peteropny

I would either call or cancel via the internet on your smartphone before you approach the checkout booth.

noah

+1 -- either use the app (easiest/fastest) or via phone. You want to cancel it so the agent doesn't accidentally find your minivan reservation and check you out using that one.

Sanoxz

Hi all,

Just found this forum as I have been looking to decide whether to get a car of the EA when I arrive in SFO or whether to book a full size. On corporate rate difference isn't massive and I was really hoping to get something outrageously American being European (dodge charger comes to mind).

Want to avoid nothing good being on the EA when arriving late afternoon. Any thoughts?

neo_781

Welcome to FT!

While I'm sure the selection varies a bit based on time and day but on Monday mid-mornings I find that there are usually an abundance of Chargers. I'm sure others can chime in on strategies such as making two reservations and canceling the one you don't use before approaching the booth but my general observation is that you would be ok and if you didn't find what you're looking for sometimes asking will also yield good results. In my experience with national and at a few different locations is that the employees usually aim to help out especially if you explain your excitement of renting an American car!

Hope that helps!

IsleOfMan

If you want something "outrageously American", I would ask about getting a Mustang, Challenger, or Camaro. Fleet Chargers aren't really outrageously anything other than dull and underspeced. I've seen all three on ES frequently, sometimes in convertible form, at SFO. I've also seen the Charger on ES as well, but it probably wouldn't be completely unlikely to find it on EA.

Sanoxz

Thanks for the replies.

I ended up booking Fullsize. I'll have a look what I end up with and ask if I want something else! I'll probably end up renting for about 4 months, so I'll have an opportunity to switch cars around.

flyerbjorn

I'm in the same boat, our corporate rates are about the same for mid and full size cars. I usually book a full size and choose what I want in the aisle at SFO.

flyerbjorn

That $20 fee is also not charged for one way rentals ending at SFO. I've done this a number of times.

Sanoxz

Do you get an aisle choice with full size? I thought mid size rentals got you the aisle and full size just reserved you a car?

flyerbjorn

You can reserve a fullsize and still choose from the Aisle if you want. Done it multiple times. For SFO, the Emerald Member rate is almost the same anyway. $31.52 for a midsize and $31.73 for a fullsize.

With our corporate rates, the difference is usually $1-4/day, so I just book a fullsize and forget about it.

noah

9:30am on a Tuesday after the holiday weekend.

National at SFO was a zoo. They were basically emptying cars off the EA and ES as fast as they could drive them in. Tons of minivans, and when I say tons, I'd guess that there were 30 between EA and ES and given the absence of most other vehicles, people were either taking them, or waiting until new cars were brought in (which admittedly was happening quickly). Beyond the minivans I saw
- Maxima
- Altima
- Camry
- Chrysler 200
- Chrysler 300
- Jeep Cherokee
- Jeep Compass
- Nissan Rogue
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Ford Taurus
- Chevy Malibu
- Hyundai Sonata
- VW Jetta

I missed out on the Cherokee and the Pathfinder by moments, and eventually ended up in a 300.

As a side note, I saw an area with a few minivans and SUVS that were clearly Burning Man returns, covered in Playa dust and "$225 Detailing" written on the windows.

neo_781

+1 it was a mess! I was there at the same time. I ended up in a Charger (that I had to box a few people out to get to!). They couldn't stock the cars fast enough and it was really bad do to all the people and the the 2-way traffic down the aisle.

Did you also happen to notice all the return cars stacked in the mid-size (or next aisle over)? I've never seen so many cars at that location at once.

(as a side a bunch of co-workers rent from Hertz and they said it was chaos and a wait for cars down there too).

IsleOfMan

If anyone can report on ER-PREM over the next month or so, it would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!

IsleOfMan

Anything recent, especially for ER-PREM? Thanks!

noah

I took a look last week
- Maxima x3
- Caddy (not sure which one)
- 2014 Genesis
- Buick