Cars at BUF
Sep 9, 2009, 9:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: YYZ
Posts: 50
Cars at BUF
Hi guys.
I have a reservation for this Saturday morning. Just wondering if anyone had rented from BUF lately and had any idea what to expect?
I have a premium reserved and have executive status with National.
I have a reservation for this Saturday morning. Just wondering if anyone had rented from BUF lately and had any idea what to expect?
I have a premium reserved and have executive status with National.
Sep 9, 2009, 12:11 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYJ
Programs: Aeroplan, Priority Club, National Exec Elite, Hertz #1 Gold, Avis First, Thrifty Bluechip
Posts: 1,924
I'm sorry I can't help you out, but please report back once you get there Saturday. Also if you could post if you saw any vehicles with Canadian plates that would be great. I might have a BUF-YYZ rental coming up and as a Canadian, I can't take a US vehicle over the border. Cheers!
Sep 9, 2009, 12:56 pm
#3
Moderator: GLBT Travelers & Hyatt Gold Passport
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: CVG
Posts: 15,300
BUF is a counter location only - no Emerald Aisle. I used to rent regularly from BUF (fullsize is usually Impala / LaCrosse) but haven't done so in the last 2 years or so. Last rental was a Premium about a year ago and was a Buick Lucerne. Sorry not real current but I don't think this is a really popular location for Flyertalkers.
Sep 9, 2009, 8:59 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: YYZ
Posts: 50
I'm sorry I can't help you out, but please report back once you get there Saturday. Also if you could post if you saw any vehicles with Canadian plates that would be great. I might have a BUF-YYZ rental coming up and as a Canadian, I can't take a US vehicle over the border. Cheers!
BUF is a counter location only - no Emerald Aisle. I used to rent regularly from BUF (fullsize is usually Impala / LaCrosse) but haven't done so in the last 2 years or so. Last rental was a Premium about a year ago and was a Buick Lucerne. Sorry not real current but I don't think this is a really popular location for Flyertalkers.
i am going to give them a call in the morning.
Sep 10, 2009, 8:41 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: YYZ
Posts: 50
called them this morning. they said my options for a premium vehicle will be the following:
- chrysler 300
- buick lucerne
- toyota avalon
- nissan maxima
i am happy with those, so i will probably stick with national.
will post back when i return.
- chrysler 300
- buick lucerne
- toyota avalon
- nissan maxima
i am happy with those, so i will probably stick with national.
will post back when i return.
Sep 11, 2009, 9:55 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
The folks at the counter at BUF have been pretty nice, in my experience. Actually seem to upgrade Exec members, which is rare at counter locations. Although they did once give me the wrong car -- I was driving a Monte Carlo, returned it, and got a call from them two days later asking when I was planning on returning my Jeep Liberty 
They were very apologetic and resolved the issue without question, though.
They were very apologetic and resolved the issue without question, though.
Sep 12, 2009, 11:25 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MKE
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Plat Pro, MR LTP, others from cards
Posts: 890
I got an upgrade too, back in May. Booked a Full Size for midsize rate as Exec, asked nicely at the counter and was offered a choice between a Maxima and an Edge. Took the Edge and enjoyed it more than expected.
May 23, 2010, 7:15 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ORD
Programs: UA - 1K,AA - Plat,Hilton - Diamond,Hyatt - Platinum,National - Exec Elite
Posts: 49
May 24, 2010, 4:04 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: DEN / OGG
Programs: Former UA GS, demoted to lowly 1K MM
Posts: 734
Rented at BUF a couple times over the past year - standard Emerald Club, Midsize reservations:
Visit 1 - Assigned a 4 cyl Hyundai Sonata, elected to "downgrade" to a V6 Tiburon instead.
Visit 2 - Offered a choice of a Jeep Compass, Dodge Dakota Pickup, or a Dodge Journey as a complimentary "Emerald Club Upgrade." Guessing they were just out of cars at that point, and offering up whatever they had left.
Visit 1 - Assigned a 4 cyl Hyundai Sonata, elected to "downgrade" to a V6 Tiburon instead.
Visit 2 - Offered a choice of a Jeep Compass, Dodge Dakota Pickup, or a Dodge Journey as a complimentary "Emerald Club Upgrade." Guessing they were just out of cars at that point, and offering up whatever they had left.
Sep 13, 2011, 7:43 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: 1K 1MM; Bonvoy Ambassador; Nat'l EE; Hertz PC; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,465
Rented here for 2 days recently. Used free 2 free days and of course selected Premium (luxury wasn't available). Upon arriving at the counter I saw a CTS, STS, C70, CC, couple Genesis's and lots of SUV's. The guy in the booth asked me "so what do you feel like today". I said, how about that Cadillac, he obliged and we were on our way in a CTS with 2800 miles on it. It was my first time driving this model year CTS (2012) and it was great. It has one of the greatest sounds of a 4 door sedan. It sounds faster than it is but it's plenty fast 0-60. Overall a great experience in BUF and can't wait to rent again on a paid reservation.
Sep 13, 2011, 12:26 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 2
MPV at BUF
Hi,
Gonna pick-up an MPV next week at BUF (first time National rent... in fact first time rent at all
)
And yes, I became an Emerald Club member.
The reservation says VVAR. Can't figure out what de first V stands for.
V = ?
V = van
A = automatic
R = air
Anyone have a clue?
Thanks,
awfa
Gonna pick-up an MPV next week at BUF (first time National rent... in fact first time rent at all
) And yes, I became an Emerald Club member.
The reservation says VVAR. Can't figure out what de first V stands for.
V = ?
V = van
A = automatic
R = air
Anyone have a clue?
Thanks,
awfa
Sep 13, 2011, 1:30 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Sherman Oaks, CA
Programs: Ozark Go-Getters Gold, Statler Star Silver, others from a variety of alternate timelines
Posts: 843
Welcome to FlyerTalk, awfa! You might be interested in this recent thread which lists many of National's 4-letter vehicle codes (although I don't see VVAR in that thread, so I guess you've turned up a new one).
My semi-educated guess is that one of the V's in VVAR doesn't really stand for anything; it's just that they needed a 4th letter in the code, so they repeated the V (using an X might seem more obvious, but X already seems to have a specific meaning when it's used in the codes).
My semi-educated guess is that one of the V's in VVAR doesn't really stand for anything; it's just that they needed a 4th letter in the code, so they repeated the V (using an X might seem more obvious, but X already seems to have a specific meaning when it's used in the codes).
Sep 17, 2011, 8:56 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: London, England
Programs: British Airways non-rev, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 64
I rented in Buffalo today. No official Emerald Aisle, but club members do go straight to the lot and essentially get their pick. The agent was willing to give me a Mustang except that the keys for it were at the main desk. I ended up with a La Crosse, not bad.