Choosing a rental car company at the airport
Dec 19, 2008, 2:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Choosing a rental car company at the airport
I've spent some time pricing out a small SUV for an 11 day stay next summer. Although I have Emerald Exec status at National, and Hertz Gold, all of them seem to be lock-step at the same rate, so it appears to be a wash on price. So does anyone have an opinion on which would be better in terms of inventory or any other consideration?
Dec 20, 2008, 11:26 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MCI
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National, no question.
Hertz requires you to take a shuttle to get to the cars, National is in terminal. Emerald and Exec usually has a lot of cars and if you don't like what you see there is a second set of aisles across the terminal building.
Hertz requires you to take a shuttle to get to the cars, National is in terminal. Emerald and Exec usually has a lot of cars and if you don't like what you see there is a second set of aisles across the terminal building.
Dec 30, 2008, 10:17 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Well I have EA and Hertz.... HERTZ
Sorry but National at MCO has merged with "Alamo" and the Alamo model is spreading. The cars I get with Hertz there are consistently better!
Sorry but National at MCO has merged with "Alamo" and the Alamo model is spreading. The cars I get with Hertz there are consistently better!
Dec 30, 2008, 2:03 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 932
A big thumbs down for Budget in Miami. Pickup from Miami Airport, I had reserved a convertible 'like mustang' I got a Beetle that did not fit any of our bags.
Fast forward a week and was due to pick up 2nd car from Miami downtown, same spec. I had to wait 2 hours and numerous calls to head office, etc to get a car borrowed from alamo by Budget as my reservation had been cancelled accidentally by Budget. lead to late checkout of hotel and delayed arrival in Key West for a 2night trip. 2 hours where the only words spoken in English revolved around 'The Queen called to sort this out for you' and 'Prince Charles is gay' Nice
Fast forward a week and was due to pick up 2nd car from Miami downtown, same spec. I had to wait 2 hours and numerous calls to head office, etc to get a car borrowed from alamo by Budget as my reservation had been cancelled accidentally by Budget. lead to late checkout of hotel and delayed arrival in Key West for a 2night trip. 2 hours where the only words spoken in English revolved around 'The Queen called to sort this out for you' and 'Prince Charles is gay' Nice
Apr 6, 2010, 7:43 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Not sure that this was worth reviving a thread that was well over a year old, but for reference, Hertz is moving back to the airport very shortly. See the thread in the Hertz forum for more details.
Apr 8, 2010, 9:25 am
#9
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By the way, when returning a car to Hertz at its existing location, don't gas up at the station across the street. It charges an extra $2 per gallon.
A half-mile further away from the airport (north on Semoran), there's a 7-11 with normal prices.
Apr 8, 2010, 10:54 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Excellent news, thanks.
By the way, when returning a car to Hertz at its existing location, don't gas up at the station across the street. It charges an extra $2 per gallon.
A half-mile further away from the airport (north on Semoran), there's a 7-11 with normal prices.
By the way, when returning a car to Hertz at its existing location, don't gas up at the station across the street. It charges an extra $2 per gallon.
A half-mile further away from the airport (north on Semoran), there's a 7-11 with normal prices.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/flori...on-ripoff.html
Apr 16, 2010, 8:29 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Since I posted on it originally..
My views on Hertz have taken a 180 degreee turn. Sadly, the great Customer Service I used to get turned into "horrid" due to cost cutting. The cars got old etc. Now I tend to rent with National where I can at least pick the least 'horrid' of the cars.
My views on Hertz have taken a 180 degreee turn. Sadly, the great Customer Service I used to get turned into "horrid" due to cost cutting. The cars got old etc. Now I tend to rent with National where I can at least pick the least 'horrid' of the cars.
May 15, 2010, 3:51 pm
#12
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Alamo may not have the 'highest' decked out models.. but consistently the least expensive. If having a car at a lower cost, but new, but not decked out.. and you want it to serve its purpose getting you from point A to B, then I've consistently have chosen Alamo as the best priced option (Hawaii, Vancouver, Toronto, Miami, and Orlando).
May 25, 2010, 2:32 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 492
Alamo may not have the 'highest' decked out models.. but consistently the least expensive. If having a car at a lower cost, but new, but not decked out.. and you want it to serve its purpose getting you from point A to B, then I've consistently have chosen Alamo as the best priced option (Hawaii, Vancouver, Toronto, Miami, and Orlando).
Thanks
May 25, 2010, 5:04 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Central Florida, US
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From baggage claim, go down the elevator one level to street level where the rental car counters are located. Cross the street at the crosswalk and go directly into the parking structure. That is where you will find your Alamo (and other) cars.
May 25, 2010, 7:34 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2002
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I could be wrong, but my recollection is that they discourage crossing to the garage at ground level, the preference is to go another level down to the underground tunnel, and then take the elevator back up to the desired level in the parking garage.