"Emerald Aisle" on Executive reservation?
Feb 13, 2009, 5:20 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: HOU
Posts: 459
"Emerald Aisle" on Executive reservation?
I'm one of those Executive lites, but a legit CO Elite so I don't feel too bad about taking advantage of the program, and I'm a little confused. I signed up yesterday, and added my new member number to a mid-size reservation for this weekend. I received a confirmation, but it says my "level of service is Emerald Aisle." According to my EC profile "Tier: EXECUTIVE."
Huh?
Huh?
Feb 13, 2009, 6:37 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Emerald Aisle refers here to locations (see National for the list) where cars are available for self-selection.
Alternately, you may see 'Club Counter,' where contracts are pre-printed, or the dreaded 'counter' with slow just-like-a-walk-up service.
As an Exec you get to pick the full size+ cars from the Exec Select row as an upgrade from the midsize cars placed on the Emerald Aisle.
Alternately, you may see 'Club Counter,' where contracts are pre-printed, or the dreaded 'counter' with slow just-like-a-walk-up service.
As an Exec you get to pick the full size+ cars from the Exec Select row as an upgrade from the midsize cars placed on the Emerald Aisle.
Feb 13, 2009, 6:47 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: HOU
Posts: 459
Ah. So the term Emerald Aisle is used for both the counter bypass as well as their mid-tier all "special mid-size" section? That is confusing...
Just to make sure that I understand right, and please beat me in the head with a stick if I'm just being dense, my reservation (at SJC) says Emerald Aisle so I will be able to self-select (since they have my contract particulars on file they don't need to print it out), but I can pick up a car from the EA or the EC.
Just to make sure that I understand right, and please beat me in the head with a stick if I'm just being dense, my reservation (at SJC) says Emerald Aisle so I will be able to self-select (since they have my contract particulars on file they don't need to print it out), but I can pick up a car from the EA or the EC.
Feb 13, 2009, 8:01 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 63
As an Executive, you can reserve a full size, pay for a mid-size and select a car from the Executive Selection.
Alternatively, you can reserve a mid-size, pay for a mid-size, and select a car from the Emerald Aisle.
Here's the relevant excerpt from their website:
My recommendation: Make a full-size reservation. Verify that your level of service is "Executive Selection" and that the price is the same. Then cancel the mid-size one.
Alternatively, you can reserve a mid-size, pay for a mid-size, and select a car from the Emerald Aisle.
Here's the relevant excerpt from their website:
Only National offers the Executive Selection - a special area of our lot featuring fullsize and higher class cars. Simply reserve a midsize or fullsize car, bypass the counter, choose your car and pay only the reserved midsize rate. Every time you rent from the Executive Selection, you receive an upgrade. As an Emerald Club Executive member, you always pay for one car class less than reserved when you book a fullsize through luxury car. (For example, if you rent a premium car, you only pay the fullsize rate.)
Feb 13, 2009, 8:14 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: HOU
Posts: 459
My recommendation: Make a full-size reservation. Verify that your level of service is "Executive Selection" and that the price is the same. Then cancel the mid-size one.
Feb 13, 2009, 8:21 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Every reservation I have made as an Exec in the US, without exception, for a full size car has yielded a midsize rate, confirmed on the rental receipt. This is true whether the level of service is Aisle, Club Counter, or counter. Personally, I would have found no value in the dupe resrevation method you propose.
Feb 13, 2009, 8:34 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: HOU
Posts: 459
Every reservation I have made as an Exec in the US, without exception, for a full size car has yielded a midsize rate, confirmed on the rental receipt. This is true whether the level of service is Aisle, Club Counter, or counter. Personally, I would have found no value in the dupe resrevation method you propose.
The change from mid to full worked, but I still find the language confusing: Simply reserve a midsize or fullsize car, bypass the counter, choose your car and pay only the reserved midsize rate. Every time you rent from the Executive Selection, you receive an upgrade. I look at that and see that I can reserve a mid and the ES will kick in, not that I need to book a full with the mid price applied for ES to kick in.
Thanks for your help. I'll try and provide a list of the ES/EA selection at SJC sometime after tomorrow night's pickup. If everything goes well, this may replace Budget/Avis for all my rentals...
Feb 14, 2009, 12:47 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYJ
Programs: Aeroplan, Priority Club, National Exec Elite, Hertz #1 Gold, Avis First, Thrifty Bluechip
Posts: 1,924