What have you seen on the EA? (running thread)

[DebbieB]

bump

 

[MickeyCrazed]

bump

 

[beattyfamily]

Well, I just got back last night. I booked EA and all there was were Intermediates. The Executive Aisle had PT Cruisers and other nice cars.

I ended up taking a gold classic. We fit everything....it was 2 adults and 3 kids ages 4, 4, and 8. We had 2 big suitcases and a couple of carryons and 2 booster seats and a double stroller.

I used the Carlson Code with no problems.

I left my cell phone in the car yesterday upon returning the car and got a call today that they found it and she said they'd send it UPS or FedEx and I picked UPS. She said they'd charge my CC for shipping. If they did not recover my cell phone, I'd never use National again.

 

[n2mm]

welcome back beattyfamily--sounds like not much has changed on EA since my late July trip. Because the aisle was empty when we went in July (first time ever), we have opted for a full size for our Oct. trip. We just don't want to chance it anymore. We too had a classic and were not happy with it. The rates are still pretty high on National, but I have found recently that the base rate for a full size is lower than the base rate for an intermediate, go figure. Your rate never dropped if I remember correctly. That also happened to us in July. The most we ever paid for the smallest car we've ever gotten. Glad everything worked out on your cell phone...

 

[DaisyDebbie]

We arrived in Orlando on 8/16 went to EA to find about 10 cars. Mostly Chevy Malibus. We decided on a white Dodge Stratus. About two days later it started making a thumping noise, then the engine light went on. I called Roadside repair and they told me to exchange the car at the airport as the Car Care Center at the MK didn't have any cars?????

I prayed all the way to the airport that I didn't breakdown, pulled up to the return aisle, I told the girl that something was very wrong with the car, she barely looked at me and didn't ask me what was wrong.

We took a Gold Grand Am SE, nice car, rode much better than the Stratus. They had no full size or SUV's available

Used the Carlson code, no problem.

 

[DebbieB]

We arrived in Orlando on 8/16 went to EA to find about 10 cars. Mostly Chevy Malibus. We decided on a white Dodge Stratus. About two days later it started making a thumping noise, then the engine light went on. I called Roadside repair and they told me to exchange the car at the airport as the Car Care Center at the MK didn't have any cars?????

They were probably short on cars becuase of the hurricane. Some people probably chose to drive when their flights were cancelled.

Were they the new style Malibu's or the old style Classics? I don't like the old Malibus, which are now called Classics, but the new model looks sharp.

Beattyfamily - what did your receipt say for size driven? The time I had an old Malibu they called it full size, which I think is ridiculous.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by DebbieB
Beattyfamily - what did your receipt say for size driven? The time I had an old Malibu they called it full size, which I think is ridiculous.

My receipt says ICAR which I assume means Intermediate?

 

[DaisyDebbie]

They were all Classics.

I saw a few Chevy Equinoxes, but they were "reserved" That Stratus was a piece of crap. I should have known when there was nothing attached to the key, just the key, no keyring.
With the Grand Am I got a remote to open and close the doors and trunk.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by DaisyDebbie
They were all Classics.

I saw a few Chevy Equinoxes, but they were "reserved" That Stratus was a piece of crap. I should have known when there was nothing attached to the key, just the key, no keyring.
With the Grand Am I got a remote to open and close the doors and trunk.

One time I chose a Stratus, loaded the trunk, got in, turned it on and the "check engine" light was on. It only had about 3,000 miles on it. There was no one around and I wasn't going to take a car with a light on, so we got out and I ended up taking the Toyota Corolla that was parked next to it. Small car but great on gas! I think I only put like $3.00 worth of gas in it!

I'm glad they consider the Malibu/Class an intermediate now. I got one as an intermediate from Avis last fall (business trip). The one I got from National as a full size was 3 or 4 years ago. Of all the cars I have rented, it was the only one I really did not like at all.

 

[mousey]

We arrived at the A terminal about 6:15pm on 8/24. About 12 cars in the emerald aisle. We took the Chevy venture minivan with 233 miles on it. Yes, they had mini vans (about 5) on the aisle. This one was an 8 passenger with the built in car seat. The car was still semi wrapped in the mfgr. plastic inside. This was the start of a great vacation!

 

[Junebugwv]

I'm using National for the first time on a 13-25 Sept trip. I signed up for EA and reserved a full size car. Do I just go to the EA aisle and start looking? I'm a bit confused with the statements about intermediate cars being available...am I "competing" with those who have paid for intermediates? And how do I know what is considered a full size car? I know this sounds nuts, but I have been driving minivans since 1984 and I don't know the difference between a Stratus and a Grand Am (except they are spelled differently!)

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by Junebugwv
I'm using National for the first time on a 13-25 Sept trip. I signed up for EA and reserved a full size car. Do I just go to the EA aisle and start looking? I'm a bit confused with the statements about intermediate cars being available...am I "competing" with those who have paid for intermediates? And how do I know what is considered a full size car? I know this sounds nuts, but I have been driving minivans since 1984 and I don't know the difference between a Stratus and a Grand Am (except they are spelled differently!)

EA = Emerald Aisle...you do NOT go to the EA, you go to the FULL size aisle. EA is only for those who booked an Intermediate size car. Having joined Emerald Club = EC, you can bypass the counter and head to the Full size aisle.

You probably booked a Emerald Reserve reservation for your Full size, not Emerald Aisle.

Hope this clears things.

 

[Junebugwv]

Thank you for the help. I looked up my ressie and it does say Emerald Reserve. I never noticed the difference. I'm hoping I pay more attention when choosing a car!

 

[deltachi8]

Arrived on Side B, 8/25/04 at 2:30 PM. Took the only PT Cruiser on the isle. No mini-vans or SUVs but did see a few Chevy Classics, Malibus, a Sebring as well.

Liked the PT Cruiser, my son picked it out and I was fine with that. Used the Carlson Code no problem at all.

 

[n2mm]

This just does not sound very good anymore. After having an empty lot (side B) to look forward to during our July trip and having to schlep over to the intermediate aisle to choose an intermediate car, we decided to opt for a full size on Emerald Reserve. Just can't take our chances in October that we'll again be disappointed.

 

[LvsTnk]

Forgot to post, but our arrival was 8/10 and we ended up with an Alero. The car was fine but very little trunk space....it was just me and my 2 children traveling so no problem. There were mostly Alero's, 2 door Sebrings, Classics, and 1 PT Cruiser that I would have taken but it smelled.

I rented an SUV with Reserve for our Dec. trip, didn't want to take a chance on EA. The price was cheaper than a mini-van and we really need the trunk space.

 

[Lexxiefern]

We got to the EA about 2:30pm on Friday Aug 27th. There was one red chevy blazer (that we took) and everything else were aleros and malibus.

 

[Ms. Belle]

I arrived on 8/27 at 9:30am on the B side. I took an Aztek with 80 miles on it. There were PT cruisers, minivans, Blazers and Liberty's on the EA.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by Ms. Belle
I arrived on 8/27 at 9:30am on the B side. I took an Aztek with 80 miles on it. There were PT cruisers, minivans, Blazers and Liberty's on the EA.

WOW! I never am that lucky. So far every single time I go to the EA its only Intermediates. I keep hoping though and have another ressies for Oct/Nov trip. Fingers crossed!

 

[mego]

Got there on 8/25 at 12:30 pm, side B. There were a lot of intermed. size cars, a Jeep Wrangler and an Aztec. We took the Aztec and we were very pleased with it. Returned the car yesterday in the midst of the hurricane frenzy. I did manage to glance over to see what was on EA and there was 4 minivans and the rest was intermed. size.