Flight changed - what to do about rental car?

[kjs1976]

Oops, a moderator messed up this thread.

The question was:

Our flight was changed to arrive in Orlando a few hours earlier. We already had a rental car reserved at a nice rate but we noticed that the rental company now quotes a much higher rate. When we tried to change the car rental pickup to match our arrival, the quoted rate went somewhat higher so we did not make the change ... yet. What should we do?

 

[seashoreCM]

Just my feeling, I would leave the reservation alone and show up at the car rental counter when my flight arrived. Chances are the rental company will give you the car earlier.

It is common for rental companies to refigure the rate to the current rate when you try to make the slightest change.

Depending on your schedule, if you pick up the car earlier you may have to return it earlier to avoid extra charges. Be sure to arrange for extra rental hours if desired and agree upon the rate before taking the car. Do not simply keep the car overtime as many rental companies then reserve the right to refigure the entire rental at a higher rate.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[dcgrumpy]

ITA with seashoreCM, the same thing happened to my sister in November. No one said a word about it when she picked up the car.

 

[HeatherC]

This happened to us with Dollar. When I called them they said to just go to the counter early and hope that the car is ready....changing the reservation would have cost over $200 more to pick the car up 3 hours early! Long story short, I found a better rate on National with EA and will use that for this trip.

Heatherc

 

[kjs1976]

In my original psot, before accidently changed by the moderator, stated that I found that if I modified the car now to add the two hours, the price would go from $93 to $122 for mid-size SUV. If I made a whole new ressie the price would go up to $134. The $122 is not bad at all and I guess I'd rather have it be that price, versus getting to the counter that day and having them up the price...anyone know for sure what they'd do? Plus, we're flying AirTran and up until yesterday the flight had only changed once before and it was a 4 min. change...not sure if they'll change again, but I suspect it would only be minutes, which wouldn't effect the rental.

So if we get to the QS rental counter (Alamo) at 2:30 instead of 4:30, we won't get charged extra? I don't want to turn our rental in early either. We want to stay at WDW as long as possible.

Accidental moderator change left this imortant thing out too:

WE'RE GETTING TO WDW 2 HOURS EARLIER!!!!

 

[seashoreCM]

If your return time is 2:30 PM or earlier on the return date most likely you won't have to pay extra. But there is a slight chance you may be told to wait until 4:30 or perhpas given a choice of paying a totally different higher rate. What actually happens may depend on the mood of the rental agent and whether he has quotas to fill in terms of selling upgrades and coverages.

If your return time is after 2:30 you will definitely have to pay for extra hours or perhaps an extra day when you pick up the car early. (Car rentals are based on 24 hour periods.)

 

[kjs1976]

SeashoreCM-
Sounds like, by your advice, I should just modify and go with the $120-something rate to avoid a possible huge hike?!