Emerald Reserve question

[Zoop]

I'm an Emerald Club member who is renting a full size car from National in late October. I have Emerald Reserve as my pick up area. If I happen to see a minivan on the Emerald Aisle, am I allowed to take that if I wish or must I only take something from Emerald Reserve? Thanks ...

 

[DebbieB]

With the new rules, you can only use Emerald Aisle if your reservation is for an intermediate. It's a gamble. You can book EA with an intermediate and take your chances or guarantee a full size by using Emerald Reserve. If an intermediate would be too small for you, I would just go with full size with ER. That's what I'm planning to do from now on.

 

[Zoop]

I know I need at least a full size car so I did go with ER.
What I really want to know is can I actually pick from EA or ER?
What if I did happen to see a minivan on EA but only a full size car
on ER. I suppose this could happen. Could I go to EA with my ER reservation and take something from EA? Thanks again!

 

[beattyfamily]

When you make your reservation, and you reserve an Intermediate, then you will automatically receive "Emerald Aisle" service (unless you request something like a child seat etc; then you have to go to the counter). Then you can head either to the EA or to the Intermediate aisle, whichever you want.

If you reserve a Full size (or any other size for that matter, other than an Intermediate) you will automatically receive "Emerald Reserve" service (formerly known as "Emerald Choice"). This means you are NOT eligible for the Emerald Aisle. You can ONLY go to the aisle of the size you reserved. In your case, you can only go to the Full size aisle if that is what you reserved.

Emerald Aisle is now only available to Emerald Club members who reserve an Intermediate. This change was made March 15; prior to March 15, those who reserved an Intermediate thru Full size could get Emerald Aisle service, but that is no longer the case.

If you have 5 people, then you would probably need a Full size. If you are not happy with a full size, then you need to reserve a minivan. BUT you cannot go to the EA. Only Intermediate reservations can.

The only exception to this is anyone who booked a Full size BEFORE March 15 and have Emerald Aisle service. If their reservation clearly states "head directly to the Emerald Aisle" then they can, indeed, check out the EA and if they don't see anything good, they can then head to the Full size aisle. They will honor those kinds of reservations as they took place BEFORE the changes on March 15.

Hope this helps clear things up for you.

 

[Zoop]

Now I know that with my ER reservation, I can ONLY pick from the ER and not the EA too. Always seem to find the answers right here.
You people are terrific !

 

[cindala]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
The only exception to this is anyone who booked a Full size BEFORE March 15 and have Emerald Aisle service. If their reservation clearly states "head directly to the Emerald Aisle" then they can, indeed, check out the EA and if they don't see anything good, they can then head to the Full size aisle. They will honor those kinds of reservations as they took place BEFORE the changes on March 15.

This applies to me and is just what I needed to hear!! Thanks!!!

 

[linny172]

Ok so let me see if I understand this now (and I am sorry if all of this has been explained before) but now if I reserve a intermediate with EA I still go the the EA asile as like before and can pick anything on the EA asile, but if I reserve a full size I go to the full size asile and can only pick from there??
What are the chances of anything othre than intermediates being on the EA asile. I know when I was there in Feb I had a full size reserved and all that was on the EA asile were intermediates except one PT Cruiser at the very end that some kid about knocked me over running for it, so I just went to the full size asile and got a brand new monte carlo with only 100 miles on it.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by linny172
Ok so let me see if I understand this now (and I am sorry if all of this has been explained before) but now if I reserve a intermediate with EA I still go the the EA asile as like before and can pick anything on the EA asile, but if I reserve a full size I go to the full size asile and can only pick from there??
What are the chances of anything othre than intermediates being on the EA asile. I know when I was there in Feb I had a full size reserved and all that was on the EA asile were intermediates except one PT Cruiser at the very end that some kid about knocked me over running for it, so I just went to the full size asile and got a brand new monte carlo with only 100 miles on it.

Yes, you've got it exactly right!

