MAY 2015 Car Rentals

[keishashadow]

I am starting to give up home on my boss' rental for May 3 to 10. The lowest rate I have been able to find was waaayyy back on January 21st, when I booked him a full size with EZ for $198 USD taxes in. Current rates are well over $200 . He's just under 6 weeks out, so you'd think that at least one of the in-terminal companies would start dropping!!! And of course, he likes to rub it in on a daily basis that I booked mine for the same week (May 1 to 8) for $114 Canadian .

I am also watching Hotwire for him.....maybe that will work into a better rate.

I tend to find best rate approx. 3 months out, not so this rental.

then again, rates usually will take a dip again approx. a month beforehand, usually on a Thursday

my only complain is with hotwire/priceline you need to stop at the counter in the terminal. we waited over an hour last time w/Hertz, couldn't link our account info since booked thru a 3rd party.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I tend to find best rate approx. 3 months out, not so this rental.

then again, rates usually will take a dip again approx. a month beforehand, usually on a Thursday

my only complain is with hotwire/priceline you need to stop at the counter in the terminal. we waited over an hour last time w/Hertz, couldn't link our account info since booked thru a 3rd party.

And THAT is why I will never book Priceline again. We booked a minivan on our Sept trip through Priceline because everything else (Costco, random codes I found for Alamo, National, etc.) was skyhigh. I read on the FlyerTalk forums that if you book on Priceline but are a hertz member (whatever their loyalty program is) that you could still go directly to the desk at the parking garage even though you can't link your Hertz acct to your priceline reservation. WRONG, at least for MCO. So we went BACK to the terminal where there was literally an hour long wait. Staff was telling everyone that there were no cars available and everyone was getting put on waiting lists. It was nearing dinnertime for my crabby one year old so I went up to the National counter to see if they had anything available right away. I also got on the phone with Priceline to explain that Hertz had no cars.

I was able to cancel the reservation from Priceline, get the national rental, and Priceline even comped me the difference in cost between the National rental and the one I had from priceline. Good customer service from Priceline for sure, but we were nearly at the airport for 2 hours working this out. Never, ever, again.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I just checked again, and the price is back down to what it was originally. So I did rebook it for the correct times, which ended up being only 1 hr less but I did it anyway. So my total is $214.42 for a minivan may 1 at 2:30 - May 9th at 4:30. I doubt I will do much better.

Interestingly, we are debating about taking a car seat on the plane so our just over 2 year old will know he has to actually sit in his seat like when he is in a car (so far he's always been on my lap and done fine, we're worried about it now that he has his own seat). I love that alamo has a maximum charge of $66 for the car seat. But when I add the car seat the price goes up by more than the $66, and it is by more than just the sales tax. Some of the other fees must go up also when you add the car seat. It wasn't a ton, but I was just noticing as I debated adding it now and removing it if we don't' need it, or leaving it off and adding it if we do need it. I decided to not add it, and call to add later if needed. We really don't want to drag our own down, but OTOH we know how to install it and it might help calm a situation on at least takeoff for us and those around us!

I'm late to this thread, so I just saw this. I wholeheartedly agree with your decision not to rent a carseat from their rental car company. 1) There is a chance they won't have the right seat for your child (like just a booster seat or an infant bucket seat...). 2) Their seat could be filthy. 3) Their seat could be unsafe--either was in an accident and not disposed of, or in some other way damaged.

If you aren't sure about taking your regular car seat on the plane (and I highly recommend bringing the car seat on the plane and not gate checking it), consider getting an inexpensive, lightweight, slim seat to use for travel. We have an Evenflo Tribute that we just use for travel or a spare seat, other popular ones are Cosco Scenara.

 

[keishashadow]

And THAT is why I will never book Priceline again. We booked a minivan on our Sept trip through Priceline because everything else (Costco, random codes I found for Alamo, National, etc.) was skyhigh. I read on the FlyerTalk forums that if you book on Priceline but are a hertz member (whatever their loyalty program is) that you could still go directly to the desk at the parking garage even though you can't link your Hertz acct to your priceline reservation. WRONG, at least for MCO. So we went BACK to the terminal where there was literally an hour long wait. Staff was telling everyone that there were no cars available and everyone was getting put on waiting lists. It was nearing dinnertime for my crabby one year old so I went up to the National counter to see if they had anything available right away. I also got on the phone with Priceline to explain that Hertz had no cars.

I was able to cancel the reservation from Priceline, get the national rental, and Priceline even comped me the difference in cost between the National rental and the one I had from priceline. Good customer service from Priceline for sure, but we were nearly at the airport for 2 hours working this out. Never, ever, again.

MCO rental companies seem to do their own thing. It does stand to reason that when booking thru a 3rd party you go to the bottom of list vs those who book directly thru the company, same as hotels. We've been bumped to other hotels in the past when booking thru priceline, all they guarantee is a 'comparable' hotel. Not sure if rental cars follow suit.

I've run into issues @ MCO during busy times with Alamo/National where they definitely oversell (likely from experience with non-frequent travelers booking multiple reservations and not cancelling). Once we rented a mini van and wound up with a PT Cruiser, at least it had more luggage room than the compacts that were still left. If we had needed the actual number of stated seatbelts it would've really been a big problem. I complained but only received a refund of the difference in price between the two vehicles.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

my only complain is with hotwire/priceline you need to stop at the counter in the terminal. we waited over an hour last time w/Hertz, couldn't link our account info since booked thru a 3rd party.

