Recent Budget Rental Experiences

[Southernswthrt]

So it's looking like we'll be renting thru Budget in a couple weeks because Alamo and National are still sky high

So how many of you out there have used Budget recently? And what were your experiences? Long lines at the counter? Were the cars new and clean? Car selection?

Any advice on what to expect is appreciated.

 

[Melct]

I rented from Budget a couple months ago in Pittsburgh. No lines, cars were clean and no issues. I usually rent from Budget because prices are most competitive and never had an issue.

Melissa

 

[francie57]

We used Budget in Aug. since they had the best price. We rented a minivan and it was very clean and we had no problems with it at all. I have their rapid rez account so we didn't have to go to the counter, we went straight to the garage window and had the key for the car in less than 5 min. With Budget you don't get to pick the car you want, they assign you one so when you leave the counter you will have a key and parking spot to go to.

 

[stitchlovestink]

So it's looking like we'll be renting thru Budget in a couple weeks because Alamo and National are still sky high

So how many of you out there have used Budget recently? And what were your experiences? Long lines at the counter? Were the cars new and clean? Car selection?

Any advice on what to expect is appreciated.

We rented from Budget at MCO in late July arriving on Friday at dinnertime and what a nightmare!!! I chose Budget because the rates were GREAT!!! The line wasn't long but the counter was understaffed and the line was moving at all!! The problem for us was, we needed an SUV and they were OUT of them!! They tried downsizing us, but I had selected the vehicle size based on what we needed to carry in the vehicle and the smaller SUV wasn't cutting it!! They tried getting one from the other rental company the own (alamo, maybe?) and they tried the budget counter on the other side of the airport but they were just out of them altogether!! I was dealing with one of the managers and we were waiting for people to return a vehicle It was bad! It took us 2.5 hrs just to get our rental!! UGH! Unfortunately, we weren't going to Disney so everything had to go in the vehicle. What was worse was the manager told me they had more reservations after me and no more returns coming back. So they were going to have to tell those people they didn't have a vehicle that they had reserved for them!!! how awful!!
After MY experience I don't think I will use budget at MCO again. I know you can have problems anywhere, but this was beyond bad IMO. I hope if you use them, your experience is better!


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[Southernswthrt]

We rented from Budget at MCO in late July arriving on Friday at dinnertime and what a nightmare!!! I chose Budget because the rates were GREAT!!! The line wasn't long but the counter was understaffed and the line was moving at all!! The problem for us was, we needed an SUV and they were OUT of them!! They tried downsizing us, but I had selected the vehicle size based on what we needed to carry in the vehicle and the smaller SUV wasn't cutting it!! They tried getting one from the other rental company the own (alamo, maybe?) and they tried the budget counter on the other side of the airport but they were just out of them altogether!! I was dealing with one of the managers and we were waiting for people to return a vehicle It was bad! It took us 2.5 hrs just to get our rental!! UGH! Unfortunately, we weren't going to Disney so everything had to go in the vehicle. What was worse was the manager told me they had more reservations after me and no more returns coming back. So they were going to have to tell those people they didn't have a vehicle that they had reserved for them!!! how awful!!
After MY experience I don't think I will use budget at MCO again. I know you can have problems anywhere, but this was beyond bad IMO. I hope if you use them, your experience is better!

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Great
This makes me want to throw caution to the wind and use the infamous klm code for National. And I would in a heartbeat if we didn't have another family renting as well. Not sure they are as daring. Lol

 

[francie57]

As I said before we had no problem in Aug. Why don't you join the fastbreak program (its free) and then you would be able to go right to the garage and the booth there. We have done this twice this year so far and will be doing it again in Jan.

 

[stitchlovestink]

As I said before we had no problem in Aug. Why don't you join the fastbreak program (its free) and then you would be able to go right to the garage and the booth there. We have done this twice this year so far and will be doing it again in Jan.

Even the Fastbreak members weren't getting what they had reserved that night. It was a nightmare. They were just short vehicles. Now I don't know that it was a problem across all the classes of vehicles, but in our class being a fastbreak member didn't make any difference! just sayin...
I couldn't help but overhear a very loud conversation between a fast break member and a buget employee. It wasn't pleasant.


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[joncorr3]

I will never rent from Budget again. Rented a "Mid-sized SUV Comparable to Ford Escape" and was given a Mazda CX-7 tiny hatchback car. I have no idea how they used it as an SUV. Also waited in line forever. And going up I4 from Tampa (were we flew into) I noticed THE HOOD WAS NOT LATCHED.

Never again, Lousy car, not as advertised, was not given a choice, only to uprgade.
Stay with Alamo or Dollar.

 

[Southernswthrt]

Thanks for the replies. I think you guys have convinced me to cancel with Budget and pay a little more for National/Alamo. National with the KLM code is very comparable to price, but the code makes me nervous so I was trying to avoid it! If Alamo or National don't come down with other codes in the next 8 days, I'm going to go for it with KLM

 

[wgeo]

It sounds like you may have made up your mind already, but just thought I'd let you know that we used Budget this Oct and last year and it was great. The price was unbeatable both years. We reserved the mid size SUV both times and were given a Jeep Patriot once and a Ford Escape this year. I signed up for the fastbreak program and both years we were in and out of the garage in minutes with no lines at all. Would be very comfortable renting with them again.

