Rental Car help, Please! **UPDATE ***

[mkymouse4ever]

Have a great rate with EA, national, ( did it months ago for august at 130.wk). BUT Thinking about taking a much earlier plane, so may have to do the dreaded "change" is there any chance that they will NOT alter my rate? Actually thinking of just taking a cab and going back in a cab to get the car later. cause from the prices the last few days I've been checking that will be cheaper?

Any suggestions? Help?

MKY

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

You can try to modify the reservation and see what happens, you don't have to take the changes, just hit cancel. Or....you can call National (which is what I would do) and see if your time change will be an issue.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Well we got the earlier plane, and I tried several combo's online with our ressie at national. 1st the regular change and then just changing picking the car up at disney the next day, or the day we get in but before the car center closes, and our 18 day ressie for $307.00 DOUBLED at best!

SO we are taking a limo or cab to the poly and back to the airport at 11pm! to pick up the car! It will be a late night adventure. But worth the $300.00 minus the ride fare.

Oh well, when I got that price I almost made an extra "just in case" with the ealier flight Next time I will.

MKY

 

[Lewisc]

I'd just try to pick up the car early. Tell them there was a schedule change and you were able to get an earlier flight. National is pretty good.

My guess is there won't be a problem. If they want to charge you extra just ask " do you really want me to have to take a bus to Disney then come back later to pick up the car?"

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Just call National and ask if there will be a problem. I have been told that arrival early or late is not an issue as long as it is on the date of the reservation, not the day before or after.
You could eliminate a lot of guessing and agnst if you just pick up the phone. The call is free.

 

[DebbieB]

My guess is that it will not be a problem. I once had a reservation for 12 noon and we ended up flying in the night before and stayed at an airport area hotel. We picked the car up at 8:00am and they didn't say a word about it. Before wasting cab fare (probably close to $100 round trip), I would call now or stop at the counter first when you get there and see if you can get it early.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Just talked with National and they are agreeing with the computer! Absolutely, they will charge me over $650.00 the way it stands now if I were to change the ressie and pick the car up early. ( We are going from a change of 11:58pm to picking up at 10am on that day. ) She said "wow" you really worked on this to get a great price, but that was a big discount we had in march and we are not honoring it now, so if you chang it the price will definately be very much higher and it came up on her screen at around the 650.00 price.

Looks like I'm back to returning to the airport at midnite, Know of a good town car for a back and forth on the same day?

MKY

 

[schucrew]

How about renting a car for the day (instead of using a towncar)?
We have usually been able to get a one day rental including all taxes and fees, for about $50. You'd have a car at your disposal right away, and then could go back to the airport that evening and pick up the other rental for the 18 days at the good rate. Or maybe they would even let you "combine" the reservations, if the one day rental was also from National?

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Try calling National at the MCO airport and see what their early pick up policy is. I think the problem is that the rate will definitely change if you MODIFY the reservation.

Maybe they will let you pick up the car early WITHOUT modifying the actual ressie. If the local rep says it will be possible to pick it up so early, make sure you get the reps name. See if they can also make a note of the actual pick up time on the ressie instead of changing the ressie pick up time. That way, the rep checking you in will see it and will be less likely to give you a different story.

Good luck!

 

[Lewisc]

Try to work with National at the garage.
I wasn't sure when I'd be picking up a car (before or after a day trip to see a shuttle launch). I made 2 reservations, one for each pickup time. I called the 800 number and was told that was the best thing to do.

I picked up the car (EA) at 5:00 and the guy in the booth wanted to know which reservation I was using. I said the reservation that had a 5:00 pick up. He said I was given bad information, the reservation was good until midnight and they wish I hadn't made the second reservation.

The point is National will probably work with your existing reservation if you get there early (or late) as long as it's the same day. Your actual pickup and drop off time will determine your charges. You may wind up paying for an extra day (at the daily rate).

A lot of people have flight changes and have to pickup a car early (or late).

DON'T THINK OF DOING THIS WITH L&M, they are not customer friendly.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Those are all really good ideas! Hmmmm, Have to see what happens next.

MKY

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Well we just booked a car rental for 12hrs! With national as it gets closer to our date I will call orlando directly and ask which way they want us to go, keep both or can we just do one?

Since we are doing a 1 day rental tried all the different car types and got a convertible for 5.00 more than (50.41) than the compact (45.00) rates, so we are taking the convertible! Wonder now if we can get the luggage in it? Good thing its just my sister and myself!

This works out cheaper than taking a cab or town car back and forth. and is about 1/2 the price of both of those options.

Thanks for the help! MKY

 

[Lewisc]

Book the same car class you have on the original reservation. I would be very surprised if they won't either let you pick up your original reservation early or just combine the two reservations.

If you're nice I doubt you'll have to go back to the airport. If you feel the need to call get the phone number for the airport location NOT THE 800 number. Ask about pickuping up a car a few hours early if you can catch an early flight.