is Emerald Reserve really that different from the old Emerald Aisle?

[disneyberry]

just curious if anyone who used to use EA has rented from National since they made the change to now have ER.

did you notice any difference from the old EA pickup procedure?
or is it pretty much the same as before?

 

[prncess674]

It works the same way. The Emerald Aisle used to always have a nice selection of cars. Sometimes Full Size and Luxury Cars but you were guaranteed an Intermediate. It seems people got very used to being able to upgrade for free to a nicer car and they got very angry if there wasn't an upgraded car on the aisle so they changed the procedure. Now every car class has it's on aisle. You go to the area where your reserved car class is located and pick out the car of your choice and drive to the exit booth and present your Drivers License and any coupons and you are on your way.

 

[disneyberry]

so, does this mean that your chances of a "free upgrade" are now very slim?

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by disneyberry
so, does this mean that your chances of a "free upgrade" are now very slim?

unless they are out of the car class you reserved you will get the car class you reserved.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Disney Berry,
Before the change in the EA rules, you could reserve a full size pretty much for the price of an intermediate, however, if you did reserve a full size, that is what you were guaranteed to get. So, if they did not have one on the aisle you could go to the full size aisle and select one.
Now, all they guarantee on EA is an intermediate, however, they still do have other cars there now and then.
I have always been a firm believer in reserving what you want and leave nothing to chance. For the (for my reservation anyone) difference of 13.00 (including all taxes and fees) for the week, I will go with the full sized car.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by prncess674
It works the same way. The Emerald Aisle used to always have a nice selection of cars. Sometimes Full Size and Luxury Cars but you were guaranteed an Intermediate. It seems people got very used to being able to upgrade for free to a nicer car and they got very angry if there wasn't an upgraded car on the aisle so they changed the procedure. Now every car class has it's on aisle. You go to the area where your reserved car class is located and pick out the car of your choice and drive to the exit booth and present your Drivers License and any coupons and you are on your way.

Every car class always had it's own aisle BUT there was (and still is) also an Emerald Aisle for those who belong to the Emerald Club. It's still there. BUT it's changed in that it will now have mostly Intermediates with an occasional upgrade because of overflow.

Emerald Reserve is for those who are Emerald Club members who book something other than an Intermediate.

For Emerald Club members, the Full size used to be the same price as an Intermediate...it was like getting a free upgrade. That has now stopped as well.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
For Emerald Club members, the Full size used to be the same price as an Intermediate...it was like getting a free upgrade. That has now stopped as well.

this is not true. Just because you belonged to the free club did not get you a full size for an intermediate price. The only guaranteed thing that you got for being part of the Emerald Club was you got to bypass the counter and pick your car from the Emerald Aisle. Before 9/11 the EA was stocked with mostly full size cars. Last year National was in a lot of financial trouble and maybe they figured out that they were loosing revenue by essentially renting everyone an Intermediate but giving many people much more than what they paid for so they cut off the gravy train and came up with a much more equitable solution IMHO.

The good ole days of the Emerald Aisle are over. Basically they could now just call the EA the Emerald Reserve Itermediate Aisle because the only thing found now on the EA is Intermediate.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Now I am Confused

I reserved my car a long time ago (great rate) before the change but it reads EA and have a full size on the paper requested. So what car do I take? It used to be if I did not like the full size selection we would sneek over to the full size isle and select one and they never said anything cause it was a full size car, but what can we take now, only the EA intermediate's?

Thanks, MKY

 

[DebbieB]

this is not true. Just because you belonged to the free club did not get you a full size for an intermediate price.

This is true. Before the change, if you went in under Emerald Club and priced a full size and an intermediate, you would get the same price. Even if you took a full size from the full size row, your receipt would say "class charged: intermediate".

OK here's the scoop - I arrived at MCO this afternoon around 5:00. We were on B side. The garage has changed a little. EA is not first anymore. Intermediate is first, then EA, then full size. EA had intermediates - Alero, Gallant (is that full size?), Stratus, Corolla. My reservation was from before the change, with EA and full size. So I went over to full size. I was hoping to get a Camry because I am seriously thinking of buying one. They had one so I took it. There were a few other cars on the full size, I can't remember what models because I went straight to the Camry. Check-out was on the slow side, but I had no problem with the reservation for EA Full Size. I'll let you know if there's a problem with the return. I like the Camry, it has a big trunk which I found out when we bought bottles of pop at the Winn-Dixie and they rolled out of the bags to the back of the trunk when we returned to OKW. I had to literally get into the trunk to reach them.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by prncess674
this is not true. Just because you belonged to the free club did not get you a full size for an intermediate price. The only guaranteed thing that you got for being part of the Emerald Club was you got to bypass the counter and pick your car from the Emerald Aisle.

I guess you misunderstood me??

What I tried to explain is certainly true.

In my experience, I'd go to the National website. I sign in as an Emerald Club member. I book a Full size car. I get it for the Intermediate price. How do I know this? Because I would then check the Intermediate price and it was the same! I learned this from people here a few years ago. Ask anyone here whose been a member of the Emerald Club for awhile and they'll tell you that Intermediate and Full size WERE the SAME price until March 15 when they started Emerald Reserve and Quick Rent. Now Full size is, indeed, more money than Intermediate. It was basically getting an automatic upgrade from an Intermediate to a Full size.

Yes, Emerald Club's benefits are a thing of the past. No more Full size or better on the Emerald Aisle and no more getting a Full size for the price of an Intermediate.

