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

[zizzyx]

Thanks a lot. I'll keep all that in mind. You never know!

 

[barbnbrian]

I am an EA member and although I haven't rented yet, after reading the info on how EA works, the website says EA members may book an intermediate size vehicle and pick from any vehicle on the EA. I take that to mean you are quaranteed at least an intermediate, but can have your pick of any EA on the lot. It also says if you need a specific size vehicle, i.e. minivan, to reserve that type vehicle. So to me, this means that if I reserve an intermediate, I can still select any other size vehicle of my choice on the EA lot.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by barbnbrian
I am an EA member and although I haven't rented yet, after reading the info on how EA works, the website says EA members may book an intermediate size vehicle and pick from any vehicle on the EA. I take that to mean you are quaranteed at least an intermediate, but can have your pick of any EA on the lot. It also says if you need a specific size vehicle, i.e. minivan, to reserve that type vehicle. So to me, this means that if I reserve an intermediate, I can still select any other size vehicle of my choice on the EA lot.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please.

There are aisle for each size and then there is an Executive Aisle and an Emerald Aisle.

The Emerald Aisle is MOSTLY Intermediates with the 'chance' of an upgrade.

If you book an Intermediate with your Emerald Club, you get to either go to the Intermeidate aisle or the Emerald Aisle and choose from either of those aisle BUT NOT from the whole National lot.

The way they've updated the Emerald Club, EA is mostly Intermediates and that is what you are guaranteed but a bonus might happen...and now the new Emerald Executive Aisle is for frequent guests and they are guaranteed a Full size but also might get bonuses.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Anyone just back? What type of cars have you seen? Thanks!

MKY (getting anxious)

 

[NYMEDIC]

Just back! We arrived in Orlando at 930 on Sunday, July 11, in the A terminal. When we arrived on the National Floor in the garage the agent directed us to the Intermediate Aisle as opposed to Emerald Aisle. EA had lots of PT's in all colors, not that many other selections. However, the intermediate aisle had Aleros (1 red, many whites), several Imapalas or Malibus, several Dodge Stratus' mostly white. We took a sky blue 2 door stratus, one of a few 2 doors. We figured how many sky blue stratus'are there? Well we found out the hard way at Sea World. My wife and I were the funny looking people walking to the all of the sky blue dodge stratus in our aisle. After walking to the fourth car we realized it was ours.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by NYMEDIC
Just back! We arrived in Orlando at 930 on Sunday, July 11, in the A terminal. When we arrived on the National Floor in the garage the agent directed us to the Intermediate Aisle as opposed to Emerald Aisle. EA had lots of PT's in all colors, not that many other selections. However, the intermediate aisle had Aleros (1 red, many whites), several Imapalas or Malibus, several Dodge Stratus' mostly white. We took a sky blue 2 door stratus, one of a few 2 doors. We figured how many sky blue stratus'are there? Well we found out the hard way at Sea World. My wife and I were the funny looking people walking to the all of the sky blue dodge stratus in our aisle. After walking to the fourth car we realized it was ours.

Nice surprise seeing Impalas on the intermediate aisle, they are full size. Malibus are finally where they belong, in the intermediate aisle.

 

[AllyBri]

Just back.
On July 1st EA was filled with PTs. We really did not want to rent another PT for 18 days. A man came by and took a look at our ressie, walked away, came back and told us we could take an Impala. I said are you sure?? lol
They have just about about removed all the really "nice' cars from EA. But that's just my op.

 

[sorchamac]

Just wondering - if I go to the EA and don't like what I see there, do you think I could get a car out of the intermediate aisle? I don't see why not, right? We'd probably be happy with a 4-door Grand Am or Malibu (we've owned both and have liked them).

Sorcha

 

[CarolA]

I am pretty sure you can go to the midsize aisle since that is what you reserved.

 

[Tinkbell]

On Saturday July 10 we saw 2 PT Cruisers, 1 Aztec, many Grand Ams and some Malibus. Being an EA rental car rookie, I probably missed some in my excitement of being in Florida. My boyfriend wanted the Cruiser. There was a blue one that did not have power windows and locks. The silver one did, so we took it. I actually liked this car. It was great for 2 people, but I would steer away if you are a family of 4 because luggage woulld be tight. The whole process was very simple and I'd do it again.

