Other Car Rental Programs/Partners (ie. Alamo, Enterprise, Sixt) - Alamo poor customer service in MCO

Just (have been) waiting in line here at MCO for over a hour at the Alamo in terminal, anyone else experience this before?

Things like this make me wonder should I have priceline'd hertz/budget/avis ;)

Alamo in MCO is one of the busiest rental locations in the country (thousands of rentals a day). They are infamous for long lines.

Hmmm, poor customer service at Alamo... Who would have thought it?

Let's see a recipe of lots of people who only rent a car once or twice a year, in one of the largest vacation destinations, so the customer information probably isn't on the computer. Combine this with a shortage of employees who have to try to sell you every add on with the rental and this is what you get. Can't imagine why there is a wait. Only way they could make the situation worse would be to adopt an Enterprise Rent-A-Car policy where the counter person has to go out to the car so you can sign the note that says there is no damage to the car before you drive off the lot.

There is a reason you got a good deal on Priceline, regular customers won't wait around when they can go somewhere else. However I have a feeling the situation is similar at the other counters.

Can you join their Quicksilver program and only have to deal with a machine that might not have a line on Priceline rentals?

The Alamo queue length at MCO is exactly as the original poster describes in my experience. For my trips to MCO, I always have a cheaper reservation at Alamo, along with a somewhat more expensive backup reservation at Avis. Invariably, the Alamo queue has more than 100 customers waiting in it, so I never have actually rented from them in MCO – I just continue on to Avis, where there is typically no wait greater than 1 or 2 customers. (At any other airport location, I generally have no problems with Alamo waits.)

From my research, I don’t believe there is an express option for Quicksilver customers at MCO. Please advise if you’ve found one actually exists.

Also, as was mentioned, Alamo very heavily markets in Europe (and probably other overseas regions) to vacationers headed to the US with very, very cheap rates – intending to take advantage of their unfamiliarity (and crankiness and sleep deprivation) once they arrive at MCO, by hardselling vehicle upgrades, extra insurance, and other options; add to that probable language difficulties with some and you’ve got a 20 minute per customer check-in experience … multiply that by 100 customers ahead of you, and you should quickly realize you’ll be waiting a very long time at Alamo in MCO. :)

Any specific times worse than others for Alamo at MCO?

I've got a PriceLine res through them for a pickup at 6PM, but I can supposidly pickup anytime within a 24 hour range of that (so they tell me, since it's prepaid, they hold for 24 hours...anyone have experience w/this??). So given that, I can be at the airport anytime between noon and midnight, effictly based on my schedule. This would be on a Sunday. Any bets on the best time? I was thinking closer to midnight :)

-A

auher:

My experiences with Alamo at MCO (see my post of 4/14/05 above) have always been arriving into MCO at 11:00 to 11:30 pm on either a Fri or a Sat. (typically the heaviest arrival traffic days into MCO from both overseas and domestically) -- queues at Alamo of about 100 customers.

I would expect arrival traffic to be significantly less on a Sunday (which is the heavy departures day instead), but don't have any hard evidence for you - OTOH Alamo might scale down their counter staff accordingly on Sunday as well. :(

I have waited at Alamo in MCO for over an hour on multiple trips. Both on the weekend and during the day.

I fly in and pick up a car at Alamo on Wednesday. I'm dreading it. :(

...anyone speak positively about Alamo.

sorry wrong forum

...anyone speak positively about Alamo.
There is very little that is good to say about Alamo's customer service. But they do have low rates.

I agree, low rates.
Last time I rented in FLL, it only took about 5 minutes to get finished with saying, No to the upgrades, insurance, etc.

We are renting next week, Wed 11pm... at MCO. Although from reading this thread maybe I should book somewhere else.

I was at MCO's Alamo counter on Sunday night (5/8).

No problems at all, in fact we walked right up to an agent who helped us, then we were out to our car & on our way.

We had a car through PL.

-A

Sunday night is one of the few times that you can rent in Orlando without a wait. Stay away from there from Thursday-Saturday.

This is the truth with MCO. I usually fly down to central florida for the Daytona races in February and July. Last February I had it with flying into MCO because of the lines at Alamo. I just fly into DAB now instead and get an even cheaper rate.