All we have left is to be able to bypass the counter even if we have a coupon. Wow!

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by mkymouse4ever
I reserved my car a long time ago (great rate) before the change but it reads EA and have a full size on the paper requested. So what car do I take?

I'm in the same boat as you are. What I will do is go to the EA. If there's nothing good there and they are all Intermediates (highly likely), then I'll just head on over to the Full size aisle since that is what I booked.

It used to be if I did not like the full size selection we would sneek over to the full size isle and select one and they never said anything cause it was a full size car, but what can we take now, only the EA intermediate's?

You are guaranteed what you reserved; a Full size. The issue is whether you can still check out the EA. I believe that since your reservation says EA on it that you can check it out and if there's nothing good, head over to the Full size aisle.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
I guess you misunderstood me??

What I tried to explain is certainly true.

In my experience, I'd go to the National website. I sign in as an Emerald Club member. I book a Full size car. I get it for the Intermediate price. How do I know this? Because I would then check the Intermediate price and it was the same! I learned this from people here a few years ago. Ask anyone here whose been a member of the Emerald Club for awhile and they'll tell you that Intermediate and Full size WERE the SAME price until March 15 when they started Emerald Reserve and Quick Rent. Now Full size is, indeed, more money than Intermediate. It was basically getting an automatic upgrade from an Intermediate to a Full size.

Yes, Emerald Club's benefits are a thing of the past. No more Full size or better on the Emerald Aisle and no more getting a Full size for the price of an Intermediate.

All we have left is to be able to bypass the counter even if we have a coupon. Wow!

I have been a member of the EC for a while. I travel for business every week and rent from National weekly for the past 3 years. Please don't assume that I am not versed in the system.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by prncess674
I have been a member of the EC for a while. I travel for business every week and rent from National weekly for the past 3 years. Please don't assume that I am not versed in the system.

There's no need to get so upset. I was not trying to be rude or condescending and I never assume.

I was trying to clarify my first post since it was obvious you misunderstood it.

You are the one who told me I was incorrect in the first place. Aren't I allowed to defend myself? What I said in my first post was correct and you tried to tell me it was not. Should I be offended?

 

[Lewisc]

Actually your post PROVES you didn't know the program. The E-mail National sent regarding the changes specicially lists dropping the free upgrade from intermediate to full size. As others have posted all you had to do was to reserve a full size car. You were charged the intermediate rate and were guaranteed a full size car.
I hate people who post wrong information and then get defensive when people correct them.

Originally posted by prncess674
I have been a member of the EC for a while. I travel for business every week and rent from National weekly for the past 3 years. Please don't assume that I am not versed in the system.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

this is not true. Just because you belonged to the free club did not get you a full size for an intermediate price. The only guaranteed thing that you got for being part of the Emerald Club was you got to bypass the counter and pick your car from the Emerald Aisle. Before 9/11 the EA was stocked with mostly full size cars. Last year National was in a lot of financial trouble and maybe they figured out that they were loosing revenue by essentially renting everyone an Intermediate but giving many people much more than what they paid for so they cut off the gravy train and came up with a much more equitable solution IMHO.

I always reserved a full size car, and according to my reservations that is what I was guaranteed. While making these many reservations I checked the prices for both full size and intermediate and they were, 99% of the time, the same price.
The club was free for me, however, many do have to pay to join this Club, I believe it is a 50.00 fee.
At this time, it is mostly intermediates, but, some have reported finding other size cars there.
Last Feb. there were no full size cars on the EA however, the attendant, after looking at my reservation stated since I did have a full size reserved to hop on over to the full size aisle and select what I wanted. This was not a situation unique to just me, many on this board have reported the same thing and the folks at the EC have stated the same thing.
I don't know why you persist in saying they were renting everyone intermediates as they were not doing that. You had a choice and were allowed to make it. Intermediate, standard or full, you chose the size you wanted. They were not giving anything away, people paid for this club.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mkymouse4ever
Now I am Confused

I reserved my car a long time ago (great rate) before the change but it reads EA and have a full size on the paper requested. So what car do I take? It used to be if I did not like the full size selection we would sneek over to the full size isle and select one and they never said anything cause it was a full size car, but what can we take now, only the EA intermediate's?

Thanks, MKY

You have reserved a full sized car, go to the full size aisle and select one, or call EA (the hot line is on your EA card) and ask what the policy is now. And, please, don't worry, it will work out, they want to keep you happy.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Lewisc
Actually your post PROVES you didn't know the program. The E-mail National sent regarding the changes specicially lists dropping the free upgrade from intermediate to full size. As others have posted all you had to do was to reserve a full size car. You were charged the intermediate rate and were guaranteed a full size car.
I hate people who post wrong information and then get defensive when people correct them.

Lewis,
Thanks for the back up here!!! And....it is nice to see you again.

 

[prncess674]

I don't know why you persist in saying they were renting everyone intermediates as they were not doing that. You had a choice and were allowed to make it. Intermediate, standard or full, you chose the size you wanted. They were not giving anything away, people paid for this club.

No one would ever pay to join this club. A few clicks on the internet would yield a free membership.

 

[ncligs]

prncess674 and Gail

...........go to your respective corners...........

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
You have reserved a full sized car, go to the full size aisle and select one, or call EA (the hot line is on your EA card) and ask what the policy is now. And, please, don't worry, it will work out, they want to keep you happy.

There is no such thing as an EA card. There is only an Emerald Club card which is free. Please let me know if you need a link for free membership to the Emerald Club