Originally Posted by
ATOBTTR
Between the fee just to rent the car, potential underage fees (many companies will rent to under 25 year olds but will charge a hefty fee to do it - and given that they're newly-weds coming from SLC there's likely an even higher than average chance they are under 25 years old), one-way drop off penalties, and then consider that many one-way rentals will hit you for mileage driven rather than "unlimited miles", and you could be looking at several hundred dollars - money that a young couple may not have. Don't see the reason so many on here need to be harsh when they don't know the full circumstances of the situation.
Heck looking at the pictures from AJC, they may even be under 21 years old and thus not even old enough to rent a car.
I had this exact problem on 9/11. I was piloting myself from GFK to MSP. Took off only minutes before ground stop. Since was beautiful day fly VFR and there was no need to be in contact with ATC. Got to around Detroit Lakes, MN and the odd frequency I had turned to had a couple of drunks (or so I thought) talking about the ground stop and how everything was grounded. Flew on for a few minutes before heard them say it again. Called up Flight Service and they confirmed that I was "by order of the FAA Administrator to land at the nearest suitable airport." This was Detroit Lakes. Landed and then had to figure out how to get back to Grand Forks. Being only 19, the local rental car company agent didn't want to rent to me. Finally the GM (it was part of a car dealership) came out to see what the matter was. He looked at the agent and said, if he can rent a $100k plane and fly it by himself over our heads, I think we can rent him a car.