Justs back MCO and Alamo info

[Pinnie]

We just returned last night on SWA after an 8 day visit at the BCVs.

SWA did a great job and all our flights were on time and a lot of fun, as usual.

The fly in the ointment was ALAMO. Our flight arrived a couple of minutes after midnight Friday morning, April 18. We booked a car at Alamo a few months earlier. We met our friend who flew in on Airtran at baggage pick up and proceded to the ALAMO counter.

Never in my wildest dreams did I figure a line that lasted over 90 minutes at that time of night! ALAMO only had 2 agents and over 40 people in line when we got there. Needless to say there were a few irrate people in line. One guy sent his wife and little kids in a taxi on to his hotel while he waited in line.

By the time we got to our car, it was 1:50 a.m. THEN there was a line to get out of the parking structure, where they check your contracts. ALAMO will be getting a letter from me and I will NOT be using their service again!

The only other thing people need to be reminded of is to arrive at MCO early!!!! We got to the airport at 2:30 for a 4:50 flight. It took over 30 minutes to get through the SWA line (we were in the B group) and then another 30 minutes to get through security. We just had enough time to grab a quick McDonald's and board.

TSAs at SWA counter were opening a LOT of bags at MCO, so pack accordingly. I know our bag was searched......dirty laundry and all!

pin
remember the magic
DVC/BCVs 2002

 

[Eeyore1954]

I gave up on Alamo in Orlando years ago -- long before they moved to MCO. Their idea of customer service is to keep you waiting in line so long you'll agree to anything -- upgrades, fuel purchase options, extra insurance, etc. -- just to get your contract and get to your car. One trip -- my last rental with them -- they stuck me with a portable phone, hidden in the trunk of the car -- then charged me $3/day because it was hidden in the trunk!

Just say NO to Alamo!!

 

[gallaj0]

Did the "Quicksilver" line seem any better? I've got a ressie for Alamo in August, fairly early on a Saturday, and they claim the Quicksilver line is "much faster".
They had a great rate, but if it's going to be a hassle, I'll go back to National for an extra 20 bucks.

 

[gogoofygo]

I Have also booked with alamo for a rental car on may 13 .--the posts on poor service and long lines are making me reconsider...anyone else had good/bad experience recently?
Thank you

 

[inkkognito]

Wow! I guess we got off easy!
We've gotten Alamo a couple of times, including once when we arrived on a flight getting in at midnight. I figured that the airport would really be quiet, but an international flight arrived at the same time as ours, and I swear every person on it was renting from Alamo too! The line looked long and intimidating, but fortunately they had enough counter agents to keep it moving within a reasonable time. They didn't pull the hard sell on me, but my hubby was listening in on other conversations and said they were really twisting the arms of the international people. I guess they figured I was a cheapskate due to my Priceline ressie...they made an attempt but didn't push.
The line getting out of the parking garage was horrendous compared to the counter. I don't understand why they can't be like Avis...once you're done at the counter and get your car, you're outta there. But at least they were cheap so I could tolerate it.
And I'll echo your warning about MCO...last Sunday morning we were there amidst all the cruise ship passengers, and there was a line just to get into the security line.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Pinnie]

This was the first time we have used ALAMO in years. We usually rent from National or Dollar, but we got a deal with ALAMO and decided to give it a shot since they moved onsite.

DH did report they were insistant on the insurance thing but he stood firm and refused to be sold any.

Never again, ALAMO. We are going to stick with Dollar from now on.

pin
remember the magic
DVC/BCVs 2002

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Pinnie
We just returned last night on SWA after an 8 day visit at the BCVs.

SWA did a great job and all our flights were on time and a lot of fun, as usual.

The fly in the ointment was ALAMO. Our flight arrived a couple of minutes after midnight Friday morning, April 18. We booked a car at Alamo a few months earlier. We met our friend who flew in on Airtran at baggage pick up and proceded to the ALAMO counter.

Never in my wildest dreams did I figure a line that lasted over 90 minutes at that time of night! ALAMO only had 2 agents and over 40 people in line when we got there. Needless to say there were a few irrate people in line. One guy sent his wife and little kids in a taxi on to his hotel while he waited in line.

By the time we got to our car, it was 1:50 a.m. THEN there was a line to get out of the parking structure, where they check your contracts. ALAMO will be getting a letter from me and I will NOT be using their service again!

The only other thing people need to be reminded of is to arrive at MCO early!!!! We got to the airport at 2:30 for a 4:50 flight. It took over 30 minutes to get through the SWA line (we were in the B group) and then another 30 minutes to get through security. We just had enough time to grab a quick McDonald's and board.

TSAs at SWA counter were opening a LOT of bags at MCO, so pack accordingly. I know our bag was searched......dirty laundry and all!

pin
remember the magic
DVC/BCVs 2002

I don't find it surprising that they did not have a full staff after midnight. That is not exactly a popular travel time ( well, at least most of the time). The reason you have to wait to be checked out of National or Alamo is because, they have to make sure you take the car you are assigned, there are dishonest people out there that will try anything. Avis hands you the keys, that makes the difference.
I cannot wait till the QS kiosk is there (assuming it will be someday) that is a zip zop you are outta there, get your car, get checked out and you are gone.
I have yet to have a problem with Alamo, perhaps it is because I am a QS member and all my info, declines and preferences are already in the system. If the price is right, I will use them. I am not buying the car, just renting it. The cars have worked well for us. I have waited longer in a Budget line with a full crew on in the afternoon and have been pushed to buy insurance with the claim that I could have a big bill if I had an accident. I said NO, it was easy.

