Is Emerald Aisle worth the extra $$?

[hurleysweety]

I have been going back and forth - National vs. Alamo and I need your help.

Up til today - both midsize.
National - $225.xx
Alamo - $219.xx

So the choice was obvious - national emerald aisle!

But today, the rates dropped a lot:
National - $190.xx
Alamo - $155.xx (WOW!)

So now I'm not sure what to do. I thought I could just make these reservations without a credit card. But for some reason, I needed an account # to push the discounts through (emarald club # and alamo insider #). Otherwise I'd keep both and then just decide when I get there.

We don't have a desperate need for anything bigger than a midsize since its just the two of us. But I would love to get something more fun than an impala. Also, we'll be picking up the car on DH's birthday - and I think getting a jeep or small SUV might be a treat. It'll also be 7am on a Saturday, so hopefully that might help?

Brand new to National - done Alamo before. What do you think? Please advise.

 

[n2mm]

What are your dates and times. I was checking for my daughter who arrives on May 7th for 1 weeks and the base rate for National is down to $99 before the discounts now. Just curious what codes you are getting. I have Executive Aisle for $192 for 12 days. I love National and almost always choose them, but that's a big difference. You may see another drop too.

 

[keishashadow]

I have been going back and forth - National vs. Alamo and I need your help.

Up til today - both midsize.
National - $225.xx
Alamo - $219.xx

So the choice was obvious - national emerald aisle!

But today, the rates dropped a lot:
National - $190.xx
Alamo - $155.xx (WOW!)

So now I'm not sure what to do. I thought I could just make these reservations without a credit card. But for some reason, I needed an account # to push the discounts through (emarald club # and alamo insider #). Otherwise I'd keep both and then just decide when I get there.

We don't have a desperate need for anything bigger than a midsize since its just the two of us. But I would love to get something more fun than an impala. Also, we'll be picking up the car on DH's birthday - and I think getting a jeep or small SUV might be a treat. It'll also be 7am on a Saturday, so hopefully that might help?

Brand new to National - done Alamo before. What do you think? Please advise.

no flames intended but its appears as though many leisure travelers double or even triple book when traveling to MCO. Associating 'the best' rates to a specific corporate ID w/identifying member # or CC is certainly a fair way to reward repeat cutomers imo.

fyi we tend to travel to MCO during peak times but it's been several years since i've seen even a mini SUV, let alone a van, on National's emerald or executive aisle. If a specific car/type is important to you, i'd book that category as they have decreased the overall number of cars they carry in inventory to be more lean & mean as to profit margins.

ps your rates are great

 

[kaytieeldr]

You were willing to pay $219-$225.

You have more flexibility with National: Emerald Aisle if there's something you like, midsize aisle if there isn't. Alamo only lets you choose a car from the midsize aisle. Now, granted, that got me a cute Kia Soul last time - but my only other options were a Hyundai Sonata or the truly ugly and indrivable Chevrolet HHR And you're still paying less than you planned.

 

[puffkin]

Double check your rates at National! I have EA booked using the Airtran code and $35 coupon and I am within a $1 of the best I can do on Alamo (May 7-May 15).

Although, FWIW, we usually arrive into MCO in the later evening and for whatever reason we have ALWAYS gotten a free upgrade in the garage with Alamo. I always book a midsize. Last time we got a minivan, time before a full size, and the 2 times before that a small SUV. Twice there were no cars in the midsize aisle so they told us to pick something out of XX aisle, once there were no cars period so they brough up an SUV from the returns and last time she saw there were 4 of us and told us to just go ahead and take a van. We have always had really good luck with Alamo so I do try to stick with them but we are arriving earlier in the day this time so I am going to take my chances with Emerald Aisle since they are the same price.

 

[Michael623]

In a word, no. The Alamo Kiosk literally takes 90 seconds. Can you honestly say you wouldn't spend 90 seconds to save $45? I have never seen any less than 7-8 different models on the Alamo Midsized aisle although I find an HHR perfectly drivable and it holds out luggage quite nicely. Also with Alamo make sure you're taking advantage of all of the discounts because I'm renting next week for a week with a midsized and using the Amex ID and the $40 off coupon for insiders my rate is $93.58 total. No, that isn't a misprint.

 

[hurleysweety]

Double check your rates at National! I have EA booked using the Airtran code and $35 coupon and I am within a $1 of the best I can do on Alamo (May 7-May 15).

Although, FWIW, we usually arrive into MCO in the later evening and for whatever reason we have ALWAYS gotten a free upgrade in the garage with Alamo. I always book a midsize. Last time we got a minivan, time before a full size, and the 2 times before that a small SUV. Twice there were no cars in the midsize aisle so they told us to pick something out of XX aisle, once there were no cars period so they brough up an SUV from the returns and last time she saw there were 4 of us and told us to just go ahead and take a van. We have always had really good luck with Alamo so I do try to stick with them but we are arriving earlier in the day this time so I am going to take my chances with Emerald Aisle since they are the same price.

Wow! $1 difference? I need to check that out again...

Last year with Alamo (9 days, beginning of June), we got a standard after a double upgrade coupon. We checked in at the kiosk and then went outside and picked a car (there were a lot of impalas and malibus, and the mid size aisle was almost full) and we debated for a good ten minutes on which car since we needed to fit my DFIL's scooter in the back. No one was around (Maybe it was the time of day we were picking up, Friday, 5 PM? ), but I did glance to see the SUV and luxary cars a good walk away while the compact/economy cars were right next to us.

