Question About National's Emerald Aisle

[c8k6k]

A little background is necessary. For the WDW trip we recently took, I rented an intermediate level car through National's website. I used a Walmart code and $20 off rental coupon for a 6 night 7 day rate of $105 (thanks Mousesavers.com). I forgot to sign up for Emerald Aisle until the day before our trip. I completed this online and was assigned a member #.

We checked in at the counter at Tampa, and I happened to notice there was a Kia Sorrento (or similar SUV) in the Emerald Aisle. I had my new number with me, and asked if we could use the Emerald Isle and take the Kia. The customer rep said NO the reason being because I had used a coupon it knocked me out of Emerald Isle. Does this make sense? I would have thought, if anything, I couldn't use Emerald Isle because I didn't add my number at the time I rented the car online. The customer rep did allow us to use the Emerald Isle # to add an additional driver (spouse) for free.

 

[dudspizza]

A little background is necessary. For the WDW trip we recently took, I rented an intermediate level car through National's website. I used a Walmart code and $20 off rental coupon for a 6 night 7 day rate of $105 (thanks Mousesavers.com). I forgot to sign up for Emerald Aisle until the day before our trip. I completed this online and was assigned a member #.

We checked in at the counter at Tampa, and I happened to notice there was a Kia Sorrento (or similar SUV) in the Emerald Aisle. I had my new number with me, and asked if we could use the Emerald Isle and take the Kia. The customer rep said NO the reason being because I had used a coupon it knocked me out of Emerald Isle. Does this make sense? I would have thought, if anything, I couldn't use Emerald Isle because I didn't add my number at the time I rented the car online. The customer rep did allow us to use the Emerald Isle # to add an additional driver (spouse) for free.

The rep was wrong. I use a $20 off coupon and a code to bring my rentals down. We always us EA and last time got a minivan. You reasoning of not using your Emerald Club membership is probably the reason, but the CS agent was wrong.

Remember, with EA you skip the counter directly, so the CS agent probably didn't know... or was a moron, your pick!

Duds

 

[MickeyCrazed]

National does not allow you to use the aisle if you have a car upgrade coupon. However, you can use a $$ off coupon and still take advantage of the aisle. DH and I do it all the time.

 

[jenjersnap]

I hope I am understanding your question. Emerald Aisle and Emerald Club are two different things ... maybe that is where the mix up occurred. Emerald Club is the frequent renter's club. Emerald aisle is National's special system where you rent an intermediate car and can choose anything available on the Emerald Aisle.

When you use a coupon you cannot bypass the counter. I have been told this by several customer service agents on the phone and in person at MCO. So, if you were thinking that by using the EA, you'd be able to skip the counter ... it's the coupon that prevented you from doing that and possibly that is what the CS agent meant: you were no longer Emerald Aisle because of the coupon (ETA: I am not saying whether that is bad or good info, just interpreting what the CS agent might have meant.)

The Emerald Club, OTOH, was noted and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with EA. That is why you got the second driver for free and, undoubtedly, got the renter credit. We have three kids so we always use Emerald Reserve (to get the exact car choice we need) with our Emerald Club membership.

What car choice did the agent direct you to? Just curious. I don't remember ever seeing National have an "intermediate" aisle other than EA, so I wonder what car you ended up with. Was it just that the Sorento was gone by the time you checked in?

 

[disneyldwjr]

I hope I am understanding your question. Emerald Aisle and Emerald Club are two different things ... maybe that is where the mix up occurred. Emerald Club is the frequent renter's club. Emerald aisle is National's special system where you rent an intermediate car and can choose anything available on the Emerald Aisle.

When you use a coupon you cannot bypass the counter. I have been told this by several customer service agents on the phone and in person at MCO. So, if you were thinking that by using the EA, you'd be able to skip the counter ... it's the coupon that prevented you from doing that and possibly that is what the CS agent meant: you were no longer Emerald Aisle because of the coupon (ETA: I am not saying whether that is bad or good info, just interpreting what the CS agent might have meant.)

The Emerald Club, OTOH, was noted and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with EA. That is why you got the second driver for free and, undoubtedly, got the renter credit. We have three kids so we always use Emerald Reserve (to get the exact car choice we need) with our Emerald Club membership.

