Official Car rental September 2013...advice please

[DisneyDeb83]

Just rebooked my Sept 10th thru the 16th at MCO with Alamo. Had it at $100 for a midsize...free upgrade to standard(fullsize). Came to $148. I had forgotten to click on the insiders rate, so I rebooked at a total of $136.65. We got an additional 10% off for the insiders. Don't think there will be a better rate for us, and...knock wood...we have always had good luck with Alamo. Good luck searching!

 

[Belle599]

Thought I would give an update in case it helps anyone out:

I am Sept 8 to 15 - (8 days exactly) from MCO.

Right now I am at $145 from Dollar for an Econ with city special.

With Alamo, I am at $152 for Standard (fullsize at MCO). This is with a double upgrade coupon as my dates will not accept a dollars-off coupon.


For my minivan friends, the 8 day would be $372 Dollar or $338 Alamo.....or $327 Standard SUV Alamo. Ick! Might as well rent 2 cars!!


These rates are acceptable but by no means fabulous since the car rental companies have conditioned me to expect $12/day.

 

[gmeh1]

I'm not sure i'm following you.

Often I see better rates when picking up earlier in the day, however, the price then jumps substantially for my early afternoon flight arrival time. I had thought it was result of a capacity issue (i.e. more cars available = cheaper base rate).

Are you saying it's ok to just book whatever time produces the best rate anytime that day (before and up to my actual arrival time) and Alamo/National will honor my reservation?

The time you put on your reservation request is an estimate. Many things can be a factor in your rate. IE: pick up time and return time can make a reservation go from a 5 day (weekly rate) down to a 4 day rate. What you will be charged for is the actual time you have the car. When you are renting a car for over 5 days pick up time would not be an issue. However if you are picking up a car late that would put you into the under 5 day rental will be an issue and the rate would probably change. They run the prep area 24/7/365, so, it is not a "more cars available thing". It is a rate thing.
IE: You reserve a car for Oct.1 @ 9:am to return Oct. 6 @ 9.am, that is a 5 day rental which in the car rental world equals a weekly rate. Now, you show up Oct. @ 4pm and return on Oct. 6 @9am. Your 5 day rate just dropped to a 4 day rate which could result in a different cost. Same scenario but a return date of Oct. 7, you would have had the car for 5+days and the pick up time would have no change in the rate. Not knowing your dates and times makes this difficult to explain.

 

[gmeh1]

of course, but i'm talking about booking earlier (within the same 24 hour time allotment) vs turning over the meter per se

The 24 hour clock starts when you drive out the car and ends when you return it, not the 24 hour clock on your reservation, that is an estimate of when you are picking up and returning it.

 

[donna6635]

Finally got a good deal with Alamo. Insiders deal, free upgrade from compact to midsize for 9/21-9/28 for $142.26! I get to drive now too!. Can you tell I don't like my husbands driving that much! Cancelled my Dollar reservation...this was cheaper. Always hunting for a deal. Now what to do for my October trip.....

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

As of today I've got 2 rental car ressies:

One with Alamo for a compact that is supposed to give me a one upgrade for 153.71 total. I used the coupon on their website for the upgrade.

The other is with Dollar using a 15% off coupon from their website for a total of 141.28 midsize car.

My dates are Sept. 10 through Sept. 15.

I'm still hoping to get cheaper so I'll keep looking but these prices aren't too bad. I'll probably cancel the Alamo later today. I don't need 2 cars for just me. LOL

 

[MScott1851]

I've been having a fit trying to find an acceptable price for a rental. Before, it's just been DH and I and my 3 yr old, we can make do in a standard no problem. But this year we will have my in-laws with us, plus we were going on a cruise on the first part of our trip.

I booked a one way minivan through Dollar on September 7, dropping off at Cape Canaveral on September 8 using the Mousesavers 10% off code, out the door at $65.72. I'm picking up a minivan in Cape Canaveral using National on September 12 returning on September 17 at MCO, using KLM code and $30 Entertainment coupon, $272.

I figured that round trip transfers would have cost me $350 for the five of us, so for a few dollars more I can have a van for our entire trip and not rely on Disneys transport. Will be convenient if we need to make a Walgreens run, plus we like driving to the water parks.

