National - Questions for NYC Renters

I have a one-way coming up in the New York area and I am trying to determine a few things. This will be a Free Day redemption, if that changes anything. For those of you who rent frequently, maybe you can help me out?

1) Which NYC locations (airport or otherwise) consistently have the highest-quality cars? Yes, I have looked through the "Cars at ____" threads, and I understand that inventory shifts a lot. In general though, where am I most likely to have good luck? Or, which locations will be most accomodating to an upgrade request? I can pick from any of the airport locations.

Also, what time of day during the course of a weekend (Friday 6PM->Sunday 9PM) will the selection likely to be the best, based on your experience?

2) Is Premium the highest class I can reserve in the NYC area? For some reason, no higher classes are showing up at EWR/LGA/JFK, even on dummy bookings that are not one ways.

I'd imagine more business travelers would be arriving on Sunday night, so the competition for good cars may be harder.

National at LGA is a smaller, run-down facility, shared with a National long-term airport parking operation. I've been there once, and was very happy with the Challenger I chose from the Emerald Aisle for a free day one-way to Maine. This was on a Tuesday, one of the days where the lot is supposed to be bare once the business crowd has picked through it all on Mondays. But others have arrived at various times and posted here they were not thrilled with the offerings. I may go there again in mid-June, for a possible one-way to HPN, and if I do, I will post in the relevant thread. When are you going, and where are you one-waying to?

JFK and EWR are larger facilities, with presumably many more arriving international customers. I have not personally rented there yet, from any company. I will return a Hertz car one-way to EWR in early June, but chances are I won't get to peak at the National area. Still, I would imagine that the size of these locations, and perhaps greater desire to impress people from all over the world with American rental cars, might mean a bigger and better selection.

Also, you may know this already, but Manhattan neighborhood stores do not allow free day pickups. You can return there with free days, but the high costs, high demand, and space constraints mean that rentals using free days in NYC can be redeemed at airports only.

Thanks Auto Enthusiast. Basically I would be coming in from Atlantic City with a Hertz one way (no national there unfortunately). I can return it to any of those locations for the same price and pick up the National rental, so I am flexible. I figured JFK and EWR would be better. This will be for the second weekend in June. The one way would be for an 11 hour drive sunday night with a return on Monday back to DTW which is why I actually care.

I thought the Free Days were good for up to Luxury at my level, which is why I am confused that none of these locations seem to offer luxury (or other higher levels). I'd need be I will make the Premium reservation, and while likely that means I'd get an Avalon, I absolutely will not take a Crown Vic or Grand Marquis.

I'm pretty sure they have those car classes. When I was at LGA, there was a Grand Marquis on the Executive Aisle, along with minivans and SUVs on the Emerald Aisle. They may not be allowing you to redeem your banked free days for them, or it could be a computer glitch. Maybe try calling.

If you're coming from Atlantic City, perhaps take the train to PHL and pick up from National there? The rental cars in the NY metro area tend to take a good beating from a lot of people driving far. (Most do not rent for local trips within the city, for instance.) For instance, the Challenger had some scratches on the back bumper, and seemed to be missing one of the LATCH anchors on the rear shelf.

Another advantage to JFK and LGA is that your credit card will likely not cover insurance for free days, but NYS CDW is just $9/day. EWR is the usual price. JFK has a fixed, taxable facility fee, while LGA does not. It's ultimately up to you, of course.

I thought the Free Days were good for up to Luxury at my level, which is why I am confused that none of these locations seem to offer luxury (or other higher levels). I'd need be I will make the Premium reservation, and while likely that means I'd get an Avalon, I absolutely will not take a Crown Vic or Grand Marquis.

Are you an Executive or Executive Elite? Execs can rent up to Full Size on a free rental day; EEs can rent any available car type.

I've rented from both LGA and EWR and both had good car selections- I got Ford Fusions both times from the Emerald Aisle, and there were some nicer cars as well.

I would avoid driving in or around NYC at all costs so if I were coming from Atlantic City, I'd rent from EWR. Why not take New Jersey Transit (train) or a combination of NJ Transit and Amtrak (much faster between Philadelphia and Newark Airport) between those two points instead of driving?

LGA has some Chrysler 300's and Grand Marquis. EWR has nice Avalon's.

I've rented from both LGA and EWR and both had good car selections- I got Ford Fusions both times from the Emerald Aisle, and there were some nicer cars as well.

I would avoid driving in or around NYC at all costs so if I were coming from Atlantic City, I'd rent from EWR. Why not take New Jersey Transit (train) or a combination of NJ Transit and Amtrak (much faster between Philadelphia and Newark Airport) between those two points instead of driving?

Thanks but a vehicle will be necessary for this trip. Public transport is not an option. We also won't be coming from Philadelphia but AC directly.

Was able to make the necessary reservations by phone. Thanks all for the help!

So what did you decide?

So what did you decide?

+1

I was able to reserve the Premium one-way with a phone call to Emerald Club customer service (not standard reservations), but ended up cancelling the reservation. Our travel plans changed and we won't be one-waying out of the NYC area after all.

I did discover (to my surprise) that despite picking up the rental at LGA and returning at JFK (technically a "one way"), I was still able to use 1-2-Free and Standard Free Day coupons for the rental. I assume that the NY market locations all share cars, which is why my rental is not getting assessed as a one-way.

No, they are one-ways. The price for retail customers is often different. All corporate locations "share" cars. What you are seeing is because those days are good for one-ways, and the NYC airports participate in free day redemption, since they are not Manhattan neighborhood stores.