What car choice did the agent direct you to? Just curious. I don't remember ever seeing National have an "intermediate" aisle other than EA, so I wonder what car you ended up with. Was it just that the Sorento was gone by the time you checked in?

If you only have a dollar's off coupon or free day, you can skip the counter and go directly to the EA, if you have a reservation for EA, if you have an upgrade, you need to go to the counter because you are no longer using EA but Emerald Reserve.
There is a distinct Emerald Reserve for intermediates.
I believe the OP ran into problems with using the EA because he did not use his EC # when he reserved the car.
Being an EC member does not entitle you to any free driver, there are limits and it is explained on their website.

 

[jenjersnap]

If you only have a dollar's off coupon or free day, you can skip the counter and go directly to the EA, if you have a reservation for EA, if you have an upgrade, you need to go to the counter because you are no longer using EA but Emerald Reserve.

That hasn't been my experience. Also, I reserved with an upgrade coupon last time and my reservation still said Emerald Aisle, despite the CS agent agreeing that it was actually now Emerald Reserve. Other posters have mentioned this as well. Maybe there is a lack of consistency at National.

 

[disneyldwjr]

That hasn't been my experience. Also, I reserved with an upgrade coupon last time and my reservation still said Emerald Aisle, despite the CS agent agreeing that it was actually now Emerald Reserve. Other posters have mentioned this as well. Maybe there is a lack of consistency at National.

I think you are correct re:lack of consistancy. Maybe it state EA because they cannot guarantee an upgrade and you would have had to go to the EA if they did not have one.

 

[beattyfamily]

The only reason I can think of that you couldn't use the EA would be that when you made your reservation you weren't an Emerald Club member yet. But then why did he let you have the free spouse driver? What a dummy.

The attendant was wrong. You can use coupons with the Emerald Club and/or Emerald Aisle. You can absolutely use a coupon and still bypass the counter. No doubt about that one.

If you are NOT an Emerald Club member and book with "Quick Rent", then you cannot use a coupon AND bypass the counter. If you use a coupon in this situation, you will be kicked back to the counter.

I book Intermediates every single trip and I always use a coupon and I've always taken my car from the Emerald Aisle. That is one of the benefits for the Emerald Club; using a coupon and bypassing the counter.

 

[Mark P.]

Here's what I found (for what it's worth,lol)

First, I have an EA membership. Yesterday I booked a mid-size suv with Emerald Reserve for next Friday.
I combined the entertainment contract i.d. with a National $25 coupon.

I just called National at MCO and the (very helpful) rep. pulled my reservation up.

I was told that I may bypass the counter and go directly to the mid-size suv aisle, and that using the coupon is not a problem. Pretty much what I was expecting, but just want to be sure...

I suppose that if I keep calling, I'd be sure to find someone with the total opposite of the above findings, but for now, I think I'm safe

 

[disneyldwjr]

Here's what I found (for what it's worth,lol)

First, I have an EA membership. Yesterday I booked a mid-size suv with Emerald Reserve for next Friday.
I combined the entertainment contract i.d. with a National $25 coupon.

I just called National at MCO and the (very helpful) rep. pulled my reservation up.

I was told that I may bypass the counter and go directly to the mid-size suv aisle, and that using the coupon is not a problem. Pretty much what I was expecting, but just want to be sure...

I suppose that if I keep calling, I'd be sure to find someone with the total opposite of the above findings, but for now, I think I'm safe

You are safe. If you printed out your confirmation (and I hope you did), it will state the level of service, under your name and other info. If your coupon bumped you to counter it would say "level of service: counter" I would assume your reservation will say : "level of service: Emerald Reserve".
The reservation will also tell you where to go to get your vehicle.

 

[FoodLover]

I've used coupons with Emerald Aisle DOZENS of times with no problem. I never use upgrade coupons, however -- only coupons for $$ off.

Just bring the coupon and hand it to the person in the booth when you give them your credit card.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[c8k6k]

I went to the counter because, while I had just signed up for EA, my confirmation did say Level of service: counter. I'm not sure if my rate would have changed if I had gone back into my reservation online to modify it by adding an EA #. I was running out of time so I didn't even try.