 

[keishashadow]

The 24 hour clock starts when you drive out the car and ends when you return it, not the 24 hour clock on your reservation, that is an estimate of when you are picking up and returning it.

The time you put on your reservation request is an estimate. Many things can be a factor in your rate. IE: pick up time and return time can make a reservation go from a 5 day (weekly rate) down to a 4 day rate. What you will be charged for is the actual time you have the car. When you are renting a car for over 5 days pick up time would not be an issue. However if you are picking up a car late that would put you into the under 5 day rental will be an issue and the rate would probably change. They run the prep area 24/7/365, so, it is not a "more cars available thing". It is a rate thing.
IE: You reserve a car for Oct.1 @ 9:am to return Oct. 6 @ 9:am, that is a 5 day rental which in the car rental world equals a weekly rate. Now, you show up Oct. @ 4pm and return on Oct. 6 @9am. Your 5 day rate just dropped to a 4 day rate which could result in a different cost. Same scenario but a return date of Oct. 7, you would have had the car for 5+days and the pick up time would have no change in the rate. Not knowing your dates and times makes this difficult to explain.

I understand what you are saying, thank you. Let me be more specific in what i have experienced over the past few years on occasion (including pre-Alamo website 'enhancement').

I typically book a SWA flight that will arrive late am/early afternoon on a Saturday and return the car in the evening the following Saturday, resulting in an 8 'day' rental i.e. a weekly + 1 day rental.

I've noticed when i'm considering taking the crack of dawn flight down on a Saturday that when i price out the rental car picking it up @ 8 amish on Saturday the weekly & daily rate has often substantially decreased from my original, later arrival time.

Note that I attempt to price the res out various ways, including: 'mock' modification of original reservation, also clear cookies, use different web browser, even have tried in private browsing...but i find i cannot replicate the earlier pick-up's lower price on my existing reservation arriving early afternoon same day.

I've called Alamo in the past and questioned 'why'. I was told it's a matter of projected capacity/availability of vehicles at certain times and that unless my flight was delayed they wouldn't honor the reservation past a two hour window.

I don't dispute what you are saying, just sharing what I was told. I only called once, maybe I should've called back ala Disney to see if I received a different response? Anyway, I'd be thrilled to be able to book an earlier pickup time the same day (for the same rental period) and save a few $ if you tell me MCO will honor the rate.

 

[donna6635]

Is it me or is Alamo's site not working properly yet? Did my reservation and called and had it modified and after 3 calls about a confirmation email, still have not received one, so off to the website to email them. I wrote my question and my concern about not receiving the confirmation email and when I went to send...after 10 minutes, I gave up...just kept saying sending and it never did. I really don't want to call a 4th time, not getting me anywhere...

 

[gmeh1]

I understand what you are saying, thank you. Let me be more specific in what i have experienced over the past few years on occasion (including pre-Alamo website 'enhancement').

I typically book a SWA flight that will arrive late am/early afternoon on a Saturday and return the car in the evening the following Saturday, resulting in an 8 'day' rental i.e. a weekly + 1 day rental.

I've noticed when i'm considering taking the crack of dawn flight down on a Saturday that when i price out the rental car picking it up @ 8 amish on Saturday the weekly & daily rate has often substantially decreased from my original, later arrival time.

Note that I attempt to price the res out various ways, including: 'mock' modification of original reservation, also clear cookies, use different web browser, even have tried in private browsing...but i find i cannot replicate the earlier pick-up's lower price on my existing reservation arriving early afternoon same day.

I've called Alamo in the past and questioned 'why'. I was told it's a matter of projected capacity/availability of vehicles at certain times and that unless my flight was delayed they wouldn't honor the reservation past a two hour window.

I don't dispute what you are saying, just sharing what I was told. I only called once, maybe I should've called back ala Disney to see if I received a different response? Anyway, I'd be thrilled to be able to book an earlier pickup time the same day (for the same rental period) and save a few $ if you tell me MCO will honor the rate.

