Orange Co CA Emerald Aisle Cars?

[disneymom1]

Does anyone have experience with Emerald Aisle at Orange Co airport near Disneyland? What type of cars do they usually have there?

 

[gmeh1]

Does anyone have experience with Emerald Aisle at Orange Co airport near Disneyland? What type of cars do they usually have there?

Same as any other Emerald Aisle location. Chysler 200, altimas, impalas, malibus. Executive aisle: impalas, camrys, avalons. Depends totally on supply and demand on any given day. You are guaranteed a midsize car or above on the EA. And you are guaranteed a full size or above on the Exec. aisle. If you need anything larger than a mid or full size car, you need to reserve it under and Emerald reserve. In other words, reserve what you need.

 

[bumbershoot]

No guarantees of course, but when we did Emerald Aisle in Feb, we got a Mitsubishi Outlander, if DH's memory can be trusted.

 

[DebbieB]

When I used National at SNA a couple of years ago, I had a compact but they did not have Emerald Reserve, I had to go to the booth in the garage and they assigned me a VW Beetle.

 

[disneymom1]

Same as any other Emerald Aisle location. Chysler 200, altimas, impalas, malibus. Executive aisle: impalas, camrys, avalons. Depends totally on supply and demand on any given day. You are guaranteed a midsize car or above on the EA. And you are guaranteed a full size or above on the Exec. aisle. If you need anything larger than a mid or full size car, you need to reserve it under and Emerald reserve. In other words, reserve what you need.

All of the cars you mention would be fine. A midsize (Toyota Corolla) would be a little tight. What is the chance they will have nothing but midsize on Emerald Aisle?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Sorry, but I fly into this airport at least once a month. Several times the aisles have been EMPTY LOL

You are not going to get a wide selection here. The Aisle space here is very limited and volume is high.

Don't plan on good upgrades

 

[gmeh1]

Sorry, but I fly into this airport at least once a month. Several times the aisles have been EMPTY LOL

You are not going to get a wide selection here. The Aisle space here is very limited and volume is high.

Don't plan on good upgrades

Thanks for posting that. Many times I have customers who use this airport that say they get "anything" they want from the garage. I do wonder how true that is. Any insight?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Thanks for posting that. Many times I have customers who use this airport that say they get "anything" they want from the garage. I do wonder how true that is. Any insight?

I have never seen that. They pretty much "push" you where you are suppose to go.

now there are NO "reserve" aisles at this airport. So that's a 'negoitation" between you and the National rep. So maybe that's how it works. I have never bothered to go talk to the reps.

And sometimes if they have no cars it is kind of a free for all. They tried to upgrade me to a Suburban a whle back... LOL! NO! It's HUGE and I don't want to try to drive that bus on the Southern California freeways (or pay for the gas in that tank!) They had no cars at all and no one would take the monster.

And they do have "cars" but the "on site" space is VERY small so when it's busy cars go out faster then cars can be moved from wherever they keep them. So it's not like you won't get a car, but you may not get a choice. It's kind of "first come first served" if they run out at the airport lot.

National is not alone in this mess... none of the car rental companies have much room onsite to work... It's a nice airport, but rental car space on site is pretty limited.

 

[gmeh1]

I have never seen that. They pretty much "push" you where you are suppose to go.

now there are NO "reserve" aisles at this airport. So that's a 'negoitation" between you and the National rep. So maybe that's how it works. I have never bothered to go talk to the reps.

And sometimes if they have no cars it is kind of a free for all. They tried to upgrade me to a Suburban a whle back... LOL! NO! It's HUGE and I don't want to try to drive that bus on the Southern California freeways (or pay for the gas in that tank!) They had no cars at all and no one would take the monster.

And they do have "cars" but the "on site" space is VERY small so when it's busy cars go out faster then cars can be moved from wherever they keep them. So it's not like you won't get a car, but you may not get a choice. It's kind of "first come first served" if they run out at the airport lot.

National is not alone in this mess... none of the car rental companies have much room onsite to work... It's a nice airport, but rental car space on site is pretty limited.

Thanks for the info. In reality, there are no "reserve" rows here either. You select the same cars non emerald folks pick for a non aisle reservation. Oh, I very nicely "push" them where they are supposed to go, but, often I get the entitlement mentality of I can have anything cause I am an EC member, or and Exec. membr or and Exec. elite member and can have anything in your garage. I don't argue, I am just firm, then they often tell me what other airports do, ie: last night it was LAX (hence the reason for the question to you). If is funny/odd, but if these customers realized that if they are nice, don't lie or pull an attitude (since none is given to them) then I would bend over backwards to accomodate them, but push me or give me an attitude, you will be directed (nicely of course) to exactly where you are supposed to be according to your reservation.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Sorry, but I fly into this airport at least once a month. Several times the aisles have been EMPTY LOL

You are not going to get a wide selection here. The Aisle space here is very limited and volume is high.

