Originally Posted by
Hotshot
Thanks for the info! the reason i didn't go to local branches is because I had a aisle reservation, so if i wanted to swap at a local branch then i basically over paid since aisle locations are generally more expensive then the small locations, so i paid to be able to choose anything from the lot only to be at the mercy of a local branch manager if i need to swap?!
In any case i'd like to get an opinion on a experience i had at LGA, the car i originally chose off the aisle was a brand new loaded charger and am pretty happy with it, once the check engine light came on i went to LGA (but parked the car outside the national lot) to see if i can swap for something better, the agent told me they were empty and then proceeded to call her manager and he told her that they have to check the vehicle if something is truly wrong, so i asked her do you have anything or no to which she answered we first have to check if there is something wrong and did not want to tell me what my options would be if there is something wrong, so me not wanting to take the chance that they would take in the car and say ya this car needs service and here is your new jeep compass, i simply just drove off, so the question is once i'm in the lot (the one's that have toll booths) do they have the authority to tell me that i can't continue using the vehicle and just give me whatever they want?
I don't think so. You already have a reservation and they'd have to change it out so I think you'd have to consent to the change. Also, if something's wrong, you'd want the proof that they checked it and still made you take the car you had because then if you break down in the middle of nowhere, you have proof that you tried to swap it out.
In NYC, the local branches are much different from most other cities. Local branch rentals are much more expensive than the airport locations because no one wants to make an hour long trek to the airport. NYC local branches are all corporate branches. My experience has been much better with the local branches than the area airports. I'd say in terms of service, local branches in NYC are the top, then JFK, EWR, and LGA in that order. LGA has the most inconsistent service. With the local branches, they don't have much of a supply on the weekends (Thursday through Saturday) and an oversupply on non-weekends so if you have status and your car is actually broken, they'll most likely put you in something comparable or at least a full size. Given the logistics of the parking garages with the local branches, you usually have to go with what's most convenient to pull out but I have never had to rent anything under a full size unless I specifically requested something smaller.