Official Car rental September 2013...advice please

[sunlover13]

I changed my flight so rebooked my Alamo reservation today for a standard car at $159, dates 9/21 - 9/29.

I have a couple of questions:

1.) I used Southwest code 7016105. What is the Southwest code? I found it on here. Do I need to show something? I'm flying Southwest and have a rapid rewards account.

2.) There were no minivans listed in my choices. Does that mean they are not available for my dates?

3.) Is $159 a good rate? I used Insiders 10% off and the Southwest code 7016105. Any better codes? I'm not a Costco member and do not have an Entertainment book, but I'm betting I can find one if there is a better code in there.

TIA!

 

[Mommy Poppins]

My rate with National dropped about $15 this morning. We are there 9/7 evening until 9/12 morning. I have a minivan for $254.15 using the KLM code and the Entertainment book coupon. Hope this means that rates are starting to drop and will continue to go down!

 

[goofy4tink]

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.

I can't say with 100% surety, but it may be the different Entertainment books have different discounts based on the area it was sold in.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

Thanks Mommy Poppins. My National reservation just dropped from 400 to 378. Sept 5-15 minivan with KLM and entertainment book coupon.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

ADVentive.
I don't have an actual book but a card that I had to register online. After I registered online there was a link to the National site which gave me the $30 off. Not sure if books have registration numbers but it might be worth looking.

 

[ADVentive]

ADVentive.
I don't have an actual book but a card that I had to register online. After I registered online there was a link to the National site which gave me the $30 off. Not sure if books have registration numbers but it might be worth looking.

Thanks. I always forget about the card. I'll try that.

 

[gmeh1]

I changed my flight so rebooked my Alamo reservation today for a standard car at $159, dates 9/21 - 9/29.

I have a couple of questions:

1.) I used Southwest code 7016105. What is the Southwest code? I found it on here. Do I need to show something? I'm flying Southwest and have a rapid rewards account.

2.) There were no minivans listed in my choices. Does that mean they are not available for my dates?

3.) Is $159 a good rate? I used Insiders 10% off and the Southwest code 7016105. Any better codes? I'm not a Costco member and do not have an Entertainment book, but I'm betting I can find one if there is a better code in there.

TIA!

the southwest code is for southwest air. No you don't need to show anything.
It might mean there are no minivans or it might mean that the code was not applicable to mini vans or you did not look far enough down on the page. I plugged in your dates using your code and found a mini van for 344.17(total) using your dates with a noon pickup and noon drop off time.
That rate is pretty good for 8 days. In fact, it came up higher when I plugged in your info. 176.18 was what I got.

 

[sunlover13]

the southwest code is for southwest air. No you don't need to show anything.
It might mean there are no minivans or it might mean that the code was not applicable to mini vans or you did not look far enough down on the page. I plugged in your dates using your code and found a mini van for 344.17(total) using your dates with a noon pickup and noon drop off time.
That rate is pretty good for 8 days. In fact, it came up higher when I plugged in your info. 176.18 was what I got.

Thanks! I still do not see minivan on my page and I scrolled all the way down. I'm going to Insiders Deals first though and then a code pops in and then I add the Southwest code. Not sure if you are doing the same thing.

I think I'll stick with the $157 for the "standard." We will have to pack light!

Thanks for the response about the Southwest code!

 

[blakefamily]

I just booked for 9/14-9/21 Full size car for $125.00 !!!! on Costco Travel thru Avis....Yippeee. The standard size is $122, but it says its a 2 door Altima coupe and I want four doors so went with full size for a couple bucks more. Previously had budget intermediate size for 152....So happy to be saving more $$$

 

[DisneyLandMan]

I just found a minivan through payless for 219 from 9/13 til 9/20.....Is this about as low as I will get for a minivan? Should I book now? This is the price through Kayak.

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks! I still do not see minivan on my page and I scrolled all the way down. I'm going to Insiders Deals first though and then a code pops in and then I add the Southwest code. Not sure if you are doing the same thing.

I think I'll stick with the $157 for the "standard." We will have to pack light!

Thanks for the response about the Southwest code!

I went in throught the Insider's sign in, put in the SWA code that you provided under "code" and then your dates and used noon for both arrival and return. And, it came up with the mini van. I did not go through Insiders' deals. That is probably the difference.
You will be eligable to select from the full size row with your standard reservation (they don't have a standard row at MCO). Pick the Impala, absolutely HUGE trunk. Something like 18.6 CF. I used to tell customers it would hold 5 bodies.

 

[gmeh1]

I just found a minivan through payless for 219 from 9/13 til 9/20.....Is this about as low as I will get for a minivan? Should I book now? This is the price through Kayak.

Not sure if this matters to you, but, Payless is not at the airport, you will need to take a shuttle.

 

[DisneyLandMan]

Actually disregard what I just asked. Lol. I went straight through the Payless website and found the same van for the same dates for 200 dollars even. So I reserved it and now I can just pray that I can find an even better rate within the next 5 weeks.

 

[DisneyLandMan]

Not sure if this matters to you, but, Payless is not at the airport, you will need to take a shuttle.

Yea, I have actually rented from Payless in the past. It's a quick shuttle ride and they always seem to be pretty timely with the airport pickups. Thanx for the heads up though.

 

[sunlover13]

I went in throught the Insider's sign in, put in the SWA code that you provided under "code" and then your dates and used noon for both arrival and return. And, it came up with the mini van. I did not go through Insiders' deals. That is probably the difference.
You will be eligable to select from the full size row with your standard reservation (they don't have a standard row at MCO). Pick the Impala, absolutely HUGE trunk. Something like 18.6 CF. I used to tell customers it would hold 5 bodies.

Thanks for the Impala tip. We will need a lot of trunk space. Hoping a minivan is in the full size row, then an Impala.

 

[Bernie23]

I'm getting some numbers that I don't really understand.

Okay, so I have a car booked with the Amex Blue offer for $283. If I log-in to the site now, with no codes, the car is $330, with the alamo insider +10% it's $309, but the Amex offer NOW is $383. $100 more than what it originally was. I'm wondering how that could be? The Amex offer is supposed to be 25% off plus a free single upgrade...so how does the alamo offer of 10% off with a free single upgrade beat that? It makes no sense.


Also, I've just realized that when I booked the car originally, I was not logged in as an insider, but I AM an insider. Is there any way to fix that? If I modify the res now it shoots the rate up.

 

[Bernie23]

Annnd, I just checked my rate at dollar, and it's 400% higher than it was last week. My trip is in early September, do rates usually skyrocket this close to dates? It seems crazy!

 

[andigomeep]

Checked Costco this morning and got a full size through Avis for $115. I also have a reservation through Dollar for $136. Budget was also $115 for a standard car. Any pro or con to Avis or Budget?

 

[jska482]

I need some tips!! I am looking for a good deal on a rental car. I would like to use Alamo or National Rental since they are on property. I need to pick up on property, and drop off at Orlando MCO airport. Rates at $62/day for smallest car, which I think is WAY high. I can find some cheaper deals by doing pickup/drop at MCO and using magic express, but that seems like a pain. Just 10/7-10/9. Also, who is cheapest for booster seats?

 

[kermitman18]

Checked Costco this morning and got a full size through Avis for $115. I also have a reservation through Dollar for $136. Budget was also $115 for a standard car. Any pro or con to Avis or Budget?

What are your dates if you don't mind me asking?