted above.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Pluto,
You certainly have NOT done anything to infer that there are auto upgrades, in fact you, LAWGS, Lewis and a few others have been very sane about what to expect at the Aisle.
I cannot speak for Lewis, but, my post was referring to other postings where the thought is a super dooper upgrade because you belong to the EA.
I do get annoyed when I read that others are double or even triple booking, that is just not right. It is my hope that they don't realize that actions like that cause others to miss a decent rental rate.

 

[Pluto4President]

well said Gail...

 

[TinkerbellRules]

I'm not looking for an upgrade (reserved full-sized car)... I just love the fact we won't have to wait in line I can't believe people would actually have two ressies at once. I guess National should require a CC for a deposit (like the resorts). That should put a stop to that!