Emerald Club Aisle Service???

[TMcG88]

For those of you who have used this service, does it really speed things along. We rented from Dollar last time and had an hour wait for our car!!! We are Emerald Club members, but I can get a cheaper price from other rental companies. I guess what I'm asking is do you think it is worth using National for this perk?

 

[TiggerFreak]

This is the way that I understand it works:

1. If you choose Emerald Aisle level of service, you don't get the DC discount, but can just walk out to the lot get in a car and give the booth attendant ID and you Emerald club card. Way faster than standing in line, but more exspensive.

or

2. As an Emerald Club member you can also book reservations using the DC discount and use the Emerald Aisle line at the counter, which has never had anyone in it when I've used National on past trips. Last year at Orlando International , the regular line was 10 deep (I was number 10) and a guest walked up to the EA line, someone came out from an office in back and promptly waited on them! I was in the regular line for 45 minutes

This October will be the first time I will try this out (option 2), so I'll post a report after I get back.

 

[DMRick]

I have good luck with both EA National and Dollar. Dollar was much cheaper last time, and the experience was good...but we always gt there about 11 am and there are no crowds.

We use our DC with the EA..so we get the DC discount, and get to go directly to our car. We have never waited at the counter. When you go into the EA on line to reserve, you just change the place where the EA member discount is, and put in the two Disney Club discounts.
You go tothe aisle, pick out your car (or if there isn't one you want in the aisle, go to the aisle where the car you reserved is) and load your luggage, pull out, and give your DC and EA card to the attemndent in the booth. Takes about a minute for him to get you in the system.

 

[TMcG88]

Thank you both for your replies. Tigger, I will be anxiously awaiting your report as we are going in November!

 

[dcfromva]

TiggerFreak,
I was wondering if you could rebook your ressies online--putting in the DC discount so you don't have to go to the counter? (unless you are getting a special kind of car--in which case, the AE won't work). If you successfully get your correct rate, you could cancel your original ressie. Even though you get priority service at the counter as an EA member, it is still another roadblock on your path the WDW!

I got a super discount using the DC weekend discount for my next trip in November--I made the ressie on the computer and it is AE service. (I have also been successful in getting the DC discount on AE service several times in the past, too. )

TMcG88,
The last time we flew into WDW (May 2002) with carryon luggage only, we walked off the airplace at 8:15pm--bought a pizza on our way out of the terminal, went straight to the AE and picked out our car--we were on the road to WDW by 8:36pm!

We were at the MK at 9:38pm--just before closing time. (MK was only open 'til 10pm that night). It made EA really worth it!(especially since we were only there for a long weekend) .

Also, another perk to EA, your spouse is automatically included on your contract to drive the car--something that dollar (and non-EA National ) charges another $5.00/day for.

-DC

 

[TiggerFreak]

Hmmmm....

I remember that when I made ressies online, I tried all sorts of combinations, trying to find the lowest price. It seemed that with the car that I wanted (compact), the system wouldn't give me the DC discount and EA at the same price. But like I said this is the first time I have made ressies using EA in conjunctiion with the DC discount!

DMRick, do you think I can just go out to the Aisle and bypass the counter even if my ressies states counter?

 

[rcomputer]

It makes no difference whether you make reservations online, in person or by phone. All that matters is whether you are a member of the Emerald Club. Membership involved completing and signing a Master Rental Agreement. When that is on file you can use it for all reservations whether they include your membership number or not (it saves the staff member entering you details - they just wipe your card or key your number)

Not all locations offer Emerald Aisle service but some - including Orlando International - offer Emerald Choice as well.

For Emerald Choice just go straight to the garage and choose a car of the size you reserved (we always have a Compact for WDW which is not eligible for EA anyway) and drive it to the exit - there they take your credit card, DL and EA card just as for EA service. Your res will say 'Counter' as you are not 'Aisle' but ignore that . Remember this only applies to Emerald Club members who have a Master Rental Agreement on file - not non-members. Sorry.

Emerald Choice is not well advertised on the National website but allows us to get a good price and fast service. We often get to the Adventurer's Club within 60 minutes of exiting the aircraft door.

