online checkin for car rental

[disneyholic family]

i don't remember if they call it online checkin - but whatever they call it - do people do this? Online check in for the car hire before you fly.

We're renting from alamo - they offer this but i don't know if i should do it or not. Is there a downside to online checkin before we fly?

Also, if you do the online check in - what do you do when you get to Orlando? Do i go straight out to the alamo lot? or to the alamo desk in the airport? or to a machine kiosk?

 

[dixonsontour]

We've done it for dollar this time.

Booked via US rentacar. Have added DH's dollar express membership number to the booking then went online and filled out pre registration form with dollar.

Apparently DH just needs to go to kiosk in garage to collect not line up at the desk in the airport.

Assume alamo similar.

 

[jtlover]

We did this last year with Alamo and will do it again this year.

it is fab - you basically confirm online and go and pick the car and then go to the exit and show your paperwork and driving license. It is fab - we were out of the airport in 45 minutes! No selling you extras that you dont want when he get the kiosk

 

[disneyholic family]

We did this last year with Alamo and will do it again this year.

it is fab - you basically confirm online and go and pick the car and then go to the exit and show your paperwork and driving license. It is fab - we were out of the airport in 45 minutes! No selling you extras that you dont want when he get the kiosk

so you get your luggage and then go straight out to the parking lot?
that's it? that sounds really great.

i hate standing in that line and worse, the high pressure tactics those guys use...

 

[jtlover]

so you get your luggage and then go straight out to the parking lot?
that's it? that sounds really great.

i hate standing in that line and worse, the high pressure tactics those guys use...

Yep just take your luggage straight to which car section you have booked and you are off.

All you have to do is print off your confirmation papers before you leave the UK

 

[disneyholic family]

Yep just take your luggage straight to which car section you have booked and you are off.

All you have to do is print off your confirmation papers before you leave the UK

cool!!!

 

[Cyrano]

We had booked Dollar through a broker (3000carhire).
Although others reported that they were not able to use pre-registration and Dollar Express we went straight to the garage after picking up cases.
We were on the road within 10 minutes

 

[wickesy]

If you've booked direct with Alamo then you can't do online check-in as it is for US and Canada driving licence holders only. I think you can use the kiosks though - will find out for certain when we're there in a few weeks.

 

[jtlover]

That cant be right - I booked over here via Virgin and requested my Alamo reference and went online before leaving UK - printed papers and then went to get the car - I dont have a USA driving license so you dont have that right

 

[wickesy]

That cant be right - I booked over here via Virgin and requested my Alamo reference and went online before leaving UK - printed papers and then went to get the car - I dont have a USA driving license so you dont have that right

As I said, if you have booked DIRECT with Alamo you can't do OLCI, if you have booked through Virgin then that allows you to do OLCI.

 

[Netty]

and if you have booked with charter travel you can't do online check in at home although they do have the booths there to do it.
also you can do the 'save time' thing

 

[disneyholic family]

If you've booked direct with Alamo then you can't do online check-in as it is for US and Canada driving licence holders only. I think you can use the kiosks though - will find out for certain when we're there in a few weeks.

oh- i don't have a US licence - hmmmm...
i haven't tried the OLCI yet......

 

[RDP]

If you go on the virgin holiday website clic 'contact us' then select 'car hire' from the FAQ list, then select 'what is Alamos online checkin' then it provides you with a link to the online check in web site, you enter the virgin booking reference and your last name, then it's self explanatory from there, remember to print your agreement out before exiting.

We have just done it for our Oct trip, won't miss the line at the car hire desk!
Should get to the hotel 30 min earlier, which makes a world of difference with two tired children.

 

[disneyholic family]

just did the online 'save time' for alamo.....
easy as can be....
entered my info and the additional drivers info...

now we get to avoid the counter!! woohoo!! no high pressure tactics to get me to buy that roadside nonsense!!

and because i upgraded to gold, i have the extra drivers included as well as a full tank of petrol....great great great!!

14 days at £335 isn't bad for a minivan i think....much cheaper than the original reservation i had for the same car...