They have removed all the QuickSilver machines systemwide. Employees said there were problems with identity theft. MCO is a real pain. My last trip was six months ago and I don't recall a dedicated line for QuickSilver.

Avis on the website, no discount codes, is 1 dollar per day cheaper at MCO than Alamo, from the website, no discount codes.

given the lines, I see no reason why I would go to alamo at MCO.

One reason that Alamo in MCO is so busy is they do a lot of business with tour operators. Many of those customers waiting in line with you have pre-paid flights/hotels and car rentals in one package. This is very common in MCO, Also bid on priceline in MCO and 80% of the time you will get Alamo (if they have cars left). I once rented a mid size car for a week in MCO using only an Entertainment Free day coupon and AAA discount and it cost $56 for the week including taxes.

I was there on 5/19 at 11 PM. 2 Agents at the desk, and only 5 people in line. I got to the garage and there were no compacts left (my reservation), but the attendant was really friendly and apologized and said take anything you want.

Had rental at Alamo MCO last year and we had "fast track" as we had filled in the form already. Husband stood at the checkpoint which had the notice for fast track (I forget the name) only to be ignored - the next time an agent came free instead of letting one of the people in the longer line to intercept I sideswiped them and got to the clerk. Was told that they no longer offered the "fast track for BA passengers", informed him that I had not spent my time filling in a form only for it to be ignored and also that I had been waiting for ten minutes at the assigned fast track place and was being ignored that I demanded he deal with me then. Could have understood it if the "fast track" sign had not been displayed so prominently.

Strangely enough he did deal with me straight away and did not try to sell me any extras!!!!

I usually find that the later flights into MCO (8Pm onwards) have a lot smaller lines. I haven`t waited longer than 5 mins over the last couple of years arriving on these flights (normally Thursday arrivals)


geordieflyer

auher:

My experiences with Alamo at MCO (see my post of 4/14/05 above) have always been arriving into MCO at 11:00 to 11:30 pm on either a Fri or a Sat. (typically the heaviest arrival traffic days into MCO from both overseas and domestically) -- queues at Alamo of about 100 customers.

Several years ago, I arrived at about 11:30pm. We probably were in line for an hour and a half. I had gotten the car on Priceline. Thanks for reminding me to never do Alamo in MCO ever again.

They have removed all the QuickSilver machines systemwide ... My last trip was six months ago and I don't recall a dedicated line for QuickSilver.
This is too bad because one of my greatest Alamo rentals involved the QuickSilver line at LIH.

Just like at MCO, the line at LIH was long and the Quicksilver machine wasn't operational (this was before all the machines were removed). When it was my turn I calmly said that the only reason I rented with Alamo was because I was told the QuickSilver lines were short. Why were they advertising QuickSilver service and then not providing it?

I asked to upgrade my full-size to a minivan and the rep did it without objections. I guess QuickSilver died because it wasn't too quick.

Several years ago, I arrived at about 11:30pm. We probably were in line for an hour and a half. I had gotten the car on Priceline. Thanks for reminding me to never do Alamo in MCO ever again.

Have had the same problem with Alamo in MIA, PBI, MCO & LAX. Long slow lines & rude staff. :td: :td: :td: :td:

Fortunately or company now don't use Alamo. :) :) :) :)

Yeah MCO can be trying. You want trying? Rent from Alamo HNL. Nothing more comforting than waiting 1 hour on a nice humid summer evening after a 10 + hour flight in an office the size of a trailer.

Terrible way to start the vacation of a lifetime.....

actually the best location in honolulu is budget. Last time I was there, Hertz, and dollar had NO indoors rental check out on the lot (they had terminal baggage claim locations) Avis, and national had limited check in area, and budget had the biggest AC controlled check in area. Alamo is off airport isnt it? Last visit I didnt see a counter in the airport anywhere for alamo but saw their busses circling.


Yeah MCO can be trying. You want trying? Rent from Alamo HNL. Nothing more comforting than waiting 1 hour on a nice humid summer evening after a 10 + hour flight in an office the size of a trailer.

