Need Assistance Quick: National just called and told me no vehicle available
Apr 24, 2014, 10:52 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: BTR
Programs: DL GM, UA Silver, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,810
The fact that you can reserve a vehicle does not mean that there is a physical vehicle to be had at a given location. That said, people check vehicles in and out at all times.
Apr 25, 2014, 6:50 am
#18
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,210
I would have absolutely no problem with refundable pre-pay on rental cars as long as it ensured to a much higher degree than is currently available that I will have a car in my booked class of service waiting for me upon arrival and that there is some recourse and responsibility of the agency to make it right if there is not, extending as far as upgrade to the next higher available car class even if that puts you in a WXAR on an ECAR res) along with non-trivial compensation for downgrades dependent on the number of classes you're dropped (a 1-day rental voucher for ever day you're in a downgrade of 2-classes or more, 50% discount for 1-class, as well as concessions for high-mileage, "beaters", or non-standard types such as cargo vans). If absolutely no car is available, the agency should be liable for your local travel through other reasonable means (most likely Taxi, shuttle, or car hire) for either the duration of the rental period or as long as it takes for them to get a car to you (NOT for you to get BACK to their location to collect a car).
I'm not sure how pre-pay would work for those redeeming free rentals on credits. I'm sure you weren't the only one.
What about those who were redeeming free days for one-ways? There might not be that much "local" travel to cover, with few practical alternatives for what those customers were planning to do.
I'm not sure how pre-pay would work for those redeeming free rentals on credits. I'm sure you weren't the only one.
What about those who were redeeming free days for one-ways? There might not be that much "local" travel to cover, with few practical alternatives for what those customers were planning to do.
Apr 25, 2014, 9:39 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
It goes both ways, though. Note how strict airlines, and to a lesser extent hotels, are around changing and/or canceling reservations, especially on or near the reservation date.
Many here double-book an Aisle reservation and an Emerald Reserve reservation when a specific vehicle type is needed. If the Aisle has what you need, then the other reservation is cancelled, often while you're in the lot. National has allowed this without penalty.
I've rebooked my reservation up to the day I'm picking up the vehicle if the rate drops or my needs change. National has allowed this without penalty.
That being stated, I'd be upset if my "reservation" was not honored -- but, I also realize that it is a two-way street. If they tighten up over-booking, it will require tightening and/or enforcing rules around reservations.
Many here double-book an Aisle reservation and an Emerald Reserve reservation when a specific vehicle type is needed. If the Aisle has what you need, then the other reservation is cancelled, often while you're in the lot. National has allowed this without penalty.
I've rebooked my reservation up to the day I'm picking up the vehicle if the rate drops or my needs change. National has allowed this without penalty.
That being stated, I'd be upset if my "reservation" was not honored -- but, I also realize that it is a two-way street. If they tighten up over-booking, it will require tightening and/or enforcing rules around reservations.
Apr 25, 2014, 10:01 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
I'm not sure how pre-pay would work for those redeeming free rentals on credits. I'm sure you weren't the only one.
What about those who were redeeming free days for one-ways? There might not be that much "local" travel to cover, with few practical alternatives for what those customers were planning to do.
What about those who were redeeming free days for one-ways? There might not be that much "local" travel to cover, with few practical alternatives for what those customers were planning to do.
May 26, 2014, 11:24 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 86
It's really unlikely that even the smallest station would expect to have no cars returned on any given day. I suspect that what happened to the OP is that the station discovered that it would likely wind up with more customers showing up on his rental date than cars to rent. So the station went off calling the folks with reservations telling them "no car available" to see which customers would shake it off (like folks who would no-show anyway) and which would complain. The intent all along was probably to "discover" cars for the folks who complained (once enough folks were "shook off"). The nightmare for a car rental agency is to have folks physically show up at the station when there are no cars. This practice-- though not pretty-- keeps that from happening. The key is to be perseverant.
May 30, 2014, 4:19 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Portland, Oregon
Programs: Hilton Platinum, Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 2,363
I hate this company of Alamo, National, and Enterprise. Enterprise is still OK at some places, as its leftover from pre-acquisition days.
I don't buy the no car thing at associated company, Enterprise. Tell them to bring in a car from a neighborhood location if that is the problem. They can and should do this.
I don't buy the no car thing at associated company, Enterprise. Tell them to bring in a car from a neighborhood location if that is the problem. They can and should do this.