September 2014 car rental watch

[nifferearly]

Through Costco.
It automatically applies the codes needed for the best prices from each rental company.

If you're not using a coupon, the price is the same through Alamo's site (using the Costco code) or Costco. But I was just able to add a free day coupon through Alamo and it was $30 less than booking on Costco.

 

[auger]

What free day coupon was it?
I am trying to keep all of the codes and cpns at the start of this thread for ease of finding them.
I would like to add yours to the list.

 

[nifferearly]

What free day coupon was it?
I am trying to keep all of the codes and cpns at the start of this thread for ease of finding them.
I would like to add yours to the list.

AF4469SDU - I got it from Alamo coupons on carrentalsavers. Didn't work for all car types - I think only up to full size.

 

[auger]

Thanks!
I'll test it to see which ones seem to be covered for sure.
Then I will add it to the first post.
Hopefully it will save me a little more!

Ok, I got the first post updated.
I also added another free day code from carrentalsavers that's good through Dec 31, 2014.

I was able to save a tiny bit more on my rental, so thanks!!

 

[auger]

Costco members:

Budget rates dropped quite a bit today.
I was able to get a standard for sep 10 @ 9:30 am - sep 17 @ 12:00 pm for $139.
Uses Costco code and $40 off weekly rental cpn.

Really prefer Alamo, but my best with them is $152.
But, might have to stick with them for the extra $13 to have peace of mind.

I've read a lot of posts about slow lines with Budget, and since we need an extra driver on both of the cars we are renting, that concerns me a bit!

 

[keliblue]

Costco members:

Budget rates dropped quite a bit today.
I was able to get a standard for sep 10 @ 9:30 am - sep 17 @ 12:00 pm for $139.
Uses Costco code and $40 off weekly rental cpn.

Really prefer Alamo, but my best with them is $152.
But, might have to stick with them for the extra $13 to have peace of mind.

I've read a lot of posts about slow lines with Budget, and since we need an extra driver on both of the cars we are renting, that concerns me a bit!

THANK YOU!
I was just able to get a 10 day sept 11-20 for $159. Very happy

 

[auger]

Awesome! Glad someone was able to grab a great deal!

 

[jpessa]

So far my best deal is through AAA Arizona, booked on their website and from 9/23 to 10/8 (15 days) with Thrifty all taxes and fees in is $321.01.

Edited to add: still hoping it will drop!

 

[jpessa]

Woo Hoo! My AAA rate just went down to $271.54 all taxes in for 15 days 9/23 to 10/8, midsize with Thrifty! It's getting closer to acceptable levels at $18/day.

 

[auger]

Wow! That was a nice drop in price for you!!

 

[Li Li]

Just an FYI, my Costco price went down again. I had a compact car for 9/7 to 9/14 at $148 and was able to switch to intermediate for $131.

 

[pskelly]

Just an FYI, my Costco price went down again. I had a compact car for 9/7 to 9/14 at $148 and was able to switch to intermediate for $131.

Thanks for the heads up, switched from National to Alamo with the Costco and one free day code, 9-18 thru 9-28 standard $181.00

 

[auger]

Anyone have a clue what happens to your rate if you pick up a little early and drop off at the scheduled time?
Our flight is scheduled to land at 9:40am, so I am figuring we won't get to the rental car until 10.
So I reserved for 10am on pick-up day -12pm on the return day.
What happens if our flight gets in early, which seems to happen a lot for us, and we pick up the car earlier than 10am?
Will I have to have the car back earlier than 12pm on my return day in order to not have them jack up the rate?

 

[jpessa]

Anyone have a clue what happens to your rate if you pick up a little early and drop off at the scheduled time?
Our flight is scheduled to land at 9:40am, so I am figuring we won't get to the rental car until 10.
So I reserved for 10am on pick-up day -12pm on the return day.
What happens if our flight gets in early, which seems to happen a lot for us, and we pick up the car earlier than 10am?
Will I have to have the car back earlier than 12pm on my return day in order to not have them jack up the rate?

Are you paying the extra day since you are dropping off after you pick up, or is this a "grace period" thing? If you're already paying for that extra day I would say it doesn't make a difference. But you're right, car rental agencies will get you for everything they can.

 

[auger]

Are you paying the extra day since you are dropping off after you pick up, or is this a "grace period" thing? If you're already paying for that extra day I would say it doesn't make a difference. But you're right, car rental agencies will get you for everything they can.

We are dropping off at noon because of flight times, so no, not using or hoping for a grace period.
The price is different for 10am pick-up and 9:30 am pick-up.
I don't want to pay extra for the 9:30 pick-up, but I also don't want to be slammed for extra time when we drop off!

 

[LetsDoDisney!]

Anyone else booking a car rental at SFB? Hate that the rates are usually higher than MCO, and in my experience they come down very little before I go.

Right now the KLM code is my best rate, has anyone had any trouble using it? I joined their program last year I think when searching for rates.

 

[jpessa]

Woo Hoo! My AAA rate just went down to $271.54 all taxes in for 15 days 9/23 to 10/8, midsize with Thrifty! It's getting closer to acceptable levels at $18/day.

Wow, down to $217.88! Yes! Here's to hoping it keeps coming down!

 

[jpessa]

We are dropping off at noon because of flight times, so no, not using or hoping for a grace period.
The price is different for 10am pick-up and 9:30 am pick-up.
I don't want to pay extra for the 9:30 pick-up, but I also don't want to be slammed for extra time when we drop off!

I would just ask them at the counter when you pick up. The company might have a 2 hour return grace period as part of their policy which might be why a 9:30am pickup is more money. If that's the case you do indeed need to stick to 2 hours and not a minute more.

 

[SamSam]

Today I got a Dollar rental rate of 83.87 per week for a mid-size beginning Sept. 20th. This was not using a code, just click on City Special when you get to the page to make your car selection

 

[ktate82]

We are dropping off at noon because of flight times, so no, not using or hoping for a grace period.
The price is different for 10am pick-up and 9:30 am pick-up.
I don't want to pay extra for the 9:30 pick-up, but I also don't want to be slammed for extra time when we drop off!

We had something similar to this happen with Alamo. We were about 20 mins early and asked if we could pick up early. We were told since we got a low rate with a coupon, we would have to pay the difference. Thinking 20 mins wouldn't matter much, I asked the cost. It was originally around $75 and the price was going to go up $50 !!! We waited till it was time for our original reservation as we were not about to pay almost double for 20 mins! And they also made us wait to the minute (actually, a few past) before they would process us.