Dec 2011 Car Rental Rates

[buckeev]

I'm tired of playing this stoopid game.
I've spent more time trying to save a Benjamin or two than I've spent planning the whole vacation!

 

[staceyj2]

I'm tired of playing this stoopid game.
I've spent more time trying to save a Benjamin or two than I've spent planning the whole vacation!

I know! It's crazy isn't it? I have been checking my rates several times a day. Changing pick up times and days just to see if it makes a difference.

 

[rlduvall]

I know that a lot of the focus is on the holiday period now but on Tuesday we decided to go down to Orlando in early December (3rd - 10th) and I booked a car through National yesterday.

They apparently have an unused inventory of premium sized vehicles (probably because of the low gas mileage/cost of gas) and those vehicles were available at the lowest price of any car class (for instance, Premium @ $115.62 for the week versus Compact @ $280.02/week) for my week. So, that base rate with a $35 discount from a National email offer plus taxes and fees brought the cost for the week to $128.48 (about $20 less than a midsize we booked through National for the same week last year).

So, for those of you who are going early in the month, it may be worth checking different vehicle classes to see if you can lower your cost.

Dick Taylor

I also want to thank you for posting this information. I have such a great rate with Alamo that I quite looking; even felt guilty about how little I was paying for early December [8 day midsize @ $86. including tax and fees - the base rate was like $40.]. BUT, I love National Emerald Club and was able to get a premium car for only $30. more [$116.]. I think the nicer car is worth the price difference, don't you? Won't the premium car have XM radio?

 

[harvick29]

We decided to go from December 24-31 and found a mid size suv for $180. I am happy with that. I booked through alamo using id TI1 and saved about $500.Thanks for all the help people

 

[horselover]

We decided to go from December 24-31 and found a mid size suv for $180. I am happy with that. I booked through alamo using id TI1 and saved about $500.Thanks for all the help people

Where is that code from?

 

[harvick29]

found it on another site. Worked perfect

 

[horselover]

found it on another site. Worked perfect

Yes, it worked for me too. It gave me a great rate of $219 for a midsize for 12/20-27. It also included a lot of things that are not normally included. I get very nervous when I see codes like these & have no idea where they came from. I don't want to get there & be told no you can't use it.

Has anyone had a good experience using the TI1 code at MCO?

 

[harvick29]

I used this code and paid for it and it says: When you arrive at the airport follow the signs for Car Rentals and bypass the rental counter.
Proceed directly to the Alamo Rent A Car pick-up area on airport.
Upon arriving at the Alamo pick-up area you will find that the lot will be laid out by car class, which is designated by posted signs.
Find the car class section for the car you have reserved, choose the car of your choice within that section and proceed to the exit booth.
Please present the credit card you used online and your drivers license to the attendant so that your transaction can be processed. Sounds good to me

 

[momto2inKC]

We decided to go from December 24-31 and found a mid size suv for $180. I am happy with that. I booked through alamo using id TI1 and saved about $500.Thanks for all the help people

So what business/company/organization is this code affiliated with? I ran rates for our trip and it's actually more than the Costco code. I noticed it included insurance, gas and a variety of other things. Normally that means it's NOT a general public use code.

 

[momto2inKC]

So what business/company/organization is this code affiliated with? I ran rates for our trip and it's actually more than the Costco code. I noticed it included insurance, gas and a variety of other things. Normally that means it's NOT a general public use code.

Answering myself....a quick Google search led me to Flyer Talk. It seems the code is for UK travel specialist. Just be aware of this if you book it. There are a couple of reports of people getting denied use of it due to not being able to produce an international license. The code REQUIRES you to check in at the counter. If you use the kiosk, it directs you to the counter to speak with an agent. Just an FYI I think i'll keep my Costco rate

 

[robinb]

Answering myself....a quick Google search led me to Flyer Talk. It seems the code is for UK travel specialist. Just be aware of this if you book it. There are a couple of reports of people getting denied use of it due to not being able to produce an international license. The code REQUIRES you to check in at the counter. If you use the kiosk, it directs you to the counter to speak with an agent. Just an FYI I think i'll keep my Costco rate

I think that is a smart idea. There is something seriously wrong with that code. It includes all kinds of insurance, taxes and fees. If someone does book with that rate, I would STRONGLY suggest that you have a valid back-up plan or reservation just in case Alamo catches on.

Me, I'll just keep my Budget Compact car with a double upgrade to a Standard car for $196 total from 12/30 - 1/6 (picking up at Old Town Amusement Park, dropping off at MCO) instead of throwing the dice to save $17 with that strange code.

 

[horselover]

I used this code and paid for it and it says: When you arrive at the airport follow the signs for Car Rentals and bypass the rental counter.
Proceed directly to the Alamo Rent A Car pick-up area on airport.
Upon arriving at the Alamo pick-up area you will find that the lot will be laid out by car class, which is designated by posted signs.
Find the car class section for the car you have reserved, choose the car of your choice within that section and proceed to the exit booth.
Please present the credit card you used online and your drivers license to the attendant so that your transaction can be processed. Sounds good to me

What do you mean you paid for it? Did you do a prepaid rental? My confirmation says proceed to the rental counter. That is the 1st time I have rented a car from Alamo & have not been given the option to use the kiosk, which I always do.