We booked a minivan through Alamo via Hotwire for our August 2014 trip. The line up for the counter was ridiculous. There were Alamo staffers walking through the crowd, encouraging folks to check-in via the kiosks. Not one taker. So I asked one of them.....can a Hotwire rental check in at the kiosk? He admitted he had no idea, but would help me try anyway. He suggested DH stay in line while we tried the kiosk, so if it didn't work, our place in the line would be held for us. It took maybe 5 minutes and we were on our way to the garage to select our vehicle.....DH had moved maybe a foot. Why some of those other people weren't giving the kiosk a whirl considering the MASSIVE lineups, I have no idea. But with Alamo and Hotwire, you CAN skip the counter .

 

[EmilyS90]

Hey, no idea if this has been said before, but I'm 24 and nearly passed out when I saw the extra fees added for renting a car under 25.

BUT I found out I can get a USAA membership (it's free!) and book through them to get the fees waived! Plus an added discount, I believe. Reserved a car through hertz for 9 days for only $180.

Saved a ton of money. Just figured I'd pass the info along if anyone else here is under 25 and stressing over those fees.

 

[keishashadow]

Hey, no idea if this has been said before, but I'm 24 and nearly passed out when I saw the extra fees added for renting a car under 25.

BUT I found out I can get a USAA membership (it's free!) and book through them to get the fees waived! Plus an added discount, I believe. Reserved a car through hertz for 9 days for only $180.

Saved a ton of money. Just figured I'd pass the info along if anyone else here is under 25 and stressing over those fees.

good rate, have heard the student advantage card often removes the young driver fee, worth checking

gina - interesting, no idea hotwire rentals could go thru Alamo kiosk Seem to recall 3rd party rental agreements said to go to counter. have never gotten Alamo that way thru bidding

 

[Callie]

Hotwire, etc doesn't always give the bottom feed. I've used them for hotels many many times, and have gotten some amazing rooms. In September we got a steal of a deal, and they put us in a MASSIVE room. Same a few years ago at another hotel. For cars I'd prefer going thru the company. Can't seem to get any car deals thru them.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

gina - interesting, no idea hotwire rentals could go thru Alamo kiosk

Don't feel bad, even the Alamo rep had no idea if it would work!!

All we needed was our rental confirmation, our credit card and the drivers license for the person driving. And voila! Easy as pie.

 

[LSchrow]

just booked using the Alamo cost code & visa coupon - $208 all for a compact, P/U CCC, D/O dolphin 5/13-21 (8 days) - . the rate was about $100 more if we picked up at the dolphin (as we usually do - we use DME to the BWVs, and only keep the car for about 8 of our 10-14 days there).
I've never encountered such a large hike for Dolphin p/u, in the many years we've been using Alamo/national there tho happy we have a decent price option for non-airport P/U. CCC is new for us (tho we've passed it a gazillion times) - do we just call the CCC for a pick-up....?

 

[SillyMe]

just booked using the Alamo cost code & visa coupon - $208 all for a compact, P/U CCC, D/O dolphin 5/13-21 (8 days) - . the rate was about $100 more if we picked up at the dolphin (as we usually do - we use DME to the BWVs, and only keep the car for about 8 of our 10-14 days there).
I've never encountered such a large hike for Dolphin p/u, in the many years we've been using Alamo/national there tho happy we have a decent price option for non-airport P/U. CCC is new for us (tho we've passed it a gazillion times) - do we just call the CCC for a pick-up....?

Wow! I just checked rates for pickup at CCC from May 16-23 and they were $308. I ended up booking with an MCO pickup for $198.

 

[LSchrow]

Wow! I just checked rates for pickup at CCC from May 16-23 and they were $308. I ended up booking with an MCO pickup for $198.

yet for our dates, it's only $3 less to pick up at MCO rather than the CCC . but then another $100+ for additional days (as we are only keeping the car for 8 out of our 10 days) - glad it worked for your dates though
btw, I also tried SOG pu and the rate shot to $600!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Dollar and Thrify rates took a substantial plunge this morning. I was able to book my boss for May 3 to 10 for $138 Canadian, taxes included, for a full size car. Previous best rate was with EZ Car Rental at $198 US ($257 CDN approx).

He is thrilled and I am employee of the year .

 

[kermitman18]

Got my 5/25 - 6/1 trip down to $195 for 7 passenger mini-van through Alamo. Used the Costco and $30 off codes.

Should point out that this was the first time Alamo actually required me to enter my Costco member number before letting me confirm the booking. Definitely new since the last time I booked only a few weeks ago.

 

[bluefunnel]

Dollar and Thrify rates took a substantial plunge this morning. I was able to book my boss for May 3 to 10 for $138 Canadian, taxes included, for a full size car. Previous best rate was with EZ Car Rental at $198 US ($257 CDN approx).

He is thrilled and I am employee of the year .

Shaved off another $30 on my May rental after reading your post this morning. Thank you!

 

[Fire14]

Got my 5/25 - 6/1 trip down to $195 for 7 passenger mini-van through Alamo. Used the Costco and $30 off codes.

Should point out that this was the first time Alamo actually required me to enter my Costco member number before letting me confirm the booking. Definitely new since the last time I booked only a few weeks ago.

Where did you find 30.00 off code?

 

[BellaBaby]

The $30 off coupon code is throughout this thread. It is AD2338FDF.

 

[mieuxmew]

Should point out that this was the first time Alamo actually required me to enter my Costco member number before letting me confirm the booking. Definitely new since the last time I booked only a few weeks ago.[/QUOTE]

I was trying to book a rental thru Alamo and I kept seeing this request for member number. Tried using my Alamo Insiders number and Airline member number. Thought it was just another computer glitch on the Alamo site. Never occurred to me to enter my Costco member number, as it has never been required and it does not state what member number they were looking for.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Shaved off another $30 on my May rental after reading your post this morning. Thank you!

Woohoo! That's awesome!

 

[Fire14]

thank you