Flight lands 5PM, Car rental closes at 6

[andrews_dad]

Am I cutting this way too close for comfort? AirTran, depart tomorrow and land at 5:02 PM. I have a Budget rental reserved at West Landstreet Rd location. Planning to catch a taxi to get there. Just looked at my rental confirm to see that they close at 6PM tomorrow! Ugh. Now I am stressed. Advice? Thoughts?

 

[sweetpeakaris]

You are cutting it too close, what if your flight is delayed?

 

[safetymom]

Have you notified the location of your arrival time at their location?

 

[andrews_dad]

Yes, I called them at the Westland St location. They offered a few options... 1. call as soon as I land and try to convince the manger on duty to wait for us if we are runninga few minutes late (they say it is a 15-20 min cab ride). Two, they say to come back the next AM and they can honor the rental fee with no additional charge (the person I am staying with has a small car so it would take 3 trips to get us all, at least). Option 3 is to barter at the MCO location to see what rate they might give us.... currently to pick up at MCO is about $100 per car more for my rental period (two cars). Option 4 is to have the two drver hop on the cab and dash to the rental car agency, leaving the bags for the other members of teh party to collect. Drive back to airport to get people and bags....... I'm getting stressed and the vacation has not started yet! I am thinking I might try to combine option 1 and 4.

 

[andrews_dad]

What happens if I make a back-up reservation but never use it? Do I get a charge or get some other nasty recourse?

 

[Hannathy]

There is no way you'll make it if you wait for luggage, IMO. Could the person with the small car be waiting to rush the driver of the rental car to the place to pick up the car and then they or rental driver could return to pick up you and the luggage? That is the only way I could even imagine you making it, and that person better book it off the plane thru the airport and jump into a waiting car. What if there is traffic? Plus Orlando isn't exactly a tiny airport and you have to ride the monorail thingy.

What if the manager decides to leave a few minutes early? And at this time of year what if there is "weather" as the airlines like to put it and you are a bit late? Not worth $100 to me.

 

[andrews_dad]

There is no way you'll make it if you wait for luggage, IMO. Could the person with the small car be waiting to rush the driver of the rental car to the place to pick up the car and then they or rental driver could return to pick up you and the luggage? That is the only way I could even imagine you making it, and that person better book it off the plane thru the airport and jump into a waiting car. What if there is traffic? Plus Orlando isn't exactly a tiny airport and you have to ride the monorail thingy.

What if the manager decides to leave a few minutes early? And at this time of year what if there is "weather" as the airlines like to put it and you are a bit late? Not worth $100 to me.

We have two drivers, two different cars. So it is at least a $200 difference. Anyone know if you get in trouble/charged if you make an on-site MCO ressie and no-show or cancel at the lst second? No sure what policies are....

 

[andrews_dad]

Found this in the terms and conditions... if I am reading it correctly I think I could make a 2nd reservation for later in the day at the MCO site say 7 Pm ish (for the $100 extra charge per car), then cancel before that time IF I can get to the West Landsteet location by the close at 6.

• If your plans change and you no longer require the rental, you must cancel this reservation before the scheduled pick up time or you will be charged a $75 US fee ($50 US for a pre-paid rental).

 

[andrews_dad]

I went ahead and reserved two compact cars at MCO for tomorrow at the rate of $365.24, that is from 12/28-1/05. At West Landsteet I can get a Full sized for $100 less and drop off is free at MCO, but not sure I can make it there at 6 PM with a 5 PM landing. I will cancel the opnes I can't use. If anyone has a better price of a better idea, I am still all ears.

Honestly, I am not sure how they would get you if you were a no show and a no call. They only require a name and email add to reserve. They have no credit card number, no home add, and no phone. I will still certainly call one to cancel still, but not sure how they get you with the charge they speak of on the terms and conditions.

 

[safetymom]

Personally I would look at rentals that are at the airport. Do you really want to spend the start of your vacation making a mad dash to an offsite location? What if the selection of cars is not very good?

