Just Back - my review of Emerald Aisle

[Peter Pan Fan]

We arrived at about 4 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 1st. Not only wasn't there any cars on the aisle, but none in the full size section (which we had reserved). Thus began my trek to find a National Employee. After finding 2 that spoke no English (there was no one in the booth either). I found a not-so-pleasant lady sitting in the passenger seat of a car with the door opened. I asked her if she worked for National and she just stared at me and didn't answer. I assumed she was though, or she was just crazy about green shirts, so I told her that there were no vehicles on the aisle and no full size vehicles. She told me "just wait." By the time I got back to the aisleway and waited, still nothing happened so I just chose an intermediate (Mitsubishi Eclipse which ended up being fine).

Check out was quick and easy however, they took my coupons and just let me go. Check in was even easier, took under 2 minutes. They charged me $1.22 for gas which, by California standards, is an absolute bargain.

I would rent again from them based on the ease of just walking out and avoiding the counter, but would probably only rent an intermediate. I do think its a shame that their service is so terrible, especially considering their are DW's "official" car rental company. They should have someone there to help those arriving at the airport.

 

[DebbieB]

Were you on A side or B side? I was on B side just before 1:00pm on 12/1 and they had lots of cars, about 10 on EA and 15 on full size (didn't look at other sizes). There were quite a few people looking for cars then though. Wonder if the return was backed up, they weren't getting them back out to the lot fast enough.

Full size and Intermediate are usually the same price, so you are better off reserving full size. I reserved full size and just went over to the full size aisle when nothing looked good on the Emerald Aisle.

 

[Peter Pan Fan]

Hi Debbie: I don't know what A or B side is unfortunately. We flew Delta, then took the elevator downstairs from baggage claim, walked left past the car rental counters and out the door. I didn't know there were 2 sides, maybe we got the bad one? We picked up our car around 4:45-5:00 on the 1st. If you could let me know what side is what, that would help me for next time.

Thanks

 

[DebbieB]

Delta is on B also. So alot of people must have rented between 1:00 and 5:00 and few returned (or they weren't turning the returns around quick enough).

 

[jtryan]

Debbie,

What type of "full size" vehicle did you get from National? I also used National and picked up a so called "full size" car on side A at about 11:00 am on December 1st. Although it was a benefit to be able to bypass the counter, the only vehicles on the full size and Emerald aisle were Chevy Malibus. I am sorry but that is not a full size car. We even parked it next to a Nissan Altima and they were the same size. I would much rather rent through Dollar and get a Dodge Intrepid as we have in the past. It has much more room and I am still kicking myself for choosing National. Won't do it again.

roxanne

 

[DebbieB]

I got an Olds Intrigue. There were lots of Malibu's when I was there too, I had one last year and wasn't crazy about it. National defines a full size as Buick Regal or similiar. I agree the Malibu we had wasn't any bigger than the Grand Am I own, which they define as intermediate.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Strange but true, a Malibu is considered by National and Alamo as a full sized car. I do find that hard to believe, btw.

 

[maciec]

We were there on 12/2 around 1pm and there wasn't much to choose from either. We picked an Olds Intrigue.

I guess after all of my calling and writing on this bard I still didn't understand about EA. My impression was that if I reserved an intermdiate size car, but when I got to EA if there was a car larger (full, premium, mini, or suv) I could take any of those cars for the price that I paid for the intermediate. We that's what we did. We went over to a premium (with a porter showing us around) packed all of our luggage in the truck, put the car seat in, drove up to the booth, and the clerk said that we were wrong and had to put the car back. My hubby was fuming! '

Tell me, was I wrong and misunderstood or have policies changed?

Melissa

 

[lawgs]

you have choice of anything that is on the Emerald Aisle......not the choice of other aisles


confusing for sure

have seen people who had booked compact take intermediate ....but with the blessing of the booth person

 

[maciec]

I thought that's what I did lawgs. I am an EC member and I went to EA and picked out a cadillac and was told to take it back because the woman told me that I was only entitled to an intermediate (which I reserved) or a full size nothing else. Even the other attendants in the lot told me the same thing. How did you do?

 

[Pluto4President]

IF a caddy was on the EA, then it should have been yours. You are entitled, as sir lawgs said, to anything on the Emerald Aisle or the aisle for which you reserved, such as the full size aisle.

 

[maciec]

I guess I was just there on the wrong day then. The 2 English speaking people I talked to both told me the same thing..... I couldn't take anything higher than a full size. Oh well, live and learn. Hubby says that's the last time we rent a car anyway so I guess it really doesn't matter! Nothing I can do about it no

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I would have shown them the ressie which usually says something to the effect of, go to the aisle and pick the vehicle of your choice. (cannot quote it, but, it is there on every ressie I have ever made for EA).

 

[Pluto4President]

Or your choice on the aisle

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Yep, that's the line.