New Thread - What have you seen on the EA?

[beattyfamily]

Since we reserved a full size, I think we are Executive Aisle, correct? If I find a better car on the Emerald Aisle can we grab that?

Thanks!

Nope, that's not how it works.

If you reserved a Full size, then you can only go to the Full size aisle.

The Executive Aisle is for frequent renters who have earned that privilege.

The Emerald Aisle is for those who booked an Intermediate.

Some have reported that when there was nothing left in the Emerald aisle, which is what they booked, that an attendent let them pick from the Executive Aisle, but they were just very lucky.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Since we reserved a full size, I think we are Executive Aisle, correct? If I find a better car on the Emerald Aisle can we grab that?

Thanks!

I think, unless you are a frequent renter and have been rewarded with Executive Aisle status, you mean that you're in Emerald Reserve (you've rented a car other than intermediate and am bypassing the counter.)

So the question remains...if you have Emerald Reserve and the cars in Emerald Aisle are way better, can you grab on of those cars considering we're actually paying more than for an intermediate?

 

[Disneyjosh229]

So the question remains...if you have Emerald Reserve and the cars in Emerald Aisle are way better, can you grab on of those cars considering we're actually paying more than for an intermediate?

I dont want to label it impossible, but Executive Aisle almost allways has a few Cadillacs, Trailblazers and Minivans, so your not going to find anything much better...

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Has anyone ever seen a TrailBlazer or Envoy with leather seats and a sunroof? We have an SUV booked with Alamo, and I'm hoping there will be one of those sitting there.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I dont want to label it impossible, but Executive Aisle almost allways has a few Cadillacs, Trailblazers and Minivans, so your not going to find anything much better...

I'm not talking about Executive Aisle. I'm talking about Emerald Reserve.

 

[jennypenny]

We're renting a car for the first time in Feb. There are 3 adults and 3 children. The full size looked too small for the 6 of us, but the larger cars (minivans and such) were more than $200 more for the week.

I joined the Emerald Club and booked the Premium full size because it said it could seat 6. Is that true? Has anyone rented one recently??

And since I joined EC, and rented online, I can bypass the counter, right??

Jenny

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'm not talking about Executive Aisle. I'm talking about Emerald Reserve.

You're right I'm have Emerald Reserve, not Executive Aisle.

It doesn't seem right to walk past better cars in the Emerald Aisle when I paid more.

So the question still remains, if I have Emerald Reserve and see something better in the Emerald Aislel, can I grab that?

 

[pxlbarrel]

We're renting a car for the first time in Feb. There are 3 adults and 3 children. The full size looked too small for the 6 of us, but the larger cars (minivans and such) were more than $200 more for the week.

I joined the Emerald Club and booked the Premium full size because it said it could seat 6. Is that true? Has anyone rented one recently??

And since I joined EC, and rented online, I can bypass the counter, right??

Jenny

As long as you picked Emerald Reserve instead of Counter when you picked the type of service when you rented online.

 

[beattyfamily]

You're right I'm have Emerald Reserve, not Executive Aisle.

It doesn't seem right to walk past better cars in the Emerald Aisle when I paid more.

So the question still remains, if I have Emerald Reserve and see something better in the Emerald Aislel, can I grab that?

All you can do is ask an attendant when you get there. Policy is when you book an Intermediate, you have a slim chance of an upgrade, and when you book any other size, you go to that aisle (Emerald Reserve). Those booking an Intermediate (like myself) are taking a gamble hoping for an upgrade to something bigger/nicer. You are guaranteed your size with any reservation, nothing more.

I book Intermediate all the time, hoping for an ugrade and in 8 rentals, have only gotten one once. It would really bug me if those booking other sizes were taking their cars from my aisle (Emerald Aisle) and leaving less for me to choose from...that's my opinion. If you want to gamble for something nicer, book Emerald Aisle, IMHO.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I book Intermediate all the time, hoping for an ugrade and in 8 rentals, have only gotten one once. It would really bug me if those booking other sizes were taking their cars from my aisle (Emerald Aisle) and leaving less for me to choose from...that's my opinion. If you want to gamble for something nicer, book Emerald Aisle, IMHO.

But I'm not gambling for something nicer...I reserved a full size for a reason...and would expect to be able to get a car that was at least a full size.

