What to get first - luggage or rental car?

[PoohLover78]

Just wondering - whenver we flew into MCO, luggage took it's time to get there for us to pick-up. So I was wondering.... I'm getting a rental car with Hertz. Wouldn't it be smarter to go to the rental car counter first and get settled, then go pick up the bags and then go to the car? If for some reason car pick-up should take longer than the bags being unloaded, the bags will be unloaded from the carroussel and still wait for us there. It just seems like saving a bit of time to me ding it this way instead of first waiting for the bags and then waiting for the rental car. Or am I missing something?

 

[MaleficentRN]

Agreed. Even better if someone can get the car and bring it around so you don't have to schlep the bags so far.

 

[sam_gordon]

Just wondering - whenver we flew into MCO, luggage took it's time to get there for us to pick-up. So I was wondering.... I'm getting a rental car with Hertz. Wouldn't it be smarter to go to the rental car counter first and get settled, then go pick up the bags and then go to the car? If for some reason car pick-up should take longer than the bags being unloaded, the bags will be unloaded from the carroussel and still wait for us there. It just seems like saving a bit of time to me ding it this way instead of first waiting for the bags and then waiting for the rental car. Or am I missing something?

Are you by yourself or do you have an able bodied person with you?

If by yourself, I would wait on the luggage. I would be concerned someone would walk off with my bag (whether intentionally or unintentionally), OR it would be taken to the "lost baggage" area. Also, you wouldn't be able to leave the car unattended to go in to get the bags.

If you've got someone traveling with you, you can leave them to get the bags, go get the car, then meet outside at the 'arrivals' area. However, have a plan in case there's some kind of delay with the bags (whether being put on the carousel or a 'misdirection').

 

[Qmom]

Just wondering - whenver we flew into MCO, luggage took it's time to get there for us to pick-up. So I was wondering.... I'm getting a rental car with Hertz. Wouldn't it be smarter to go to the rental car counter first and get settled, then go pick up the bags and then go to the car? If for some reason car pick-up should take longer than the bags being unloaded, the bags will be unloaded from the carroussel and still wait for us there. It just seems like saving a bit of time to me ding it this way instead of first waiting for the bags and then waiting for the rental car. Or am I missing something?

I had the same question. This was our first time renting a vehicle and DH is golfing so we had a ton of luggage. We were met at baggage by a skycap and happily accepted his assistance. Good thing too, as he waited for us to get our car keys, guided us to the vehicles, helped us pick out the best one (way better than we would have selected ourselves) and moved the seats in the van to accommodate our luggage and loaded it all in. I'm sure we would have added time and tempers to our first day without that gentleman's assistance.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

My husband gets the car and the kids and I get the bags. Then we meet up and go to the car together. Sometimes the car lines are long so we split the responsibility.

 

[PoohLover78]

I'm gonna be aaaaaaall by myself for this Disney tip So I will have to schlepp my bag to the car anyways, whether I pick up the car keys before getting the bag or after.

Honestly? I don't think anyone would uninentionally walk off with my bag by grabbing the wrong one. I always travel with an Osprey trekking backpack. To this day, I haven't seen another person with the exact same one anywhere. I always tend to pick uncommon colors so people wouldn't mistake mine for theirs (same when I still used suitcases years ago - my pink one would always stick out ) So unintenionally walking off with my bag? Nah. Intentionally? My backpack looks so banged up, no one would probably want it

I guess I'll just get the car keys, grab my bag and then go get the car in the garage.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Something could happen to your bag if your there or not, anyway.
I'm going to throw this out there. Since it's just you, can you do a carry on bag?

 

[PoohLover78]

Something could happen to your bag if your there or not, anyway.
I'm going to throw this out there. Since it's just you, can you do a carry on bag?

Nope, can't do carry-on. I'm traveling from overseas and will stay almost 3 weeks.

Just wondering, honestly, has anyone ever had their bag stolen? I've never heard of that happening and I do fly a lot. I also ever had something happen to my bag only once, but that was only because we were checked in, the plane had a malfunction, we wouldnt have made our international connection so we got rebooked on very short notice. Our bags weren't unloaded and reloaded in time. What really could happen? The bag gets unloaded from the carousel. No big deal. The bag doesn't even get there - that would cause a problem no matter when. Am I missing something?

 

[jmasgat]

If you are a member of (or join for free)Hertz GoldPlus Rewards program, then you don't have to wait in line at the counter. Just go out and go straight to a pre-assigned car. So you could just wait for your bag and go.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm gonna be aaaaaaall by myself for this Disney tip So I will have to schlepp my bag to the car anyways, whether I pick up the car keys before getting the bag or after.

Honestly? I don't think anyone would uninentionally walk off with my bag by grabbing the wrong one. I always travel with an Osprey trekking backpack. To this day, I haven't seen another person with the exact same one anywhere. I always tend to pick uncommon colors so people wouldn't mistake mine for theirs (same when I still used suitcases years ago - my pink one would always stick out ) So unintenionally walking off with my bag? Nah. Intentionally? My backpack looks so banged up, no one would probably want it

I guess I'll just get the car keys, grab my bag and then go get the car in the garage.