Terrible way to start the vacation of a lifetime.....

July 16, Saturday, 11 p.m.. It took us more than an hour to get our car even though the line was short. Incompetent agent could not handle our pre-paid reservation. :mad:

Guy in the garage gave us an upgrade to Luxury though, because he did not have any premium left. :)

Just Got back from MCO again. As with my post above we arrived on a thursday at aprox 8PM. 2 people in line, out of the door within 10 mins and on our way. Drop off was a painless as ever. Maybe we are just lucky !!

Amazingly there was even a long line at MCO at 3pm on Thanksgiving Day! Don't people have turkey to eat? Probably waited about 20 minutes -- and it wasn't as if they were understaffed: there were a decent number of employees at the counter. Worth it though -- we hadn't realized that (at least at MCO) everything is Emerald Aisle-like. We were told to go to the SUV aisle and pick any car. TrailBlazer, TrailBlazer, TrailBlazer, Pontiac Torrent, TrailBlazer, ... We nearly took a TrailBlazer before noticing one single solitary Buick Rendezvous with all of five miles on the clock.

We nearly bought a Rendezvous a couple of years ago until we discovered it was too wide to fit in our garage -- but after driving it around for the past week, we'll have to see if we can widen the garage ;)

Thanks Alamo -- it was worth the wait. And if they're expanding the Emerald Aisle concept to every category elsewhere, we'll keep renting from them even if there's a slight premium. Anyone know which stations have it?

Can you pick your car at LAX or do they give you one?

Thanks in advance,

Oliver

I used Alamo a total of ONE time in MCO. Never again. Mostly because they are off site.

It's Avis for me. I use preferred service and never have waited more than a few minutes to get the keys. We generally go 2 or 3 times a year at both crowded and uncrowded times.

Does it cost a bit more.? Yes. Is my vacation time worth those few extra dollars - heck yes ;).

I used Alamo a total of ONE time in MCO. Never again. Mostly because they are off site.

Er, sorry? Alamo is onsite at MCO. Only Thrifty and Hertz (of the majors) are offsite. There are many locations where Alamo is offsite, but MCO isn't one of them.

(Does seem weird that Hertz, of all companies, are offsite when so many of their competitors are in the garage...)

...Probably waited about 20 minutes -- and it wasn't as if they were understaffed: there were a decent number of employees at the counter. ...

that was probably due to the staff hard-selling visiting tourists on all the extra 'value-added' profit adds, like insurance, pre-paid gas, etc. Sometimes renting a car from Alamo is as much trouble as buying a car from a crooked dealer.

Er, sorry? Alamo is onsite at MCO. Only Thrifty and Hertz (of the majors) are offsite. There are many locations where Alamo is offsite, but MCO isn't one of them.

(Does seem weird that Hertz, of all companies, are offsite when so many of their competitors are in the garage...)
I stand corrected. Thank you. It's has been at least 10 years since I've even considered using them.

Still, less than 5 minutes at Avis is far better than Alamo - no matter how much cheaper they are.

Er, sorry? Alamo is onsite at MCO. Only Thrifty and Hertz (of the majors) are offsite. There are many locations where Alamo is offsite, but MCO isn't one of them.

(Does seem weird that Hertz, of all companies, are offsite when so many of their competitors are in the garage...)


Alamo was off site until about 3 years ago. After waiting for 20 mins for the transfer bus asked a porter if they had moved the stand to be told the counter was inside. :mad:

Back there on Saturday ( not usual Thurday arival ) so hope the lines are not to long.

Just back from MCO, this time an unusual Saturday arrival at 7.30PM. Decided to go to alamo before luggage arrived. Waited about 5 mins, by the time we had the keys the line was about 30 mins long. Back upstairs for luggage and out of the airport within 15 mins

I am scheduled to arrive MCO on Mon. Jan. 23, 6PM. I have reserved a weekly rate from Alamo on a convertible @$144.68 all-in :) with Entertainment coupon!

I am scheduled to arrive MCO on Mon. Jan. 23, 6PM. I have reserved a weekly rate from Alamo on a convertible @$144.68 all-in :) with Entertainment coupon!