So would you recommend possibly changing our Alamo reservation to pick up on May 7th at like 12:30am? Not sure where we'd park our car after that though since we're staying overnight at the Hyatt...So many decisions to make before we even arrive in WDW!

You were willing to pay $219-$225.

You have more flexibility with National: Emerald Aisle if there's something you like, midsize aisle if there isn't. Alamo only lets you choose a car from the midsize aisle. Now, granted, that got me a cute Kia Soul last time - but my only other options were a Hyundai Sonata or the truly ugly and indrivable Chevrolet HHR And you're still paying less than you planned.

Oh this is so true! Its funny...for about three months the rate at Alamo was steady at $250. Now, I'm $100 less...just goes to show why you have to check, and check again, I guess.

no flames intended but its appears as though many leisure travelers double or even triple book when traveling to MCO. Associating 'the best' rates to a specific corporate ID w/identifying member # or CC is certainly a fair way to reward repeat cutomers imo.

fyi we tend to travel to MCO during peak times but it's been several years since i've seen even a mini SUV, let alone a van, on National's emerald or executive aisle. If a specific car/type is important to you, i'd book that category as they have decreased the overall number of cars they carry in inventory to be more lean & mean as to profit margins.

ps your rates are great

Thank you for the no flames intended. I wrote this last night and I now see how it can come off a bit snobby - like I deserve the cheapest rate or something! Whoops, sorry about that.

Last year we got a standard size through Alamo for $186. No wait, super easy, and very pleased. At that point we were definitely "hooked" on using Alamo for our MCO vacations. Because we're used to it, and I don't have to worry about what will be available on the emerald aisle, I'm leaning that way. But if like others are saying, I can get $190 closer to $155...well...

Last year I kept cancelling or modifying ressies through Alamo. But about two weeks before we left, I went through, and wrote down each number and checked to make sure it was cancelled and that our actual reservation was confirmed.

What are your dates and times. I was checking for my daughter who arrives on May 7th for 1 weeks and the base rate for National is down to $99 before the discounts now. Just curious what codes you are getting. I have Executive Aisle for $192 for 12 days. I love National and almost always choose them, but that's a big difference. You may see another drop too.

We are picking up May 7 at 7:00 am to May 17th at 1:00pm. We arrive May 6th at midnight and are staying overnight at the Hyatt. $192 for 12 days!! Thats great!



Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[n2mm]

We are picking up May 7 at 7:00 am to May 17th at 1:00pm. We arrive May 6th at midnight and are staying overnight at the Hyatt. $192 for 12 days!! Thats great!



Thanks for everyone's help!

I crunched your numbers using the continental code 5007160 and the $35 coupon ND8578adt and got $180.13 emerald aisle. So that's still $25 higher than Alamo, but always a chance for a larger car. I'm using the entertainment coupon for $40 off, but you have to actually have the coupon in hand (in case they ask), which I do. If you could get that, then that's another $5. As for Executive Aisle, that is the next tier up from Emerald Aisle which guaranteeds full size or larger, but you have to rent 40 days a year to reach that level and is reevaluated each year to maintain it. The nice perk of that is you can choose from either aisle (both regular EA and Ex A) so your chances are greater for a great upgrade. Good luck in your decision.

 

[VAN]

I've been pricing National and Alamo for two trips ... since we usually use National and a rental will count towards a free day, I'll probably stay with National since they are only $7 more.

I am aware that Alamo and National are the same company, but we've had good luck with National re the ease of use, that I'd prefer to stick with them.

Just a note, I've really not seen too much in the Emerald Isle above a mid-size on our recent trips.

Good luck ... I am currently at $88.91 for a compact MCO 4-9 May. Very happy!

 

[hurleysweety]

I crunched your numbers using the continental code 5007160 and the $35 coupon ND8578adt and got $180.13 emerald aisle. So that's still $25 higher than Alamo, but always a chance for a larger car. I'm using the entertainment coupon for $40 off, but you have to actually have the coupon in hand (in case they ask), which I do. If you could get that, then that's another $5. As for Executive Aisle, that is the next tier up from Emerald Aisle which guaranteeds full size or larger, but you have to rent 40 days a year to reach that level and is reevaluated each year to maintain it. The nice perk of that is you can choose from either aisle (both regular EA and Ex A) so your chances are greater for a great upgrade. Good luck in your decision.

Oh rental car rates - as soon as I last posted, I went ahead and checked and my rate did drop to $180 using those same codes.

Thanks for the info about Exec. lvl. I don't think I'll quite make it there this year. About 20 days short....but I wouldn't mind another 20 in Disney...that would mean about 4 trips this year. Yes, I'm okay with that!

I'll continue to check and double check. Anyone know off the top of their head or from experience when National will not let you cancel without a fee? Within 24 hrs, I assume?

 

[hurleysweety]

Now down to $176 for National. Still $155 for Alamo.

 

[n2mm]

I'll continue to check and double check. Anyone know off the top of their head or from experience when National will not let you cancel without a fee? Within 24 hrs, I assume?

From the National website:

Is There a Cancellation Fee?

Guaranteed Reservations: Cancellations are accepted up to one calendar day before reservation date. If the reservation is not cancelled, a No Show Fee of $50.00 (plus applicable taxes, surcharges, and lessor fees) will be charged to the credit card on the Guaranteed Reservation.

"No show"customers: if the reservation is not canceled within 24 hours of the booked arrival time, National will charge a fee on the renter's credit card for vehicles that are reserved but not rented.