Express check-in for car hire at MCO

[katytrott]

Just starting to plan our car hire for our trip in Oct.

It occured to me how after numerous trips waiting for hours with two very tired, young boys, for my husband to get the rental car, that if I had the available resources with me I probably would have gladly given them £1000 just to give me the car 'now'.

So I was thinking, is there a way of getting the car quickly? I was wondering about the express check in? Or is there a online check in like you get with VA?

We are flying with VA and have booked flights only direct with them. We are open to any car rental company. We do need a 7 seater minivan thing and obviously the cheaper the better, but I am prepared to pay extra to get the perk of not having to wait ages to get it

 

[wayneg]

Car rental companies usually offer a fast route. Best I have used is Dollar Express, its free and since I joined had some great free upgrades.
I have also rented Budget and used their Fastbreak.
Link to Dollars scheme. http://www.dollar.com/Express/LearnMore.aspx

 

[katytrott]

Thanks,

So how does it work? Do I sign on to this after I have aranged and booked the car from their website, or do I now book the car through this?

This appears to be one of those 'too good to be true' things. You would think they would get something out of you joining and getting all of those benefits!

 

[wayneg]

You apply for it now, takes about 2 weeks to arrive, I think you can still print one off until it arrives if you wanted.
No you don't book thru them, that is an expensive way, you just find the cheapest place you can, I have a 7 seater booked for our 1st 2 weeks in August while relatives are with us, booked it with USrentacar but paid an extra £10 so I can cancel and book elsewhere if I see a better rate. Hopefully a better deal will come up as its not cheap, £422(+£10) incl tank of gas and additional drivers.

Express, Fastbreak etc are a 2 way thing, yes its a great bonus for you being able to bypass the line but for them it means they keep all your details on record so collection is easier and you are more likely to re-book with them again. I estimate aprox 10-12 hours saved so far in past few years since I started using them.

 

[GibboFLA]

Wayneg tipped me off about the Budget Fastbreak a few years ago. I don't book with any other rental firm now. To me it's worth a lot extra just to walk out to the parking lot and get the car. Last year it couldn't have been any quicker, out to the lot, no que, signed forms, got in car and drove out. Marvellous!

 

[katytrott]

Thanks for your help

We have joined the dollar express, through dollar.com, but now want to book a minivan through dollar.co.uk (cheapest we have found). We are waiting for them to send the member ID number via email (2/3 days), how do we go about booking through the UK site when there is no section on that website to put your ID number?

In fact how do you book a car through any website other than dollar.com?

Sorry, I am still confused how this all works!

 

[jtlover]

We booked last year with Virgin Holidays (you dont have to book a holiday) and we did express check out. Printed the papers before we left and went and chose our car and our paperwork was sorted at the exit. Saved a lot of time and was fantastic. This was with Alamo and we will be doing the same this year as well. You can see what cars they have on their website

 

[wayneg]

Thanks for your help

We have joined the dollar express, through dollar.com, but now want to book a minivan through dollar.co.uk (cheapest we have found). We are waiting for them to send the member ID number via email (2/3 days), how do we go about booking through the UK site when there is no section on that website to put your ID number?

In fact how do you book a car through any website other than dollar.com?

Sorry, I am still confused how this all works!

What dates and price you got? Dollar are rarely the cheapest(but they are sometimes)

With Dollar Express you don't need to do anything, you just book with whoever you want then on arrival at the airport(is it MCO?) you bypass the desks & go straight to the Kiosk in the car park, hand over your Rental voucher and Express card they give you your car.
Some people link the reservation to their Express card but that depends who you book with if they will add it, some will some won't. You can also try emailing Dollar and asking them to add it, again sometimes succesful, sometimes not. It doesn't really matter, I asked and they told me you don't need to link, just turn up and they will process you as long as you are a member so thats how I always do it.

 

[katytrott]

What dates and price you got? Dollar are rarely the cheapest(but they are sometimes)

With Dollar Express you don't need to do anything, you just book with whoever you want then on arrival at the airport(is it MCO?) you bypass the desks & go straight to the Kiosk in the car park, hand over your Rental voucher and Express card they give you your car.
Some people link the reservation to their Express card but that depends who you book with if they will add it, some will some won't. You can also try emailing Dollar and asking them to add it, again sometimes succesful, sometimes not. It doesn't really matter, I asked and they told me you don't need to link, just turn up and they will process you as long as you are a member so thats how I always do it.

Are dates are 17th Oct - 3 Nov '11 and the price we were quoted from Dollar.co.uk was £538 (I think it was - DH has the details with him at work) for a 7 seater minibus.

Thanks for your help - makes sense to me now

 

[wayneg]

Are dates are 17th Oct - 3 Nov '11 and the price we were quoted from Dollar.co.uk was £538 (I think it was - DH has the details with him at work) for a 7 seater minibus.

Thanks for your help - makes sense to me now

Just had a look on Dollar.co.uk, is it with Platinum cover at GBP 526.90?
Is there more than 1 driver?

Not a bad rate, only one I see better is Alamo Brit guide rate http://www.alamo.co.uk/brits
£459 includes extra driver free but then you will have to pay for tank of gas which is included with Dollar. Would be even cheaper if it works via Quidco, they pay 6.5% cashback for Alamo http://www.quidco.com/alamo/ but some are succesfull some are not, its very hit and miss with the Brit guide rates, if it worked it would pay you £30 cashback making it the best deal by far.

Dollar deal is best for ease.