Answering myself....a quick Google search led me to Flyer Talk. It seems the code is for UK travel specialist. Just be aware of this if you book it. There are a couple of reports of people getting denied use of it due to not being able to produce an international license. The code REQUIRES you to check in at the counter. If you use the kiosk, it directs you to the counter to speak with an agent. Just an FYI I think i'll keep my Costco rate

Yes, I saw the same thing over on FlyerTalk. It's definitely an international code of some sort. Most people seem to be getting through using it but there does seem to be a lot of denials going on in Phoenix. I did see at least one positive report of use at MCO. All posters seem to also be reporting if you try to use the kiosk it locks you out & you must go to the counter.

To each his own I guess & if you want to try to use it more power to you. However it seems pretty obvious this code is not intended for the general public so use at your own risk. I obviously have no means of producing an international driver's license so as much as I like renting with Alamo I think I'll be sticking with my Thrifty rental. It was $10 cheaper anyway.

 

[robinb]

I do want to say that I don't blame desperate people for trying out this new code. I would consider it myself if I were faced with ridicules $600+ per week car rentals. I'm lucky that I am able to pick up from a Kissimmee location which is MUCH cheaper than the airport.

I would read up on the code over at FlyerTalk to make sure you understand it as much as possible. Just be careful and be prepared to be questioned and maybe even denied. Have a back up reservation ... rates will be even higher if you have to try to get a last minute reservation .

 

[Karlzmom]

At the risk of sounding like a never ending tape loop....the Midsize SUV was down again this morning to $179 for the 10th-19th using the entertainment code and ND8578ADT for $35 off.

The full size SUV was the same, the full size car was up $2. In case you are tracking, there is now a $144 difference between the guarenteed SUV and the aisle gamble. Go figure! So, I am now only up about $60 from my rental in February, which was an aisle rental...

 

[harvick29]

I did an online check in. I may be because i am from Canada, that it allowed the check in. My confirmation email says: When you arrive at the airport follow the signs for Car Rentals and bypass the rental counter.
Proceed directly to the Alamo Rent A Car pick-up area on airport.
Upon arriving at the Alamo pick-up area you will find that the lot will be laid out by car class, which is designated by posted signs.
Find the car class section for the car you have reserved, choose the car of your choice within that section and proceed to the exit booth.
Please present the credit card you used online and your drivers license to the attendant so that your transaction can be processed.
Thats normally what they do when you head to the exit with your car. They look at my license and my credit card to make sure the card matches the reservation along with my drivers license, as I did it through the insiders club.
I might be wrong when I say its prepaid. I should have said that I did online check in. If it would have been the difference of a few dollars I would have used the normal codes but this one saved me over 500 dollars. It is outrageous
for Christmas time
Sorry for the confusion
Sorry for the confusion

 

[momto2inKC]

I did an online check in. I may be because i am from Canada, that it allowed the check in. My confirmation email says: When you arrive at the airport follow the signs for Car Rentals and bypass the rental counter.
Proceed directly to the Alamo Rent A Car pick-up area on airport.
Upon arriving at the Alamo pick-up area you will find that the lot will be laid out by car class, which is designated by posted signs.
Find the car class section for the car you have reserved, choose the car of your choice within that section and proceed to the exit booth.
Please present the credit card you used online and your drivers license to the attendant so that your transaction can be processed.
Thats normally what they do when you head to the exit with your car. They look at my license and my credit card to make sure the card matches the reservation along with my drivers license, as I did it through the insiders club.
I might be wrong when I say its prepaid. I should have said that I did online check in. If it would have been the difference of a few dollars I would have used the normal codes but this one saved me over 500 dollars. It is outrageous
for Christmas time
Sorry for the confusion
Sorry for the confusion

Although your reservation clearly states to head to the lot, if you read what everyone on Flyer Talk who has used the code is saying, you HAVE to check in anyway at the counter. All of their confirmations also stated what yours does. When they attempt to use the kiosk it locks them out and requires them to check in at the counter. If you Google the code it will directly link you to the very long discussion with all the reports on the code use.

 

[harvick29]

From What I am told, I do not need to use the kiosk. Just proceed to the car lot. Other cars I have rented from alamo, stated I need to go to the kiosk or counter. My insiders club membership has all my id's on file. I hoping this will work. Others have done the same

 

[Elfstar]

Ugh - No good discounts for a car for 3 (2 1/2 really) days 12/16 - 12/18. The cheapest thing I found is through carrentalsavers.com (Payless) and is off airport property - I have to call for a shuttle when I arrive. I'm hoping something will come along closer to my trip. If anyone has any advice or codes, I'd appreciate it. I've tried the codes I've seen so far but most are for longer rental periods. Hoping Alamo extends their $15 a day for weekends code!

 

[Karlzmom]

anyone found a good deal today? I'm not finding any deals to try and whittle the price down a bit more...

 

[momto2inKC]

anyone found a good deal today? I'm not finding any deals to try and whittle the price down a bit more...

I think we're going through a dry spell. I've been checking a couple of times a day.