 

[andrews_dad]

I've been looking for on site rentals for the past 2 months. Most are about $600-1000 for ONE car for my time (holidays). We need two cars. One full, one compact. 12/28 at 5:30 pick up with drop off at 1:30 on 1/5. Prices for that time have stayed VERY high. I don't car too much about the selection of cars. Just so they have 4 wheels and run OK.

Thanks to the good folks here on this site I was given a SWEET code for Budget that brought that to $263 at West Landst location. teh same code is what I used for MCO budget location for budget. Code is Y937800. I'll take any other insights or suggestions.

As I said, I have my original ressie for $263 (for the full size, something like $225 for the compact) at West Landstreet location of budget (that includes all fees/taxes) ... but not sure I can make it there before 6 PM close. I know have a back-up ressie at MCO location of Budget for about $100 more per car for 7:00. I will call to cancel the ones I don't use. Thoughts?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thoughts: andrews dad's "Option 4": assuming on-time arrival, the two drivers run out to the curb and grab a cab to the rental agency, rent the cars, and return to the airport to pick up the rest of the party.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Thoughts: andrews dad's "Option 4": assuming on-time arrival, the two drivers run out to the curb and grab a cab to the rental agency, rent the cars, and return to the airport to pick up the rest of the party.

What's the price of the cab ride to Budget? (and what happens if you still get there too late after the mad cab dash?) How much are you actually saving after the cab ride? (I don't know the geography of where that Budget is so I don't know how far it is...)

 

[andrews_dad]

What's the price of the cab ride to Budget? (and what happens if you still get there too late after the mad cab dash?) How much are you actually saving after the cab ride? (I don't know the geography of where that Budget is so I don't know how far it is...)

It is 7.25 miles from MCO terminal to the West Landstreet location. Will be about a $25 cab ride including the tip. It is only one way charge, as it is allowable to return the car to MCO for no extra xcharge. Two cars at $100 each difference of about $175 total. I'm going to try it if I am at the cab stand at 5:30 or before.

 

[andrews_dad]

UPDATE: Just landed back home last night... boo hoo. But, wanted to update everyone. I reserved a 2nd budget car online at the MCO airport location as a back-up before departing. It was $150 more for the one car, $125 for the second vs. the Westland St location. Still, I felt better having something reserved just in case I did not make it there before closing at the off-site location.

Well, my flight from Baltimore to MCO was right on time (AirTran). Landed at 5. I dashed ahead with the other driver and let the rest of teh party gather the luggage. Straight to the taxi area. Jumped right into a cab and off we went. I called the Westland St location to let them know we were en route.... well, we walked into the Westland St location at 5:33! Amaing time. Called then and canceled the reservation at the MCO. Very, very easy taxi ride. Very quick. Cab fare was $22, plus $1 toll that the cabbie had paid but I felt I should cover. Added a tip on top for the excellent, kind driver. Returned the rental cars to the MCO airport yesterday with no extra charge. Almost a $250 savings!!!! LOVE IT.

The Westland St location folks are SO kind. They helped me with directions back to the airport to get my family and bags. They thanked us over and over for using their location, saying they wished more folks knew about them and how easy it is to get to them. Not a huge car selection (looked like a big truck rental place for moving), so if you are expecting a free upgrade coupon or something I'd call ahead. I will be using them from now on if the price continues to be right. Consider it. I am vouching for them! Great find.

 

[brenda1966]

So glad it all worked out! The thing that prevents many of us from using those offsite places are their limited hours. Most are not open on Sunday, most are only open 1/2 day on Saturday, and they close early all through the week. Makes it very tough to get your car.

 

[andrews_dad]

So glad it all worked out! The thing that prevents many of us from using those offsite places are their limited hours. Most are not open on Sunday, most are only open 1/2 day on Saturday, and they close early all through the week. Makes it very tough to get your car.

YEap. But do know that for many of them you can pick up at their location but return to the airport for no extra charge. That means you only have to worry about the hours for your landing, not departing.