It would bug me if I reserved a full size (Emerald Reserve) and found only Malibus in the full size aisle but the Emerald Aisle had larger cars (those that I would consider real full size cars). I am, afterall, paying more for a full size car than an intermediate and would expect, at least that any full size cars or larger be also in the full size aisle. I'm still having this paranoid thought that I'll get there and the Malibu is all that I'll be able to pick from in the full size aisle. I didn't reserve a full size to get stuck with what I consider an intermediate car. I had considered doing the Emerald Aisle but remembered that the last time I did that, I got a Grand Am that barely fit two large suitcases in the trunk. I've got four people now...all with huge suitcases. (we travel with the kitchen sink apparently.)

I guess we'll find out when we get there. I guess I had no issue with this until somebody mentioned the Malibu. Ugh...maybe I need to go to a dealership. Maybe the Malibu has increased in size since I last saw one. (Or maybe I just tell the family to pack light for once!!!!)

 

[beattyfamily]

But I'm not gambling for something nicer...I reserved a full size for a reason...and would expect to be able to get a car that was at least a full size.

I meant those who book Intermediate size (and have an Emerald Aisle reservation) are gambling and sometimes taking a chance in hopes of an upgrade, (which is, in my experience rare), even though it will be a tight squeeze. Like I said, in 8 rentals, I've been lucky once but I like EA. I like seeing what's there but if I really need the space because of luggage or amount of people, then I book the size I really need.

FWIW, the one time I booked a Full size because there were 5 of us, there was a PT Cruiser in the Emerald Aisle. My kids wanted one so badly for so long but every time I book Emearld Aisle, there isn't one there. Just my luck. I didn't ask for the PT cruiser in the EA.

 

[linny172]

We arrived about 10 am on 10-25 Side A the aisle was full of mini vans and suv's there were no cars at all. Took a brand new Pontiac torrent only had 200 miles on it. Returned yesterday 11-1 about 11 am the aisle looked to be full of the same thing

 

[lawgs]

looks like people are not renting suv/minvans as much now so people in the EA can now get them and pay more for gassing them

quite the reverse to what national intended the EA to be when it revamped the programme last year.....to intermediates only on the EA ( looks like it is not a crap shoot any more )

 

[Disneyjosh229]

National needs to take a look at bringing down prices for rentals of SUV's and Minivans, then I think they would rent more often, and not end up on the EA!!

 

[MickeyCrazed]

Arrived 10/31 A Side.
Aisle was pretty empty except for a Trailblazer, a Saturn Vue, a Equinox and a Malibu. Took the Saturn Vue because we drive a Trailblazer at home and we thought the Vue would be a little better on gas mileage.
This is the second time we chose a Saturn Vue from the EA and although I probably wouldn't buy one, it is a very comfortable vehicle to drive.

 

[DebbieB]

We arrived on the A side on 10/8/05 at around 5:30 p.m. There was only one vehicle on the Aisle - a white Pontiac Vibe. We took it but could probably have asked for something from the Executive Aisle. The Executive Aisle had several HHR's. My DH would have been happy to drive one of those. We got great gas mileage with the Vibe and we both enjoyed driving it.

Does anyone know if a Vibe is considered intermediate? I got one today from Avis in Atlanta, my reservation was for intermediate (business trip). Better than the Chevy Classic they gave me the past 2 times.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Does anyone know if a Vibe is considered intermediate? I got one today from Avis in Atlanta, my reservation was for intermediate (business trip). Better than the Chevy Classic they gave me the past 2 times.

According to National it is an Intermediate Car...

Avis classifies it as an "Intermediate SUV" which it is not!

Who knows what its "Official" class is....

 

[djh96]

Arrived 11/2 9pm A side, 3 G6s, 2 minivans & an Equinox driving off in the distance

 

[AllyBri]

On 11/2 not one car in EA it was about 8:30, Took an Uplander from Executive.



When I say, there was not one car I meant, nothing but the Uplander.

 

[JandD Mom]

Arrived 11/9 on the A side at 10:30 am. We got to the EA and found 1 Saturn Vue SUV, 1 Chrysler sebring convertible, and 2 mini vans. Is this an Emerald Club member's dream or what? After consulting with DH and the kids, we decided we would not have enough room in the convertible so we took the Vue.

The Vue is a nice car, had about 2K miles on it with a sunroof. It runs great!