Other Car Rental Programs/Partners (ie. Alamo, Enterprise, Sixt) - Pick Your Car

I noticed the the Alamo in Phoenix is starting to allow you to pick your car, just like Enterprise. I think it's a great move -- having the choice to test drive the various makers they offer.

Too bad their Quicksilver membership doesn't do much good. But I still like Alamo -- my #1 choice when renting in LA, Vegas, Phoenix.

Last time it was just your choice of Chevrolets or Chryslers, but often there are numerous makes to test drive. Two years ago I was flying in every other weekend to visit a rapidly declining parent and pretty well shopped for my next car. There was always a brown Daewoo in Intermediate Spot #1 every trip. I wondered if they reparked it there every time in hopes somebody would put enough miles on it to retire it, or if the same car got bypassed every day and never moved. I was going to take it once just to cheer them up, only to be vetoed by a teenage son who notified me he was not about to roll across Kansas in "that."

I am flying into LAX in July for the 1st time and hiring from Alamo. Will I get a choice of vehicles there? I have booked a 4x4, any idea what my choices are likely to be??

Thanks

Grebo

I had the same experience in CLT in Oct. 2003. Just dropped at the end of the row and told to take anything that said "full-size". This was on a Priceline reservation.

Bob

I would suggest you call the LAX Alamo office to find out. I rent most of my cars from LAX Alamo and this is what I normally do: (1) I go straight out to the lot and check out the selection of vehicles they have for the category I'm about to get. (2) I write down the parking space number of the top 3 cars I'd like to get. (3) Upon getting a car assignment by their rep, I kindly ask them if they could provide me the car on ____ parking space.

They're normally pretty nice about it. They'll do it if it's available and hasn't been taken. Of course, you have to be understanding as well if that car has already been assigned to someone in front of you.

I give kudos to all the staff at the ALAMO LAX for good customer service.