Rental companies with straight to the garage or straight to the car?

[ninafeliz]

We have a weekend trip in 2 weeks, and I have been procrastinating on getting a rental car. Because we don't have much time we certainly don't want to spend a long time in a rental car line. All of the companies run together, and I'm short on time, so I was hoping someone might know this off of the top of their heads (or many people would each know one company ) Which rental car companies are on site at MCO and have the option to either get your car from a kiosk or go to the smaller kiosk in the garage (or just go straight to the car which would be best!!), rather than wait in what is sometimes a gigantic line downstairs at the airport near the ME check in. I am a member at most of them, because we have used many companies over the years, but now my number one priority is ease of getting the car (within reason, of course ). I just can't remember which ones were the easiest, I know once we checked in online and went right to the car, without any line until leaving the garage.

Thanks in advance, sorry for using everyone's advice rather than doing the research! Things just kept getting in the way of spending time looking for the car this time!

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

At MCO, ALAMO with insiders club, and THRIFTY Blue Chip membership I went right to the garage and vehicle was ready. I guess Dollar has a card for businesses too.
At Sanford, no. I had gone to the DOLLAR/THRIFTY counter near the baggage claim. BUT, ALAMO was a heck of a walk to the counter and parking of cars. I mean, if you are dragging a ton of luggage, good luck. But, I found them to be accommodating, and even when I asked about a mid size SUV instead of the minivan I had the change was made and even dropped $30.

 

[Sandy51]

National if you are a member of their Emerald Club-makes it so easy.


Sandy

 

[bumbershoot]

We love National with Emerald Club. (especially since DH is Executive...but I'm not, and it's still nice when I'm the one getting the car) Rent "mid-size", go to the Emerald Aisle, have my choice of all sorts of vehicles. We usually end up with an SUV, though we don't mind a Camry or even an Impala (huge trunk space). We once got a Jetta, which was fun for my VW-enjoying soul.

 

[Polydweller]

Nobody seems to want to answer the OPs question which is what rental companies are on site. Everybody's just stating their favorites. So, ok here's the companies on site,

Avis, Hertz, Dollar, Alamo, Budget, enterprise, National, Thrifty, E-Z,Firefly

All others are offsite. Most have some sort of direct to car service and in addition to those pp have mentioned Avis has a car swap option making it very similar to Emersld aisle, don't like your car then swap it for one on the swap aisle.

OP, check the rental sites online and you can get full details.

 

[bumbershoot]

...and have the option to either get your car from a kiosk or go to the smaller kiosk in the garage (or just go straight to the car which would be best!!),

Onsite AND the above. We've given decent answers.

Anyone could go to the MCO website and look up what rental cars are onsite. Took me one google and two clicks to get this:http://www.orlandoairports.net/transport/rental_cars.htm

 

[ParrotBill]

Be aware that even with the onsite companies, the line at the counter can be terrible. Sign up for an express program if at all possible. Counters can be slowed by staffing, first timers, Q&A/sales around all the insurance and other optional items, people trying to decline insurance without a copy of their insurance declaration, and explaining about that super convenient extra daily charge for tolls.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Alamo has online check in from home bring your printed documents and then you walk out pick a car drive to the exit booth show license and credit card. Or Alamo has a self serve kiosk at MCO you check in there and walk to the car. We always do this and it takes 5-8 minutes to complete
Join dollar express _its free_ and go to the garage and check in at the booth there.

 

[kwdw]

Hertz Gold Club. Easy! I typically get the text of my car stall location while walking from the plane to the restroom!

Sounds like from a PP that Alamo has something similar now, too.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Hertz Gold Club. Easy! I typically get the text of my car stall location while walking from the plane to the restroom!

Sounds like from a PP that Alamo has something similar now, too.

Nope with Alamo you pick the car you want to drive.

 

[ninafeliz]

Thanks everyone for all of the advice, sorry that I was MIA and didn't answer yet. It's just been a busy few days, I had time to read on my phone but not really reply. Just to clarify, and thanks to those of you who tried to clarify for me, I do know which rental companies are onsite at MCO (honestly I have never even considered using a company offsite. I think they would have to give the car for me to do that!). I'm just looking for the fastest way to get on our way, without waiting in any lines at the counter. I did check my receipts, and see that Alamo is the company we used that let us check in online and then go straight to the car with no stops at all, and just give them my license and paperwork on the way out of the garage. I got a decent rate with Alamo and costco, so I am leaning towards just keeping that since I know we can go straight to the car. I did get a cheaper rate with Budget, but since (IIRC) that requires stopping at a kiosk in the garage first and I don't know if I remember my fastbreak info, I hesitate to use them since my primary goal is to get in the car and out this trip. I'm not a member at national, I thought you had to be a member through a company or something - but I looked into it a long time ago so I might remember wrong, or it might have changed.

