AK Rental Cars this Summer
May 18, 2021, 11:25 am
#31
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I assume taxi or LYFT/UBER might still work to get you to the hotel? But at what price/availability after hours I don't know?
I had a schedule change that would have resulted in me arriving at FAI at 1:40 AM (DL not AK) and I had the same question. Also how likely was it that I would still have a room versus being regarded as a no-show? Fortunately I was able to rebook for a better arrival time.
I had a schedule change that would have resulted in me arriving at FAI at 1:40 AM (DL not AK) and I had the same question. Also how likely was it that I would still have a room versus being regarded as a no-show? Fortunately I was able to rebook for a better arrival time.
And you can call your hotel ahead of time and let them know when you are arriving...
May 18, 2021, 12:26 pm
#32
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I arrived in FAI after 1am on the AS flight from SEA a few weeks ago and stayed at the Hyatt Place (a great deal at only 8,000 points) which wasn't very close to the airport but they did provide 24/7 free airport shuttle service. When a driver is not available (which they weren't when I arrived), they will pay for a taxi and that was a relatively smooth process. We didn't have to wait too long for a taxi at that time of night which seemed unusually busy for being in the middle of the night (even the gift shop was open....lol). Since we couldn't get a rental car for the next day we ended up using Lyft which was available both times we needed it. I normally use Uber but there were no cars available so I downloaded the Lyft app and used that rideshare option for the first time.
I redeemed points with them as well, great deal over 2 c/p value.
May 18, 2021, 1:03 pm
#33
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Paging @AutoSlash...
There is a nationwide rental car shortage and it seems Alaska is not only hard-hit, but also dealing with a returned summer peak in demand.
I was hoping to book a trip a few months ago for around now or next month. Rental cars and hotels are the reason I did not go.
-J.
There is a nationwide rental car shortage and it seems Alaska is not only hard-hit, but also dealing with a returned summer peak in demand.
I was hoping to book a trip a few months ago for around now or next month. Rental cars and hotels are the reason I did not go.
-J.
May 19, 2021, 3:33 am
#34
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Paging @AutoSlash...
There is a nationwide rental car shortage and it seems Alaska is not only hard-hit, but also dealing with a returned summer peak in demand.
I was hoping to book a trip a few months ago for around now or next month. Rental cars and hotels are the reason I did not go.
-J.
There is a nationwide rental car shortage and it seems Alaska is not only hard-hit, but also dealing with a returned summer peak in demand.
I was hoping to book a trip a few months ago for around now or next month. Rental cars and hotels are the reason I did not go.
-J.
May 20, 2021, 10:24 am
#35
Join Date: Jun 2009
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It's been interesting watching hotel and rental car prices jump day by day, if there's availability at all. I had to book my FAI trip a month out to reserve a rental car despite flights being available 6 hours before departure at very low rates; rental cars are now sold out for at least two months. As other posters have mentioned, corporate contracts can significantly reduce rental car prices if eligible and might increase ones priority in getting a rental car. I was also able to get a lower rate on the hotel by calling it directly, which doesn't seem to happen as often anymore.
If everything goes as planned, this will be one of the most inexpensive trips I've taken in terms of air/hotel/car and is a significant discount from typical summertime Alaska prices.
If everything goes as planned, this will be one of the most inexpensive trips I've taken in terms of air/hotel/car and is a significant discount from typical summertime Alaska prices.
May 20, 2021, 2:17 pm
#36
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I'm not sure if it is due to my EE status with National or contract, search late June, mid July and early Aug, cars all available at ANC.
May 20, 2021, 3:02 pm
#37
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I went through both FAI and ANC earlier this month and before I departed for FAI there were no cars at ANC but by the time I got to FAI, there were cars at National available for booking so availability, especially at the last minute, does seem to fluctuate. The sad thing for Alaska's summer tourism season is that the word is out that there are no rental cars to be had and this is generally not a taxi or rideshare friendly place to visit....most want a car for longer distance travel through places like Denali so even cars become available a few days in-advance, tourists have already cancelled their plans and booked vacations elsewhere.
May 20, 2021, 3:51 pm
#38
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May 20, 2021, 4:15 pm
#39
Join Date: Apr 2019
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I have a trip to FAI booked for next week.
I have an AVIS reservation w/ Amex Plat code + Preferred Plus. But I’m still hesitating to book the full plan (e.g., helicopter tour) because I’m a bit afraid of stranding in FAI and not able to get to Denali w/o a car.
Also looking into alternative transportation including buses from FAI to Denali. One way $70.
I have an AVIS reservation w/ Amex Plat code + Preferred Plus. But I’m still hesitating to book the full plan (e.g., helicopter tour) because I’m a bit afraid of stranding in FAI and not able to get to Denali w/o a car.
Also looking into alternative transportation including buses from FAI to Denali. One way $70.
May 21, 2021, 7:17 am
#40
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May 21, 2021, 8:19 am
#41
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May 21, 2021, 9:00 am
#42
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I saw in the Kauai Island paper that their rental car agencies are sold out through August. More cars are being brought from the mainland but that may take a month or two. I think it will be very expensive for all things travel over the summer as the supply is much less and demand may be higher than than pre-COVID.
May 26, 2021, 3:23 pm
#43
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Hertz at FAI has a new sign out telling customers go to Thriffy. Also, I had a awesome experience with a Turo host with an amazing Jeep. So blessed. And as someone posted, railroad doesn't operate during the shoulder season.
May 26, 2021, 3:32 pm
#44
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All of our travel for the next 6 months is either a roadtrip or a location where we could use entirely public transportation if we had to. Even Uber/Lyft are no longer reliable in many places.
Guessing it'll take a full year to sort everything out, given that there are multiple causes to the shortage of rental cars and rideshares.
We had one spring rental in California a few weeks back. When I booked it, the only reasonable rate was for a pickup truck. But when I arrived at the lot, there were actually lots of cars available. The agent happily switched me to a sedan. So I'm guessing there's a lot of double-booking going on...
Guessing it'll take a full year to sort everything out, given that there are multiple causes to the shortage of rental cars and rideshares.
We had one spring rental in California a few weeks back. When I booked it, the only reasonable rate was for a pickup truck. But when I arrived at the lot, there were actually lots of cars available. The agent happily switched me to a sedan. So I'm guessing there's a lot of double-booking going on...
May 26, 2021, 3:53 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 298
I had to cancel a trip to FAI for this upcoming weekend a few weeks back when I discovered I no longer had a car reservation with Hertz and I could not find another car anywhere else. And I stumbled on this on my own while checking on all my Hertz reservations in general; Hertz itself never gave me a clue about the situation there and I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't checked and ended up in FAI clueless.
I wonder how this is all going to play out. Reading that the airlines are pumping up flights to places like Alaska and Montana this summer, but wonder who is going to be able to book those flights in those car dependent places when they find out nothing is available now.
I wonder how this is all going to play out. Reading that the airlines are pumping up flights to places like Alaska and Montana this summer, but wonder who is going to be able to book those flights in those car dependent places when they find out nothing is available now.