National Mixing Contract ID's with coupons, MCO experiences

[dudspizza]

I have always read that you can do this. I had absoloutely no problem last August.

This was posted over at Flyertalk.com..... your thoughts.

Beware: discount coupons and contract IDs

Seems National has a new(?) policy requiring that the contract ID matches the free day/upgrade/whatever discount coupon one uses.

Had a problem with the Burnaby, BC Hilton location when we went to pick up a car for the weekend. Made the reservation on Nationalcar.com using an Entertainment free day coupon and an AC Aeroplan contract ID. When we picked up the car, the agent redid the reservation with the Entertainment contract ID. Of course this raised the rate to a walkup rate of $59 a day from $39 a day. Ended up raising the estimate from $129 to $209.

I immediately called 800 CARRENT to raise he11 with an agent and supervisor who ended up honoring the rate but she said you have to match IDs and she was making a one-time exception.

This is total BS given that the website will mix 'n match Contract IDs and discount coupons and we've done this in the past. My GF had no problem in MCO 2 weeks ago, and we've never had a problem with this location in the past and have made several rentals there.

I guess we can all start making 2 reservations, one with the lowest rate and one with the matched discount coupon and contract ID. Let them worry about the duplicate bookings....

Thoughts?

Duds

 

[Lewisc]

Thoughts?

Duds

The coupons are very specific as to which contract id code MUST be used with the coupon. The fact that their computer system doesn't check doesn't prevent them from enforcing the stated rules when we pick up the car.

I'm amazed we've been able to use that "loophole" for as long as we've been able to. It makes sense that National has a "bottom line" price that can be reached by any combination of discount code OR coupon but not both.

It's really BS that we think we can ignore the rules as printed. Not really BS, National has failed to enforce the rules for years but didn't we all know we were "bending" the rules?

 

[ncbyrne]

but didn't we all know we were "bending" the rules?

No! I had no clue that you weren't supposed to use any or all coupons, discounts and codes. No other car rental agency has a website that allows mix and match, so why should I assume that I was bending any rule? IMHO if National doesn't allow this then they should make it allowable!

 

[beattyfamily]

National has been the only rental agency that allows us to use any contract number with any coupon. Its been this way forever. If they don't want us to do that then they must fix the problem on their website. We aren't doing anything wrong.

They should honor all reservations made this way since they allowed it in the first place to go through that way.

I'm not worried in the least about my reservation being honored and I've done nothing wrong. I have not bent any rules or ignored any rules.

 

[Lewisc]

.... We aren't doing anything wrong.

...... I have not bent any rules or ignored any rules.

I agree we're not doing anything wrong BUT the I've yet to find a single coupon that doesn't say it's only valid if used with a specific code. Of course we're ignoring and bending the rules when we make the reservation. We know the system better than the computer. We know the computer won't "catch" us and the National employees will honor the computer reservation. After all computers are never wrong. I never thought the mix and match would last forever.

I suspect National will wind up honoring most of the reservations and they really should update their computer system. BUT they really don't have to honor coupons that aren't valid. Certainly they don't have to honor coupons that have expired or aren't being used according to the terms printed on them. A line saying something like all discounts and coupons are subject to review at time of rental would be more than enough warning.

 

[beattyfamily]

I agree we're not doing anything wrong BUT the I've yet to find a single coupon that doesn't say it's only valid if used with a specific code. Of course we're ignoring and bending the rules when we make the reservation. We know the system better than the computer. We know the computer won't "catch" us and the National employees will honor the computer reservation. After all computers are never wrong. I never thought the mix and match would last forever.

I suspect National will wind up honoring most of the reservations and they really should update their computer system. BUT they really don't have to honor coupons that aren't valid. Certainly they don't have to honor coupons that have expired or aren't being used according to the terms printed on them. A line saying something like all discounts and coupons are subject to review at time of rental would be more than enough warning.

This is all my coupon says:

"May not be combined with other discounts or promotions"

Sorry, but I disagree with you and I am not worried in the least and feel I and all others combining different contract #'s and coupons are doing nothing wrong whatsoever and it's National's responsiblity to make a change IF they don't want us to combine different company's coupons/contracts...

 

[Lewisc]

This is all my coupon says:

"May not be combined with other discounts or promotions"

Exactly. Do you want the discount or the coupon? I certainly agree National should either update the computer OR just not show any coupon being applied and have it added at time of rental. But the terms of the coupon says you don't get both. Most of the coupons say it may ONLY be combined with a particular promotional cde.

I agree we're not doing anything wrong I just think it's naive to think we're not "bending" the rules or that at some point National will be closing this loophole.