Emerald Reserve?

[KCMiller]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me the difference between Emerald Aisle and Emerald Reserve? I've got ER, and booked a fullsized car - can I choose ANY car on the Reserved Aisle? And what sorts of cars are on that aisle?

Thanks for any info!

KC

 

[jsilvers]

Can anyone tell me the difference between Emerald Aisle and Emerald Reserve? I've got ER, and booked a fullsized car - can I choose ANY car on the Reserved Aisle?

If you've booked a full-size car with Emerald Reserve, you can go straight to the garage and choose any car from the section labeled "full-size." (There is no such thing as a "Reserved Aisle".)

 

[SnackyStacky]

"Emerald Aisle" is just the fancy name for the mid-size aisle, where you can sometimes snag a free upgrade.

Emerald Reserve just means you've booked a class other than midsize.

Since you said you've booked full size, you may want to still peek at the Emerald Aisle. We had a compact SUV reserved, and found the Emerald Aisle full of minivans. My wife was REALLY upset and made ME go and ask the people at the desk if we could take an Emerald Aisle minivan. (Why the heck *I* had to go when *I'D* have been perfectly contented with the SUV, but I digress)

My point is - it may be beneficial to check out the Emerald Aisle to see if there's something you like more than what's on the full size aisle. If you see something, just ask the desk clerks if you can take from the Emerald Aisle.

 

[CNPHILLY]

If you're an Emerald Club member, you're better off reserving a midsize and paying less. By reserving a midsize, you are able to take any car from the Emerald Aisle, which usually has a lot of full size cars and/or an SUV or minivan or two.

 

[n2mm]

As other's have said, emerald reserve means you pay for only that size car. The perk is that you bypass the counter and your rental is prepaid. So if you book full size, then you go to the full size lane and choose any full size car you want.

however, emerald aisle, means you book and pay for a mid-size car, and then go to the emerald aisle section and choose anything in the emerald aisle lane. It could be bigger cars, but it could also be only mid-size cars. You have to be ok with a mid-size car when you choose this option. Yes, it does happen and I've been many times when it only has a few cars there and they are mid-size. My daughter ended up with a mid-size car from the EA lane.

Then there is the executive aisle and that is for folks like me, who earned that level by booking 40 or more days a year the previous year. I can choose from either the Executive aisle or the Emerald aisle.

Also if you're flying into MCO there are TWO sides of the airport, Side A and Side B. Generally most folks go to the side where their luggage comes out, but the rental car companies are on both sides. A few times I did not like the choices on Side A after getting my luggage, so I went up the elevators and over to the Side B side to see what the choices were there. The choices can be different, and sometimes worse.

Good Luck! We've been Emerald Club members for 10 years now and love it!

 

[KCMiller]

Thanks so much for all the info - I knew the DIS denizens would know the answers! So, can anyone tell me what National has in the full sized aisle?

KC

 

[CNPHILLY]

Impalas and similar.

 

[CJK]

Thanks for the info everyone. I just booked "emerald reserve" level, and just booked an economy car. Does this mean when we go out to the garage, there will be an economy car emerald row? No chance of an upgrade I guess, but that's okay.

 

[jsilvers]

Thanks for the info everyone. I just booked "emerald reserve" level, and just booked an economy car. Does this mean when we go out to the garage, there will be an economy car emerald row?

As previously noted, there are no special rows for Emerald Reserve. If you've booked an economy car, you should go directly to the economy row. The point of Emerald Reserve is to avoid a stop at the counter; it doesn't give you access to a separate set of cars.

 

[TyRy]

Here's an added spin to the OP's question. We are EC members, but needed a full size for our upcoming trip to WDW. We reserved one, and our reservation says level of service: Counter. So does that mean instead of going right to the full size aisle, we now have to stop and wait at the counter? Just confused as I thought being EC we could just go out.

When I played around for just a mid-size (Emerald Aisle) I get level of service: Aisle. Anyone have any answers?

Thanks!

 

[n2mm]

Here's an added spin to the OP's question. We are EC members, but needed a full size for our upcoming trip to WDW. We reserved one, and our reservation says level of service: Counter. So does that mean instead of going right to the full size aisle, we now have to stop and wait at the counter? Just confused as I thought being EC we could just go out.

When I played around for just a mid-size (Emerald Aisle) I get level of service: Aisle. Anyone have any answers?

Thanks!

Are you using an upgrade coupon? That is the only time I've seen this happen, unless your are new members. When we had our first rental as new members we had to go to the counter to sign some documents.

 

[TyRy]

Are you using an upgrade coupon? That is the only time I've seen this happen, unless your are new members. When we had our first rental as new members we had to go to the counter to sign some documents.

Maybe that's it...we are using an upgrade coupon. Ugh - hopefully the lines will not be too long. They do not have a Kiosk like Alamo, correct?