Advice for Upcoming Flight for Eclipse
#76
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
I live in Eugene and it's all over our news today that many, many passengers are stranded (and sleeping from what I can see) in PDX because they are completely OUT of rental cars...today, Thursday, 4 days ahead of the Eclipse. So if renting a car out of PDX is in your plans I'd go to Plan B.
#77
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
That is very interesting...imagine paying an exorbitant amount for a place to stay on the Coast, etc. and having no way to get there.
Another anecdote from the front lines...I was in the supermarket today and overhead two produce clerks...one has a brother in Bend who is an EMT, and he was saying that EVERYONE - police, fire, emt's, hospitals, all shifts, will be at the ready on Monday.
Don't hate me, but I'm going to walk outside my house on Monday with my IOS goggles...even though we're "only" in the 98% area, I'm happy. (that's a picture of me in my goggles)...
Another anecdote from the front lines...I was in the supermarket today and overhead two produce clerks...one has a brother in Bend who is an EMT, and he was saying that EVERYONE - police, fire, emt's, hospitals, all shifts, will be at the ready on Monday.
Don't hate me, but I'm going to walk outside my house on Monday with my IOS goggles...even though we're "only" in the 98% area, I'm happy. (that's a picture of me in my goggles)...
#78
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
Report from a coworker who landed at PDX yesterday: "airport is a total mess. Lots of tour groups standing around looking goofy."
Meh. 98% isn't good enough this time.
If I were you, I'd get back to the airport ASAP on Monday and ditch the car there. Take MAX to downtown, enjoy a lot of beer, and head back to the airport about 7p. Give yourself extra time at the airport too. It'll be a zoo.
If I were you, I'd get back to the airport ASAP on Monday and ditch the car there. Take MAX to downtown, enjoy a lot of beer, and head back to the airport about 7p. Give yourself extra time at the airport too. It'll be a zoo.
#79
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
I am/was considering this too, just not sure about penalties for an early return.
#80
#81
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 327
I live in Eugene and it's all over our news today that many, many passengers are stranded (and sleeping from what I can see) in PDX because they are completely OUT of rental cars...today, Thursday, 4 days ahead of the Eclipse. So if renting a car out of PDX is in your plans I'd go to Plan B.
The best I (and many) people can do is have a pre-paid reservation. I just hope the rental companies are honouring them.
#82
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
#83
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
If you google "News PDX rental car shortage for eclipse" there are many, many articles. The worst one I just read was Hertz robocalling hundreds of people starting a week ago to tell them their reservations were cancelled due to severe overbooking.
#84
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
And, IIRC, only the ones who booked a long time ago [cheap] in favour of the recent bookings [extortionate costs].
#86
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Other news tidbits (and of course everyone is an alarmist) are that they have run out of gas in the Prineville area (near Bend) from the influx of cars.
I'm 66 and have lived close to a couple of eclipses, but I don't recall the frenzy that this one is generating.
#88
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 327
I'll then be driving to Bend that afternoon. Hopefully traffic will be OK - i'll keep a close eye on Tripcheck and Google.
Possibly due to people cancelling their plan A/B/C as the free cancellation window approaches? I managed to reserve a car at EUG so have now cancelled my previous reservation at RDM.
Possibly due to people cancelling their plan A/B/C as the free cancellation window approaches? I managed to reserve a car at EUG so have now cancelled my previous reservation at RDM.
#89
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Another wrinkle is that we have a lot of wildfires burning east of here which they say might impact visibility, so see if you can check on those conditions as well.
#90
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
Probably a mix of the two: this is the first total one in the US in a while, and how easy is to spread information these days [via internet], so people across the country/world are aware of it.