Saved More $$ With National

[n2mm]

I was so excited I had to share. I, like alot of folks here, booked my rental car ressies back in March when the rates where so low, it was scarey. Since then I purchased an Entertainment Book so that I could get a good rate at Portofinio Bay Resort this summer. I knew there were coupons for National Car Rental in the book, but since I've rented from National in the past, I always knew that if you modified your current ressies, your base weekly amount would often change to the current amount. Well let me tell you, things have changed. I went in today and needed to cancel my minivan rental (I rented a minivan and a fullsize back in March because I didn't know what size vehicle I might need for our September trip). Since I had nothing to lose, I decided to try to modify this ressie by changing the pickup time and adding a $20 coupon to it. To my surprise it let me change everything and keep the rate I got back in March.

SSSSOOOO. I put in my ressie of a full size car for 7 days and it not only kept my great rate of $120 before DISCOUNTS, so I'm now paying $93 a week for a full size car ($130 after fees and taxes).


SSSSOOOO I decided to try my daughter's ressie. She is going with us, and wanted her own car. She had a compact for $130 after fees and taxes (Not Bad--base rate of $106). Since I could not use the $15 or $20 coupons, I could use the upgrade 2 car sizes and now she has a standard car for $95 before fees ($130 total).


SSSSOOOO I decided to try again for my 10 day ressie in October. I had a full size for the 10 days for $163 before fees ($217 total). It let me use the $20 coupon and now I'm paying $143 for 10 DAYS ($196 after fees).

It never occurred to me to try to use these coupons because often in the past the price would go up. I kept saying, GAIL would be proud of me! And couldn't wait to share.

So if you have any National ressies and some coupons laying around, give it a shot.

 

[lawgs]

n2mm

it always helps others if you mention the dates you are getting the good rates for ......i just checked mine and mine are UP with coupons and i did book back in march too ......

our dates are november 2 - 9

i did plug in dates for september 9 - 16 and it comes back at 125$ taxes in....so september rates seem to be good now....

the times i have tried to change or modify my ressies, there have been no rate changes ( but then again i was not adding coupons ) but my base rate did not go down.....it stayed the same....am presuming that your base rate was the same it just went down since you added the $$$ off coupon.....was this what happened with your "modifications" ( although reading about your daughters ressie it seems your base rate went down according to your post, but of course that may have happened because of the "dates" you are going ) thus it is always good to provide your dates.....

have heard some people who "booked" cars back in march using the "full size" option on the EA got sticker shocks when they went to the "booth" since somehow the computer was now charging them for ER and full size car......as long as you have your print outs and email confirmation, they should "adjust" these "phathom rates" which occurred when they changed over back in march...

 

[n2mm]

Hi lawgs

I guess in all of my excitement of saving $$ I forgot the dates.

My september dates are 18-24 (6 nights/7 days) While I have EA, my daugther does not. She kept her compact rate (couldn't use the coupon unless you were at the intermediate size), but upgraded 2 sizes bigger for the same compact rate price, now a standard.

My October trip is 23-Nov. 1 (10 days)

I have travelled twice since I booked in March. In May and in July. Each time getting a full size car with the March booking price(actually my print outs said EA, but I knew to just go to the full size and choose). Both times the price was exactly the same price quotes back in march and on my print out, no problems whatsoever.

I had always had a code that gave me 10% off, but I changed both the code to an entainment code and added the coupon.

For example my base code was $120 for a full size. It took 10% off, plus the $15 coupon bringing the base weekly rate to $93.

I don't know why yours didn't change. I not only changed the code, added the coupon, plus changed the times (kept the days the same) and still my base weekly rate continued to remain the same $120, even though I believe it is $166 right now.

I'm happy.

 

[lawgs]

thanks for your reply...


as always keep checking it does not hurt even up to the last moment...

 

[sln88]

did you get those rates?
The lowest I can get for 10/24-11/3 is $255(tax inc) for a compact with an upgrade to intermediate.

what codes are you using?

 

[Pluto4President]

Hey Lawgs ~ yes, starting to slither around again.

I too booked in March. Got 2 minivans from National on EC for 11/19-30 at $341 inclusive.

Was 199/wk & 33/day.

 

[disneyatheart]

Pluto4President-was that total for both minivans, or single?


I booked a minivan for 11/2-11/11/03, and Im paying $229/week and $38.17/day. With my DC discount and Sams Club discount my total with txs is $294.01.

What are codes did you use?

Thanks

 

[Pluto4President]

Sorry - that was each. I really don't remember the coupon, and it doesn't list the coupon by name. Usually I use both DC's, but I could have used EB. Definately the DC Contract code though. I can tell you that the discount figured out to 20%

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

Rates for Dec are still high right now!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Just back and had a real "fun" time with National. Used my reservation for EA for an intermediate, 148.73 total for 8 days.
Got to the EA, grabbed a full sized Impala. Nice car and thought it was GREAT for 8 days. The girl at the check out area seemed totally inept and made me edgy, so when I got to OKW I called to see what the woman had for a charge for me. Would you believe: they had no record of my renting the car, then when they found it the charge for 8 days went up to 406.36. I told them " I don't think so", well after about 30 mins on the phone I spoke with the station manager who told me she had fixed the error and it was back to the 148. rate. I was relieved UNTIL Dee checked the car back in. Yep, 406.36 was charged to the card. Luckily I had sent the printout with Dee and he disputed the charged amount. The checkin person could not get the overide to work and sent us to the counter. Had a really nice Alamo person help us and the error was corrected, but, it was NOT the way to end the vacation. We were told that we took a full size car, we knew that and had taken it from the EA, we explained that to her and she said it was only good for Intermediates, I explained that anything on the EA was supposed to go out at the EA (intermediate rate). Took a few tries, but, we managed to get her to understand.
At any rate, ask for a printout before you leave the check out booth.
I am on my way to the National web page to lodge a hefty complaint about this "comedy of errors".

