Waits at rental car counters

Microcell

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 17, 2004
Messages
7,833
I have traveled many places and never had more than a 15 minute wait at the car rental counter, but with all of your posts I am getting worried that I will have a horrible wait. I am arriving right around noon on a Friday. Shoud I dart for the rental counter with my DS and DD and let DH get the luggage?
 
Who are you renting from? Many of the agencies have programs that let you bypass the counter.
 
We usually arrive at midnight on Fri. and still have had some bad waits, particularly at Alamo (sometimes an hour). Last weekend, we noticed that Budget had a huge wait too. Avis and Hertz are typically the shortest, in our experience, and Thrifty has been good too. I would definitely have someone else get the luggage while you wait for the car. We don't check luggage when we do quickie weekend trips, but if we did, that's definitely what hubby and I would do.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com
 

I find the shortest lines at Avis. Have rented with them a few times now and have never waited very long. We walked by a line at Alamo/National last month that was HUGE. We walked up to the counter at Avis.
 
Originally posted by Microcell
The company is National

Do you have a reservation that says you need to go to the counter? You might consider joining Emerald Club, free via www.turnertravel.com and have that membership attached to your reservation, at which point there is no line, you go to the garage and get your car.
 
Now is it a problem that I am not using Turner for this rental? Do I call and tell national the membership number and attach to my existing reservation?
 
Originally posted by Microcell
Now is it a problem that I am not using Turner for this rental? Do I call and tell national the membership number and attach to my existing reservation?

Nope, no problem at all. BTW, it will say that they are charging you a 50.00 fee to join, but, because TT code is in it, they waive the charge.
After you sign up, write down the number, and call national with it, they should link it.
 
That is great!!! I almost feel okay about the cost now that I will not have to wait in a long line for a car I may not need! Thank you so much Gail. I bet if I study these boards long enough, I could almost go to Disney free!! BTW going through turners website it did automatically fill in the code and then it said to check okay that the fee is waived so I had absolutely no trouble!
 
Originally posted by Microcell
That is great!!! I almost feel okay about the cost now that I will not have to wait in a long line for a car I may not need! Thank you so much Gail. I bet if I study these boards long enough, I could almost go to Disney free!! BTW going through turners website it did automatically fill in the code and then it said to check okay that the fee is waived so I had absolutely no trouble!

You are entirely welcome. Now try another reservation (log onto the emerald club page, you have to make an id and password, it is easy, just follow the screens and directions) with some of the codes and coupons from www.mousesavers.com
also, try the Emerald club contract code of 5007125 (replace the one that will propagate itself). If you need more help, just ask.
I LOVE finding prices for cars. :)
 
Uh oh,

I tried the code, and it is a good discount came out to $210.00, but my original deal which is $163 included a coupon and when I put in your code and the coupon for two class car upgrade it said I would have to go to the counter! If I have a coupon I can't use Emerald Aisle? Is that right?
 
Upgrades will always have to go to the counter. Any other coupon can be used on the EA.

What are your dates and times?
 
My dates are may 7th at 1pm and leaving may 13th at 4pm.

I am upset because I cant find anything close to the $163 and I figured out why, it was for a standard, not intermediate and I had originally thought that we were leaving at 12 noon and when I ran a check with the same codes as before but with the 4pm leaving time, it was another thirty dollars! I may check with a car service. The main reason I wanted to rent was to be able to leave directly from the park on our last day. UGH!!!
 
Originally posted by Microcell
My dates are may 7th at 1pm and leaving may 13th at 4pm.

I am upset because I cant find anything close to the $163 and I figured out why, it was for a standard, not intermediate and I had originally thought that we were leaving at 12 noon and when I ran a check with the same codes as before but with the 4pm leaving time, it was another thirty dollars! I may check with a car service. The main reason I wanted to rent was to be able to leave directly from the park on our last day. UGH!!!