 

[TiggerFreak]

rcomputer,

Thanks for the info. Took care of the master rental agreement as soon as they sent it to me. So I will follow your advice and go straight to the car without stopping at the counter.

60 minutes to the AC.
Cool.
And no speeding tickets ?

 

[TMcG88]

Okay...here's what I did. I went on National's web site and got a price quote...then I tried again with the DC Rate code and contract # and it was way cheaper. So just for fun I called National and asked for a quote and they gave me the same price as WITH the DC discount! (they may have our DC number on file from our profile) We will be getting in at dinner time with three hungry boys so it will definately be worth the convenience!

 

[DMRick]

So I will follow your advice and go straight to the car without stopping at the counter.

If your paperwork doesn't say Aisle..you have to go to the counter. The one time we got a compact car (or started to), I wondered what happened to my EA, so I called. She said I would have ot go to the counter.
I didn't realize you have a compat car. I don't think you can get the Aisle with a compact car, and I'm not sure about using the DC with compact. We always get a full size and pay for the mid (same price).
Am I reading this correctly? You are a EA member, but not a choice member (I'm not sure what that is).

 

[rcomputer]

Let's start with some terminology:

Emerald Club - apparently not EC - something you join either for free or for money. Entails completing a Master Rental Agreement (MRA) which applies to all rentals associated with it. Usually reservations are made against the Emerald Club number - but if not the Emerald Club card or even just the number will speed processing as they will call up your details and put the rental under the MRA.

Emerald Aisle - EA - A group of cars available to EC members usually located near the front of the facility. It is necessary to reserve an Intermediate or larger to make an EA reservation. Not available at all renting locations. Where offered the reservation will state 'Emerald Aisle'.

Emerald Choice - EC - A process similar to EA but you can select cars only from the group you reserved. Available at very few renting locations but does include Orlando (MCO) and Los Angeles (LAX). Reservation will state 'Counter' - there is no EC selection.

This is the Orlando airport location description from the National's website:
------------------------------------------------------
Orlando Intl Arpt
MCOT01
Orlando, FL 32827
US
Tel: (407)855-4170
Fax: (407)855-1715

Hours of operation:

Sun-Sat:12:00 AM-11:59 PM

Service(s) available:

CN-Counter
EA-Emerald Aisle
EC-Emerald Choice
GR
MG-Meet And Greet
--------------------------------------------------------------------

I have had probably 10 rentals at MCO in the last year - the most recent at Labour day weekend. All but one were Compacts and we used the EC service. The first time I had not even received my Emerald Club card but they accepted the number on a post-it note. The reservation may say Counter but you may proceed directly to the garage and use Emerald Choice (at MCO and any other locations where EC is offered)

Most of the rentals used the Disney Club code and where over two days the Disney Club free day coupon - just hand in the coupon with your cards as you leave.

 

[DMRick]

To throw more confusion..this is also from their site I am an Emerald Club member..because I am, I can by pass the counter. On their EC page (I copied it below), it says I can :

Simply bypass the counter with our exclusive Emerald Club Aisle Service. This service, available only to Emerald Club members, gets you on the road quickly in a well-maintained General Motors car - without stopping at the rental counter.

I'm not sure what the Emerald choice you are a member of is, since you also get to bypass the counter, even though this says only Emerald Club members get to do that. Near as I can figure, is that your Emerald Choice is the same thing as the Emerald Club, except you ordered a compact, so you can't pick from the aisle, but are still allowed to go directly to the garage. I had to o to the counter the one time I had a compact car, even though the gal told me I was EC (Emerald Club) member. She said in that instance I couldn't go to the EA, since I had rented a compact, and that's what we did. I would like to know when you get back, if you were also able to go directly to the garage with a compact...seems to me, that since they have all your info, you should be able to, but I wouldn't want to findout that I couldn't, after the fact, since I seldom see anyone in the garage until we are leaving.
I do see that National has a business plan called National's Choice Rental Process, just to add some more confusion.
**************************

Simply A Higher Level of Service

If you’re looking for a way to escape the headaches and delays of renting a car the usual way, National Car Rental suggests you try a better way.
Emerald Club, National's premier level of service, gives members exclusive benefits and privileges to make renting faster, easier and traveling more enjoyable.