Don't plan on good upgrades

How is ONT? Any better?

We'll be flying in late on a Fri night, if that matters. We need at least a full size so that's what we booked but does that mean we can't look at the EA?
What if, by chance, we see an SUV or minivan on the EA? Can we take it? Should I expect to be able to find a person nearby to ask? or do we have to wait until we reach the exit gate if we have questions?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

There is always an agent sitting at a table as you come into the area. I guess you can ask them what you can take

ONT does have more space so you do tend to have a better selection, but it is a fairly long bus ride to the rental car place. (never understood why they put it that far away for a smaller airport )

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

There is always an agent sitting at a table as you come into the area. I guess you can ask them what you can take

ONT does have more space so you do tend to have a better selection, but it is a fairly long bus ride to the rental car place. (never understood why they put it that far away for a smaller airport )

thanks!

 

[gmeh1]

How is ONT? Any better?

We'll be flying in late on a Fri night, if that matters. We need at least a full size so that's what we booked but does that mean we can't look at the EA?
What if, by chance, we see an SUV or minivan on the EA? Can we take it? Should I expect to be able to find a person nearby to ask? or do we have to wait until we reach the exit gate if we have questions?

If you booked a full size, you have what they call an Emerald Reserve. I can only speak for MCO, but, when you do an ER you go to the area with that size car. If you should happen to see a SUV or minivan on the EA, you can ask the greeter if you can take it.
Going by what OCC said and from my experience here at MCO, I would suggest you book what you actually need/want. Lately here at MCO, the only things, 99% of the time, that have been on the EA and Exec. have been sedans, midsize or higher. No mini vans and very few SUVs. Tis the vacation time here, things are tight.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If you booked a full size, you have what they call an Emerald Reserve. I can only speak for MCO, but, when you do an ER you go to the area with that size car. If you should happen to see a SUV or minivan on the EA, you can ask the greeter if you can take it.
Going by what OCC said and from my experience here at MCO, I would suggest you book what you actually need/want. Lately here at MCO, the only things, 99% of the time, that have been on the EA and Exec. have been sedans, midsize or higher. No mini vans and very few SUVs. Tis the vacation time here, things are tight.

Our trip is mid Sept. I did book a full size since a mid size won't do but we'll be doing a lot of highway driving and was hoping for some extra space. As of right now, since we're doing a one way rental, dropping off at BUR, an SUV is around $500 compared to $185 for a full size. It's hard to justify that much more $ so if it happens, it happens. If not we'll be ok in a full size.
Is ER for frequent renters? Is that the Exec program? We don't rent that often.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If you are a Emerald Club member and reserve say a "SUV" at MCO and most other airports you can go pick from the SUV aisle and take any car without stopping by the counter. That's basically "Emerald Reserve" It basically means an Emerald Club member who reserved something other then a midsize.

If you aren't an Emerald Club member the only real difference is you stop at the counter before going to the SUV aisle and take any SUV on the aisle.

However, at Orange County (SNA) they don't have SUV, minivan, midsize etc aisles. Due to space it works more like other rental car agencies. You go to the man at the "booth" and he discusses the cars they have in your size and hands you the keys. The only exceptions are Emerald Aisle or Executive Aisle.

Executive is an "upgrade" for Emerald Club members who are frequent renters. I think it's 12 rentals a year or "so many days' I really can't remember the requirements.

 

[gmeh1]

If you are a Emerald Club member and reserve say a "SUV" at MCO and most other airports you can go pick from the SUV aisle and take any car without stopping by the counter. That's basically "Emerald Reserve" It basically means an Emerald Club member who reserved something other then a midsize.

If you aren't an Emerald Club member the only real difference is you stop at the counter before going to the SUV aisle and take any SUV on the aisle.

However, at Orange County (SNA) they don't have SUV, minivan, midsize etc aisles. Due to space it works more like other rental car agencies. You go to the man at the "booth" and he discusses the cars they have in your size and hands you the keys. The only exceptions are Emerald Aisle or Executive Aisle.

Executive is an "upgrade" for Emerald Club members who are frequent renters. I think it's 12 rentals a year or "so many days' I really can't remember the requirements.

The requirements to achieve Emerald Executive are right on the National site. 12-24 rentals per calendar year or 40-84 rental days per calendar year. Exectutive elite: 25 or more times per calendar year or 85 or more per calendar year.

 

[gmeh1]

Our trip is mid Sept. I did book a full size since a mid size won't do but we'll be doing a lot of highway driving and was hoping for some extra space. As of right now, since we're doing a one way rental, dropping off at BUR, an SUV is around $500 compared to $185 for a full size. It's hard to justify that much more $ so if it happens, it happens. If not we'll be ok in a full size.
Is ER for frequent renters? Is that the Exec program? We don't rent that often.

OCC defined what an Emerald Reserve is quite well. I can add that all the program rules are found on the National web site. Click on the Emerald Club tab and then click on the program rules tab.