Rental Car Questions

[alicia080979]

I have a couple of rental car questions I am hoping someone can help with.

We are flying in September for the first time and renting a car. I was all set to go with Alamo so DH could skip the line and use the kiosk then I read that you can't do on-line check in without a major credit card. We don't have or use any major credit cards. We haven't owned a credit card in over 5 years and I never even thought of this as an issue. It says that a debit/credit card won't work and that's all we use. Does this mean he will just have to go through the regular line or we can't rent a car at all with them? Does anyone know if all the rental car companies at MCO are like this?

Can anyone recommend one rental car company over another at MCO? We are sending DH to get the rental while my mom & I take DME and I wanted to make sure he had the quickest/easiest/most convenient rental company to work with.

Thank you!

 

[gmeh1]

I have a couple of rental car questions I am hoping someone can help with.

We are flying in September for the first time and renting a car. I was all set to go with Alamo so DH could skip the line and use the kiosk then I read that you can't do on-line check in without a major credit card. We don't have or use any major credit cards. We haven't owned a credit card in over 5 years and I never even thought of this as an issue. It says that a debit/credit card won't work and that's all we use. Does this mean he will just have to go through the regular line or we can't rent a car at all with them? Does anyone know if all the rental car companies at MCO are like this?

Can anyone recommend one rental car company over another at MCO? We are sending DH to get the rental while my mom & I take DME and I wanted to make sure he had the quickest/easiest/most convenient rental company to work with.

Thank you!

If you did online checkin you would not need to use the kiosk. You can use the kiosk with a debit card, just be prepared to show proof of round trip transportation at the exit booth. I only work for Alamo/National and I don't make recommendations for any car company, including my own.

 

[vicki_c]

You can't use online check in with any discount codes either, so I think the kiosk will be the way to go as gmeh said.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Be sure you read the rules on your rental car's website regarding renting with debit cards so you won't be surprised by the requirements to show your airline return ticket and the hold which will be placed on your bank account. Many rental agencies will also run a credit check. Due to the extra time all this will take, I would guess you must go through a rental agent at the counter to rent with a debit card, although I don't know this for sure.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

You CAN use a debit card with Alamo's on-line check in. We do it all the time. Just don't forget to bring a printed confirmation of your return flight with you to show the exit booth attendant.

The bigger issue is the discount codes/coupons. Many require a visit to the counter.

When you make your reservation, just make sure the confirmation has the "Check in now" icon & not the "Save time now" icon.

 

[gmeh1]

You can't use online check in with any discount codes either, so I think the kiosk will be the way to go as gmeh said.

Discount codes can be used for online check in, however coupons cannot. Debit cards can be used for online checkin, as I said before, bring proof of round trip travel and that can be your confirmation from the airline, bus or train.
Alamo/National does not do a credit check for debit cards and only holds the amount of the rental, nothing additional.
The kiosk is fast and easy and the bottom of the printout will tell you exactly what you will need to show at the exit booth.

 

[vicki_c]

Discount codes can be used for online check in, however coupons cannot. Debit cards can be used for online checkin, as I said before, bring proof of round trip travel and that can be your confirmation from the airline, bus or train.
Alamo/National does not do a credit check for debit cards and only holds the amount of the rental, nothing additional.
The kiosk is fast and easy and the bottom of the printout will tell you exactly what you will need to show at the exit booth.

Thanks - what is the difference between a coupon and a discount code? (Not to sound too stupid.) I know in the past - at least 2x - I was unable to use online check in when I was using what I consider a discount code - it probably was some combination of my Alamo Insiders membership and something else (might have been a code I got from Mousesavers, might have been something e-mailed to me by Alamo - I can't remember). I sort of lump those discount things all together but apparently they are not based on what you said.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks - what is the difference between a coupon and a discount code? (Not to sound too stupid.) I know in the past - at least 2x - I was unable to use online check in when I was using what I consider a discount code - it probably was some combination of my Alamo Insiders membership and something else (might have been a code I got from Mousesavers, might have been something e-mailed to me by Alamo - I can't remember). I sort of lump those discount things all together but apparently they are not based on what you said.

I have used a discount code for Alamo for our upcoming trip.....its a 7-digit (I think) code that begins with a 7, that will give me a 15% discount off the rate for using my Amex card.

