Flight time changed - picking up rental car hours earlier?

[emilymad]

Southwest changed our flight time. We will now arrive 2.5 hours earlier than planned. Adjusting our rental car adds about $300 to the price for the new time. Can I keep my current rental car and then just show up early? Reservation is with Alamo.

 

[Meglen]

Give them a call the day before and see what they say?

 

[keishashadow]

Southwest changed our flight time. We will now arrive 2.5 hours earlier than planned.

When you made the reservation, did you link your flight information?

If the fight # wasn’t changed, hasn’t been a problem for us in the past. Who knows now with the limited inventory tho

If the flight was cancelled & you have a new #, it gets a bit muddy IMO.

Suggest calling, now, not later to try to get this settled

 

[decheez]

Have rented hundreds of cars, and in my experience as long as the location has the inventory it's not an issue to show up a couple hours earlier. Most rentals charge a daily rate per 24 hours so the clock starts when you pick it up. Might mean extra charges at the end depending on when you drop the rental off. Best bet is to contact the location though to notify them of the new pick up time.

 

[NotUrsula]

This depends hugely on the type of rate you have. If it is a weekend rate, the usual practice is that it is only valid on pickups after noon on Thursday, returns no later than Monday. Check your fine print before deciding to just show up.

Also, ALWAYS put your flight info into your reservation; without it a car may not be held for you.
(Although the situation is so crazy right now with cars that even prepaid customers are sometimes ending up semi-stranded; having to wait for a car to come back from cleaning if it was returned late.)

 

[emilymad]

It is a weekly rental so I should be ok there. I will add my flight information as well. Southwest canceled the original flight so I have a new flight number now. So annoying.

 

[_19disnA]

I would call the rental company to avoid surprises. If they are very slim on inventory, and you arrive much earlier then the time you reserved, you might find out the vehicle hasn't yet returned from the prior renter. What mandatory information is required for your online reservation might vary by company. I know Avis requires an airline and flight #, but you input a desired pickup time independent of that. When I traveled prior to covid, I would usually put an arrival time 1 hr earlier then I actually thought I would arrive to avoid turnaround issues on the vehicle.

I don't know what the rental company does with your flight information, but perhaps if you don't show at your scheduled time, they can check to see if there was a flight delay.

 

[emilymad]

I am definitely going to have to call the rental car company. Southwest just changed my return flight home as well.

 

[seashoreCM]

It is up to the whim of the rental company or the rental agent. I have had it happen both ways with the same company: I got the car earl, and, I I had to wait for my pickup time. (Both times I did not call in advance.)

 

[OnThisMagicNight]

I had the same issue (Southwest canceled our original flight) - except ours is now getting in 2 and 1/2 hours later. When I checked in for the rental online, I was able to change the flight number. I'm hoping that is enough and that they don't give our rental away. I did try calling, however I'm not very confident in the response I got from the call center ("Oh it'll be no problem!") Our rental came up like $500 more if I changed the times, so that's not happening - I'm just hoping for the best!

 

[LadybugsMum]

I had the same issue (Southwest canceled our original flight) - except ours is now getting in 2 and 1/2 hours later. When I checked in for the rental online, I was able to change the flight number. I'm hoping that is enough and that they don't give our rental away. I did try calling, however I'm not very confident in the response I got from the call center ("Oh it'll be no problem!") Our rental came up like $500 more if I changed the times, so that's not happening - I'm just hoping for the best!

Our flight was changed and then late on 4/10. I had no problem picking up the rental from Alamo 2.5 hours late, but the pickings were a bit slim.

 

[Doug7856]

This is a great question and I've enjoyed the replies. We have a weekend rental in May and we will be arriving 2 hours early (6 pm instead of 8 pm). Hoping it's not a problem. In July I have a 10-day rental I reserved back in December at a great rate, but our flight is arriving 5 hours early. This one concerns me more. Worst case scenario would be to use DME and return for the car later. Obviously, I don't want to do that, but the cost difference to reschedule is more than double!