 

[Pluto4President]

always something with you Gail

Glad it worked out - right from the start I knew it would

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Pluto4President
always something with you Gail

Glad it worked out - right from the start I knew it would

No it isn't!!! This is a first for us. I have emailed National and it will be interesting to see what they have to say.

 

[mazzarafe]

Had to drop a day with my rental with National from 6 days to 5 and saved a whole $10. If I did it online it actually went up another $15 from original ressie. I called and saved enough for a round of waters in the park.

So now I'm paying $239.55 for 5 days for a full size with DC discount and $15 coupon from Vacation Outlet.

Still is the pits in my opinion. Wish EA wasn't so darn inviting.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mazzarafe
Had to drop a day with my rental with National from 6 days to 5 and saved a whole $10. If I did it online it actually went up another $15 from original ressie. I called and saved enough for a round of waters in the park.

So now I'm paying $239.55 for 5 days for a full size with DC discount and $15 coupon from Vacation Outlet.

Still is the pits in my opinion. Wish EA wasn't so darn inviting.

That is really high, when are you going? I used EA and there were many full sized cars there.

 

[mazzarafe]

We are going 12/18-12/23.

I tried to modify my original ressie and my rate goes from $44.99 a day to $57.99 (before discounts).

I had to call and do it over the phone and actually got a better rate than what I could get online. But the DC discount doesn't seem to be as good, but I cannot really tell cause it's built into the daily rental fee so I have not idea what I'm saving.

I also tried again with Carlson Wagonlit code and got a rate of just under $150 with code and the Vacation Outlet coupon for $15 off. Just alittle nervous about using it.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mazzarafe
We are going 12/18-12/23.

I tried to modify my original ressie and my rate goes from $44.99 a day to $57.99 (before discounts).

I had to call and do it over the phone and actually got a better rate than what I could get online. But the DC discount doesn't seem to be as good, but I cannot really tell cause it's built into the daily rental fee so I have not idea what I'm saving.

I also tried again with Carlson Wagonlit code and got a rate of just under $150 with code and the Vacation Outlet coupon for $15 off. Just alittle nervous about using it.

The Carlson code is fine to use, many have with no problems.

 

[lawgs]

hiya ....pluto for president....

thought with summer winding down you might be back on the boards.....

miss your posts....but now expect to see a few....


gail.....you knew you were going to have problems from the start when you said before you left you had to get the manager's name ....you should have asked the girl at the booth the "charge" before you drove off, you then could have solved it the first day instead of the last day

sounds like the same problem we will have in november, so we plan on "covering ourselves" before we leave the garage.....since we cannot get into view the "reservation" online......

but......we have a print out from "headquarters" as well as from the web site......but they are different....one is for emerald aisle and the one the sent from HQ was for emerald reserve

you are right about attendants....some know how to do the "overide" some do not...we had the same problem in june when we were there but had the situation taken care of before we left ......thus no aggravation on return ( when time is at a premium for getting "good" groupings on SWA )

perhaps, national will "comp" you for all your troubles...on your next trip

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by lawgs
hiya ....pluto for president....

thought with summer winding down you might be back on the boards.....

miss your posts....but now expect to see a few....


gail.....you knew you were going to have problems from the start when you said before you left you had to get the manager's name ....you should have asked the girl at the booth the "charge" before you drove off, you then could have solved it the first day instead of the last day

sounds like the same problem we will have in november, so we plan on "covering ourselves" before we leave the garage.....since we cannot get into view the "reservation" online......

but......we have a print out from "headquarters" as well as from the web site......but they are different....one is for emerald aisle and the one the sent from HQ was for emerald reserve

you are right about attendants....some know how to do the "overide" some do not...we had the same problem in june when we were there but had the situation taken care of before we left ......thus no aggravation on return ( when time is at a premium for getting "good" groupings on SWA )

perhaps, national will "comp" you for all your troubles...on your next trip

If National gave a printout of the charges I would have taken care of it immediately, but, they don't. I only had the name of the manager because of the loss of my DC card, I never expected the rate to jump so high or at all. It was taken care of at the counter before we left and I had already checked in at SWA so our A boarding cards were in hand. Dee always drops me with the luggage and returns the car.
I really did not expect a problem other than the DC issue, which turned out not to be an issue at all, they never asked for the card.
I really don't want compensation, I want good customer service and attendants to be trained. This was the first time I have ever encountered a problem with National. I sincerely hope it is the last.

 

[lawgs]

so you did not have a printout from HOME....

we always take both the internet print out and email print out .....and often hand it to the "attendant" as we check out.....that was why the person we had the last time ( maybe the same one you had ) passed it over to another gentleman next to her....he seemed to be able to override the "erroneous" computer charge that resulted from them "assessing" a full size reservation on the EA as ER and thus bumping up the rate....

glad to hear you were not "penalized" on boarding groups.....but the real test ......how many pre boards did you have to "go up" against

 

[chip-n-dale620]

Hi All, I think I got a good deal, last week I booked a standard sized car (monte carlo or similar) thru National car website with codes and coupon for Nov 1 to Nov 10 paying $210.00 all inclusive with taxes etc. I used the codes from mousesavers.com. One of the codes was for the disney club card code (that got the best rate) and a coupon code fron the entertainment book i think it is 20.00 off a weekly rental or something like that. Check it out.