No one knows for sure the chances of what will be on the EA. When I called and asked about the changes happening in March, the woman at EC was telling me to book what I needed and not risk there not being anything larger than an Intermediate on the EA. She did say, though, that from time to time when there is an overflow of a certain size or kind of car, it goes to the EA. She also told me that PT Cruisers always go to the EA.

 

[prncess674]

Why don't you just make 2 ressies. There is no cancellation penalty that I am aware of. Make one for a full size ER and one for an Intermediate EA. That way you have your choice. I have to say though finding a mini-van on the EA in MCO is very slim. MCO has a big market for people who actually pay for a mini-van rental.

I just returned from MCO yesterday. I checked out the aisle and they had some small SUVs (Mitsubishi Outlanders) a few full sizes (Monte Carlos-2 door and Buick Century - 4 door). The majority of the cars were Corollas and Galants.

 

[DebbieB]

I believe National does have a cancellation penalty of $50 (within 24 hours). With Emerald Club, they have your credit card # on file to charge it.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DebbieB
I believe National does have a cancellation penalty of $50 (within 24 hours). With Emerald Club, they have your credit card # on file to charge it.

You are absolutely correct and it is on their website and in the master rental agreement, which apparently some of us have not read.

From the website under the MRA.

No-show
National Car Rental may charge a fee for vehicles that are reserved but not rented, if the reservation is not canceled 24 hours prior to anticipated arrival.
No-show fees will be billed to the credit card given at the time of reservation.

 

[lawgs]

the prior to march 15 "rule" seems to be interpreted differently by different people at national....

have just been on the phone with EC reservations central....

ressie made prior to march 15 change...

may 30 - june 6 confirmed on the net full size "emerald aisle" for 117~$, when we called to verify the cost, was told it was 147~$

she was very nice but said the policy had changed, which we knew about but insisted we had a print out and email showing the lower rate, ( it was booked on march 6, 2003 ) she was, after consulting with a "supervisor", able to confirm the lower amount

they said they could not email or fax confirmation, but a while later someone called from National saying that indeed they could fax a copy to me which i accepted ( i did have to get a fax number and call them back, but they did fax to that number ).....do not like surprises when it comes to rental cars

any one who "reserved" a full size/emerald aisle combo before march 15, would advise you to either verfiy with emerald club reservations or make sure you take print outs of your "net" confirmation and "email" confirmation just in case there is a discrepancy in total costs


we have one more reservation that was booked before march 15, 2003 using the "full" size for mid size pricing policy and choice of Emerald Aisle, will look into that one after we get back june 6th, National probably does not want me calling again today =)

smilawgs

 

[prncess674]

National Car Rental may charge a fee for vehicles that are

the key word is may

I have never ever been charged a no show fee at National or any rental car company. I have called and cancelled a ressie several times because my plans have changed on short notice (less than 24 hours). Perhaps they like me better. YMMV.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by prncess674
the key word is may

I have never ever been charged a no show fee at National or any rental car company. I have called and cancelled a ressie several times because my plans have changed on short notice (less than 24 hours). Perhaps they like me better. YMMV.

Well, since I have never cancelled, I would not know that to be true.

 

[lawgs]

update to my earlier post about pre march 16 emerald aisle full size booking....

well, we now have the fax in hand, but it is now Emerald Reserve marked on the "confirmation" but still at the "cost" booked on the net....

guess we will see what happens tomorrow...will post when we get back...

of course, we still have our confirmation and emails for "emerald aisle" so if worst comes to worst and there is a better vehicle on the emerald aisle we could probably get that...

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Lawgs,
Hope all goes well and I most certainly hope you have a GREAT time.

 

[DebbieB]

Lawgs,

I had an Emerald Aisle full size reservation for May 9 to 16 that I made in February for $122 total. Nothing good on the EA, so I took a Camry off the full size. No problems leaving the garage. To my surprise, my final bill was $110! My base rate dropped from $132 to $120! It said class driven FCAR, class charged ICAR. Have a great trip!

 

[lawgs]

thanks for the update debbieb

and tanks for the "encouragement" both you and Gail...

be back June 6 and will update....