Renting from Dollar - first time in a long time

[cigar95]

For our trip in January, looks like our car rental will be from Dollar. They were our go-to agency in the 90s and early 2000s, but it's been National and Budget for a while now.

What should I know about pickup for Dollar on the south side of the airport early in the morning? (Coming in on Delta, scheduled to land at ~0530, figure I'll have luggage in hand ~0610.)

Which floor are they on? Can't recall if they're upstairs with Budget, or maybe they're one floor higher? Do they have a desk in the garage that lets me bypass the in-terminal counter? (And would it be open really early?) Is there anything tricky about the return? (I remember I almost got lost on my first return with Budget because I didn't know they shared an area with Avis.)

I recently reactivated my Dollar Express account, so that may help. (I think it used to have another name, but can't recall what it is and don't seem to have the old card . . . )

Thanks for any input

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

All rental car companies are on the same level. The ground transportaion level. With Dollar you have to be an Express member to by pass the counter and go straight to the garage. You must use your Express number when making the reservation.

 

[cigar95]

All rental car companies are on the same level. The ground transportaion level. With Dollar you have to be an Express member to by pass the counter and go straight to the garage. You must use your Express number when making the reservation.

My mistake - didn't make it clear I was asking about the level in the garage itself. For example, National is on the ground level and Budget is one level up. Somehow I have it in my mind that Dollar is on the third level, but I don't know why I think that.
I was able to add my Express number to the reservation today (only by phone, apparently) so that's taken care of. Searching some older postings, it seems they do the "Hertz" thing, with your name over your car. (But again, will I need to stop at the in-terminal desk in the wee early morning hours?)

 

[kj2mom]

When we were there last summer it was ground level. We did Express and went right to the garage. There is a sign board with your name and mine said see attendant. I was a little apprehensive at first, since the reason I signed up for Express was to avoid the counter interaction, but I went to the booth - told her my name and she handed me a little packet. She told me to take any vehicle in my class then whispered if we didn't see anything we liked to feel free to choose from the next class. We were fine with what we had reserved and headed on our way.

The only thing tricky about the return for me was the need to get all the way to the left lane from the far right when we reached the airport. Luckily there was absolutely no one coming and I was able to get over safely but it was a bit of a freak out moment like I have to get all the way over there?? After returning home, I learned on these boards that the airport is a big circle and if is unsafe to get over just go around the circle, moving over when safe so that when you come back around you are in the correct lane to get to rental returns.

Sorry, I don't know the hours of the garage booth we picked up around 7pm and dropped off around 5pm.

 

[cigar95]

Thanks for the info on ground floor. (I trust this was on the south side terminal? Might be different between the north and south sides.)

And yes, that move to the far left can still be a bit daunting, even after 20+ years of doing it. (A bit less so on the north side.)

Easy enough to call to get the hours of the booth.

Another Dollar question - since I have my own SunPass transponder, do I need to take any action to opt out of their PlatePass system, or will the transponder signal automatically prevent any additional tolls generated in the system?

 

[Chumpieboy]

Thanks for the info on ground floor. (I trust this was on the south side terminal? Might be different between the north and south sides.)

And yes, that move to the far left can still be a bit daunting, even after 20+ years of doing it. (A bit less so on the north side.)

Easy enough to call to get the hours of the booth.

Another Dollar question - since I have my own SunPass transponder, do I need to take any action to opt out of their PlatePass system, or will the transponder signal automatically prevent any additional tolls generated in the system?

As long as you register the rental car on the sunpass site and are exact with the times you will have the car, you should be fine, and the platepass system won't kick in.