national emeral aisle or alamo full size?

[socalgirl]

hi,
i have a reservation with alamo already booked, but today pulled up a fairly decent rate with national, only $50 more than alamo for emerald isle. i would be willing to spend the extra $50 if i knew i could get an suv vs a full size at alamo. what do you think my chances are? we'll be arriving about 5pm on a friday evening. would the minimum intermediate car i get at national be at least as good as the full size at alamo? im a little worried that i might spend $50 more yet receive a lower grade vehicle than i would recieve by going alamo.
decisions, decisions!
gayle

 

[Ralph&Pam]

You can assure yourself of at least a full size from National at the EA by requesting full size rather than intermediate when you use the Emerald Club reservation web site. I usually find that the rate is exactly the same for both. Then if there are no full size cars at the aisle, you can choose one from the full size aisle instead.

I have no experience with 5 pm Friday EA pickup, but I suspect that SUVs may well be hard to find in the EA at the beginning of the weekend.

Ralph

 

[DebbieB]

Don't forget Alamo is not at the airport, you have to take a shuttle and then wait at their counter, which I've heard can be a long line. With National EA, you just exit the airport, cross the street and get in the car.

 

[socalgirl]

is this a good rate, or could i still get better?

18 days total with taxes $ 438.

also, i thought that being a member of emerald isle entitled you to additional benefits, like no charge for extra drivers? i was told by the reservationist that there is a $5 addtl charge. any input on this?

p.s. there is no addtl driver charge with alamo.
thanks,
gayle

 

[Ralph&Pam]

The extra driver charge is waived if that person is also an Emerald Club member. This is easy, since the National web site has a free EC reservation program on right now and you get immediate confirmation with the web reservation. You can even print out a copy of the membership card for the new member so you have something to use at the EA kiosk. My DW and DS have both joined. Quick, easy, and (best of all) free.

Ralph

 

[jstmee]

For all those who don't know, the rate for booking online with National has a pretty decent discount vs. calling in a reservation.

 

[socalgirl]

ralph,
thanks so much for the tip to register my husband. how easy that was to avoid the extra charge!

as far as online vs. phone ressie, i've been trying on line for the past few months. i thought id give the phone a try and ended up getting a rate about $35 less than the ressie i had on line! so i canceled the online ressie and took the phone ressie!

im still waiting to hear back with opinions on the rate i received-$438 for 18 days. this is $40 more than the alamo rate i have, but i get the ease of the airport location plus the possibility of getting an suv or van! (although im still not too sure what the chances are of getting that on a friday evening)
thanks,
gayle

 

[cats mom]

Great tip about taking advantage of free enrollment in the EA for additional drivers.
Thanks!

 

[Beverly Lynn]

last feb on a fri morning when we got there and went to EA we had a choice of one pickup, one cadillac and the rest was nothing but SUV's! we took a brand new blaser with 25 miles on it! it was a haven for blazers!

 

[ParkFreak]

Yes! Great tip Ralph, I'll do that right now! Thanks! I remember having a problem with that in January, now we'll be set!


. . .10 minutes later. . .never mind, the online registriation site is down for maintenance right now. I'm not having a very productive internet day here!