Question about rental car pick up times...

[staceyj2]

I have asked a couple rental car questions and Dis members have given me great information. I have two additional rental car questions if you all don't mind!

My flight into MCO arrives at midnight (yikes!). While comparing prices to see if I can get a better rate, it is cheaper if I use a pickup time of 11:30 pm on 5/19 instead of 12:30 am on 5/20. Can I reserve using the earlier pick up time, or will I forfeit my reservation by being late? I am guessing I would be 60-90 minutes late depending on the flight.

My second question is since I am arriving so late, will there be many cars to choose from? (arrival is Thursday night/Friday morning) Anyone have any experience arriving this late? It will probably be through Alamo as that is where I seem to be finding the lowest rates.

Thanks in advance!

 

[elle101me]

Not sure about your first question. I can tell you our experience with a late night arrival. DH's flight arrived at MCO at about 11:15 a couple of weeks ago. He had rented a standard (full size aisle) and there was only a pick up truck and a van left, I believe. He went back to the attendant and they told him to just choose from the next level so he ended up with a Ford Escape SUV.

 

[staceyj2]

Not sure about your first question. I can tell you our experience with a late night arrival. DH's flight arrived at MCO at about 11:15 a couple of weeks ago. He had rented a standard (full size aisle) and there was only a pick up truck and a van left, I believe. He went back to the attendant and they told him to just choose from the next level so he ended up with a Ford Escape SUV.

Thanks for the info! I am not super picky about what I get as long as I get full-size or larger so I am glad they will let you choose something else if nothing is in your row. Thanks again!

 

[kj2mom]

Be sure to read the fine print on the reservation. Companies have different 'hold' times (not sure what to call it exactly). I made quite a few reservations for our trip last summer because I was watching the rates constantly. The first one I made, I forget which company it was now, I remember it made me nervous when I read how long they would hold the reservation for, it was only a couple of hours. I was very glad to find a cheaper rate and not use that company even though in the end we arrived right one time (even with a maintenance delay taking off). I want to say the first company only allowed me a 2 hour window before my reservation was cancelled where as the company I went with was at least 6 hours.

 

[staceyj2]

Be sure to read the fine print on the reservation. Companies have different 'hold' times (not sure what to call it exactly). I made quite a few reservations for our trip last summer because I was watching the rates constantly. The first one I made, I forget which company it was now, I remember it made me nervous when I read how long they would hold the reservation for, it was only a couple of hours. I was very glad to find a cheaper rate and not use that company even though in the end we arrived right one time (even with a maintenance delay taking off). I want to say the first company only allowed me a 2 hour window before my reservation was cancelled where as the company I went with was at least 6 hours.

Thanks. I contacted Alamo and they said busy airports like MCO will hold for 12 hours.

 

[tinka-belle]

This might be a moot point with system upgrades and such, but many moons ago we rented from Alamo at MCO and arrived after midnight with a flight delay. Desk agent had to get a supervisor to access our reservation and rate since technically their computer was showing us as renting "yesterday" and as a no show now, even thought we had reserved for 11pm, and the desk agent couldn't access the res. Hopefully that doesn't happen anymore, but just a heads up that you might have to wait if they need to get your reservation recognized as valid.

We joked that it was like Cinderella and her coach, our ride had turned into a virtual pumpkin at midnight! Can't let small stuff like this make a bad start to our vacation.