Slow time between touchdown and rental desk

[Donna M]

I´m looking to save some money on a minivan. Our plane lands at 10:10 am. We´ll have a double stroller, two carseats, and luggage to pick up, so we are quite encumbered We want to stretch the time before picking up the car because it will save money due to our return flight time. Eating an early lunch could help eating time too. How much time do you think it could take between landing and the car. We don´t want to just sit and wait for the car pick up time either. Right now I have a minivan reserved for 11:30. Think I could push it to 12:00 without too much crazy time with a 2 yo and 3 yo?

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I´m looking to save some money on a minivan. Our plane lands at 10:10 am. We´ll have a double stroller, two carseats, and luggage to pick up, so we are quite encumbered We want to stretch the time before picking up the car because it will save money due to our return flight time. Eating an early lunch could help eating time too. How much time do you think it could take between landing and the car. We don´t want to just sit and wait for the car pick up time either. Right now I have a minivan reserved for 11:30. Think I could push it to 12:00 without too much crazy time with a 2 yo and 3 yo?

Landing on time, taxi to the gate, exit the plane with two toddlers, figure that it will be 10:30 am before you are actually off the plane. By the time you walk from the gate to the monorail from the gates to the main terminal, head down to pick up all your luggage, etc., it will be 10:45 to 11:00. Will you stop to eat before heading down to luggage pick-up or get the luggage and then backtrack for food. If you do that, 12:00 is totally realistic. If you eat before heading down to luggage pick-up, the timing might be much the same. The only problem with that is letting the luggage, etc. wait for you to get down there to retrieve it. Do you want to risk that, since I cannot remember anyone checking my checked luggage tags in the last 10 or more years, at least. We almost always pay the $5 to rent a luggage cart and pile everything on that to simplify moving through the terminal and out to the rental garage.

Who are you renting with? With Alamo, picking up 30 minutes after your reserved time should give you an extra 30 minutes on the return time end since Alamo charges based on 24-hour rental periods. Also, do you have a skip-the-rental-car-counter membership so you won’t need to fight the crowds at the rental counter?

 

[Lewisc]

What is your return time? Car rentals are generally based on a 24 hour rental day. If the issue is with time you gave prior to flight changes. If picking up at 11 instead of 12 isn't going over 24 hours you can call and verify. Otherwise your rental agreement should have an hourly charge if you return the car late. Decide if you'd rather kill time or spend $. Your flight could be delayed making this moot.

I agree with PP. I wouldn't leave my luggage at baggage claim while I dined.