National Emerald Isle is the BEST!

[Carrieberry]

Hi all! Just wanted to put a little post about our experience with National's Emerald aisle at MCO. It was the easiet thing ever! We signed up for free using the mousesavers info and had a $20 coupon so we were able to get a FULL SIZE (we had an Impala-very nice and roomy) for $119 including all taxes for 8 days! All we did was go to the parking garage, go to the aisle that said full size, pick our car (we wanted the PT cruiser but it would not hold all of our stuff!)and head to the booth. When we got there the girl just asked for our reservation and DH drivers license, asked if we wanted to prepay gas option ( NO NO NO!) and we were off. Nothing to sign or intital and no asking if we wanted the extra insurance. She handed us a map and that was it! On return we just followed the signs to the Alamo/National return area, parked the car and there was a skycap right there to help us with the luggage. We left the car there in the place you drop them off and that was it. Finally they charged the credit card yesterday(we returned the car last Friday) for the $119 nothing more. We will rent a car form now on!! Thanks for all of you here that sent me in the right direction and told me about National's EA!!

 

[pumpkinboy]

I'm with you Carrieberry! We used it for the first time last month and now I expect to use only National Emerald Aisle or Emerald Reserve. No lines, no counter, no muss, no fuss, no insurance sales pitch... just out to the car, to the gate and on our way.

As for the pre-paid gas, I actually think I should have taken it this last trip. They quoted me a price of $1.89 a gallon in FLL where we picked up the car (1/9), and 10 days later in Orlando, I had to fill up again at $1.96 (best I could find conveniently). Actually, I determined this when we were in Vero Beach ($1.83), and regretted not being able to return the car on empty. For an Orlando only trip I would not do the prepaid gas, but for the amount of driving we did, in an environment of rising prices, I'd take the prepaid gas.

 

[DebbieB]

You went to the full size row? If you had an Emerald Aisle reservation, you should have gone to the Emerald Aisle row. If you had a full size reserved through Emerald Reserve, then you go to the full size row.

 

[beattyfamily]

You went to the full size row? If you had an Emerald Aisle reservation, you should have gone to the Emerald Aisle row. If you had a full size reserved through Emerald Reserve, then you go to the full size row.

I thought that too! I'll bet she/he's getting Emerald Aisle confused with being a member of the Emerald Club and I'll bet she/he had an Emerald Reserve of a Full size but you never know.

Emerald Club member means they have your info and you can bypass the counter and book either Emerald Aisle for an Intermediate (or better) or book Emerald Reserve for any other size cars and still bypass the counter.

Of course, there's also the Emerald Executive Aisle that is for frequent renters where you are guaranteed a Full size or better, which I will NEVER qualify for!

Then there's the quick rent which is good if you don't join Emerald Club but you cannot use a coupon.

Hope this clears things up for some National Emerald Club newbies!!

 

[curlyjbs]

Welcome Back Carrie!!! Glad you had a good time and National worked for you

Curly

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I just got back and we used Emerald Reserve.. we too found it super easy!! BUT when we got there we had booked a full size and we asked the attendant where the full size isle was he told us to pick off the Emerald Executive Aisle, he suggested the Trailblazer since there was 5 of us, we never even saw the full size isle.. we were happy to get a free upgrade!!!

 

[beattyfamily]

I just got back and we used Emerald Reserve.. we too found it super easy!! BUT when we got there we had booked a full size and we asked the attendant where the full size isle was he told us to pick off the Emerald Executive Aisle, he suggested the Trailblazer since there was 5 of us, we never even saw the full size isle.. we were happy to get a free upgrade!!!

WOW!! That's GREAT for you! Congrats on a wonderful FREE upgrade like that! Wish that would happen to me!

 

[laurabelle]

Hi all! Just wanted to put a little post about our experience with National's Emerald aisle at MCO. It was the easiet thing ever! We signed up for free using the mousesavers info and had a $20 coupon so we were able to get a FULL SIZE (we had an Impala-very nice and roomy) for $119 including all taxes for 8 days! All we did was go to the parking garage, go to the aisle that said full size, pick our car (we wanted the PT cruiser but it would not hold all of our stuff!)and head to the booth. When we got there the girl just asked for our reservation and DH drivers license, asked if we wanted to prepay gas option ( NO NO NO!) and we were off. Nothing to sign or intital and no asking if we wanted the extra insurance. She handed us a map and that was it! On return we just followed the signs to the Alamo/National return area, parked the car and there was a skycap right there to help us with the luggage. We left the car there in the place you drop them off and that was it. Finally they charged the credit card yesterday(we returned the car last Friday) for the $119 nothing more. We will rent a car form now on!! Thanks for all of you here that sent me in the right direction and told me about National's EA!!

