Hinko

Picking a car up @ september 21.
How is the Executive area?

at4behe1

well, that's good to hear. although i forgot that this the national forum, i will have to go with alamo, hope they don't push all the old cars over to them...

thefiverivers

I have a luxury rental coming up at Iad. Sept 1 9pm pickup. Any recent info on car selection? I'm EE status and it says emerald reserve. Don't have much experience with National bc I usually rent from hertz but wanted to try something different.

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

KevinMD

Last time I was there, they luxury cars were along a fence. You just pick a car from there. Last time I was there, the selection was a little bland. I would not expect more than a MKZ or ATS. I am also EE and they insisted on an upcharge for a BMW 3 series.

WAS

I've rented at IAD 5-10 times every year in the past few years. My experience has been generally good. The Aisles usually have a good selection of SUVs and a variety of makes and models.

I've also found that it's not worth it to pay for Premium cars at IAD, since there is usually a Taurus, Avalon, Genesis or something similar on the Aisle anyway, and when you go to the booth, they will just tell you to take a Premium vehicle parked in the Aisle.

Luxury reservation might be different, though.

thefiverivers

Thanks for the info I appreciate it. So they up charge for a bmw huh? Can you even rent a bmw from the national website? Is there a class higher than luxury i.e. Dream cars like hertz, etc. confused as to how you would get a bmw with national.

KevinMD

There is a category called full size elite that is reserveable at some locations that is above luxury. The BMW is not in that category, but the Volvo and other high end cars are. It is possible to get a Volvo or BMW with a luxury reservation, just wanted you to not be surprised if they only had a MKZ.

Foxtbh

I still chuckle at the idea a Volvo S60 could be considered 'Above Luxury'. Everything about, say, a proper LCAR like a Cadillac CTS (Or even ATS) is better than the Volvo.

thefiverivers

Yeah I have had a mkz before, but I got that when I reserved a premium. IIRC the hierarchy of classes goes: full size, premium, full size elite, luxury, at least based on the national website.

So if they have a bmw etc I will try and grab it and report back on my findings.

Thanks again for the response. I appreciate it.

Cymro

It's been a few years since I rented a luxury out of IAD but ... they also told me to take a Premium car from the aisle.

MJD2187

All levels, EA/EX/EE, selection has been pretty poor here on weekends since they've started doing the canopy upgrade work (so since about June-July). Probably 200 cars sitting in lines by the returns either un-processed or guys unwilling to drive them back out. I think the last time I came there were literally 3 cars under canopies, a RAM 1500, a 300 (which I took and got suprisingly great gas mileage with), and some type of SUV. The cars they do put out are usually decent, though I would never rent a Dodge or a VW from National now matter how awesome that Challenger might look on the lot (no Sat. Radio).

How I miss the days when there were regularly a pair of Sonata Hybrids in the parking lot, and at least 50 cars at all times. Finish the canopy work already!!

One plus at least is that you should have no issue finding a car with SiriusXM still active, even with bad selection.

Pathfinder813

Any updates on the canopy situation?

cba13

I'm also curious to know if the work has been completed yet on the awnings? I have a rental here in a month.

tango3

Pls ignore, stuffed up my brain.

bambikatz

Rented early November. There were awnings over the cars in the executive and aisle selection. No other awnings that I saw nor any signs of construction. Majority of cars seemed to be 2015 selection, but nothing that stood out.