Need 1 extra hour with Alamo but they are charging for a whole week

[jetsetter90]

I have a four day reservation Oct 22-26 with Alamo for a compact at $108.65 best rate I could find but I need to drop car off 1 hour later. Instead of giving me 1 hour for x amount the rate changes to a weekly rate, not even a 5 day rate which would still be cheaper than a weekly.

I just got off the phone with Alamo and they allow 29 minute grace period and all they could get is weekly rate.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Jetsetter90

 

[Lewisc]

Return the car ontime and hang out at MCO for an hour.

You have a great rate, Alamo has no reason to work with you.

After 2 hours rental agencies generally charge the daily rate, typically the daily rate isn't much more then twice the hourly rate. Some agencies charge the weekly rate for 5 day rentals. Typically the weekly rate is cheaper then 4 or 5 times the daily rate.

I'm not sure why your rate is adding a day after only 1 hour.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Most likely the OP has the car reserved for exactly 96 hours: for example, noon on the 22nd to noon on the 26th.

Returning the car an hour later than planned exceeds the 'grace period' by 31 minutes.

Thus, as Lewisc indicates, the rental has changed to the equivalent of a five day reservation.

Rental car weeks = five to seven consecutive 24 hour periods.

I'm not defending Alamo, simply explaining why the OP is getting the huge price leap.

 

[jetsetter90]

Hang out at MCO for an hour or any where in Disney I pick Disney, that is why I want the extra hour.

Alamo not wanting to work with me is totally fine also because I can just go to another company and pay for 5 days and not a full week (actually 4 days and 1 hour), which is what I was trying to get them to do thier loss not mine. BTW I was asking for 1 hour not 2 and I would have been happy if they just added a day, it was adding for a full week.

All the other companies charge 4 days and then 1hour. I was just looking for some ideas as to figuring Alamo out to get the 1 hour or 5 day rate instead of a weely rate or if anyone has gotten any better rates.

 

[NotUrsula]

Are you using any codes or coupons? If so, that may be what is triggering it. This especially applies if you are getting a weekend rate, which looks like it might be the case, since you're renting Thursday to Monday. Weekend rates normally have a same-time Monday deadline:

Weekend rentals must begin after 9:00 AM Thursday and before 11:59 PM Saturday with an overnight Saturday keep required. Vehicle must be returned by Monday at same time as pick-up, or higher extra charges may apply.

If this is your problem, try changing your code to one that is for a weekly rate rather than a weekend rate; it won't be equivalent to another day at the weekend rate, but it shouldn't be the equivalent cost of your weekend PLUS an additional week.

 

[klynn]

Can you pick up the car 31 minutes later than you planned? And then on your return take advantage of the 29 minutes grace period. That will give you the extra hour you need on the return day.

 

[crash2000]

umm... I just went to alamo.com

used orlando airport, for the dates you chose, and enetered the pick-up time 12noon and drop of time 1 pm, and it added $16.29 for the extra hour ? what times did you enter?

 

[crash2000]

also reading the alamo site it says the car is due back the same time it was reneted, or an hourly fee would be added on, upto the next days daily rate, so you can just keep the car the extra 1hr, and pay the hr fee,




Dropoff Time: The car is due back the same hour it is rented to avoid additional charges. Overtime hours are charged on an hourly basis until the next day's rate is reached (weekly rates usually apply to 5-7 days.) When overtime is accrued, an extra day's charge applies for optional items, plus taxes and fees.

whats your pick-up location, i can't find a deal like the one you have, nothing even close to it, heck the additional fees are over $50

 

[jetsetter90]

crash you are right it does give me the 4 days and 1 hour but with no codes and a higher price. I was using the codes and as NotUrsala mentioned that is why it is working out with those rates.

I might just try my luck at the counter or who knows my flight might even be delayed and then I'll have no problems.

Thanks all.

Jetsetter90

 

[antmaril]

I have the opposite problem. I am renting a Compact car at Alamo in early December for a week. The base rate (Costco + $20 coupon) is $195. If I return the car one day later (an eight-day rental), the base rate is $149. How is this possible? It's almost $50 cheaper to keep the car eight days instead of seven.

I don't get it