National EA vs ER - Which would you choose?

[mgilmer]

I'm going to the World from July 3 through July 11. I have an EA ressie for $243. I also have a Em Reserve for a full size for the same period for $283. I know I might get a larger than immed. on the EA, but I am guaranteed the full size for $40 more. I could be content with an immed, but I would really like a bigger car. What would you do, take the more expensive sure thing or take a chance on the Emerald Aisle.

Mike

 

[lawgs]

on EA this last weekend we saw a lot of intermediates plus some monte carlos and aztec SUV's

the full size cars seem to have been on the Executive Selection side of EA but they had bonnevilles, rendevous and equinoxes also

it seems that there are more than just intermediates on the EA at orlando even though the website was saying only intermediates would be on EA under the new reorganization

if you really want to be guaranteed the full size i would stick with the ER

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Unless you like to gamble, reserve what you want.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by mgilmer
I'm going to the World from July 3 through July 11. I have an EA ressie for $243. I also have a Em Reserve for a full size for the same period for $283. I know I might get a larger than immed. on the EA, but I am guaranteed the full size for $40 more. I could be content with an immed, but I would really like a bigger car. What would you do, take the more expensive sure thing or take a chance on the Emerald Aisle.

Mike

I'm going for the Intermediate on the EA for my trip in August and October. For me it's worth the savings and we can fit in an Intermediate so I'm willing to take the risk of a tight squeeze to see what's on the EA. It's just fun.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
I'm going for the Intermediate on the EA for my trip in August and October. For me it's worth the savings and we can fit in an Intermediate so I'm willing to take the risk of a tight squeeze to see what's on the EA. It's just fun.

I agree, it is fun!!!! But, as you know, if you need a fullsize and there is not one on the EA, then you are not going to be happy.
BTW, I hope you get lucky this time.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I agree, it is fun!!!! But, as you know, if you need a fullsize and there is not one on the EA, then you are not going to be happy.
BTW, I hope you get lucky this time.

I know but we've squeezed into an Intermediate before. I'm willing to take the risk. I've got to get lucky someday you'd think!

I guess I should make notes of the biggest trunks available for Intermediates cause that's where I have the biggest problem!

 

[mgilmer]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I agree, it is fun!!!! But, as you know, if you need a fullsize and there is not one on the EA, then you are not going to be happy.
BTW, I hope you get lucky this time.

Well, its not a matter of need. There are only three of us and we can fit in an intermediate ok, I would just like a larger car, if possible. Of course, if I needed a larger car I would go with the Emerald Reserve for sure. I just have never used National before (in my business travels I use Avis thru a corporate contract) and am not sure about the gamble, although I do like saving money, too. Now I am in a quandray (is that an intermediate or a full size?)

Mike

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
I know but we've squeezed into an Intermediate before. I'm willing to take the risk. I've got to get lucky someday you'd think!

I guess I should make notes of the biggest trunks available for Intermediates cause that's where I have the biggest problem!

The trunks are all the same, btw. 14.6 cubic feet. Guess you can tell I had WAY too much time on my hands one day.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

That is easy.
Full size normally: Intrepid, Impala, Regal, Century.
Mid size: Alero, Grand Am, Galant, and sometimes Malibu or Classic.

 

[DebbieB]

It depends on the situation. When it's just my mom and I, I can gamble, we can get along with an intermediate (everytime I've used EA I got a full size except once). When I was there with 3 friends, there was no way we could fit in an intermediate with our luggage. So we did ER with a full size, even that was tight.

 

[curlyjbs]

Hey.......new pictures Gail!!! Cool!



curly

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by curlyjbs
Hey.......new pictures Gail!!! Cool!



curly

Thanks curly jbs.

 

[leebee]

OK, I know this is stupid, but...on one trip to WDW, when we got to the EA there were no cars...and no cars on most of the National lot. There was a waiting line in the garage at EA, and as they brought a newly-checked-in, newly-washed car (still dripping), it went to the customer at the head of the line. When it was my turn, I got a compact, even though I had reserved an intermediate on EA. It was OK, just DD and I (BIL and his family had an intermediate...) so we fit OK, and I was only charged for a compact, but guess what? I HAD THE SMALLEST CAR IN THE PARKING LOT, wherever we went! I know it was stupid, but it really bugged me! At home, we drive a '97 grand voyager minivan or an '87 volvo 740 sedan...I like both cars, van better than Volvo, but I always look forward to the car I get on vacation. I KNOW it's stupid...but every time we went to get in that rental car, it just bugged me that I had the smallest car in the lot!!! It even got to be a standing joke, and is echoed by my DSis and BIL to this day...So if it's going to bug you that you only have an intermediate sized car, by all means pop the $40 and get the full size!!!

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by leebee
OK, I know this is stupid, but...on one trip to WDW, when we got to the EA there were no cars...and no cars on most of the National lot. There was a waiting line in the garage at EA, and as they brought a newly-checked-in, newly-washed car (still dripping), it went to the customer at the head of the line. When it was my turn, I got a compact, even though I had reserved an intermediate on EA. It was OK, just DD and I (BIL and his family had an intermediate...) so we fit OK, and I was only charged for a compact, but guess what? I HAD THE SMALLEST CAR IN THE PARKING LOT, wherever we went! I know it was stupid, but it really bugged me! At home, we drive a '97 grand voyager minivan or an '87 volvo 740 sedan...I like both cars, van better than Volvo, but I always look forward to the car I get on vacation. I KNOW it's stupid...but every time we went to get in that rental car, it just bugged me that I had the smallest car in the lot!!! It even got to be a standing joke, and is echoed by my DSis and BIL to this day...So if it's going to bug you that you only have an intermediate sized car, by all means pop the $40 and get the full size!!!

That would get me VERY angry. I thought National guaranteed what size you booked. I better get what I booked!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
That would get me VERY angry. I thought National guaranteed what size you booked. I better get what I booked!

they do guarantee it, but, sometimes you have to either wait or settle for less. At least they were only charged for a compact.

 

[leebee]

I was annoyed that they didn't have the car I reserved, and pleased that I was only charged for the compact. I suppose I COULD have gone to the end of the line for a different car, but sister's family, with whom we were travelling, already had their car and were ready to go, and I really didn't want to make a scene. There were many folks waiting for cars, with very few available...one explanation is that this was Dec 2001, just after the 9/11 attack. Apparently many car agencies were short on cars, having let folks take them for one-way rentals when the airports were shut down. I heard that it was reasonably expensive for the agencies to get their cars back, and since the "new" fleet would be delivered in early '02, they were just waiting for more cars rather than trying to have the existing vehicles reassigned.

Whatever...the point I was trying to make is that if having a smaller car than what you'd really like will annoy you throughout your vacation, spend the extra $$$ and get the larger car. I really didn't have an option on that trip...very many tired travellers, very few vehicles...but it annoyed me to have the smallest car in the parking lot!

 

[curlyjbs]

RE: Post 911 rentals at National: We arrived at MCO 9/28/2001 and were able to snag a sebring convertible on the Aisle! There were 2 or 3 of them and mini vans too. It was harder to decide which color than it was to pick the car! We thought were national EA fans for life after that LOL!

BUT, with the changes to EA these past few months we decided to use RESERVE this trip.............There wasn't even a $10 difference between the Int. and the Full - so we figured go for the "sure thing" and get the fullsize for only $117/week total!


curly


Can you say 6 more days???