Question about National Car Rental

[petsaregreat]

HI,
I have made a bunch of car reservations for March Break. Some were made back in the fall and are $150 more then the rate I just booked with National. I absolutely need a mini van. I booked using my Emerald Isle ID and the KLM code. I have never rented a car before. What are the chances of them not actually having a mini van for me if that is what I reserved?
Thanks!

 

[ccgirl]

HI,
I have made a bunch of car reservations for March Break. Some were made back in the fall and are $150 more then the rate I just booked with National. I absolutely need a mini van. I booked using my Emerald Isle ID and the KLM code. I have never rented a car before. What are the chances of them not actually having a mini van for me if that is what I reserved?
Thanks!

Did you book an acutal minivan or are you hoping that a minivan will be in the emerald aisle when you get there? If you absolutely must have a minivan, I would rent a minivan. I am guessing there won't be many on the aisle in March break.

 

[petsaregreat]

Hi!
I actually booked a mini van.
I don't really understand what the Emerald Aisle is!
Thanks

 

[maurene]

Since you booked a minivan, then I would feel pretty confident that is what you'll get.

It does happen sometimes that they run out of a particular kind of car (like if they overbooked or someone is late returning a vehicle) - so there are no absolute guarantees. But if that does happen, they should compensate you, get you into a bigger vehicle, or arrange to get a minivan somehow.

 

[ccgirl]

Since you booked a minivan, then I would feel pretty confident that is what you'll get.

It does happen sometimes that they run out of a particular kind of car (like if they overbooked or someone is late returning a vehicle) - so there are no absolute guarantees. But if that does happen, they should compensate you, get you into a bigger vehicle, or arrange to get a minivan somehow.

Yes, this.

 

[petsaregreat]

ok thanks! We also booked two car seats. We definitely need those as well. I heard a rumour that rental companies use car seats that have been forgotten about or left behind by families at the airport. Hopefully not the case!

 

[ccgirl]

ok thanks! We also booked two car seats. We definitely need those as well. I heard a rumour that rental companies use car seats that have been forgotten about or left behind by families at the airport. Hopefully not the case!

I haven't seen that. I will say though that I have rented a car seat from National. They are very generic and not very cushiony. It was also dirty and smelled. We usually bring the carseat on the plane for the kids to sit in anyway so we use ours. My DH forget it in the car at the airport parking lot one year and we didn't have time to get it so we rented. They were all the same though so they were not the car seats that were left behind.

 

[gmeh1]

ok thanks! We also booked two car seats. We definitely need those as well. I heard a rumour that rental companies use car seats that have been forgotten about or left behind by families at the airport. Hopefully not the case!

That is not true at all. The car seats forgotten or left behind are thrown away after attempts are made to locate the owner. The ones at National/Alamo, Enterprise are cleaned between uses and are checked to make sure they are safe. Yes, now and then one slips through that is dirty/smelly, but, that is not the usual case and there are plenty to chose from, so, you can always change it.

 

[Greysword]

First, the Emerald Aisle is a collection of various (and fairly random) cars that can be chosen instead of the mid-sized car reserved. You could have mid, standard, full sized sedans, small to mid sized SUVs, sometimes the occasional minivan or pick-up creeps in.

If you reserve a specific car type (like the minivan), they will have a row (or rows) of only that type vehicle. This is not the Emerald Aisle; rather, a specific section with that type of vehicle.

In all instances with national, you just pick your car type, get in, drive to the check-out booth/gate, hand your paperwork (drivers license, credit card, I give a copy of the reservation, etc) to the agent in the booth, they process the rental, and off you go. Easy-peasy.

As for your car seat, we always brought our own (and continue to do so with a booster), as you'll need to go to the desk (or garage booth near pickup, not check out) to get them (one?). If you bring your own, you'll be already set. You can check it, but I would take them to the gate, where they will likely gate check them for free. In addition, a few car seats are rated for flying, and you are entitled to bring these on board the aircraft if they have the certification sticker by the FAA, so your kid(s) can sit in it. The airline can't say No if they are FAA approved. Otherwise, gate check for free or just wait at the counter/booth for help after arriving.