National Car, Tampa - Can I use Emerald Aisle for a minivan?

[busy mom]

We normally get a mid size, but this trip need a minivan. Do I need to go to the counter?

Is anyone familiar with the Tampa airport, where do I head after I get my luggage?


thank you!!!!!

 

[sam_gordon]

We normally get a mid size, but this trip need a minivan. Do I need to go to the counter?

Is anyone familiar with the Tampa airport, where do I head after I get my luggage?


thank you!!!!!

As I understand Emerald Aisle, you pay for a midsize, but can take anything that's in the Emerald Aisle aisle. I doubt you'll see a minivan there, but it is possible. If you MUST have a minivan, I suggest booking a minivan.

ETA: I'm confused. You also started a thread asking questions about DME. Do you have people arriving in Tampa AND Orlando?

 

[busy mom]

We are arriving in Tampa. Don't they have Emerald Isle, or no?

We did book and pay for a minivan. It looks like I need to go to the counter.

 

[busy mom]

The DME question was for my daughter, she is going right to Orlando.

 

[bumbershoot]

We are arriving in Tampa. Don't they have Emerald Isle, or no?

We did book and pay for a minivan. It looks like I need to go to the counter.

Looks like they do have the aisle.

https://www.nationalcar.com/locAisle.do

You can call them; phone number found here:

https://www.nationalcar.com/searchStations.do?searchStr=Tampa&searchType=City



If you've rented a specific type of car, you don't go to the Emerald Aisle. That is for people who reserve Midsize and are gambling that they'll get something better.

In your case you would go to the Minivan aisle. And you should be able to just go straight there without going to a counter.

 

[jeffbear]

Looks like they do have the aisle.


If you've rented a specific type of car, you don't go to the Emerald Aisle. That is for people who reserve Midsize and are gambling that they'll get something better.

In your case you would go to the Minivan aisle. And you should be able to just go straight there without going to a counter.

Yup ... they do have the Emerald Aisle at Tampa but it's pretty rare to see minivans in there. You MIGHT find a small SUV, but minivans are scarce. If you want/need one you are MUCH better off reserving one specifically.

 

[nacho113]

We have used the Emerald Aisle in TPA, MCO and MIA many times over the past 15-20 years.
National uses the Emerald Aisle to move the vehicles that are low demand/slow movers or are overstocked at that particular time or day.
What we usually notice on our winter vacation (Jan-March) is that there always seems to be a lot of minivans, SUVs and CUVs on the Aisle and a few cars. Not a lot of family vacations at this time of year so less demand for the bigger "people hauler" type vehicles would be my guess. We have even come across a mustang convertible on the Aisle in early January (too cold to put the top down I guess)
When our travels take us to Florida in the summer months (June-Aug), we rarely , if ever, see these types of vehicles on the Aisle. It's usually just midsize, standard and full sized cars.

FYI: if you absolutely need a specific type of vehicle (ie: Minivan) then I would book what you need.
If you could get by with a midsize to full size car and are feeling lucky, then book a midsize and take your chances on the Aisle.
You didn't say when you are planning your trip, but as I noted above, in the winter the chance of a minivan or SUV on the Aisle will be much higher than if you are planning a summer vacation.

 

[gmeh1]

We normally get a mid size, but this trip need a minivan. Do I need to go to the counter?

Is anyone familiar with the Tampa airport, where do I head after I get my luggage?


thank you!!!!!

Since you booked a mini van, you have what they call and Emerald Reserve, which means, you look on the left hand side of your print out and it will tell you if you need to go to the counter or straight out to the mini van area. The Emerald Aisle reservations are only for mid size, anything else is a "Reserve". I am assuming you are an Emerald Club member.
As to where the cars are located at the airport. There will be signs pointing you in the correct direction.
More information about the Emerald program can be found on the website. But, for your current reservation, I hope this will be helpful.

"Emerald Reserve Service® is exclusively for Emerald Club® members who require a specific car class - a convertible, SUV, minivan or any other vehicle.

•Make your reservation for the desired vehicle at a counter bypass location.
•When you arrive, bypass the counter and go directly to the row of the car class you reserved. The bus driver and greeter will be available to guide you.
•Choose any car on the row of your reserved car class.
•Your rental transaction will be quickly completed at the exit booth."
Tampa is a listed location. Of course, since the vehicles are onsite, you can ignore the part about the bus driver.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

Last fall we needed a minivan. I booked one at Alamo. I had read older posts to book for the emerald aisle, go straight to the aisle and ask the attendant if they had minivans available that day. The older post that I had read stated the attendants on the emerald aisle know what they are allowed to give out on a certain day. We went straight to the aisle. I explained our needs and that I had another reservation at Alamo. I was asked how many in my party, and was then told by the attendant that I could choose a minivan. I would like to point out that this was in Sept with the lowest crowd level time. When I got to the exit and the person there made a little fuss, I explained that the attendant at the emerald aisle told me that this was fine. The next time I will be sure to remember the name of the person at the aisle. We clearly ended up not using our Alamo backup but I would not have gone without a back up plan. In the end we got the minivan 10 days for $290.

 

[gmeh1]

Last fall we needed a minivan. I booked one at Alamo. I had read older posts to book for the emerald aisle, go straight to the aisle and ask the attendant if they had minivans available that day. The older post that I had read stated the attendants on the emerald aisle know what they are allowed to give out on a certain day. We went straight to the aisle. I explained our needs and that I had another reservation at Alamo. I was asked how many in my party, and was then told by the attendant that I could choose a minivan. I would like to point out that this was in Sept with the lowest crowd level time. When I got to the exit and the person there made a little fuss, I explained that the attendant at the emerald aisle told me that this was fine. The next time I will be sure to remember the name of the person at the aisle. We clearly ended up not using our Alamo backup but I would not have gone without a back up plan. In the end we got the minivan 10 days for $290.

Yep, the Greeters are told what they can allow an EC member to upgrade to. That probably would not have happened in the busy times, but, good job!!! Hint: the person at the exit booth should have known what could be given to EC members as a free upgrade.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

Yep, the Greeters are told what they can allow an EC member to upgrade to. That probably would not have happened in the busy times, but, good job!!! Hint: the person at the exit booth should have known what could be given to EC members as a free upgrade.

gemh1 I think this was something I learned from an old post of yours.
Thank you
Sue

 

[DJT]

I have not rented from National in years. Is there a charge for spouse as additional driver? I know with Alamo Insiders there is no charge and want to make sure there is none for National, just in case I find a better rate with National. TIA.

 

[georgina]

As an Emerald Club member, there is no charge for an additional driver. I have been a member for so long, I don't know if it is still free to join.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

When are you going? I am flying into to Tampa the first week of May and got a van for $24.95 a day.