Question about Mini Vans
Feb 5, 2015, 8:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1
Question about Mini Vans
Hi All,
I am a regular Emerald Aisle member. I live very close to Hartford/Springfield (BDL). I need to get a mini van for a road trip down to Myrtle Beach. I contacted the National at BDL and she said to book my reservation through the Emerald Club and when I get there ask them for a mini van. Do you think that I should book a mini van in addition to my Emerald Club reservation just in case?
Has anyone asked for a different car if what you were looking for wasn't in the aisle?
I am a regular Emerald Aisle member. I live very close to Hartford/Springfield (BDL). I need to get a mini van for a road trip down to Myrtle Beach. I contacted the National at BDL and she said to book my reservation through the Emerald Club and when I get there ask them for a mini van. Do you think that I should book a mini van in addition to my Emerald Club reservation just in case?
Has anyone asked for a different car if what you were looking for wasn't in the aisle?
Feb 5, 2015, 9:10 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,663
I was leaving MCO following Xmas Break (demanding minivan time), and the Isle had no minivans. Had Traverses, Acadia, etc. So attendant suggested talking to Alamo 40 feet away...Alamo booth would upgrade me free to Traverse, but insisted on $29.99 upgrade for minivan. They had 15 of them sitting in minivan isle! I said ok and found one with only like 1K miles on her, which was certainly appreciated by my group on a shot-gun drive to NYC!
Feb 5, 2015, 9:59 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
I have been doing this recently at another location, and have found very good availability for minivans on the Aisle. I think it is a low demand time of year for them -- no families taking vacations right now.
That said -- you can easily do the following. If you need to pick up your car at 1pm, make an Aisle reservation for 1:30pm and a minivan reservation for 2:30pm. Then, when you get there, if there's a minivan on the Aisle (or the attendant is willing to grab you one), just cancel the minivan reservation from your smartphone app.
(Having them at different times isn't strictly necessary, but it makes it easier to tell them apart in the app.)
That said -- you can easily do the following. If you need to pick up your car at 1pm, make an Aisle reservation for 1:30pm and a minivan reservation for 2:30pm. Then, when you get there, if there's a minivan on the Aisle (or the attendant is willing to grab you one), just cancel the minivan reservation from your smartphone app.
(Having them at different times isn't strictly necessary, but it makes it easier to tell them apart in the app.)
Feb 5, 2015, 1:41 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Paradise
Posts: 1,617
Make two reservations. One for the aisle and one for the minivan with a pick-up time 1 hour later than when you plan to arrive at National and simply cancel which one you don't use.
My last rental at BDL was in November and I needed a minivan. There was none on Aisle/Executive and only two on the reserve section. Even though I had a backup minivan reservation, I spoke to the attendant about any possibility of Sienna's and upgrade fee's. There was no Sienna at that time but he allowed me to take one of the vans for the aisle price. So I still ended up getting what I wanted.
Bottom line if none is on the aisle; it doesn't hurt to ask.
My last rental at BDL was in November and I needed a minivan. There was none on Aisle/Executive and only two on the reserve section. Even though I had a backup minivan reservation, I spoke to the attendant about any possibility of Sienna's and upgrade fee's. There was no Sienna at that time but he allowed me to take one of the vans for the aisle price. So I still ended up getting what I wanted.
Bottom line if none is on the aisle; it doesn't hurt to ask.
Feb 8, 2015, 1:02 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
Not at BDL, but I was able to request a nicer minivan for an Aisle res tonight at BOS without any trouble. (They had a handful on the Aisle already, but they were high mileage and didn't have much tread left on the tires. Not ideal for our permanent snowstorm condition...)
Feb 10, 2015, 11:26 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: PDX
Programs: DL Plat, UA Plat 1MM, AS MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, Avis Presidents Club, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,938
NYC to BDL is not at all an easy trip to make on public transport. You can take Amtrak or Greyhound to Hartford itself and then take a local bus or a taxi ($45).
You could also rent IN NYC as a one-way rental and return to BDL.
Feb 10, 2015, 11:50 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,663
I didn't expect to confuse you: I live in NYC, but I'm picking up full-size van at BDL (10 days for $570 after tax). I'm extremely open to picking up anywhere (MD, PA, NJ?) if someone suggests a deal on Fullsize Van.
I'm not at all considering taxi. So does anyone local know what transport gets me to BDL?
I'm not at all considering taxi. So does anyone local know what transport gets me to BDL?
Feb 10, 2015, 12:43 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: PDX
Programs: DL Plat, UA Plat 1MM, AS MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, Avis Presidents Club, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,938
I didn't expect to confuse you: I live in NYC, but I'm picking up full-size van at BDL (10 days for $570 after tax). I'm extremely open to picking up anywhere (MD, PA, NJ?) if someone suggests a deal on Fullsize Van.
I'm not at all considering taxi. So does anyone local know what transport gets me to BDL?
I'm not at all considering taxi. So does anyone local know what transport gets me to BDL?
I would take the Bolt Bus to Hartford Union Station, then take this bus (http://www.cttransit.com/routessched...adleyflyer.asp) which provides hourly service to Bradley.
Feb 10, 2015, 12:48 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: PDX
Programs: DL Plat, UA Plat 1MM, AS MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, Avis Presidents Club, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,938
The one thing I'd add -- you should shop National New Haven and National Stamford. Both of those locations are much easier to get to from NYC and they would avoid the rental car fee (which for your rental is probably 15% of the cost).
Feb 10, 2015, 1:57 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,663
I very much appreciate the commute tips above. But here...I don't understand about National: I need Fullsize van for 10 days
Feb 10, 2015, 2:04 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Paradise
Posts: 1,617
When you say full-size van do you mean a minivan or one of the 12-15 seaters?
Feb 10, 2015, 4:49 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,663
Minivans would not be an issue, lol...
Passenger vans are hit'n'miss. For whatever reason: Dollar, Thrifty, Payless, Alamo, Enterprise who all say they carry them - don't indicate so at NorthEast locations. I'm only seeing Budget and Avis in the entire NorthEast
Passenger vans are hit'n'miss. For whatever reason: Dollar, Thrifty, Payless, Alamo, Enterprise who all say they carry them - don't indicate so at NorthEast locations. I'm only seeing Budget and Avis in the entire NorthEast
