Reserved a car with Dollar at FAT and when I got off the plane and when to the counter, the counter was closed (it was around 11:20 pm). I had a reservation with them and they knew the flight I was on (there were two scheduled flights arriving after my flight). Hertz was the only counter open and wanted close to $300 for a three day rental (too much for my non-profit organization budget). Wound up taking a cab to the hotel and another back to the airport today. In the meantime, I went on Priceline and found a nice rate at Alamo.

Boo on Dollar for being closed even though they had my reservation in their system.l

What time was your reservation for?

Very few rental agencies will stay open past their posted hours for late flights unless you call in advance to ask/confirm. The no-show rate is simply too high: upwards of 30% of customers with confirmed reservations (even with flight information and all that) simply never show up. Rental agents who have personal lives to live aren't going to wait around forever for someone who very likely isn't courteous enough to show up for their commitment.

Now, if you call in advance (before your delayed flight departs its originating city) and ask if they'll stay an extra few minutes, perhaps even bribing them with a Starbucks gift card or something (especially to a food/coffee vendor on airport), you'll be much more likely to have the red carpet rolled out for you upon arrival.