Cars at HOU (Houston Hobby Airport)
Apr 19, 2010, 12:49 pm
#1
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
Cars at HOU (Houston Hobby Airport)
Picked up at HOU (Houston Hobby) on Friday afternoon. I had a Premium Emerald Reserve reservation with a Fullsize Emerald Exec backup reservation (some may recall the glitches and manual intervention with the Premium reservation discussed here previously). Although I took my car from the Premium section and gave the agent my Premium reservation documents, she ended up charging me on the (slightly cheaper) Fullsize reservation anyways (PXAR at ICAR rate). So, if you don't like what you see on the Aisle, it's probably worth asking what else is available.
Beyond the numerous SUVs, I did see the following on the Emerald Aisle:
1 Chevy Impala LT
1 Chevy Malibu LT
In the Premium section it was more SUVs or:
2 Chrysler 300 Touring
The shuttle bus seems to run pretty frequently and is about a 5-min ride from the terminal. Those with Emerald Club and Emerald Reserve reservations are dropped off in the lot first, with everyone else continuing to the counter.
Beyond the numerous SUVs, I did see the following on the Emerald Aisle:
1 Chevy Impala LT
1 Chevy Malibu LT
In the Premium section it was more SUVs or:
2 Chrysler 300 Touring
The shuttle bus seems to run pretty frequently and is about a 5-min ride from the terminal. Those with Emerald Club and Emerald Reserve reservations are dropped off in the lot first, with everyone else continuing to the counter.
Apr 19, 2010, 3:18 pm
#3
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
Jul 19, 2010, 9:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Today at HOU, ES section, four cars, the inevitable Charger, a Malibu(?) an Expedition and a Patriot. Took the Patriot. They drove up with a Sequoia as I was leaving. Aisle: 4 HHR's. I did not check the regular sections, but the lot was almost empty.
Jul 30, 2010, 7:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2
Went at 4pm on a Friday. The lot was almost empty, but the line of incoming cars was completely full. Looked like a smorgasbord of stuff if I would have waited or come later.
I booked a mid-size at Emerald Aisle level. There was a single HHR on the entire isle. The midsize isle had an HHR & a Kia Soul. I asked if there were any other cars available. The National counter shares a site with Budget and she offered me an Avenger or Charger (Or another HHR) from that isle. I politely declined and asked if there was anything else. She asked her manager, and then told me I could take something off the premium isle. There were 5 vehicles: two 300s, two Grand Marquis, and a Buick Lucerne. I checked the Buick first, only 56 miles on it, but it smelled like smoke so I opted for a 300 Touring with 900 miles.
I was a little disappointed at the selection, but can't be too upset at getting a 300 for $12 a day. They were very helpful and friendly at the counter and check out though, so overall good experience, but very disappointing selection.
I booked a mid-size at Emerald Aisle level. There was a single HHR on the entire isle. The midsize isle had an HHR & a Kia Soul. I asked if there were any other cars available. The National counter shares a site with Budget and she offered me an Avenger or Charger (Or another HHR) from that isle. I politely declined and asked if there was anything else. She asked her manager, and then told me I could take something off the premium isle. There were 5 vehicles: two 300s, two Grand Marquis, and a Buick Lucerne. I checked the Buick first, only 56 miles on it, but it smelled like smoke so I opted for a 300 Touring with 900 miles.
I was a little disappointed at the selection, but can't be too upset at getting a 300 for $12 a day. They were very helpful and friendly at the counter and check out though, so overall good experience, but very disappointing selection.
Apr 2, 2012, 10:03 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: DL FO, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 295
Oct 23, 2012, 1:46 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In Exile
Programs: I fly for free.
Posts: 435
Update from this past Sunday:
ES - Avalons, Chargers, Malibus, Kia Optima, Captiva, Impalas
Premium - 4x300 + 1x300C (which I took on a one way to DAL).
Upgrade - Volvo S60, Buick Verano, Ford Flex
ES - Avalons, Chargers, Malibus, Kia Optima, Captiva, Impalas
Premium - 4x300 + 1x300C (which I took on a one way to DAL).
Upgrade - Volvo S60, Buick Verano, Ford Flex
Nov 27, 2012, 1:11 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2002
Location: TPA
Programs: SPG Gold, National Exec, WN A/CP
Posts: 61
Thanksgiving Weekend (arrival Wed)
Was surprised to find the EA and ES aisles completely full. We even had a private bus to and from the lot.
Mostly Malibus and Impalas in ES. Several nondescript SUVs as well. Took a newish GMC Terrain with 2K miles. They did bring up a brand new 2013 Malibu LTZ which I wanted to try but the Mrs wanted an SUV to haul our stuff...
About the same when I returned. Premium was full of 300s and the like.
Was surprised to find the EA and ES aisles completely full. We even had a private bus to and from the lot.
Mostly Malibus and Impalas in ES. Several nondescript SUVs as well. Took a newish GMC Terrain with 2K miles. They did bring up a brand new 2013 Malibu LTZ which I wanted to try but the Mrs wanted an SUV to haul our stuff...
About the same when I returned. Premium was full of 300s and the like.
Dec 13, 2013, 7:58 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 195
ES looked fully stocked too, but I didn't make a note of what was over there.
Either something has changed or this location is very hit-or-miss.
Feb 7, 2014, 7:18 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,784
The lot is fully under construction right now and is a complete mess. It's impossible to say where the EA or the ES actually is. Fortunately, there was a manager awaiting the bus who directed me to a new Tahoe. Not my first choice in vehicles, but there were quite a few folks awaiting cars, so I was willing to take anything to get on my way. The Tahoe now lives at IAH, though.