Cars at Union Station (DC)
Apr 5, 2010, 8:18 am
#31
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 886
Union Station does one-ways. If you enter a dropoff at BWI, IAD, or DCA, the price is actually not bad. If you wanted to go from Union Station to JFK in NYC over the course of a week, it's a high price but not too bad. They'll take the $10/day FL driveout, unlike several other neighborhood stores. And just look at all those NJ and MA cars parked nose out in the photo.
Apr 5, 2010, 8:44 am
#32
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,211
I just did a test price check with no corporate codes or discounts: DCA roundtrip, pick up tomorrow, return the day after, lowest price = $73/day plus airport tax, for a minivan of all things. Return to Union Station, same price. Pick up Union Station, return to DCA = $51/day for either subcompact or compact. Roundtrip = same price.
Apr 5, 2010, 11:11 pm
#33
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Chicago (ORD)
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, UA Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 566
I regularly rent from one of the area airports (generally IAD or DCA since the taxes are lower than BWI) and return to Union Station, where I work. There is generally no additional charge, and the cost is generally the same as a regular roundtrip (not always the case, but most of the time). I just rented a Exec Elite full size (got a Santa Fe) for 4 days this weekend from IAD and returned it this morning to Union Station for about $91...
Sep 20, 2012, 9:33 am
#34
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Platinum, United Gold, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 48
Rented from Union Station on 9/18 because DCA was sold out. I reserved a midsize, and knew there was no EA/ES here. I am executive, and they offered me my choice of a Corolla or an Avenger. I was told the Avenger was my upgrade option. I asked if there was anything else, and they told me they had a Malibu, but I would have to pay for the upgrade. I guess I should have just reserved a full size in advance, but from all indications this is a dissapointing location for executive upgrades.
Feb 6, 2013, 2:20 pm
#35
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 698
Any recent experiences here? Currently have a premium 1-day one-way rental to NYC from here, but debating using a one-two-free coupon instead (but then can only do full-size). Also can pick up from DCA instead, but WAS is way more convenient.
Feb 7, 2013, 6:09 pm
#36
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Platinum, United Gold, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 48
From my experience, at WAS even as an executive you will get the car class you reserved (see my post from August above). If you want anything other than an impala you should probably reserve the premium. Even though WAS is more convenient for me I almost always take the slightly longer trip to DCA since there is a much better selection there.
Feb 8, 2013, 7:26 am
#37
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 698
From my experience, at WAS even as an executive you will get the car class you reserved (see my post from August above). If you want anything other than an impala you should probably reserve the premium. Even though WAS is more convenient for me I almost always take the slightly longer trip to DCA since there is a much better selection there.
May 25, 2014, 4:17 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,211
I rented a midsize at Union Station, one-way to HPN in suburban NY. I booked with Alamo, because the price was significantly different from National. (Recently that seems to be changing. For many one-ways, and some round trips, Enterprise, Alamo, and National have the same exact rates. I don't know why, since each brand has different target market segments, and purports to offer a different "customer experience.")
However, it's the same facility and fleet. National customers proceed directly to the lot, and are offered a choice. Alamo customers speak with the counter clerk first, sign the contract, take it to the lot attendant, and are assigned a car. With the amount of cars, the way they are parked, the amount of specialized staff, and the wash facilities, it reminded me more of an airport than a city neighborhood store.
In any case, here's some of what I saw:
* new Malibu, NY plates, but not assigned for me, because I booked a midsize and the plates don't matter
* old Chrysler 200, MN plates, looked tired and beat
* Grand Caravan, VA plates
* Camry, VA plates
* 2014 Chevrolet Cruze LT, leather seats, red, 6k mi, FL plates, mine
I asked about last week's recall. The lot attendant replied they fixed them all.
However, it's the same facility and fleet. National customers proceed directly to the lot, and are offered a choice. Alamo customers speak with the counter clerk first, sign the contract, take it to the lot attendant, and are assigned a car. With the amount of cars, the way they are parked, the amount of specialized staff, and the wash facilities, it reminded me more of an airport than a city neighborhood store.
In any case, here's some of what I saw:
* new Malibu, NY plates, but not assigned for me, because I booked a midsize and the plates don't matter
* old Chrysler 200, MN plates, looked tired and beat
* Grand Caravan, VA plates
* Camry, VA plates
* 2014 Chevrolet Cruze LT, leather seats, red, 6k mi, FL plates, mine
I asked about last week's recall. The lot attendant replied they fixed them all.
Oct 6, 2016, 8:05 am
#43
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 195
Anyone know what's up with this location? The hours recently changed to say 06:00AM - 09:45PM M-F and closed on the weekend. But when you try to book, even during those hours you get "Location does not exist or not open at the time you selected".
Even more odd is that the National L'Enfant Plaza location is open on weekends and bookable. Seems like that location would get nobody on weekends whereas Union Station would.
Even more odd is that the National L'Enfant Plaza location is open on weekends and bookable. Seems like that location would get nobody on weekends whereas Union Station would.
Oct 9, 2016, 6:37 am
#44
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: PHL
Programs: Marriott LTT, Amtrak Select, Hertz 5*, AA Gold, IHG Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,312
Anyone know what's up with this location? The hours recently changed to say 06:00AM - 09:45PM M-F and closed on the weekend. But when you try to book, even during those hours you get "Location does not exist or not open at the time you selected".
Even more odd is that the National L'Enfant Plaza location is open on weekends and bookable. Seems like that location would get nobody on weekends whereas Union Station would.
Even more odd is that the National L'Enfant Plaza location is open on weekends and bookable. Seems like that location would get nobody on weekends whereas Union Station would.
I had made the reservation several months ago. When I got there, there was a sign by the enterprise window saying National/Alamo go directly to the garage. When I got out there, all I saw was an Enterprise booth, so that's where I went.
Apparently, they were honoring existing reservations that were on the books. They had my paperwork ready and I was able to return the car there with no issues. But not in the future.
This is a real disappointment, as arriving on Amtrak will now require a Metro ride on two lines to get to L'Enfant Plaza. If I don't arrive early enough, I have to go to Reagan airport (and pay more because of all the airport fees).
I occasionally use Hertz as a backup when the logistics of renting from National don't work, and I might have to do that here. I really find renting from Enterprise highly annoying because I just want to get in the car and go.