 

[DebbieB]

Do they have the new style Malibus? They are pretty sharp compared to the old ones. Of all the cars I've rented, the old Malibu was the only one I didn't like. I got one once from National and once from Avis, both assigned to me not chosen. At National, it was about 4 years ago, they had no cars left on the intermediate row, I had upgraded from a compact. So the attendent pulled up a Malibu from full size. Avis was on a business trip, they pre-assign cars.

 

[lawgs]

on our last trip in june, they had a malibu max sitting in the aisle but there were no keys in it

we enquired about it and were told that someone must have walked off with the keys so we choose a rendevous

for whatever reason, the rendevous had not been cleaned and we found food and crayons in the back seat arm rest

thus we returned the rendevous the next day, and the malibu was still sitting there so we asked the supervisor who was processing our exchange if there were keys for the malibu available

she said they would have to get a locksmith to cut a new key but that it would not be done right away so we took an equinox as a replacement

when we returned on monday the malibu was still sitting there "keyless"

we also would like to try out the new malibu max

on a side note, the supervisor said we would not have had to return to the airport to exchange the rendevous....if we had called they would have sent an employee out with a replacement car to our hotel

we will keep that in mind if we ever have to do another exchange

 

[n2mm]

Just returned last night and have to say I am a BIG EA fan, but this time I was extremely disappointed. I guess it's all timing now. We arrived on Wednesday AM (10:30) and there was NOTHING in the emerald aisle, zippo, empty all of the way up to the kiosk. (2 cars in the executive aisle.) So at suggestions read here, hubby went to the kiosk and asked what we should do and was bluntly told to take a car from intermediate (afterall that's what you pay for). So we did and is was "what we paid for." Since we are a small group (2 adults, 1 child), we had enough room, though luggage space was tight for 5 suitcases. We never encountered no cars available before so we were not happy that we had no choice, and would have like some sort of selection. We travel to WDW about 5 times a year and never had this problem before. Hope it isn't going to be the norm now. If it happens in October, we will start selecting a full size on a regular basis, but may not need to because I should move up to executive aisle next year since I will exceed the 40 days to qualify. We were there in Feb and May and both times chose a full size from a large selection of cars in the EA.

 

[lawgs]

n2mm

what side did you check ?

we usually fly into the A side, but if pickings are slim go to the B side ( which used to seem to have more cars available )

executive selection means you pay intermediate price for full size selection ( sorta like the OLD EA used to be like )

 

[n2mm]

lawgs, we were on the B side. I thought of going to the A side and looking, but had the grandson in tow so just wanted to go....mostly we were in shock that there was no selection whatsoever, this had never happened to us before after probably 30 or more rentals in the past couple of years. Do you think we could have gone to the A side and picked up, but still return to the B side at the end???

 

[n2mm]

lawgs, we were on the B side. I thought of going to the A side and looking, but had the grandson in tow so just wanted to go....mostly we were in shock that there was no selection whatsoever, this had never happened to us before after probably 30 or more rentals in the past couple of years. Do you think we could have gone to the A side and picked up, but still return to the B side at the end???

 

[stormy7578]

Originally posted by n2mm
lawgs, we were on the B side. I thought of going to the A side and looking, but had the grandson in tow so just wanted to go....mostly we were in shock that there was no selection whatsoever, this had never happened to us before after probably 30 or more rentals in the past couple of years. Do you think we could have gone to the A side and picked up, but still return to the B side at the end???

I am not LAWGS, but, the answer is yes, you could have done that.

 

[lawgs]

n2mm

we do that a lot

pick up on B and return to A

so far have not had any problems doing that, they are able to give us a printout receipt using their handheld machines

 

[dudspizza]

I have read 2 separate posts from people who have found the EA totally empty when they arrived at MCO. I arrive in two weeks and I am a bit bothered by this.

Any other thoughts on the EA?

We actually have 3 families all using EA on Wednesday, August 11 at noon, so we will need 3 cars! I am sure selection is going to be slim, but I sure hope we don't end up with nothing in the EA, though I know I can go over to intermediate. It just seems a bit anti-climactic to end up going to the intermediate aisle after going through all of the trouble to get the Emerald Club membership....

Thanks...

Duds

 

[dudspizza]

bumping.......