Exchanging cars at an Emerald Aisle?
Jun 26, 2017, 10:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,766
Exchanging cars at an Emerald Aisle?
I generally rent a car downtown and never get an upgrade, but it is convenient for me. Where I travel to, I drive right by the airport every single time. Is it possible for me to rent a car at the downtown location, and then stop at the airport and exchange the car for any car in the aisle? I am EE.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jun 26, 2017, 10:21 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Anything is possible, if you ask.
It is a manual transaction requiring paperwork and, depending on the airport, the entire mechanism for driving a vehicle off the lot may not work from EE unless the process is overridden.
It is a manual transaction requiring paperwork and, depending on the airport, the entire mechanism for driving a vehicle off the lot may not work from EE unless the process is overridden.
Jun 26, 2017, 10:46 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SFO/DTW
Programs: DL PM 0.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, Avis PC, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,988
I do this all the time and never have any issues.
The only situation that I can see this being refused is if the location branch is a franchise or licensee.
The only situation that I can see this being refused is if the location branch is a franchise or licensee.
Jun 26, 2017, 10:54 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 880
I've never done it like this but I have done exchanges from the same airport all the time with no issue. If you're renting from both corporate locations in the same city or area I don't think there would be any issue giving they are willing to but YMMV.
Also just read the thread about the guy being charged $6,000 extra to see what could happen.
Jun 26, 2017, 10:55 am
#5
Moderator: National Car
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SE MI
Programs: Delta PM, National EE, Hertz PC, Hilton DM
Posts: 2,168
Don't expect to just drop off the car in the return lane, stroll over to the ES, pick your new ride and head over to the exit gate. You'll have to wait in line and then depending on the mood of the rep (and the wait in said line), the experience will fall somewhere on the spectrum of "tolerable" to "why didn't I just keep the first car."
And as recent threads in this forum suggest, do check your contract to ensure the charges remain correct.
Jun 26, 2017, 2:19 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SFO/DTW
Programs: DL PM 0.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, Avis PC, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,988
I never really have any issues with agents usually. Most are understanding especially when I ask to change a car to one with a backup camera (Impala base LT...).
Biggest issue I usually have is that the return agent understands I am swapping, but still close out the contract by accident.
Biggest issue I usually have is that the return agent understands I am swapping, but still close out the contract by accident.
Jul 10, 2017, 3:00 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,766
By way of update, I exchanged my car at the airport. Then, 3 days later, I received an invoice for returning the vehicle at Orlando, 2800 miles away, yet my invoice only said I had driven 200 miles. Very weird. Anyway, I returned the vehicle to my neighborhood location when my week was up, where I picked up the original car, and he sorted it out for me.
Afterwards, I was thinking. What if I never returned the vehicle I had. Not that I would do it, but according to National, I had already returned it.
Afterwards, I was thinking. What if I never returned the vehicle I had. Not that I would do it, but according to National, I had already returned it.
Jul 10, 2017, 4:41 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 880
Exchanged my car I got from MCO a Full size elite on a Luxury res at the premium price. I exchanged it at LGA ( also the return location) for a Nissan Maxima which is a premium car. Didn't really care that I got downgraded since I wanted a bigger car and Tbh the maxima at the SV trim is better than a base volvo s60 with one package. The only difference is the maxima doesn't have blind spot detection. The only price change was for the fuel service option since the gas was priced around $2.06 per gallon which i can't find in NYC or anywhere close to LGA.
Jul 10, 2017, 5:07 pm
#9
Moderator: National Car
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SE MI
Programs: Delta PM, National EE, Hertz PC, Hilton DM
Posts: 2,168
Exchanged my car I got from MCO a Full size elite on a Luxury res at the premium price. I exchanged it at LGA ( also the return location) for a Nissan Maxima which is a premium car. Didn't really care that I got downgraded since I wanted a bigger car and Tbh the maxima at the SV trim is better than a base volvo s60 with one package. The only difference is the maxima doesn't have blind spot detection. The only price change was for the fuel service option since the gas was priced around $2.06 per gallon which i can't find in NYC or anywhere close to LGA.
Please try and keep your posts on topic to avoid cluttering threads for other users. Thanks.
-dwbf11
National Mod