National Emerald Aisle

[LeslieG]

Can someone please explain National's EA? I've read about it on their website, but I'm not sure I understand.

Am I right you reserve an intermediate (I can still use a coupon, right?) and then when I get there, I can choose whatever they have on their EA, which may be something better or worse than an intermediate? How do they decide what cars are available on the EA? Might I get an SUV, minivan, luxury?

I've noticed sometimes their full size is cheaper than their intermediate. Can I reserve full size and still use EA?

Thanks for any help.

 

[lynr]

Yes you have to choose an intermediate to get Emerald Isle. When you get there you can take anything that is in the EA.

 

[Kycha]

With EA you are guaranteed at least an intermediate size. But, you may get lucky and they will have something bigger. Last time we used EA, we ended up with a midsize SUV.

If you want a guaranteed larger vehicle, you would use Emerald Reserve. It is the same concept as EA, just larger vehicles.

I hope that helped.

 

[LeslieG]

So does anyone know how they decide which cars will go on the Emerald Aisle?

And is the point of using it that you may be upgraded? Beyond that, I was wondering how it was any quicker than picking a car from a regular assigned aisle.

 

[DebbieB]

They probably base it on which unreserved cars they have for that day. If they have extra mini-vans, they may put them on the aisle. If all the larger cars are reserved, then they may just have intermediate.

It is quicker because you don't have to go to the counter inside the airport. You go straight out to the garage, pick the car, turn in the paperwork at the booth on the way out.