Derekk

I’ve has times where I reserved a specific class of car and the attendant will list some options I can take (usually over by the Alamo section on B side) or tell me to grab something off the aisle if I see something I prefer there but it has always been with a vehicle reserved that’s priced higher than the mid-size/full-size, so I’m not sure what would happen with a class that is priced lower.

I haven’t really seen large SUVs on the aisle my last few times in Orlando, and when I have, there have been a few people racing over thru the lot to try to get them with it being such a family heavy destination.

EAJuggalo

Rented from B side on 1/17. EA had a single Durango, few Camrys and a Rav4. Very slim pickings. EE was better but since I don't have access didn't look all that closely. I ended up with the Rav4 with 45,000 miles.

bruceyang1998

1/26, executive area had an Audi A4 which was snagged up quickly, a bunch of VW Atlases, and a Volvo XC40. Just as I was about to get in an Atlas, an Audi A6 showed up so I took that. Didn't look closely at emerald aisle but it appeared to have mostly the regular intermediate sedans.

higgi8f6

First time using National and I status matched my American to get EE. Arrived around 5pm on a Tuesday. B side had nothing in either aisle. A few plug in jeep wrangler hybrids and a few camrys but maybe 6 cars total? I walked over to A side as my wife was still waiting with one kid n bags. Much better selection on A but no 3 row anything. There were a bunch of jeeps but at least A side had a few pickup trucks, a mustang and bmw convertible, and a few audis and camrys. I grabbed the keys to a Tundra but while I was waiting for my wife to come a Nissan Armada pulled in. I grabbed the keys to that and another lady I was talking to asked me how I found this? She asked at the booth about large SUVs and they gave her an Expedition that she thought was too big but the only thing available. As I was on vacation with kids I offered to swap keys. So I guess if you have time in Orlando and they don't have what you are looking for just wait. It will probably show up. This all happened in maybe 10 minutes of swapping up. The expedition was nice! 220 miles on it.

MJRobin

Hi, I am new to national and recently status matched to get access to Executive aisle. Wondering if anyone knows if any of the 3-row SUVs that pop up ever have a full second row so that you can fit 8 passengers. Thanks!

ChristopherJN

I've found that it depends on the day and season you're traveling. Spring Break/Christmas? Forget about it.
On slower days/seasons I'll spot them from time to time. If there are none on the aisle, they'll sometimes pull one around for you, send you to Alamo, or let you upgrade for a fee.

If you have time, I'd also encourage for MCO to check both sides (A and B). If one side doesn't have what you're looking for, the other side usually will.

MJRobin

thanks. I am going in early November so hopefully I have some luck.

Derekk

I’ve found that most of the suburbans, tahoes, expeditions, wagoneers that I’ve encountered from National do have the full bench second row. Only once or twice have I seen ones with captains chairs in the middle.

wm47

This has been my experience across the Full Size SUV class, too. The Escalades (which I think are in the Luxury SUV class, but I sometimes get from National when I reserve Full Size SUV) typically only have seven seats; I have actually turned down the upgrade on those grounds

I'd add that I've found 8-seat Highlanders, which are smaller than most 8-seaters, in ES at MCO a couple of times in the past year

donutz11

Saw a 2023 BMW X5 in the Executive aisle, tried to connect my phone to Bluetooth/Carplay and it just wouldn't work. Spent maybe 20 mins trying to reset the head unit but it still wouldn't work. Gave up and picked up a Volkswagen Atlas instead. Shame.

AppleBoy97

There’s a trick to it. It’s been awhile, so I can’t remember off the top of my head, but I know what you’re talking about.

gusdalcolmo

I've run into this issue last year when I got one from National. It's a common issue and took me about 30 minutes in the hotel parking garage to solve it (since I had to start/restart the iDrive several times): Apple CarPlay not working – how to fix common CarPlay issues | BimmerTech (bimmer-tech.net)

CGNGio

Hello, we land in Orlando around 12 o'clock at night between Tuesday and Wednesday. Since we are staying in a hotel at the airport, I am wondering whether it would be better to pick up the car at night or the next morning. When can I expect less waiting time, I have to go to the counter first and when is the EA probably better equipped? I am Exec Elite through Status Match and would be making my first booking with National.

EAJuggalo

I would expect the Aisle to be best stocked relatively early in the morning. Everyone flying out in the morning will return their cars but the majority of flights haven't gotten in yet.
If you're staying at the Hyatt MCO, what are you going to do with the car if you pick it up at night. Doesn't seem to be a good plan to rent the car, drive it out of the garage just to put it in the ramp overnight.
I'm actually going to be doing the same thing in September, land at midnight, I'm booking a room at a hotel just across the highway with a shuttle. I'll have that bring me back to MCO Wednesday morning, rent the car, go back to the hotel to pick up my stuff and then finish my journey. Doing it this way also saves me $50 on the rental.

Derekk

this was my experience at Orlando as well. I’ve found it to be better stocked, as well as much quicker to get out and on my way. When I’ve been there early there is usually one or two other people on the lot with me if that. The few times I’ve been there at night, there have been very few cars on the aisle and a pretty decent number of people picking up rentals.