For anyone that's rented from Alamo...

[Disney st8 of mind]

I am looking at renting online and picking up at the airport for the first time ever. If I book the full size category, which they call a "Chevy Impala or similar", how do I get my car? After I check in at the rental counter do they take me to a lot where I can pick out any car from that category, or do they pick one out and drive it up to me? TIA

 

[dudspizza]

I am looking at renting online and picking up at the airport for the first time ever. If I book the full size category, which they call a "Chevy Impala or similar", how do I get my car? After I check in at the rental counter do they take me to a lot where I can pick out any car from that category, or do they pick one out and drive it up to me? TIA

You will walk across to the parking garage to the full size aisle, choose your car, drive to the exit booth, show them your paperwork, and off you go...

Another option is to use the kiosk near the counter to avoid the lines. You can also use online check in if you don't have a coupon... if you do that, you can proceed directly to the garage with your printed paperwork, pick your car and go from there.

duds

 

[gmeh1]

You will walk across to the parking garage to the full size aisle, choose your car, drive to the exit booth, show them your paperwork, and off you go...

Another option is to use the kiosk near the counter to avoid the lines. You can also use online check in if you don't have a coupon... if you do that, you can proceed directly to the garage with your printed paperwork, pick your car and go from there.

duds

At Alamo or National you will need to show your license as well as your rental agreement (which should be in the car, NOT in the trunk, your luggage, backpack or anywhere else, you would be amazed at where people leave their agreements and licenses). For online checkin, you can use Alamo's electronic coupons.

 

[Disney st8 of mind]

Is the rental agreement the thing I print from online? Also wondering (because we've always rode ME both ways) when we arrive at MCO are we better off to pick up our checked bags first and then go check in for the car or do the car thing first, then go get the bags?

 

[francie57]

If you use a coupon with your rental you will have to use either the kiosk or got to the counter. Before you leave though go into your rental confirmation and click on the save time feature and you can enter most of your information before leaving home. If you aren't using a coupon with the rental do the on-line check-in. You will print out all the paperwork before leaving home and then just get your luggage and head directly to the garage to pick out your car in the appropriate lane. Head to the exit and show them your paperwork and license and off you go. We were able to do this in Aug. and we were literally off the plane, through baggage claim and out of the garage in 20 min. Right now the prices for alamo are skyhigh for our Aug. dates, hoping they come down so we can do this again.

 

[ncc1701]

I am looking at renting online and picking up at the airport for the first time ever. If I book the full size category, which they call a "Chevy Impala or similar", how do I get my car? After I check in at the rental counter do they take me to a lot where I can pick out any car from that category, or do they pick one out and drive it up to me? TIA

Whatever you do take the time to walk around the car and note ANY dings/dents that are pre-exisitng.

 

[gmeh1]

If you use a coupon with your rental you will have to use either the kiosk or got to the counter. Before you leave though go into your rental confirmation and click on the save time feature and you can enter most of your information before leaving home. If you aren't using a coupon with the rental do the on-line check-in. You will print out all the paperwork before leaving home and then just get your luggage and head directly to the garage to pick out your car in the appropriate lane. Head to the exit and show them your paperwork and license and off you go. We were able to do this in Aug. and we were literally off the plane, through baggage claim and out of the garage in 20 min. Right now the prices for alamo are skyhigh for our Aug. dates, hoping they come down so we can do this again.

You can still do online check in if you use an electronic coupon. Keep in mind that online check in, while really great, still means you have to pretty much go through the same "stuff" at the exit booth as you would at the counter. The only difference is that you are sitting in your car, not standing in a line or at the counter. Last night I had three onlines in a row and I can tell you the folks waiting, who had been in line at the counter for a long time, were NOT pleased. Normally we can assign a car and have the customer out of the "gate" in 45 seconds (assuming they have their paperwork and license handy). With the online, it takes about 3 minutes to go through the screens, check the info, run the card , assign the car, print the rental agreement, give them directions and get them out the gate. Personally, I like the online check in reservations, unfortunately the people waiting in the line for longer than they think they should be do not.
The kiosk is even quicker for exit. Check the license and credit card, assign the car, give directions and you are out the gate. This takes about one minute at the exit, assuming all the required info is handy.

 

[gmeh1]

Whatever you do take the time to walk around the car and note ANY dings/dents that are pre-exisitng.

We really don't worry about little dings or scratches less than about 4-5 inches long. We will note them in the computer, but, they are nothing to worry about. Definitely do a walk around, but, please do it in the garage and NOT in the exit line. That holds up people trying to exit.

 

[gmeh1]

Is the rental agreement the thing I print from online? Also wondering (because we've always rode ME both ways) when we arrive at MCO are we better off to pick up our checked bags first and then go check in for the car or do the car thing first, then go get the bags?

Get the bags first, then go to the first level and get the car. It is a pain to have to drive to the second level to pick up your party and you cannot pick them up on the ground level.

What you print from your computer is the rental reservation, the agreement is what you will be given when you check in at the counter, the kiosk or the exit booth (if you used online checkin)

 

[Disney st8 of mind]

Thanks for all the help (gmeh1 ... I assume you work for alamo?)

 

[janiejake]

OK, got my attention here! We are renting from Alamo at MCO. Last few trips we've just used ME, but with great rates, could not turn down a rental, and the options it adds to our WDW vacation. In the past, have only done National's EA, and we are new to Alamo.
SO, after reading through all the posts, I'm confused about the best way to check in. I like it fast and organized. If I do online check in, does that mean that I can't, or shouldn't do the KIOSK at MCO? Which route would be slicker? We're coming in at 10 pm on a Thursday in January, so hopefully Alamo won't be overly busy...unless the whole plane has the same good deal, lol.

