Wait Times at Budget's Regular Counter at MCO?

[PSUGuy]

Wifey booked a car from Budget using credit card reward points and some $$ and since it was a third party booking Budget can't attach the ressie to their FastBreak program. What kind of delay can we expect landing at 9:30 am on a Thurs.? We've been spoiled by me going right to the garage while she gets the bags, I usually win the race, but I'm dreading a long line at their regular counter.

Thanks,
Bill From PA

 

[gduvall]

i'm interested in the same info, i booked my reservation a long time ago, and tried to go back in and add my fastbreak number and i was told it would be like canceling and booking a new reservation. meaning the price goes up alot. So I left it along, and will have to go to the counter.

 

[Syndrome]

We just used Budget in August . Checked in at the counter , and it was the longest line out of all the rental co's . They were SO slow, and only had two employes working the counter while a few others just kind of milled about and didn't do anything to help with the long line of aggravated customers . When I got to the cue line , there were only 2 people in front of me, so I didn't really think I would need to go outside to the garage to check in ...........WRONG ! After about 15 minutes and a full cue behind me, I finally got my turn at the counter . After that things went pretty quick, only because we are fast break members . (in hindsight ..........we should have went straight to the garage) .
The thing that bothered me with Budget , (and other waiting customers) is the lack of customer service .........there were quite a few other employes, but none of them helped and there was NO sense of urgency to get the customers through the line .
This was very late ...........approx 11-11:30 PM , and while ALL the other rental agencies had no one in line ..........they all had more employes at the counter than Budgets , which had a line full of people that went past the cue "straps" .


Never again ............
Next time we are trying another rental co . !


Sorry for the disheartening news ! Hope this wont happen to you !

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Last time we rented with Budget the line was so long. While in line I call the Budget 800 number and joined the Fastbreak program over the phone. Sent DH out to the garage to see if he was about to check in at the Fastbreak counter out there while I held our place in line just in case the computer had not updated yet. He came back in about 10 minutes later to get me it was that easy for him. I explained what I had done to the folks behind me in line and they did the same thing.


I was temped before we left on our trip, to join Fastbreak but the rate if you were a member was higher. So when I called while in line the rep told me my rate would not change.

 

[Judyat]

Last time we rented from National. Went by Budget who by far had the longest lines. I had checked costco daily months in advance and never found Budget to be the cheapest. We don't like having them pick the car. We prefer to pick what's available from the aisle. Have some upcoming rentals and have found Alamo to be the cheapest so we'll be happy to pick our car in the aisle with them.

 

[PSUGuy]

Thanks for all the sobering info. First, I'm hoping the fact that we land at 9:30 am might make the lines not so bad. I already called Budget and tried to get the ressie on my FastBreak and was told it couldn't be done because wifey used reward points from her credit card. We'd also like to get me to be the driver, legally, so I'll probably wait for the bags while she gets in line, if the line is short I'll join her quickly, if long I'll get the bags and get with her then. Maybe with the two of us there we can get this done, maybe not. At any rate, day after tomorrow is The Day, we got the car on the cheap and we're grateful for that so what happens, happens.

Bill From PA