Call me paranoid, but *I* wouldn't do that. IIRC, the walk between baggage claim and the rental cars, while not far, isn't exactly close. Then again, I'm assuming you get the keys at the car (or a kiosk in the garage). If you can get the keys at the counter, that might change my thinking.

On a normal day (baggage not held up coming off the plane), I'm guessing you'll only save 5-10 minutes doing it your way.

Just my opinion though.

 

[PoohLover78]

If you are a member of (or join for free)Hertz GoldPlus Rewards program, then you don't have to wait in line at the counter. Just go out and go straight to a pre-assigned car. So you could just wait for your bag and go.

Ooooooooh! I am a Hertz Gold member.

Just to clarify - because this is what I'm used to when renting a car. You go to the counter, they do all the paperwork and then they either hand you the keys to the car or tell you where to find your car or where you can choose one. That's basically what I want to do before grabbing my bag. Get the paperwork done. In no way do I want to head out to the garage before getting my bag. I just want to get the paperwork done that's done before you get the car. I guess if I'm a Hertz Gold member, there won't be any paperwork?

 

[malibuconlee]

Last year, by the time we got off the plane, went to the bathroom and made it to baggage claim our luggage was already there. Very lonely, I think most on our flight were taking Magical Express since there were very few bags on the carousel.

 

[tobikaye]

Since you are a Gold member, pick up your luggage first. You will just go to the Hertz parking areas. There should be a sign listing the reservation and where to locate your car. If you do not like this car, then you can pick another car in the same class. When you go to exit, there will be someone there to take your identification before you leave the airport. At least this is what I am remembering, I could be slightly off.

 

[HelenParr]

We fly Southwest and rent from Alamo, so ymmv depending on airline and rental company.

For us, 100% of the time (3x year, for many years) we are able to get to the Alamo kiosk, complete rental (incuding adding driver at kiosk -- need the 2nd driver there with license), and get back upstairs to baggage area before our bags are out. With time to spare.

 

[PSUGuy]

We have Dollar Express and other such plans with other rental companies that allow me to go straight to the parkade and get the car quickly. In the last 10 years what we've done is wifey goes to the carrousel, I go to the parkade, do the paperwork and choose a car. Then I return to the carrousel by which time wifey has most or all of the luggage and off we go. The timing is nearly perfect.

Bill From PA

 

[keishashadow]

Nope, can't do carry-on. I'm traveling from overseas and will stay almost 3 weeks.

Just wondering, honestly, has anyone ever had their bag stolen? I've never heard of that happening and I do fly a lot. I also ever had something happen to my bag only once, but that was only because we were checked in, the plane had a malfunction, we wouldnt have made our international connection so we got rebooked on very short notice. Our bags weren't unloaded and reloaded in time. What really could happen? The bag gets unloaded from the carousel. No big deal. The bag doesn't even get there - that would cause a problem no matter when. Am I missing something?

I've had bags go missing despite waiting at the carousel for them which leads me to believe they were just 'lost' vs stolen. What can you do? it happens and the airlines have always compensated us for our trouble but always well after the time we return home. It's a slow process.

to answer your questions, yes, as with most large airports theft does happen. many airports run frequent sting operations with the onsite police department, assume Orlando follows suit.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ggage-thefts-police-arrest-two-orlando-police

We don't bother splitting up to gather luggage, rarely adds more than 10 - 15 minutes unless we have to deal with the counters in the terminal. Even then, if you sign up for whatever reward program it speeds things along.

 

[sam_gordon]

We fly Southwest and rent from Alamo, so ymmv depending on airline and rental company.

For us, 100% of the time (3x year, for many years) we are able to get to the Alamo kiosk, complete rental (incuding adding driver at kiosk -- need the 2nd driver there with license), and get back upstairs to baggage area before our bags are out. With time to spare.

How long does the kiosk take?

Your wait time for luggage will vary based on a couple factors... where are you on the plane (if you're at the back, it takes longer to get off the plane) and are you stopping for bathroom breaks/shopping/food en route to baggage claim come immediately to mind.

Here's a question... how long before unclaimed bags are taken to the airline office?

 

[PoohLover78]

I think I will call Hertz today and see if I can just go to the garage and my car will be there or if I have to go to a kiosk to do paperwork. There's a couple factors that I think may need me to go do paperwork beforehand. A) I don't have a US driver's license and B) I am not returning the car at the airport but at DTD. Self-checking so far at the screens has never worked for me with my license. Of course I also never actually had the rental agency at the airport either. I am used to being picked up by a rental shuttle.

 

[jmasgat]

The different return location wouldn't be an issue....but the driver's license, yeah, probably. Should have read your posts more carefully!

 

[sam_gordon]

I think I will call Hertz today and see if I can just go to the garage and my car will be there or if I have to go to a kiosk to do paperwork. There's a couple factors that I think may need me to go do paperwork beforehand. A) I don't have a US driver's license and B) I am not returning the car at the airport but at DTD. Self-checking so far at the screens has never worked for me with my license. Of course I also never actually had the rental agency at the airport either. I am used to being picked up by a rental shuttle.

B shouldn't matter. The different DL, maybe. I agree a call to Hertz could help. IIRC, there's a counter in the airport not far from baggage claim. Assuming the line isn't too long at the counter, I don't see it being a problem going there before getting your bag.