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks for all the help (gmeh1 ... I assume you work for alamo?)

Yes, I work for Alamo.

 

[gmeh1]

OK, got my attention here! We are renting from Alamo at MCO. Last few trips we've just used ME, but with great rates, could not turn down a rental, and the options it adds to our WDW vacation. In the past, have only done National's EA, and we are new to Alamo.
SO, after reading through all the posts, I'm confused about the best way to check in. I like it fast and organized. If I do online check in, does that mean that I can't, or shouldn't do the KIOSK at MCO? Which route would be slicker? We're coming in at 10 pm on a Thursday in January, so hopefully Alamo won't be overly busy...unless the whole plane has the same good deal, lol.

Ok, fast and organized. IF you are using an electronic coupon from Alamo, you can check in online, if you are using a coupon from anywhere else, you cannot check in online. If you are using an electronic coupon from Alamo, you can checkin online and then use the kiosk you can even add your additional drivers at the kiosk.
The fastest way, by far, is to use the kiosk, go to the garage, select your vehicle and go to the exit booth with your license, contract from the kiosk and credit card you used ready for the exit booth agent to verify. If you add an additional driver, you will need to have that person and license with you to be verified.

Online check in is great, you can check in online, go to the garage, select your vehicle and go to the exit booth with your license, print out and credit card. The exit booth agent will process the reservation there, exactly the same way the counter agent would, only this way you are in your car with other cars behind you.

Thursdays are usually pretty busy days/nights, but, do either the online, kiosk, or online and the kiosk and you will be well ahead of the game.

Hope this helps and was not too confusing.

 

[ktschultz1]

Ok, fast and organized. IF you are using an electronic coupon from Alamo, you can check in online, if you are using a coupon from anywhere else, you cannot check in online. If you are using an electronic coupon from Alamo, you can checkin online and then use the kiosk you can even add your additional drivers at the kiosk.
The fastest way, by far, is to use the kiosk, go to the garage, select your vehicle and go to the exit booth with your license, contract from the kiosk and credit card you used ready for the exit booth agent to verify. If you add an additional driver, you will need to have that person and license with you to be verified.

Online check in is great, you can check in online, go to the garage, select your vehicle and go to the exit booth with your license, print out and credit card. The exit booth agent will process the reservation there, exactly the same way the counter agent would, only this way you are in your car with other cars behind you.

Thursdays are usually pretty busy days/nights, but, do either the online, kiosk, or online and the kiosk and you will be well ahead of the game.

Hope this helps and was not too confusing.

Not to intrude on this thread but maybe some others will benefit from this question...above you mention adding additional drivers at the kiosk...I joined Alamo Insiders for my upcomming rental and I have heard that there is no charge for additional drivers if you are an insiders member but I haven't seen this verified anywhere by Alamo - Is this accurate? If so can the additional driver still be added at the kiosk?
Thank you!

 

[gmeh1]

Not to intrude on this thread but maybe some others will benefit from this question...above you mention adding additional drivers at the kiosk...I joined Alamo Insiders for my upcomming rental and I have heard that there is no charge for additional drivers if you are an insiders member but I haven't seen this verified anywhere by Alamo - Is this accurate? If so can the additional driver still be added at the kiosk?
Thank you!

From the Alamo website: Fees are waived for additional drivers who are renting under corporate contracts and the Alamo Insiders program allows for one additional driver to be added at no cost.

Yes, you can add the additional driver at the kiosk and if it shows a charge, that can be adjusted at the exit booth if you are, indeed, an insider member and the reservation has been made via the insider link.

 

[Disney st8 of mind]

Thanks for all the helpful info! Tell me if I've got this ... I think I'm going to do the online check in. So we will get our bags, then go downstairs and across to the garage to pick out our car (without stopping at the desk). I will have at this point my license, a credit card, and the rental reservation with me. We then pick out any car in our category and drive to the exit where I hand over the three things I have and they will take care of the rest. Do all the cars already have keys in them? Is there usually a pretty big selection or could we be disappointed in our choices? Anything else I need to know?

 

[Belle599]

Yes, keys are in the cars. Have a great trip! Compared to other airports, MCO is a good selection.

 

[Shelly S]

Just a quick question. I booked a one way rental, picking up at MCO through Hotwire ( best price I could find). Do I have to go to the counter for this? We normally use the kiosk, but have not done a Hotwire in the past. Thanks

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks for all the helpful info! Tell me if I've got this ... I think I'm going to do the online check in. So we will get our bags, then go downstairs and across to the garage to pick out our car (without stopping at the desk). I will have at this point my license, a credit card, and the rental reservation with me. We then pick out any car in our category and drive to the exit where I hand over the three things I have and they will take care of the rest. Do all the cars already have keys in them? Is there usually a pretty big selection or could we be disappointed in our choices? Anything else I need to know?

You have it!!!! If you are adding an additional driver, we will need that license too. We try to have a good selection of cars at all times, but, busy times tend to reduce our available vehicles. What size vehicle did you reserve?

 

[gmeh1]

Just a quick question. I booked a one way rental, picking up at MCO through Hotwire ( best price I could find). Do I have to go to the counter for this? We normally use the kiosk, but have not done a Hotwire in the past. Thanks

Try to check in online. Hotwire does not pass along any of your info to us. Failing the ability to check in online, you will need to go to the counter.