Priceline Help

[EpcotLvr]

Hi! I am new to these boards and this is my first post....I have gotten really great info here - Thanks!

I have a problem with a priceline resv and I wondered if anyone ever got around their no cancellation/change policy..
I bid on a rental car out of MCO 6/15 to 6/21 and got a great rate of $18.00 for a full size..
Now as it turns out we will be flying in and out of Tampa..I called to see if I could switch, but ofcourse, it's a no change policy (as it states all over their paperwork)...Since we had to make the switch for personal reasons (needed to get an extra ticket for elderly mom and there wasn't anymore seats into Orlando), not because of an airline change, I can't see anyway to get around it...
I think I'm stuck, but it bothers me to just let the resv go to waste and book another car..

Thanks for any advice!

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Hate to say it, but you are probably stuck with it. I've never had to change a car ressie, but when I've changed hotel ressies, I've had no sucess doing so through priceline. I've had moderate success doing so directly with the hotel I booked, so perhaps you can call the car rental company and see if it is possible to change the ressie through them. Good luck!!

 

[Lewisc]

You shouldn't have booked the rental car with PL until your airline reservations were cast in stone. Call the rental agency and see if they'll work with you (at least see if you make a conventional reservation if they'll credit you with the money you paid them through PL). Otherwise DO THE MATH, rent a car in Tampa for 1 day, drive to MCO turn in one car and pickup another. FL doesn't allow for instate drop off charges so you might be able to drop off the car in Tampa (or at least pay some fee).

 

[Gillian]

I would try calling or emailing priceline & explaining that you had to change your reservations because of mom. I wouldn't get into details right away. Just call & say you had to cancel your flights to MCO, can they give you your money back? If they say no, ask about changing to Tampa.

I know they are non refundable, but it can't hurt to ask. Some people have gotten their money back for hotel stays they had to cancel (or that were mistakes)

Good luck!

 

[robinb]

Like Lewis, I think your best bet would be to rent a car from TPA and drive to MCO to pick up your other car. You *should* be able to drop off the car at TPA at no additional charge.

I had a similar problem with a National car rental in November. I made the reservation on the National website months before our trip. We ended up flying in and out of TPA and not MCO two days earlier than I had booked. While I was able to change the reservation to pick up and drop off at TPA, the price had gone through the roof. I saved over $100 by making another reservation from TPA to MCO for 2 days and then picking up my original reservation which I dropped off (at no charge) at TPA.

 

[EpcotLvr]

Thanks for the info guys! I will try and see what i can work out..