Florida Drive In 2019
#16
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
Complete Speculation: Winter lasted well into March and April this year. Whenever flights in the Southeast get canceled, lots of people turn to one-way car rentals in order to salvage at least part of their planned Florida vacation. I think it's possible that rental car companies might not need to incentivize moving vehicles into Florida simply because most of the cars were already there. Maybe Mother Nature is the reason Florida drive-in rates are scares this year.
#17
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,662
Complete Speculation: Winter lasted well into March and April this year. Whenever flights in the Southeast get canceled, lots of people turn to one-way car rentals in order to salvage at least part of their planned Florida vacation. I think it's possible that rental car companies might not need to incentivize moving vehicles into Florida simply because most of the cars were already there. Maybe Mother Nature is the reason Florida drive-in rates are scares this year.
#18
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,207
If a lot of people unexpectedly one-wayed into FL right before the FL driveout, the driveout specials would logically have lasted longer and/or been cheaper than normal.
There sometimes is also a mini, unadvertised FL drivein in Feb/Mar right before Spring Break. If a lot of flights get cancelled, those specials would probably get withdrawn almost immediately.
There sometimes is also a mini, unadvertised FL drivein in Feb/Mar right before Spring Break. If a lot of flights get cancelled, those specials would probably get withdrawn almost immediately.
#19
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,662
There's been no unusual circumstances this fall, short of maybe two (to a small degree):
1. Warm temps maybe lasted longer than normal in N/E
2. FL didn't get hit hard in hurricane season, so there wasn't any additional insurer-covered local demand
Well then maybe drive-in rates are still coming, but it's disheartening to NOT see any by now. Avis used to start as early as end-Aug, and National used to show rates all fall thru mid-Dec. I'm not seeing anything
1. Warm temps maybe lasted longer than normal in N/E
2. FL didn't get hit hard in hurricane season, so there wasn't any additional insurer-covered local demand
Well then maybe drive-in rates are still coming, but it's disheartening to NOT see any by now. Avis used to start as early as end-Aug, and National used to show rates all fall thru mid-Dec. I'm not seeing anything
#21
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,662
National had no meaningful drive-in, yet. Last year, they had up to 28-day rate that lasted thru mid-Dec. Have Alamo, Enterprise, Dollar, Thrifty even announced any drive-in this time?
#22
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,207
National rarely has these specials anymore, but they did have it last year south FL to NY, and this year NYC airports to FL, for a few days, at the last minute. Enterprise and Hertz advertised it. The others tend to offer it quietly.
#23
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,662
As much as u'd mentioned of National, that would've been a few cars. Literally 50x less than last fall. And if Alamo never even announced...
#24
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,207
Alamo had it quietly in Orlando to NY last spring, and all 3 affiliated companies had it briefly at the last minute in Sept.
Alamo also extended it quietly out of FL in July, returning to some Western cities.
Alamo also extended it quietly out of FL in July, returning to some Western cities.
#26
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,207
We are not talking about airport to downtown deals, or competitive regional one-way routes like the Northeast corridor where prices tend to cluster.
We are discussing something more complex and seasonal- from one region of the country to another, that sometimes is advertised several months ahead of time, but other times pops up, quietly and unadvertised, at the last minute, and/or suddenly disappears. This makes it difficult to make advance plans, especially for a family trying to make a vacation around it.
Right now, I see Enterprise, Alamo, Dollar Thrifty, and Payless offering the FL drivein from the NY area for short notice bookings, for example. If anyone wants it, book ASAP.
We are discussing something more complex and seasonal- from one region of the country to another, that sometimes is advertised several months ahead of time, but other times pops up, quietly and unadvertised, at the last minute, and/or suddenly disappears. This makes it difficult to make advance plans, especially for a family trying to make a vacation around it.
Right now, I see Enterprise, Alamo, Dollar Thrifty, and Payless offering the FL drivein from the NY area for short notice bookings, for example. If anyone wants it, book ASAP.
#27
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,662
TY for PMs. Just completed a 9-day drive-in to FL at $9/day incl taxes. Need a drive-in rate from NY again for Dec.22; any ideas? This is a tall order I'm sure (I could also use a short one 2-3 days from NY around Dec.12-13, but would really love if it were National/Enterprise)