Help with Thrifty please

[Hockeychic]

We are thinking about my Dh going to get the rental while I get the luggage on our upcoming trip....but need some info.

Where does he go to get the shuttle?? And when he comes back to get us where can he pick us up...where he got the shuttle on the rental car level???

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Lewisc]

DON'T DO IT unless you both have cell phones. You'll have no idea how long he'll be and you don't want to be waiting outside for 45 minutes or more looking for him.

 

[djbleach]

We have family who live in Florida. So we've been picked up from the airport. I wouldn't hesitate to let him go get the car first. My experience is if you "beat the luggage crowd" from your flight you are way ahead of everybody. So he should be there and back in a short time. Pick up is right behind the luggage pick up, so he could wait outside if he beats you. If you get your luggage and he's not outside, then just wait in side with the luggage and have someone check. Or like the other person said, a cell phone will help (keep in mind that sometimes there's no signal.
Orlando will not let you 'park'. So he would not be able to get out the car. Personally, I'd go for it! Good Luck

 

[purplevalentine]

I use Thrifty all the time, their rental desks are usually right off airport property. At MCO you will have to take the shuttle bus to the Thrifty office. It's about a 5 -10 ride. Lines can be long at that location. On one of my trips we arrived late in the evening (around 10:30pm) caught the shuttle to the Thrifty office and waited on line for a good 45mins. (Which inspired me to get the Blue Chip Card) Unless you have a Thrifty Blue Chip Card or a cell phone to keep in touch I would suggest that you all go together. You could be waiting at the airport for awhile if lines are long at the Thrifty station.

KAREN

 

[robinb]

I have rented from Thrift twice and the lines were very short. In January, they found a ding on the rental car and made me fill out an accident report, but nothing ever came of it. They were making just about everyone fill out the report that day.

 

[Michael623]

I'd keep trying Alamo/National. There are several codes and coupons on Mousesavers that can usually get the rates down close to or sometimes below thrifty and there is no dilema about where to get picked up. You simply walk across the street and get your car. I had a bad experience with thrifty too.

 

[Ishy]

Join blue chip - grab your luggage - everyone goes.
Navigating the airport to find you again would be worse then sticking together - there are no lines for bluechip members - its sign and go

 

[LeftCoaster]

I often rent from Thrifty and I would just have him wait with you and go together to pick up the vehicle. Orlando is pretty quick about getting the luggage out. With having to circle back to the airport, I think the "time savings" will be a wash.

 

[julfre]

Another option is you really want to beat the line is to have your husband go for the car immediately. You get the luggage and then go on the next shuttle and meet him at Thrifty. This way he will either have the car already when your shuttle gets there and can meet you at the shuttle(alot fewer people and congestion) or if he is still in line then he will still have reduced your wait. I wouldn't try to meet him at the airport.

 

[inkkognito]

Definitely join Blue Chip (athough we've had good luck and have never had a long line, even before we were members). Alamo's lines are god-awful...usually we're in and out of Thrifty, even though it's offsite, more quickly than onsite Alamo. We've never, ever waiting for a shuttle...they are always sitting right there at the airport.
Barb