Cars at IAH (houston)
Jun 14, 2011, 10:10 am
#34
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 15
IAH on 6/11 (Saturday) mid-morning - the emerald aisle selection was great. Here were some of the selections:
- Several Ford Escapes
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Several Dodge Ram 1500s
- Several Jeep cherokees and I think Liberty
- Toyota Camrys and Corollas
- Several Mercury Grand Marquis
- Dodge charger
- Misc Dodge cars
- Misc Chevy cars
- Several VW cars - not sure if they were jettas or passats.
I took the Santa Fe with 1500 miles on it and loved it. Great car with great gas mileage.
- Several Ford Escapes
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Several Dodge Ram 1500s
- Several Jeep cherokees and I think Liberty
- Toyota Camrys and Corollas
- Several Mercury Grand Marquis
- Dodge charger
- Misc Dodge cars
- Misc Chevy cars
- Several VW cars - not sure if they were jettas or passats.
I took the Santa Fe with 1500 miles on it and loved it. Great car with great gas mileage.
Sep 24, 2011, 2:21 pm
#35
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Cypress, TX
Programs: CO Plat, Priority Club Plat
Posts: 641
9/24 and the Executive selection was horrible as was the regular aisle... looking for a high MPG car and hardly anything there. Two of the Camry's reeked of smoke, and they had a VW 2.0 T but said it wasn't considered on the Aisle and I had to pay to upgrade, even though it was clearly sitting there.... bait and switch on that one if you ask me...
Crappy selection
Crappy selection
Oct 12, 2011, 11:00 pm
#36
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: ATX
Programs: AA EP, USAir Chairman, MR Lifetime Plat
Posts: 275
10/11/11. Just returned from IAH and the selection (I'm Exec) was sh*tty as usual. There was a pick-up or two, a full-size suburban, a bunch of crappy Chrysler minivans, and that was about it.
I looked at the Emerald Aisle and couldn't find anything I liked there either. I hung out for about 10 mins and eventually took some sort of Kia SUV that pulled up in the Emerald Aisle.
No VW Passats. No Jettas. No Maximas. No S40s. No Altimas. No Jeep Cherokees. They did have 1 Charger come up during the 10 mins I waited but I passed.
I'm tempted to go back to Hertz.
I looked at the Emerald Aisle and couldn't find anything I liked there either. I hung out for about 10 mins and eventually took some sort of Kia SUV that pulled up in the Emerald Aisle.
No VW Passats. No Jettas. No Maximas. No S40s. No Altimas. No Jeep Cherokees. They did have 1 Charger come up during the 10 mins I waited but I passed.
I'm tempted to go back to Hertz.
Mar 8, 2012, 12:00 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kirkland, WA
Programs: AS 75K,UA Gold 1.6MM, Hilton Dia, Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Glb, Natl Exec, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,657
Wow. I thought it was just me. The ES aisle is lame with mostly SUVs and a mix of Chargers, Impalas, Altimas, Avalons, and Malibus. If you are lucky you can find an LTZ Impala or Malibu. I guess they seem to think that SUVs are a big upgrade and you should be thankful. I agree about the Hertz comment. I have been a bit embarassed when my co-workers brag about getting Cadillacs and Lincolns from Hertz and Avis all the time pre-assigned to them. I prefer being able to pick my car but when all you have to pick from is regular stuff, what's the point. Is our business worth anything to them?
Mar 8, 2012, 12:09 pm
#38
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,205
Wow. I thought it was just me. The ES aisle is lame with mostly SUVs and a mix of Chargers, Impalas, Altimas, Avalons, and Malibus. If you are lucky you can find an LTZ Impala or Malibu. I guess they seem to think that SUVs are a big upgrade and you should be thankful. I agree about the Hertz comment. I have been a bit embarassed when my co-workers brag about getting Cadillacs and Lincolns from Hertz and Avis all the time pre-assigned to them. I prefer being able to pick my car but when all you have to pick from is regular stuff, what's the point. Is our business worth anything to them?
As an Avis Pres member, I've never had a super nice car pre-assigned, and had to fight and argue to get something as simple as a Prius. I've had better luck with Hertz, but rent from them infrequently due to the cost.
Jul 10, 2012, 6:56 pm
#39
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, UA MP, National EE, Marriott Gold, Avis First, WS Rewards
Posts: 231
Well 7/10/12 at 7:40PM I am currently writing this review while waiting in line for someone to bring up a car. No cars in any row except for heading over to the regular lanes and choosing that one car that sits there too. Seems like their pulling all of the Malibus in Texas for the thirty some emerald aisle people.
Jul 10, 2012, 7:00 pm
#40
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, UA MP, National EE, Marriott Gold, Avis First, WS Rewards
Posts: 231
Great 
I am now third in line. Four cars are pulling up from the back and low and behold the third car is a Malibu
The first one is a 2012~ white Taurus limited (TX) , the second a Mazda 6 (TX), the stupid Malibu (unknown back plate only) and the fourth is a Nissan Rogue (MS) . I'm putting my elbows up on this one!
I am now third in line. Four cars are pulling up from the back and low and behold the third car is a Malibu
The first one is a 2012~ white Taurus limited (TX) , the second a Mazda 6 (TX), the stupid Malibu (unknown back plate only) and the fourth is a Nissan Rogue (MS) . I'm putting my elbows up on this one!
Jul 28, 2012, 2:18 pm
#42
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: EWR
Programs: CO Platinum, too many hotel chain and car rental programs to list
Posts: 30
Tuesday July 24, apprx 8:30 PM
Exec: 1 Ram 1500, 1 Yukon XL, 1 Suburban, 1 Traverse
EA: Only Malibus
Thursday July 26, apprx 2:00 PM
Exec: 2 Avalons and probably every type of SUV and Pick-Up in National's fleet
EA: Malibus again
Specialty: 2 Camaros
Exec: 1 Ram 1500, 1 Yukon XL, 1 Suburban, 1 Traverse
EA: Only Malibus
Thursday July 26, apprx 2:00 PM
Exec: 2 Avalons and probably every type of SUV and Pick-Up in National's fleet
EA: Malibus again
Specialty: 2 Camaros
Aug 20, 2012, 8:29 am
#43
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12
Ran through IAH on August 13. National Exec Aisle was full of Avalons, a Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse, Dodge Journey and a few 300s. The attendant let me go pick an SUV off the aisle- I picked out a 2012 Ford Explorer Limited.
Emerald Aisle had all sorts of midsize suvs and a nice selections of VW Jettas.
Premium selection had more Avalons, Mercury Mariners, and a new Buick Regal (not bad looking!)
Emerald Aisle had all sorts of midsize suvs and a nice selections of VW Jettas.
Premium selection had more Avalons, Mercury Mariners, and a new Buick Regal (not bad looking!)
Nov 12, 2012, 2:57 pm
#44
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: A place where I have just enough status to want more, but can't afford it!
Programs: National EE, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Plat, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 112
Picked up a car on Thursday at 1am. Booked a Premium however, my only options were the EA and ES. At the ES I could choose between a: Chevy Traverse (that reeked of smoke), VW Passat (with less then 100 miles) & a Chevy Silverado (with 80 miles). The EA had 2 cars and a minivan. Nothing too spectacular at all.