On top of the Amex discount, I used a coupon code (a combination of letters and numbers) that gives me an additional $35 off the discounted weekly rate after the Amex 15% savings. Essentially, it brings my $124 rate (before taxes and fees) down to $70. Then all the other gobbledy gook is added in, and my final bill totals $115.

On the reservations page, there are two separate spots to add in the discount code and the coupon.

Hope that helps!

 

[alicia080979]

Thanks for the replies. I *thought* that in order to use the kiosk you had to do on-line check in but I guess they are two different things? When we book the car online, do we pay for it in full right then? If we do that, what do we do when we get to MCO? Do we then go to a kiosk or the rental counter? Sorry for the all the questions...total newbie at this and just want to make sure I have everything all figured out before I reserve the car.

 

[vicki_c]

Thanks for the replies. I *thought* that in order to use the kiosk you had to do on-line check in but I guess they are two different things? When we book the car online, do we pay for it in full right then? If we do that, what do we do when we get to MCO? Do we then go to a kiosk or the rental counter? Sorry for the all the questions...total newbie at this and just want to make sure I have everything all figured out before I reserve the car.

Online check in allows you to bypass the counter AND the kiosk. The kiosk allows you to bypass the counter.

 

[alicia080979]

Online check in allows you to bypass the counter AND the kiosk. The kiosk allows you to bypass the counter.

Ok great, thank you! I think we will just do that if we can. After online check-in, we land, go to the Alamo section, pick out our car and show our airline & rental information to the gate attendant and off we go? Am I missing anything? Thanks for your all your help!

 

[gmeh1]

Ok great, thank you! I think we will just do that if we can. After online check-in, we land, go to the Alamo section, pick out our car and show our airline & rental information to the gate attendant and off we go? Am I missing anything? Thanks for your all your help!

You will show the print out from the kiosk, your license(s), travel information and debit card.

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks - what is the difference between a coupon and a discount code? (Not to sound too stupid.) I know in the past - at least 2x - I was unable to use online check in when I was using what I consider a discount code - it probably was some combination of my Alamo Insiders membership and something else (might have been a code I got from Mousesavers, might have been something e-mailed to me by Alamo - I can't remember). I sort of lump those discount things all together but apparently they are not based on what you said.

A discount code is what you put in the box for rate code a coupon code is what you put in the coupon box. Mousesaves lets you know if it is a discount code or coupon code. Often the coupon code starts with AD.

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks for the replies. I *thought* that in order to use the kiosk you had to do on-line check in but I guess they are two different things? When we book the car online, do we pay for it in full right then? If we do that, what do we do when we get to MCO? Do we then go to a kiosk or the rental counter? Sorry for the all the questions...total newbie at this and just want to make sure I have everything all figured out before I reserve the car.

I would wait until I got to Alamo before I paid. Prepayment can be a way to save a few bucks, but, it can be a hassle if you have to change anything, like if you see a better rate when you keep on checking rates(which is a smart thing to do the closer you get to your vacation dates).

 

[alicia080979]

You will show the print out from the kiosk, your license(s), travel information and debit card.

I thought someone else said if we did online check-in we skipped the kiosk.

 

[alicia080979]

I would wait until I got to Alamo before I paid. Prepayment can be a way to save a few bucks, but, it can be a hassle if you have to change anything, like if you see a better rate when you keep on checking rates(which is a smart thing to do the closer you get to your vacation dates).

Ok your other response makes sense now. I just want to make sure we can do 3 things:
1) get our rental car as quickly as possible
2) pay with a debit/credit card and not a major credit card.
3) get the best deals.

Sounds like I can do all of those by using the kiosk correct? We are Costco members so I would like to use their coupon code unless I find something better.

 

[gmeh1]

Ok your other response makes sense now. I just want to make sure we can do 3 things:
1) get our rental car as quickly as possible
2) pay with a debit/credit card and not a major credit card.
3) get the best deals.

Sounds like I can do all of those by using the kiosk correct? We are Costco members so I would like to use their coupon code unless I find something better.

Yes, you can do all that using the kiosk. Try signing up for Alamo Insiders. They often have very good rates and it is free. You can use your Costco coupon with Insiders.

 

[gmeh1]

I thought someone else said if we did online check-in we skipped the kiosk.

You cannot use online checkin if you are using a coupon. If you are using a coupon, you either use the kiosk or counter.