What I have learned is that as long as your confirmation says Level of Service: Emerald Reserve, you go directly to the EA and there's no problem using a coupon.

Thanks.

 

[disneyldwjr]

I went to the counter because, while I had just signed up for EA, my confirmation did say Level of service: counter. I'm not sure if my rate would have changed if I had gone back into my reservation online to modify it by adding an EA #. I was running out of time so I didn't even try.

What I have learned is that as long as your confirmation says Level of Service: Emerald Reserve, you go directly to the EA and there's no problem using a coupon.

Thanks.

Correction on what u have learned. IF your reservation states level of service Emerald Reserve, you go to the area that corresponds with the type of car you rented. IE: full size, go to the full size area.
IF your reservation says level of service : Emerald Aisle, you go to the Emerald Aisle and select the vehicle of your choice.
There is not problem using a coupon UNLESS you are using an upgrade, at which point they bump you to counter.
Confused yet?

 

[lawgs]

if your level says executive aisle and you do not like what you see there, you can go to emerald aisle

you could probably get an attendant to "bend" the rules a bit .....YMMV ....on other "levels" of rental

nothing is as "absolute" as a poster may make it out to be in their "correction", it is probably more "relative" to different arrival times/supply factors and of course magical "pixie dust"

laUgh

 

[disneyldwjr]

if your level says executive aisle and you do not like what you see there, you can go to emerald aisle

you could probably get an attendant to "bend" the rules a bit .....YMMV ....on other "levels" of rental

nothing is as "absolute" as a poster may make it out to be in their "correction", it is probably more "relative" to different arrival times/supply factors and of course magical "pixie dust"

laUgh

Nothing is ever absolute. Since this is a newbie to the EC, I felt that mentioning Executive aisle was a bit premature.
I was correcting the poster only because he was confusing a few terms. Nothing more. And, I did it in a nice polite manner. And yes, they do bend rules now and then.

 

[c8k6k]

Thanks disneyldwjr for the correction.

I just noticed I missed some earlier responses. Someone asked what car we ended up with. We were directed to midsize section, and my DH chose a Pontiac Grand Prix. It had leather interior, and was comfortable enough. 2 odd things happened to us though. Once, at Pop where you stop and insert your key card into the machine to gain entrance, the engine stopped. My DH swears he didn't turn the engine off. Another time, the air conditioning was very slow to come on. Right about the point we decided it had broken, it started to cycle cool air. Only happened once though. Last May, I rented a Pontiac G6 through National, and had no problems at all with it. Actually quite liked it.

 

[Mark P.]

My print out says Emerald Reserve, so it looks like we'll be fine.

-Mark

 

[pxlbarrel]

Last December, I had an Emerald Reserve rental (full size) and we didn't find anything we liked in the full size aisle. The National/Alamo employee (can't remember which one) told us to go look at the Alamo lot. I asked if we could take something from the EA and he said, "Sure, you're paying more than an intermediate, go ahead." And so we did. We took a Torrent and had no hassles or problems.

I had a coupon and we bypassed the counter.

 

[lawgs]

disneyldwjr

your politeness was not being "questioned"

of course, you are always "polite" and not "blunt" when you are dispensing your "facts/information" about the various companies and how they operate, are you not?

the "absolute" observation was made, since, all anyone on DIS can do is share their personal experience, not state what WILL/MIGHT happen with respect to national or any other company when they are dealing with them ( unless, of course, THEY [ he/she ] are a representative of said company and clearly state they are speaking for the company and its policies ) as the circumstances surrounding those encounters are "relative"


laUgh

 

[disneyldwjr]

Thanks disneyldwjr for the correction.

I just noticed I missed some earlier responses. Someone asked what car we ended up with. We were directed to midsize section, and my DH chose a Pontiac Grand Prix. It had leather interior, and was comfortable enough. 2 odd things happened to us though. Once, at Pop where you stop and insert your key card into the machine to gain entrance, the engine stopped. My DH swears he didn't turn the engine off. Another time, the air conditioning was very slow to come on. Right about the point we decided it had broken, it started to cycle cool air. Only happened once though. Last May, I rented a Pontiac G6 through National, and had no problems at all with it. Actually quite liked it.

You are entirely welcome!!!! You got a nice full size car off the midsize section. Good for you!!!!