How did you get such a good rate? I was looking to book a convertable in March and total was over $400.00

Thanks

Alamo in MCO was the main reason for my trying Avis Preferred (free by the way). What a difference and their Costco discount rates are very reasonable.

Cfory, I used Travelocity, where I got a rate of $208 or so, then called Alamo to add the Ent. coupon.
Jan. is low season in Orlando with little demand, while March is the height of Spring Break.

Do they have the CFC charge at Alamo MCO? I know they do at MIA. Not sure about MCO.

(Customer facility charge: This fee, usually used to pay for capital projects, is charged by the airport and passed on to consumers.)

".. Do they have the CFC charge at Alamo MCO? .."

From January: 1 day in a Sebring ragtop -- @ National, but...


Car Class: Convertible 2-Door/Automatic/Air
Rates:
Time & distance 1 DAY @ $41.79 $41.79
Time & distance 0 HOUR @ $20.90 $0.00
Extra - time & distance 0 DAY @ $41.79 $0.00
Extra - time & distance 0 HOUR @ $20.90 $0.00
Unlimited distance-time & distance 0 DISTANCE @ $0.00 $0.00
Rate/Product Code CAWE
Contract I.D. xxxxxxx
Guaranteed Base Rate Included
Unlimited Miles Included
Sub total $41.79

Surcharges:
Concession Fee Recov Chrg 9.8 Pct $4.11
Tire/battery Fee .05/day $0.05
Florida Surcharge 2.00/day $2.00
License Recoupment Fee .43 Usd/dy $0.43

Taxes:
State Tax (6.50%) $3.14
Fftxrsu (0.0%) $0.05
Total Estimate $51.57
/.

My experiences with Alamo in MCO have been good ones. In MCO, at least, I suspect they’ve cleaned up their act. Or, maybe I’m taking a somewhat different approach, and ending up with a good result.

Since Thanksgiving, I’ve rented 4 times from Alamo in MCO. All have been through Priceline and Hotwire, so I didn’t actually “pick” Alamo. Admittedly, I arrive as a business traveler early on Monday mornings, so I avoid the crush of tourists arriving later in the week.

Alamo’s counter is in-terminal, and also has kiosks available. There has never been a wait for the kiosk, and I get through it in under 3 minutes. I swipe my credit card, swipe my driver’s license, and blow past a bunch of upsale questions. The “Decline, No Thanks” buttons are easy enough to find, and I wish the human versions of the check-in process were comparably equipped.

I take a 3 minute walk out to the parking garage, and go to the Alamo section with my car class. The keys are in the door, and I can pick out any car in the class. Once, I even started to drive to the exit with a car, and realized the head room was abysmal (I’m 6’2”). I put it back and got a better one.

I hand the exit attendant my driver’s license and kiosk print-out, and I’m out of there in a couple minutes.

I return the car at about 5:30 pm on a Friday night, which is peak time. I drive in and park. On 3 occasions, the attendant handed me the receipt before I could finish unloading my things, and the other time was a 30 second wait. No problems.

I’ve had absolutely horrible experiences with Alamo in MIA, so I can understand that the Alamo experience varies by location. However, my Alamo experiences in MCO have been good ones.

Is this experience exceptional? OK, this is my first post, so warm up your flame throwers . . . .

Would be interested to know if the above is now the norm or not? Will be flying in April 28th, a Saturday, around 4pm and Alamo rates are good but will take the advice and make a provisional back up with Avis.

Will be flying in April 28th, a Saturday, around 4pm

This is peak leisure traveler time, which is different than my usual Monday morning business traveler experience. I would expect it to be crowded, no matter what the agency.

I had a colleague go out to MCO last week. He checked into his Alamo car on the web before departing on his flight. He went straight from the gate to the parking garage, and just picked out a car. He presented his license and web site printout to the parking lot exit attendant, and was on his way.

I think the web site check-in is the way to go. This should expedite the process, even at peak times. Good luck!

I am sure I have tried to use a service like this before with a US rental but I am not always able to use it as I have a UK issued Drivers License.

Will check it out though as it does seem a solution.

I think the web site check-in is the way to go. This should expedite the process, even at peak times. Good luck!