Closingracer

You proproba could of taken the CLA for sure since its classified as luxury.

trout11

I just noticed on an upcoming reservation that the app now says go to the counter. It had said go to the booth.

I assume I'll still be fine to head to the garage (is it level 3 or 4?), look at the selection (left for exec) and then head to the booth right? I know my CC Changed when a new card was issued.

Scott

ginmqi

Floor 4, elevators are past the ground floor rental car counters (which national has one too but as emerald club you'll be directed upstairs). Shuttle drivers are nice to direct emerald club members to the right area

If there's no one there, you can pick and choose your own then to the counter/booth area to get your keys. Just let them know the stall #. But note that if there's a line, (which sometimes there is if lot of flights are landing around that time) you may not get your choice as people will be taking cars in front of you, so have a couple backups ready to go.

qs933

Thought about asking for it, but the CLA didn't really interest me. I don't remember how much they were trying to get for it as a VIP upgrade, but they were definitely trying to attract someone who'd pay extra just to have the MB logo. While I was waiting, the manager was spraying tire shine to spruce it up.

It's funny that both LCARs (CLA and the MKC that I drove) had MSRPs less than the Maxima SVs and not that much higher than the Rogue SL that were on the Exec line. Not to mention that the $25K Camry LE (or even the $20K Corolla) commonly found on Emerald has more active safety features than both LCARs, or even the Audi A6 that I had earlier.

Looking back at this round of rentals, I booked Luxury since it was actually cheaper than a Full-size, but I would have been more than happy with a pick off either line. I was tempted to squander my Luxury reservation and ask for the Prius since I haven't rented the current generation, but figured there'd be other opportunities to grab one.

I noticed that the Prius had parking sensors and thought they might have bought a higher trim, but found out that Toyota is including Intelligent Parking assist and blind-spot at no additional charge on most Prius models for 2018.

toastedcoconut

First time heading to HNL, reading through the thread and did some searching but still confused. There's the quasi-aisle with locked cars, but is there the same mid-size booking requirement to pick whatever you want?

ginmqi

Yup as long as you're emerald club member.

The cars are locked with keys kept at the front/counter are due to the way HNL is designed. Rental car agencies share one large, multi story garage with a single exit point hence no ability for National to do the gate checkout.

sambo150

Anyone know whats around at the moment heading there for my first time from Australia our cars suck so hoping for something interesting!

qs933

sambo150

Thanks for your reply!

Yes I am exec elite but in Australia works quite different,

I am staying in waikiki for a week then onto the east side, I dont need a car in waikiki and was wondering if I would be better going back to the airport for car pickup rather than the Ala moana national location? Is there more cars on offer at the airport?

Thanks Again

qs933

The airport has more cars, as well as a specific Emerald and Executive line to pick from. The Ala Moana Blvd location is a counter-only location. You are assigned a vehicle at the counter and then you go to the parking garage to pick it up. While the agents are generally pretty good about telling you what’s available, it’s much more limited.

sambo150

Great thanks for that info!
Ill see how I go at Ala Moana as I just looked and didn’t realise the airport was that far away the cost of uber etc out there is not worth it!

thanks again

ginmqi

Sunday at around 6pm.

EA - Camrys, Corollas, very limited and non-interesting cars.

EC/ES - Maxima SV x2, Ford Flex, Explorer Limited x3, Camaro RS x3, Cadillac XTS 3.6 (2018), Rogue SL x2, GMC Acadia (non AWD)

Looks like sunday afternoon/early evening may be a good time as many people return from their vacations to go home. Though of course YMMV and may vary by the hour from incoming flights.

I had a small line behind me and people were taking cars fairly quickly (Flex, Explorer, a Camry and a Maxima were quickly taken)

qs933

Not spotted at the airport itself, but I saw a 2018 Volvo XC90 in downtown Honolulu with the tell-tale Enterprise/National stickers.

Xu Guan

There is also quite a large difference in taxes between renting at the airport and the Ala Moana location. I will often one way from the airport and then pick up from Ala Moana and take it back to the airport just to save on the taxes.

qs933

That is a good point, though. The off-airport locations have much less fees and taxes than the airport.

On a side note, Ala Moana might not be an option -- on National's site, they list HNL Airport, Hilton Hawaiian Village (Waikiki), and Hyatt Centric (Waikiki). The Ala Moana (Discovery Bay Shopping Center) location is no longer available. The other two non-airport locations are in Waikiki, though, so the principle still applies.