 

[Swat18]

Anyone have experience with the Budget counter at Sanford?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

It sounds like you may have made up your mind already, but just thought I'd let you know that we used Budget this Oct and last year and it was great. The price was unbeatable both years. We reserved the mid size SUV both times and were given a Jeep Patriot once and a Ford Escape this year. I signed up for the fastbreak program and both years we were in and out of the garage in minutes with no lines at all. Would be very comfortable renting with them again.

What a relief to hear. We are renting for the first time from Budget later this month (Christmas week) and this thread had me very uneasy. Our reservation cost for a standard SUV is fantastic (literally hundreds and hundres of dollars less than competitors rates) so its either a smaller vehicle with another company or we stick with Budget.

I am very glad to hear the Fastbreak system works as promised. I am looking forward to skipping the lines and heading straight to pick up our vehicle.

 

[magsmum]

What a relief to hear. We are renting for the first time from Budget later this month (Christmas week) and this thread had me very uneasy. Our reservation cost for a standard SUV is fantastic (literally hundreds and hundres of dollars less than competitors rates) so its either a smaller vehicle with another company or we stick with Budget.

I am very glad to hear the Fastbreak system works as promised. I am looking forward to skipping the lines and heading straight to pick up our vehicle.

We also are Fastbreak members and have rented from Budget in Orlando and other sites such as Denver/Vegas/LA many times and never had an issue. We are holding another Budget reservation for this Feb. and I am not worried at all.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wgeo

It sounds like you may have made up your mind already, but just thought I'd let you know that we used Budget this Oct and last year and it was great. The price was unbeatable both years. We reserved the mid size SUV both times and were given a Jeep Patriot once and a Ford Escape this year. I signed up for the fastbreak program and both years we were in and out of the garage in minutes with no lines at all. Would be very comfortable renting with them again.

What a relief to hear. We are renting for the first time from Budget later this month (Christmas week) and this thread had me very uneasy. Our reservation cost for a standard SUV is fantastic (literally hundreds and hundres of dollars less than competitors rates) so its either a smaller vehicle with another company or we stick with Budget.

I am very glad to hear the Fastbreak system works as promised. I am looking forward to skipping the lines and heading straight to pick up our vehicle.

Please post after your trip and let us know how it works out. Christmas week is an incredibly busy week there and I was in a similar situation where Budget's rates for the standard SUV I reserved were a crazy good deal compared to anybody else's!! I'd love to know if they run out of them again or if you are lucky enough to get what you reserve. I look forward to hearing back from you after your trip. Good Luck!!


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[mulderxcoltrane]

What are the minimum rental requirements for Fastbreak?

 

[wgeo]

What are the minimum rental requirements for Fastbreak?

Nothing - there are no requirements. All you have to do is sign up for the program and make sure your fastbreak id# is attached to your ressie and you are set.

The fastbreak program essentially keeps track of the info you would have to normally give them at checkin. So to sign up for fastbreak you load in all of your credit card and drivers lics. info etc. so that you don't have to do that at the airport, and can skip the main check in counter.

 

[mikehn]

Everybody knows that Budget has the best prices around and guess what? That means Budget is going to have the longest lines. You can join the Fastbreak club. This allows you to go straight to the garage to get your vehicle. But that doesnt mean there wont be a line in the garage. It just means you dont have to stop at the counter in the terminal. This is probably the only hassle. Other than this, the rest of the experience is pretty good.

 

[mulderxcoltrane]

Nothing - there are no requirements. All you have to do is sign up for the program and make sure your fastbreak id# is attached to your ressie and you are set.

The fastbreak program essentially keeps track of the info you would have to normally give them at checkin. So to sign up for fastbreak you load in all of your credit card and drivers lics. info etc. so that you don't have to do that at the airport, and can skip the main check in counter.

Do I have to link my Fastbreak account # to my reservation prior to arrival?

here's why I ask: I registered for Fastbreak awhile back and then had my # added to an existing rental reservation. When I did so, it removed the promotional pricing I'd used and gave me rack rates.

 

[wgeo]

Do I have to link my Fastbreak account # to my reservation prior to arrival?

here's why I ask: I registered for Fastbreak awhile back and then had my # added to an existing rental reservation. When I did so, it removed the promotional pricing I'd used and gave me rack rates.

Yes, you need them linked prior to your arrival, or you would have to use the counter inside, which takes away the time savings.

Try to make the ressie again, look at your original ressie with the good rates and when you start over make sure you key in those bcd codes or coupon codes that are listed on your ressie and your fastbreak number. I'm usually successful if I start over and re-enter in my original discount codes. The fastbreak # by itself doesn't give you any kind of a discount.

 

[mulderxcoltrane]

Yes, you need them linked prior to your arrival, or you would have to use the counter inside, which takes away the time savings.

Try to make the ressie again, look at your original ressie with the good rates and when you start over make sure you key in those bcd codes or coupon codes that are listed on your ressie and your fastbreak number. I'm usually successful if I start over and re-enter in my original discount codes. The fastbreak # by itself doesn't give you any kind of a discount.

Thanks - it worked on one one-way, but not the next. ;(