So to summarize, National and Alamo have a way to go straight to a car without stopping anywhere at all, everywhere else even if you are a member of their program you at least have to stop at a kiosk in the garage. Anyone know differently?

 

[ninafeliz]

Be aware that even with the onsite companies, the line at the counter can be terrible. Sign up for an express program if at all possible. Counters can be slowed by staffing, first timers, Q&A/sales around all the insurance and other optional items, people trying to decline insurance without a copy of their insurance declaration, and explaining about that super convenient extra daily charge for tolls.

Yep, this is what I am trying to avoid, I guess I wasn't clear enough I have seen lines at Alamo by the ME check in that look like they would be there for 6 hrs. I am trying to make sure I can go straight to a car, and not stop anywhere, even a kiosk in the garage if possible.

 

[SarasMemberships]

Does anyone know if Budget requires you to wait in line at the counter or do they have an option at MCO that's quick?

 

[JodyTG]

Does anyone know if Budget requires you to wait in line at the counter or do they have an option at MCO that's quick?

I would like to know this as well. We pre-paid, so I'm hoping we don't have to wait in a line.

 

[ninafeliz]

Does anyone know if Budget requires you to wait in line at the counter or do they have an option at MCO that's quick?

I would like to know this as well. We pre-paid, so I'm hoping we don't have to wait in a line.

My understanding of Budget is that if you are signed up as a fastbreak member you do not have to go to the counter in the lower level of MCO, but you do have to go to a smaller kiosk that is in the garage where the cars are parked. Then, they will already have all of your paperwork filled out for you and ready to go with just a signature and a check of your license. I kind of remember this form when we rented from them quite a while ago, and the info on their web site seems to confirm it. So this is better than having to go to the counter inside, but also, IIRC, there can still be a decent line of people that all have fastbreak. In addition, I'm pretty sure once they didn't have our stuff filled out for some reason and still had to do it, just at the kiosk instead of making us go inside. So if you were in line and a lot of people had this happen, then you would have to wait and night be worse off than being inside where at least there are multiple workers checking people out. So if all goes well and there is no line you would only have a brief stop at the garage kiosk. But if you are unlucky you might still have a decent wait. That's why I'm likely going to keep my Alamo reservation and check in online ahead of time with no stops instead of the Budget one that is $20 cheaper (but since it's only for a weekend that's actually about 25% cheaper). I think I'll Pay for the convenience, I was wondering what others thought?

Keep in mind that my answer might not be exactly right, since I'm the one who asked the question about skipping the counter lines in the first place

 

[JodyTG]

My understanding of Budget is that if you are signed up as a fastbreak member you do not have to go to the counter in the lower level of MCO, but you do have to go to a smaller kiosk that is in the garage where the cars are parked. Then, they will already have all of your paperwork filled out for you and ready to go with just a signature and a check of your license. I kind of remember this form when we rented from them quite a while ago, and the info on their web site seems to confirm it. So this is better than having to go to the counter inside, but also, IIRC, there can still be a decent line of people that all have fastbreak. In addition, I'm pretty sure once they didn't have our stuff filled out for some reason and still had to do it, just at the kiosk instead of making us go inside. So if you were in line and a lot of people had this happen, then you would have to wait and night be worse off than being inside where at least there are multiple workers checking people out. So if all goes well and there is no line you would only have a brief stop at the garage kiosk. But if you are unlucky you might still have a decent wait. That's why I'm likely going to keep my Alamo reservation and check in online ahead of time with no stops instead of the Budget one that is $20 cheaper (but since it's only for a weekend that's actually about 25% cheaper). I think I'll Pay for the convenience, I was wondering what others thought?

Keep in mind that my answer might not be exactly right, since I'm the one who asked the question about skipping the counter lines in the first place

Well, with the USAA discount we saved quite a bit more than $20.00.

 

[ninafeliz]

Well, with the USAA discount we saved quite a bit more than $20.00.

I would also, and I might even do it for $20 if this weren't such a quick trip and I don't want to waste any of it in line for a rental car!