Carrieberry,
This is too funny! I remember you were flying in the same evening (1/21) we were and guess what???My girls and I got the silver PT Cruiser! I was surprised how little trunk space it had, but it was perfect for the 3 of us. It was our first time with National's EA and it won't be the last!
Laura

 

[ncbyrne]

We are members of National Emerald Club. If we have a coupon for an upgrade, what size do we reserve, and which aisle to do we go to, if we want a full size car? With Dollar, you can only get the size upgrade IF they have one available? How does it work with the aisles?

 

[Carrieberry]

Laura-
That is so weird!! How funny!! We had like 8 bags so there was no way we would have fit into that thing with the four of us! So cool that you guys got it!! Small world!

ncbyrne- I would reserve whatever the one you want to pay for is and then when you go to the aisle go to the one class up from the one you reserved. I wouldn't worry about not having any cars there, the aisles were pretty full when we were there-still many choices in the full sizes at least.

 

[ncbyrne]

I still don't understand....if we have a coupon, and want a full size, do we go to the full size aisle if we reserve a mid size?

 

[Carrieberry]

If you book the intermediate and want the full size with the coupon on arrival then go straight to pick up the full size. The only exception would be if you are using the coupon to book the reservation before arriving. If you use the coupon to book then it should upgrade it for you on your reservation and then go right to what it books you for which should be the full size listed on the reservation. For us it made more sense to use the printable $20 entertainment coupon from online because the full size was only $6 more than the intermediate so we saved more money using the $20 off coupon then the coupon for the free upgrade.

 

[dudspizza]

Acutally, if you are using an upgrade coupon, you will have to go to the counter. The web site will automatically change you to counter service if you are using an upgrade coupon. If you use $$ off coupon, it just deducts the coupon off of the total and you can use EA or ER. I have also found that the $20 off coupon always seems to beat the upgrade coupons....

I would double check this on the web site.

When using the coupon, put in the car you want to upgrade from. Say you want to get a Standard size car and you have a 2 car upgrade coupon, you put in compact and when the rate page comes up, it will give you the price and say Standard size car........

Good luck...

Duds

 

[Carrieberry]

Thanks Duds I stand corrected! We checked into this before we went and it seems the rep i talked to with national gave us some misleading info. Since we went with the $$ off coupon I never tested out what she said! Live and learn!!

 

[ncbyrne]

What's the difference between EA and ER?

 

[Carrieberry]

Emerald Aisle I think is just aisles of all compact and intermediate cars. Once you go to the full size I believe it is it turns into ER. Then you go to the specific car class you reserved(like the aisle marked full size) and get that specific car class. Other than that there is no difference. It is just based on car class.

 

[cranbiz]

I also had a good experience with National. We went down over the MLK weekend. Well, the night we left was the night of severe fog in the Northeast. We left PVD an hour late, Philly an hour late and arrived at MCO at 1AM. Nothing in EA, ER or ERA. In fact, there were only a half dozen minivans, a boatload of economy cars and a full sized 4 door 4X4 P/U (05 with 500 miles on it).

The lot attendant said that I could have anything in either National or Alamo.

I replied, even the Pickup? Her answer was yes! ( I drive the exact same truck only older)

6 days 129.45. What a country!

 

[beattyfamily]

What's the difference between EA and ER?

EA and ER are two different ways to book your car if you are a Emerald Club member. EA is what you get if you book an Intermediate. You will probably get an Intermediate but once in awhile there might be some bigger cars, an upgrade but no guarantees.

ER is the service you get if you book any other size other than Intermediate. So if you want a Full size, you have ER service and you head to the Full size aisle.

Both of these service let you bypass the counter. If you have an upgrade coupon, though, you must go to the counter. If you just have a $20 off coupon then you can still bypass the counter. If you need a car seat again you must go to the counter.

EA you'd be taking a chance at getting something better so if you need a bigger car, book the size you need with ER.

 

[igitur]

we leave Wednesday and will be using this service for the first time. I signed up with EA, and then with our $20 coupon and Priceless Contract ID, we're getting a Full-Size from ER for $178 for 10 days.

Can anyone tell me if that sounds like a pretty good deal?

Thanks, we're looking forward to trying out this service.

Deb

 

[beattyfamily]

we're getting a Full-Size from ER for $178 for 10 days.

Can anyone tell me if that sounds like a pretty good deal?

$178 for 10 days sounds pretty good to me!