It's easy to join, and when you do, you'll discover a whole world of choice, priority service and convenience each and every time you rent a car with National.

As an Emerald Club member, you will enjoy the following benefits:

Emerald Club Aisle Service®
Simply bypass the counter with our exclusive Emerald Club Aisle Service. This service, available only to Emerald Club members, gets you on the road quickly in a well-maintained General Motors car - without stopping at the rental counter. If you travel on business, or if you just don't like standing in line, you'll really appreciate the speed and priority service of Emerald Club. Emerald Club Aisle Service is available at most major U.S. airport locations

 

[rcomputer]

>To throw more confusion..this is also from their site I am an
>Emerald Club member..because I am, I can by pass the counter.
>On their EC page (I copied it below), it says I can :

>quote:
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Simply bypass the counter with our exclusive Emerald Club Aisle
>Service. This service, available only to Emerald Club members,
>gets you on the road quickly in a well-maintained General
>Motors car - without stopping at the rental counter.
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry if I have confused you. I tried to make it clear that EC is the abbreviation for for Emerald Choice not Emerald Club (please see my previous post and the DIS abbreviations at http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm )
Emerald Aisle is a service available to Emerald Club members only at some rental locations.


>I'm not sure what the Emerald choice you are a member of is,
>since you also get to bypass the counter, even though this says
>only Emerald Club members get to do that.
No one is a member of Emerald Choice. It is another service - similar to Emerald Aisle - available to Emerald Club members. It is only offered at about 20 locations in the US. The two that I have used are MCO and LAX.

> Near as I can figure,
>is that your Emerald Choice is the same thing as the Emerald
>Club, except you ordered a compact, so you can't pick from the
>aisle, but are still allowed to go directly to the garage. I had to
>to the counter the one time I had a compact car, even though
>the gal told me I was EC (Emerald Club) member. She said in
>that instance I couldn't go to the EA, since I had rented a
>compact, and that's what we did. I would like to know when
>you get back, if you were also able to go directly to the garage
>with a compact...seems to me, that since they have all your info,
>you should be able to, but I wouldn't want to findout that I
>couldn't, after the fact, since I seldom see anyone in the
>garage until we are leaving.

I did try to stress the terminology in the previous post. The thing you belong to is the Emerald Club. As a member you can use Emerald Aisle if it is offered at the rental location you will be using. (mainly airports) You can also use the Emerald Choice service at rental locations where it is offered. (MCO is one of those)

To use the Emerald Aisle you must reserve an Intermediate or larger so you could not select from the aisle when you reserved a compact. Just use the Emerald Choice service instead. Go directly to the line of compacts, choose one and drive to the exit. The only difference to EA is that you are only choosing from the car group you are paying for and you have to walk farther.

Apart from one EA reservation when I needed a larger vehicle all the rentals I mentioned were compacts using EC. Many people do it often.

 

[ncbyrne]

I have rented from all of the companies onsite at MCO (except L&M). However, on our past few trips, Dollar almost always has the lowest rates. You can join Dollar's Fastlane (it's free) and by-pass all of the counter lanes. We do this every time and we're literally in our car within a few minutes of arrival at the counter!

 

[tax58]

Another good reason to use EA is picking out your car. This summer we had a full size car and we tried four different cars before we could fit the suitcases in the trunk.

 

[rcomputer]

Everyone gets to pick their car with National at MCO - it is just that some have to line up at the counter and complete a rental agreement first.

 

[NHLFAN]

If you log into your Emerald Club on the website you can use any(DisneyClub,Entertainment,etc.) coupon (as long as it valid for days rented) and also you can change the "Contract #" to other companies to try and get the best quote.

My Emerald Club is one company,Coupon is Entertainment and the Contract ID # is Disney Club....

And I have always just went directly to my car...just make sure you have you id, coupon and club cards.