I ran the dates, and what I have so far, for an intermediate, Emerald Aisle pickup (I have yet to drive out with an intermediate, they always have had full size cars on the aisle and you can take whatever is there at the same price as the intermediate) is :

Intermediate 2/4 Door Car Auto A/C




Pick-up:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
07-MAY-2004 01:00 PM

Return:
Orlando Intl Arpt, FL
13-MAY-2004 04:00 PM

Rates - Time & Distance USD
Time & Distance 1 Week @ 184.99 184.99
Extra - Time & Distance 0 Day @ 41.11 0.00
Extra - Time & Distance 0 Hour @ 20.56 0.00
Unlimited Distance-time & Distance 0 Distance @ 0.00 0.00

Base Rate _____
184.99


Add Surcharges & Taxes: (subject to change)
Concession Fee Recov Chrg 9.8 Pct 14.51
Fl Schrg/tire Bat Fee 2.05 Usd/dy 14.35
License Recoupment Fee .49 Usd/dy 3.43
State Tax (6.50%) 11.50

Total Estimate _____
188.43


Rules & Conditions
Unlimited Miles
A Minimum of 5 Day(s) will be charged.
The Minimum Rental Duration is 5 Day(s).
Maximum rental length of 28 Day(s).
The Minimum Advance Booking is 1 Hour(s).
Renter must present a major credit card in renter's name.
Young Renter Non-Commercial Account: Minimum rental age at most locations is 21. Some locations require a minimum age of 25 (except for the State of New York where the minimum age is 18). All customers under age 25 renting at Corporate locations will be charged a standard additional daily fee of $25.00 (except in New York, where the daily fee is $49.37). All Young Renters and Young Renter Additional Drivers must have a major credit card and a valid drivers license. Young renters can use discounts and coupons except in the state of New York. Young renters can only rent economy cars through full size cars.
Additional drivers fees may apply. Any person can sign onto the rental contract as an additional driver if he/she appears at the originating National location with the renter and: 1) Provides a valid drivers license 2) Provides a major credit card in his/her own name 3) Meets the minimum age requirements for the rental station 4) Meets clean driving criteria 5) Must sign the rental agreement.
A Frequent Flyer Service Charge of $.50 a day may apply when renters choose to receive Frequent Flyer miles or credits.
Debit and check cards not accepted at time of reservation or rental but, at participating locations within the United States, may be used for payment at time of return.
Reserve Now!Emerald Club Home Profile
You can use the BJ's coupon, it is out there for anyone. They have never asked me for my card.
Here is the webaddress:

http://www.bjsvacations.com/promotion/bjs/carrental/default.asp#national
 
Originally posted by Microcell
I have traveled many places and never had more than a 15 minute wait at the car rental counter, but with all of your posts I am getting worried that I will have a horrible wait. I am arriving right around noon on a Friday. Shoud I dart for the rental counter with my DS and DD and let DH get the luggage?

We have used Qucik Rent through National and it is great. No counter at all.
 
Originally posted by Tiffany
We have used Qucik Rent through National and it is great. No counter at all.

Quick rent is great, but, you cannot use coupons.
 
Originally posted by Microcell
Thanks so much for your hard work! I will give it a try.

You are welcome, and, trust me, it is not hard work, it is actually something I totally enjoy.
One word of caution here, make sure the person listed on the reservation is the one picking up the car and the one who has the EC card. The additional driver is free, btw, with the EC. (with certain limitations).
 
Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Quick rent is great, but, you cannot use coupons.

Ture. But, I have been able to fine rates that I consider to be good buy just using the Contact ID. The ease of by passing the counter outweighs any additional savings a coupon might get us.
 
Originally posted by Tiffany
Ture. But, I have been able to fine rates that I consider to be good buy just using the Contact ID. The ease of by passing the counter outweighs any additional savings a coupon might get us.

I never use the counter, I always use EC and coupons. Just go, pick out the car, stop at the kiosk in the garage, and go.
 


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