Alamo will honor your rate if your flight is delayed much longer than 2 hours and will honor the agreement longer than 2 hours for just about any other reason you are delayed. I agree you should call back and speak to someone else. I cannot tell you that they will honor the rate if your times exceed the rental period your reserved. If you do what you originally said (the 8 day rental thing) and arrive and check out more than 2 hours before your reserved time, you will probably incur another day's rate, making it a 9 day rental. The new web site really has nothing to do with the times on the reservation. The clock is still 24 hours and starts ticking when you pick it up and ends when you drop it off. The rentals are in 24 hour periods depending on when you drive out of the garage and when you return to the garage, it does not run on our normal 24 hour clock.

 

[gmeh1]

Is it me or is Alamo's site not working properly yet? Did my reservation and called and had it modified and after 3 calls about a confirmation email, still have not received one, so off to the website to email them. I wrote my question and my concern about not receiving the confirmation email and when I went to send...after 10 minutes, I gave up...just kept saying sending and it never did. I really don't want to call a 4th time, not getting me anywhere...

Can't you access your reservation on the website? Clear your cache and cookies. I really don't like their new web site.

 

[sunlover13]

Finally got a good deal with Alamo. Insiders deal, free upgrade from compact to midsize for 9/21-9/28 for $142.26! I get to drive now too!. Can you tell I don't like my husbands driving that much! Cancelled my Dollar reservation...this was cheaper. Always hunting for a deal. Now what to do for my October trip.....

Ok, I'm confused. My dates are 9/21 - 9/29 and I have a standard booked for $169.86. I used the Insiders deal and free upgrade from mid-size to standard and Southwest code 7016105.

Does that sound like a good deal? We need a big car, 4 of us who pack too much stuff! I think a mid-size car is too small for us so did I book right going for the standard where I can pick from the full size row?

What is the Southwest code? I found it on here. Do I need to show something?

 

[tpick]

Another rate drop at Budget this weekend -- down $15 for a total of $115 (taxes included) for a compact Sept 8 - Sept 14. Costco coupons.

 

[keishashadow]

gmeh1 - thanks, I will give them another call.

 

[Belle599]

Another rate drop at Budget this weekend -- down $15 for a total of $115 (taxes included) for a compact Sept 8 - Sept 14. Costco coupons.

Thanks! I am down to $136 Econ for my 8 days in Sept. I probably won't end up using Budget because they annoy me to no ends but if I am feeling particularly frugal and there isn't a bad line (haha) maybe!

 

[ADVentive]

Please remember to double check and make sure you are entitled to use any codes you may find here. If it's in the Entertainment Book? You had best have that coupon in hand!
People see codes here and just use them, only to find that they don't have the necessary stuff to back up the code use.

Right, but I *do* have the Entertainment book and I don't see the coupon that people are saying is from the book, although people also say that it shouldn't matter which locality Entertainment book you have. I'm just wondering what's the deal with that? Maybe there is another way to get it.

 

[donna6635]

Ok, I'm confused. My dates are 9/21 - 9/29 and I have a standard booked for $169.86. I used the Insiders deal and free upgrade from mid-size to standard and Southwest code 7016105.

Does that sound like a good deal? We need a big car, 4 of us who pack too much stuff! I think a mid-size car is too small for us so did I book right going for the standard where I can pick from the full size row?

What is the Southwest code? I found it on here. Do I need to show something?

The price of the midsize which Alamo shows as a Toyota Corolla or similar was 159 with free upgrade to standard ..When I adjusted my reservation with insiders deal, booked a compact with free upgrade to midsize.. Only DH and myself...so we don't need a larger car. Recheck again, you can always cancel one.... Do think it's not a bad deal....

 

[donna6635]

Can't you access your reservation on the website? Clear your cache and cookies. I really don't like their new web site.

The reservation is on the website. It's stating I booked a compact car with free upgrade to midsize. No email confirmation received. Then called back because I want the correct car due to me, now I am listed as midsize upgraded to standard size car...not what I booked... Will try again...

 

[bdtracey]

My previous experience going in September still makes me feel like we will see prices drop. I would put good money on rates beginning to drop near the end of the month and most likely be lowest after the September long weekend.

 

[brios86]

Full size was $200 through the Costco site for budget. My lowest before was $214.

Dates 09/01- 09/11