I eliminate a lot of wait time by using a sky cap for checking in, it is worth the tip. Security, well, if they would stop carryon luggage, things would move faster. Small bags take much less time to scan than large ones.
I swore I would never fly on a weekend after our Sat. departure at MCO. It was a horror show. Let's hope Mondays in Sept. are better.
Sorry you had all those problems and I hope your next trip is better.

 

[hercamore]

When I was there in January at l a.m. trying to rent my car from National (only l clerk and 5 people in line) the Alamo line had about l0 people in line and two clerks. We waaited about 30 min.

Alamo was much faster. So you never know.

I hope your experience is better next time with your rental car.

And yes, we found long lines in general at MCO thru checkout/security.


herc.

 

[chrisd596]

After reading the car rental problems from MCO wondering if its better and quicker to take the limo to WDW. We really don't need a car the first four or five days, but drive to Vero in the middle of our vacation. After pricing out renting a vehicle at National from the Dolphin, it seemed that the price was pretty close if you just rented a vehicle the whole trip once you start including transfers back and forth to MCO.

It seems easier just to grab a limo and then rent a car for only the time needed... even if the price is close.....just to avoid the hassels of MCO car rental.

 

[bryantslovedisney]

Last time we were renting in Orlando, we were at an
offsite(not at MCO) location...Not sure where, but it
was big!! We were taken there by Alamo shuttle.
I had done everything on line by quicksilver. We walked
in a saw a horrendous line, but walked right by to a ATM like
machine and got a print out of where our car was...
Low and Behold when I found my car i had been upgrded
to a 15 passenger van! We were so happy! It was a snap!
So i take it, by these posts, this off site place is gone now!
Do you have any quicker timing with quicksilver still?

Jill

 

[Gillian]

chrisd596, we had a similar situation with a cruise after WDW. It was much easier to rent a car for the whole time than to worry about picking up a car during our trip. I'm glad we got it at the airport so I didn't have to make time to go to the Dolphin or the car care center.

We used National. We are Emerald club members & didn't have to wait at the counter. In September there was no line to check out of the garage. In early March we had to wait for 1 or 2 cars. There were actually 2 attendants in booths, but one of them wasn't open. The whole process was painless & only took a short time.

It's not as convenient upfront as simply meeting a limo driver (I love seeing my name on the little card!) but it saved us time later in the trip, when we were busy having fun.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

So i take it, by these posts, this off site place is gone now!

Yes, the offsite location is not there, it is now at the airport.
There is no kiosk for QS, but, there is a separate counter.

 

[TiggerInNY]

I reserved a mini-van with Dollar for October for $326.32. I recently looked at Alamo and reserved a mini-van with them for $271.81. Both reservations were booked with BJ's discount. That's a savings of $54.50. I'd rather have that in MY pocket. BUT....if it's going to cause me aggrevation, I don't know if it's worth it. We're landing in MCO around 1:35pm on a Saturday. Has anyone else landed around that time? And if so, is it like a zoo there? Should I join the QS club? I did join the FastLane with Dollar.

I rented from ALAMO a long time ago in Ft. Lauderdale and swore I would never again. But my DH said, "Let's give it a try." I'm scared!!!

Any help?

TTFN,
Maria

 

[debster812]

Our experience with Alamo in January (right after they moved onsite at MCO) was fine. We arrived around 10:30 PM on a Saturday night, one person in line in front of us, were not hard-sold, and were in our conod by 11:30 (had to drive over to Kissimmee).

I know some of the horror stories are just that, horrific, but I would try them again in the future.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by TiggerInNY
I reserved a mini-van with Dollar for October for $326.32. I recently looked at Alamo and reserved a mini-van with them for $271.81. Both reservations were booked with BJ's discount. That's a savings of $54.50. I'd rather have that in MY pocket. BUT....if it's going to cause me aggrevation, I don't know if it's worth it. We're landing in MCO around 1:35pm on a Saturday. Has anyone else landed around that time? And if so, is it like a zoo there? Should I join the QS club? I did join the FastLane with Dollar.

I rented from ALAMO a long time ago in Ft. Lauderdale and swore I would never again. But my DH said, "Let's give it a try." I'm scared!!!

Any help?

TTFN,
Maria

Maria,
Sat. is a VERY busy travel day, I expect you are going to see lines everywhere for everything. Go to the Alamo site and read about the quick rental program they have. It might benefit you to sign up and call and have your reservation switched over to that.

 

[smart cookie]

The problem that time of night is (with the skeleton crews)...if a couple of large planes land at about the same time...everone heads to the baggage area and waits...then everyone gets their baggage at about the same time and heads right to the counter...all at about the same time. I have noticed this happen time and time again. It is not as noticable during the day, due to the larger # of flights coming in and thus, the larger staffing at the rental counters (sometimes!).

What I have done (after learning the hard way)...Most airports have their car rental counters within sight of the baggage carousels. My spouse and i split up...she gets the luggage & waits while I take care of the car at the same time & meet her back where the luggage came...cuts down the wait time by at least 20 minutes or more!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by smart cookie
The problem that time of night is (with the skeleton crews)...if a couple of large planes land at about the same time...everone heads to the baggage area and waits...then everyone gets their baggage at about the same time and heads right to the counter...all at about the same time. I have noticed this happen time and time again. It is not as noticable during the day, due to the larger # of flights coming in and thus, the larger staffing at the rental counters (sometimes!).

What I have done (after learning the hard way)...Most airports have their car rental counters within sight of the baggage carousels. My spouse and i split up...she gets the luggage & waits while I take care of the car at the same time & meet her back where the luggage came...cuts down the wait time by at least 20 minutes or more!

that is a great idea, except, MCO has the rental desks one floor down from baggage pickup.