National at MCO-Never again!

[Simba's Mom]

Last week we rented a car from National at MCO, but this is why we'll never do that again. First DH waited and waited in line at the counter. People in back of him finally started checking all other rental companies to see if they had cars. There were only 2 clerks working, so the wait was incredible! Then, he got up there and listened while the clerk tried many times to get him to pay "only a little more" for anything other than the reserved Compact. DH started getting suspicious that maybe the clerk's efforts were because there weren't any Compacts available, and as we walked over, he shared his suspicions with me. Sure enough-no compacts! If he'd accepted the "few dollars more", would he have been mad! Then we waited in another line of about 6 cars in front of us and 12 cars in back of us, 20 more minutes, to leave. There were 2 check-out stations, but only one was open. So it took us almost an hour for the whole National Rental Car process. Never again!

 

[beattyfamily]

Sorry you had such a horrible experience!

It's too bad you didn't join National Emerald Club for free (info on it at www.mousesavers.com) and then you could have bypassed the counter! Your only wait would have been to get out of the garage.

Oh well, that's too bad.

Luckily I've never had a bad experience with National regarding wait or pressure to buy something I didn't book.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[sgtdisney]

It's too bad you had a bad experience with National. I always use Emerald Club and Emerald Reserve when I book with National so I haven't had to visit their counter in years. I will say that National isn't the only agency that will try to talk you into 'paying' to upgrade when they are out of the car class you reserve. They all do that, it is pretty much standard in the industry. What you did was right, you stand you ground and only accept what you paid for and then they have to give you the 'free' upgrade.

Anyway, sorry to hear of your experience. I use National all the time and have never had a bad experience. You may want to try writing to their corporate office and send them an email to tell them about your experience and see what they say. Maybe they can take measures to correct the obvious problems that there were having at the counter that day.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I too, Dorothy, always have used National, since learning about it here on the DIS when I first came here in '99. EA has me out of there in minutes. The worst time I have is my trying to decide what color, LOL. Get that EA from Mary's site and give it a try again next time.

I think I may try Hertz in a few weeks, based on a thread here from Coreynyc. Hope I am not disappointed in wavering for price.

 

[jcemom]

Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. That's exactly why we, too, joined Emerald Aisle. It was a breeze! The "Emerald Aisle Experience" made me see car rentals in a whole new light. It was always something I totally hated to do, but no more, as Emerald Aisle is SO easy!

 

[Simba's Mom]

You know, I think DH is a member of Emerald Club/Emerald Aisle. However, I thought that if we booked using that, we couldn't avail ourselves of any other discounts. I really hope I'm mistaken now. This past time, we were using a Continental discount from Mary's website, and I thought we couldn't use that if we used the Emerald Club. Guess I'm not very "travel savvy".

 

[jcemom]

When we went in February we used the Carlson code from Mary's site along with a coupon and got a good rate. I enjoyed the Emerald Aisle service so much though that I would be willing to pay a bit more for it if necessary. Next time check out all the codes and discounts from Mary's site and try them! You just might be pleasantly surprised!

 

[Dan Murphy]

As Tracet said, Dorothy, you can do all discounts, most coupons (I have even done 'counter only' coupons) on EA. Most often the combination of coupons and discounts reduces the 'rack rate' by over 50%. Mary's site is such a help.

 

[DebbieB]

I've used EA with discount codes and coupons may times. On our trip earlier this month, I paid around $120 for the week using the priceless contract code and a free day coupon. Got an Impala off the EA, very nice. We were out pretty quick, within 10 minutes (Sunday night). I think everytime I've used EA I got a full size, except once.

Using the counter can be a pain, I used it last month with friends because we had to add an additional driver. We were about 4th in line and waited at least 20 minutes, there was only 1 person working the counter (it was around lunchtime).

 

[OKW Lover]

Wow. Not a great way to start a vacation. In the future, look into Avis and their Avis Preferred service. Just walk out to the garage and show them your license. They give you the keys to your car and off you go. No counters to wait at.

BTW, do not rent from Hertz at Orlando since their cars are off property. You will have to haul your bags onto their shuttle bus to get to their lot. Then you stand in line (unles you belong to their #1 club) with everybody else on your bus. Similar deal on the return trip.

Jeff

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Originally posted by OKW Lover
Wow. Not a great way to start a vacation. In the future, look into Avis and their Avis Preferred service. Just walk out to the garage and show them your license. They give you the keys to your car and off you go. No counters to wait at.

BTW, do not rent from Hertz at Orlando since their cars are off property. You will have to haul your bags onto their shuttle bus to get to their lot. Then you stand in line (unles you belong to their #1 club) with everybody else on your bus. Similar deal on the return trip.

Jeff

Avis Preferred is very similar to Emerald Club Aisle service. I have both memberships. The National rates have almost always been lower, and the Aisle service is difficult to beat.

Ralph

 

[safetymom]

I use Hertz offsite all the time. They are great. Never more than a minute or two wait on the shuttle. You are driving away from their lot in less than 10 mins.

When leaving Orlando I curbside check the bags and then return the car. No worries about taking the shuttle back to the airport.

The shuttles run quite often even into the wee hours of morning there is always one waiting.

If you have AAA you can get some great rates. I used to use National but found Hertz cheaper. Also you can join the #1 Gold Club and bypass the counter all together. There are offers where you can get it for free. PM me if you want details.

They have a shuttle driver by the name of Captain Jack. He is wonderful. He tells stories, he sings, he wrote a few tunes, tells Disney Trivia. You wish the ride were longer when he is driving.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by safetymom
....When leaving Orlando I curbside check the bags and then return the car.........

Mom, how do you leave your car at the curb while you curbside checkin? Don't they shoo you on?

I am going to try Hertz first time at the end of the month. Always have done National. Coreynyc had a great thread here that piqued my interest.

 

[ScottJoy]

I used National on May 16, and there was practically no wait, while the Alamo line just to the left seemed to go on forever. Strange, when the fleet of cars is the same for both.

 

[safetymom]

I have never had a problem with the car doing curbside check in. I am the only one so I am not standing next to the car I am at the outside counter.

I do it all the time. Now that I live here and I fly for work I am at the airport several times a month and still haven't had any problems.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Man, all the stuff ya can learn on these boards. I am going to come around more often. Neat.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by safetymom
When leaving Orlando I curbside check the bags and then return the car. No worries about taking the shuttle back to the airport.

We do that too. I curbside check the bags and get the boarding passes before I return the car and leave the family there and then meet them inside. It has worked great so far.

 

[Esmerelda]

Golly, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. I can honestly say in all the times I've used National, I've never had a problem. But myself..just like the others used just EA and I have never had to wait long at any time.

Just goes to show you tho...some of us have great experiences and others don't. I know Gail says that she has always had luck with Alamo. We have had 3 bad experiences with Alamo and we even gave it two more chances but still more bad experiences.

I would write to National and tell them what happened. They need to be aware of what their customers deal with.


Esmerelda

 

[lawgs]

safetymom must be very lucky, since the last time we were there

they had the tow truck on a car that was "unattended" even though the person who "occupied" it was tending to someone in the wheel chair at the curbside check in about 20 feet away

so it is the "luck of the draw" as far as who they "shoo" etc or in this case "she got the ticket" which they would not "let up" on once the tow truck was there

 

[DebbieB]

I had no problem earlier this month using curbside check at USAirways with the car sitting there. I was no farther than 5 feet from it though. I didn't even see any cops around. I've done it several times post 9/11 with no problems.