No Alamo counter bypass wtih Expedia?

[snowbunny]

I have a car through Expedia with a package this week only because they had it cheaper than on the Alamo website. I tried to Check In on alamo.com and could not, email customer service to find that you have to go to the counter with an Expedia reservation.

Is this usual? What a PITA and a good reason not to use a travel agency

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Not uncommon, many perks afforded through customer loyalty of direct booking are waived/eliminated when you book through a third party. This is most common with blind bookings (Hotwire/Priceline), but it happens with other third party booking sites as well.

 

[tinka-belle]

I have a car through Expedia with a package this week only because they had it cheaper than on the Alamo website. I tried to Check In on alamo.com and could not, email customer service to find that you have to go to the counter with an Expedia reservation.

Is this usual? What a PITA and a good reason not to use a travel agency

Travel agent here! For package reservations this is pretty common no matter how it's booked. For normal separate car reservations (not in any package) my clients have no problem using online check-in, kiosks, etc.

The package rates are negotiated non published rates and are treated just like the Priceline/Hotwire bid rates as far as counter requirements are concerned.