National Alamo or Budget for service

[Jaymie]

I have some airmiles that I can use for a rental with National, Alamo or Budget @ MCO. They are all in the same price/points range.

I'm looking for opinions on service and ease of doing business. We've used National once, car was fine, they were really pushy at the counter but other than that, no issues. We've used Hertz and they were less pushy, no issues there either.

Just not sure which one to go with. What do you think?

 

[Jellylorum]

I have some airmiles that I can use for a rental with National, Alamo or Budget @ MCO. They are all in the same price/points range.

I'm looking for opinions on service and ease of doing business. We've used National once, car was fine, they were really pushy at the counter but other than that, no issues. We've used Hertz and they were less pushy, no issues there either.

Just not sure which one to go with. What do you think?

I have never had any service issues with any of the rental agencies. Sometimes some have longer lines than others but that is unpredictable.

 

[sharona]

The Unofficial Guide to WDW rated Nat'l #1 for convenience/service based on surveys of their readers who have traveled to WDW - was just reading their car rentals section this morning. Alamo was #3, Budget did not get a good rating for "pick up efficiency". Price or value was not considered.

Re Nat'l being pushy at the desk, if you sign up for Emerald Aisle you can go directly to the lot and pick up your car. You reserve a midsize and then have your pick of whatever is in the "aisle". I'm pretty sure there is a nominal charge to enroll (10?) but there are also many links out there to sign up through to have that fee waived. I know I signed up for free a few months ago. I think the link was in a thread on the DIS or Mousesavers website maybe. Good luck.

 

[Jaymie]

Re Nat'l being pushy at the desk, if you sign up for Emerald Aisle you can go directly to the lot and pick up your car. You reserve a midsize and then have your pick of whatever is in the "aisle". I'm pretty sure there is a nominal charge to enroll (10?) but there are also many links out there to sign up through to have that fee waived. I know I signed up for free a few months ago. I think the link was in a thread on the DIS or Mousesavers website maybe. Good luck.

I need to have at least a full size, is it still possible to book & get a full size with the Emerald Aisle? There's 5 of us plus luggage.

 

[At World's End]

National and Alamo both have programs that allow you to bypass the counter. I have read bad things about Budget. Evidently they still use the hard sell at the counter. I would not want to waste my time with them.

With National's Emerald Club, you would make your reservation for a full size and print your confirmation. You proceed directly to the car rental garage and find the full size aisle for National. You select any car on the aisle. Drive to the booth at the exit to check out, and away you go.

With Alamo's Insider Club, you have to stop at the kiosk near the car rental counter. It takes about 2 minutes, max, and a receipt is printed for your rental. Take that receipt over to the garage and find the full size aisle for Alamo. Select any car on the aisle. Drive to the booth at the exit to check out, and away you go.

We have rented from both Alamo and National at MCO and found the customer service the same at both. The return process is very fast. We have always pulled in and had someone assisting us before we could unload our luggage.

We rented a full size from Alamo in January and they had a nice selection of vehicles in the full size aisle,- Impalas, Chargers, several crossovers and a few minivans.

I would sign up for both of their rental programs and you will start receiving coupons by email. There is a link on mousesavers.com for free enrollment in Emerald Club.