National Emerald Aisle car rental question

[Northstar]

Okay. This is weird. I'm trying to reserve a rental car for Orlando, 7 days in November. National is offering me a 7-passenger minivan for $155! The economy, compact, and midsize categories are all at least $100 more expensive.

The thing is, I hate driving big cars. I have not driven a van for over 20 years, and I don't want to try.

So do you think I can reserve the minivan, but just go to the Emerald Aisle and pick up a car that is NOT a minivan, and still get the great rate???

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Technically no. However, folks have reported that they have gotten away with self downgrading. It's a risk IMHO, but.... MCO does seem fairly strict as I have seen several "self upgrades" sent back to "try again"

Remember they are giving you the great rate on minivans because they aren't renting as many of them. They may NEED those cars and just move you to the "walk up" rate if you change your car class.

 

[gmeh1]

Okay. This is weird. I'm trying to reserve a rental car for Orlando, 7 days in November. National is offering me a 7-passenger minivan for $155! The economy, compact, and midsize categories are all at least $100 more expensive.

The thing is, I hate driving big cars. I have not driven a van for over 20 years, and I don't want to try.

So do you think I can reserve the minivan, but just go to the Emerald Aisle and pick up a car that is NOT a minivan, and still get the great rate???

No, you cannot. Not sure if you are an EC member, but, even if you are, you cannot do that. EC members reserve a midsize and go to the EA or EE aisle to get their vehicle. They will see that you have a mini van reserved and will charge you accordingly for anything else you select.
Have you tried Alamo for your dates, or Enterprise? All the same company and all the same cars.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

If you are a member of Emerald Club, you can pick whatever car you want from the aisle. You reserve a certain type, but if you go smaller, you still pay for whatever size you reserved.

 

[Northstar]

Thanks, everyone. Think I'll have to go with Alamo. I have a reservation with them for not too much more than the minivan from National, but I love my Emerald Aisle.

The irony. If I was trying to get a minivan for 7 passengers, I just know it would be more expensive!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If you are a member of Emerald Club, you can pick whatever car you want from the aisle. You reserve a certain type, but if you go smaller, you still pay for whatever size you reserved.

This statement has as flaw

You an ONLY do this if you reserved the Emerald Aisle. If you reserved a minivan as a member of the Emerald Club you are switched from the Aisle to the "Emerald Reseve" which means you can pick ANY vehcicle in the "area" you reserved (i.e.,minivan!) So if I reserved a Midsize at a Aisle and they had some thing smaller on there (which does happen, then you can take that at the midsize rate. As an elite I often reserve a full size and take something smaller from the aisle) If you resever a van etc.. you don't have an EA reservation so...