Please Tell Me About Alamo (Insider)

[PSUGuy]

Thought Dollar would be our best bet 10/16-10/25 and they still may be but right now Alamo has them beat by a lot. I joined the Insider 'club', I"ve used Alamo from MCO and JAX in the past but quite a while ago. Do I just walk to a garage booth, sign a paper or 2 and drive off as with Dollar? I'll pay a little more to avoid a cattle pen line in the airport.

Thanks,
Bill From PA

 

[Yellowjj]

You will have to do 'Online Check-in' and then 'Bypass Ticket' in that order.

If you joined Insiders most of your information will be pre-filled when you start online check-in so it's very easy.

Once successful print the confirmation bypass ticket with the bar code on it and simply make your way to the garage and choose from any car in your reserved class.

It looks like this.

 

[richmo]

The key with Alamo is to do the online checkin. Then you just go to the kiosk near the Alamo counter. It's rare to even have to wait. (In fact I like to go do the Alamo kiosk while someone else waits for baggage...I'm almost always back at baggage claim before the baggage comes)

Also, keep checking rates with Alamo and the other agencies. The best rates are often anywhere from 2-14 days before your trip. Don't prepay anything unless you're very close to your departure date and keep checking back. Rates can move fast, especially in quiet times.

 

[rlduvall]

The key with Alamo is to do the online checkin. Then you just go to the kiosk near the Alamo counter.

But richmo, if you are able to do online check-in you should also be able to go straight to the garage and pick up your car - if an Alamo Insider; no stopping anywhere. That's what I love about Alamo. And even if you do have to do the kiosk, it's super easy and quick.

 

[PSUGuy]

Thanks for all the valuable info. Unless I see something in the $170 range for our dates I'll be holding out until 2 weeks or less before the 16th. Dollar seems to have the best City Special rates that close but Alamo has the best deal at this moment.

Bill From PA

 

[sheri236]

just wondering if you can now bypass the counter when using a coupon?? I haven't used alamo in a couple of years but I know this used to be an issue. I'm using the $30 off coupon ad2338fdf. I've used the kiosk in the past but would really like to go straight to the garage.

 

[DonnaL]

PSUguy....I just priced out an Alamo mid-size using Insider plus WDW AP holder code last night for 10/18 thru 10/24 pick up and return to MCO....the price was $120 total out the door......I didn't book because we were thinking about returning the car a day early to the Dolphin and then just using ME back to the airport the next morning.......well......today the price has jumped back up to over $300!! So....I'm just going to keep checking daily and see if it goes back down.....we usually use National....but the last few times we just went with ME both ways because National prices were outrageous.

 

[richmo]

PSUguy....I just priced out an Alamo mid-size using Insider plus WDW AP holder code last night for 10/18 thru 10/24 pick up and return to MCO....the price was $120 total out the door......I didn't book because we were thinking about returning the car a day early to the Dolphin and then just using ME back to the airport the next morning.......well......today the price has jumped back up to over $300!! So....I'm just going to keep checking daily and see if it goes back down.....we usually use National....but the last few times we just went with ME both ways because National prices were outrageous.

A few thoughts on this...the $120 with MCO pickup and dropoff isn't bad; I think you may even see it go down more once we get into October a little bit. For the $300 you're seeing by dropping at the Dolphin, I'd scrap ME back and take the car back myself (if you have a participating airline, there's nothing to stop you from using the baggage service at your resort and just not take the bus)

 

[richmo]

just wondering if you can now bypass the counter when using a coupon?? I haven't used alamo in a couple of years but I know this used to be an issue. I'm using the $30 off coupon ad2338fdf. I've used the kiosk in the past but would really like to go straight to the garage.

Most of the Alamo coupons are electronic now. If your online reservation reflects the price with the coupon applied, you can skip the counter. You should bring the coupon along just in case the gate agent as you exit wants to see it, but that's pretty rare.

 

[DonnaL]

Actually the price jumped to over $300 with MCO pickup and dropoff....not Dolphin dropoff. So, I'll just keep checking every day. As far as using airline bag service...really not necessary...we travel light and each only have a personal item and carryon. Over the years we've found we love having our 1 bdrm DVC for the convenience of the washer/dryer...makes traveling light so much easier!