Why is the rental car line always so !!!

[Anonymous]

Emerald aisle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wednesday before thanksgiving. Uber was on time. Flight was on time. But we’ve been in line at the Avis counter for 25 minutes. Three people working here. Only three people in front of us when we got here. And no one has moved. All of us have car reservations. Why is this such a long process?? This is not Seinfeld, there are cars. But it’s taking forever to get them assigned. Why does this process take so freaking long??

Omg Turo all the way. I’ll never rent from an agency again.

This. After using Turo for the first time several years ago I'll never go back to the old-fashioned car rental companies. Sometimes the car is waiting for me in the airport garage. Other times I take an Uber to it. But the one thing I never have to do is wait in line. Oh, and Turo is cheaper too.

What do you do for insurance?

You can pay extra for insurance through Turo. I have found that brings the price to be equal to regular car rentals without insurance.

[Anonymous]

I use budget and use the fast track lane. No more waiting.

[Anonymous]

What is this waiting? Join the club and get an email telling you where your car is.

[Anonymous]

With Avis Preferred plus they give you the parking spot in the app, you don’t need to even go to the counter at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why people do this. I use Hertz. There is no line waiting. My name and parking spot is on the board when I get to the lot. I get in the car and drive to the gate and they check the car and my license and I am off.

I don't do it either, but problems happen. And then you end up in the line.

Missing cars, oversold cars, incorrect cars, damaged cars, all happen.

Recently I took 2.5 hours at MCO when my car was taken from its spot before I got there and I had to be reassigned a new one.

Also, Hertz is awful.

[Anonymous]

These “preferred customer” or frequent renter programs: do they allow you to skip the lines in European/UK locations, too?

[Anonymous]

I am always amazed that people just show up at car rental counters without reservations.

Can’t imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These “preferred customer” or frequent renter programs: do they allow you to skip the lines in European/UK locations, too?

Sort of, in my limited experience. Have only rented a few times in Europe (and never in the UK), only a couple times at airports. They don't tend to have the full "grab your car and go" experience, but usually have a separate quicker line for program members.

Basic insurance, including liability, is required by law for rentals in the EU and UK, so there are fewer opportunities for up charges, so the sales pitch is a lot less aggressive.

[Anonymous]

That about required insurance makes sense.

Still, I have encountered insane wait times and would love a way to speed the process.

[Anonymous]

Try Hertz next time
We bypass allllll that

[Anonymous]

I waited for almost two hours last year in Phoenix. Super frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try Hertz next time
We bypass allllll that

Yes, but you have to be a gold (?) member -- it's free to join but you do have to sign up ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/im-in-charge-at-this-hertz-location-and-buddy-youre-not-getting-a-car-today

[Anonymous]

I don't usually have issues - honestly I can't complain 99% of the time. But LY I went to Atlanta and had the absolute worst time trying to pick up the car. It took almost 90 minutes! Everyone was so confused. It was extra annoying because we purposely flew in early to miss traffic, but the delay ended up having us leaving right smack in the middle of evening rush hour.