National EA-Choices After Midnight?

[donmil723]

Might be arriving at MCO after midnight and have reserved a full size car on EA. Has anyone else used National's EA late at night? If so, what kind of choices did you have? Thanks!

 

[rgoble5972]

Bumping.
I'm in the same boat. We'll arrive at 12:24am (ugh!) and will be renting a full-sized from National.

Anyone?

 

[juju]

Our flight was delayed last year and we didn't arrive until about 10pm. There were only two cars on the EA and I didn't see any employees around at the time. Luckily one was a sedan (which is what I wanted) but the other was a VW bug. After loading up the car, a family of 5 came by and there was no way that VW was going to work for them. Moral of the story, I would check it out before I arrived.

 

[Lewisc]

If there are no full size cars in the EA you can pick a car from the full size aisle. It's dangerous to book planning on a free upgade (in EA) to a mini-van. Many people have gotten them, other times you only get what you reserve.

 

[skeezixspud]

We usually take the 7:45 SW flight, and we always seem to manage to pick a day when the weather in Chicago ends up causing it to come in late. We have arrived after midnight twice now.

For the most part, there are usually only about 15 vehicles left in the Natl. slots, period! Last time, our only full-size choice was a Chevy sedan (definitely a geri car; bench front seat, no cup holders, and the seat belts in the back seat were mounted so far forward of the bight that there is almost no way you could use a carseat with them.) There was also a Dodge Stratus with a smashed passenger rearview mirror, so that was a no-go. The only other vehicles in the lot were large vans and SUV's.

We were told that there is no need to trek back to the counter if there is nothing on the aisle. Just take your pick of whatever is left. We took a 4-dr Blazer, though our carseat was still not as secure in it as I would have liked, and I REALLY don't like vehicles with bad gas mileage. One thing is certain: I can now assure all those folks who tell me that I would love SUV's if only I drove one that they are dead wrong!

 

[noel]

Both times I've used the aisle at MCO it was after midnight. 1st time got a minivan, second time got a Mitsubishi convertible.

 

[donmil723]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. I don't care about an upgrade, just want a choice not just getting stuck with anything. Sounds like after midnight is about the same as any other time of day. Sometimes good, sometimes bad.