how long will it take to get a car from National's Emerald Reserve?

[cepmom]

Last time we rented from National, we did not belong to Emerald Club and DH had to wait in line etc. How long should it take to get to the lot, get the car and get out of the airport? Where is the lot anyway??

Also ~ how long should it take to get our luggage? We are flying Song out of Boston if that matters. I can't for the life of me remember how long it took last time. Thanks!!!

 

[dejavu]

I just rented from EA on July 28th for the first time- wow was it fast. We carried on luggage and we were in the car out of the airport not 20 min later-you completely miss the counter you go right to EA pick out the car you want, load up your stuff, drive to the booth at the exit show your CC, DL & EA cards and in about 5 min you are done-loved it!!!!
Sorry I can't answer your luggage question.

 

[grodgers49]

We did National Emerald Club for the first time in July. The cars are in the parking area at the airport. Luggage is usually there in 10 minutes. Go out the doors and follow the signs to National. Go to the aisle labeled "Emeral Club" and pick out whatever car is parked on that aisle. Load up and drive to the exit window where all the paper work is taken care of. The hardest part was deciding which car to drive away in.

Returning the car was not as quick. A bunch of us all got there at the same time and it took awhile since only one man was working the check-in.

Overall it was an easy and positive experience.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The most amount of time I spend is picking out which car I want. Probably 10-15 minutes tops, in the National section, after you have you luggage.

 

[kda]

It used to be quick, as others have described. The last 2 trips we seem to have hit bad luck. Once the car was loaded, we sat in line for 10-15 minutes before even getting up to the booth to check out. Someone was being trained and took them a long time. Once we got to the booth, it still took longer than previous trips

 

[ckret01]

Has anyone experienced the Emerald Club Reserve? How does that work b/c I know you don't pick out your car, do you have to go to a kiosk first?

 

[cepmom]

Emerald Club/Reserve works like Emerald Aisle except you go to the aisle of the car class you reserved and pick your car. For example ~ I reserved a full size with Emerald Reserve so I will go to the full size aisle and pick a car, drive up to the attendant, show our paperwork etc and drive away.

With Emerald Aisle you go the aisle marked "Emerald Aisle" to choose a car. You are guaranteed at least an intermediate size car, but you may choose any car that is parked on the Emerald Aisle which could be full size, SUV Intermediate etc.

WIth either level of service, you can avoid waiting in lines and instead go straight to the parking area to choose your car. HTH

 

[DebbieB]

Has anyone experienced the Emerald Club Reserve? How does that work b/c I know you don't pick out your car, do you have to go to a kiosk first?

National does not assign cars for anyone, everyone gets to pick (from the type they reserved), even if you go to the counter.

 

[ckret01]

Thanks everyone....I rented from Budget last year and it seems completely different than the way National does things. It will just feel weird to go to the correct isle for Full size cars (which is what I am renting) and just pick the one I want without speaking to an attendant first

Are the isle's marked clearly so it's not hard to figure it out?

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[bg4]

Are the isle's marked clearly so it's not hard to figure it out?

YES

as you enter garage after crossing street from terminal there are aisles (as in emerald) of cars representing all of the classes and programs.

 

[DebbieB]

The size is also marked on the tag in the car, it's either hanging from the mirror or on the dashboard.

 

[cepmom]

thanks everyone.....last time we flew into MCO, I waited for the luggage and DH went to get the car from National so we were palnning on doing the same thing this time. Then I got to thinking that it may be a lot faster this time to get the car because of the Emerald Club and maybe we should get the luggage then all go together to get the car. I would hate for DH to get the car then have to keep circling the airport waiting for us to get our luggage out to the curb.