Why is the rental car line always so !!!

[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.

[Anonymous]

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

In Phoenix it’s better to take an Uber to an offsite rental office. Rentals at the airport are always frustratingly slow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

In Phoenix it’s better to take an Uber to an offsite rental office. Rentals at the airport are always frustratingly slow.

Not if you sign up for the frequent rental car accounts. Honestly, I really don't understand why this is so hard. Ya'll are really jumping through a lot of unnecessary hoops here. I've rented cars probably 20x/year, both in the US and around the world and certainly within the US, don't think I've ever waited more than 10 minutes (and only at small airports). 90 pct of the time I just go straight to a car and exit.

Rules for quick rental cars:
1. Sign up for a frequent rental car account if you use one of the majors (National, Avis, etc)
2. Don't use Hertz (their computer systems are awful and there are many reports of people being falsely arrested after Hertz computers think they didn't return cars. They also are now using AI cameras to check for dings)
3. Use National. They are the best, by far.
4. Never use Turo.
5. Check rates on Autoslash for both booking and tracking rentals.
6. Use National.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

In Phoenix it’s better to take an Uber to an offsite rental office. Rentals at the airport are always frustratingly slow.

Not if you sign up for the frequent rental car accounts. Honestly, I really don't understand why this is so hard. Ya'll are really jumping through a lot of unnecessary hoops here. I've rented cars probably 20x/year, both in the US and around the world and certainly within the US, don't think I've ever waited more than 10 minutes (and only at small airports). 90 pct of the time I just go straight to a car and exit.

Rules for quick rental cars:
1. Sign up for a frequent rental car account if you use one of the majors (National, Avis, etc)
2. Don't use Hertz (their computer systems are awful and there are many reports of people being falsely arrested after Hertz computers think they didn't return cars. They also are now using AI cameras to check for dings)
3. Use National. They are the best, by far.
4. Never use Turo.
5. Check rates on Autoslash for both booking and tracking rentals.
6. Use National.

I think most of us do this. I'm president's circle on hertz and President's club on Avis (these levels mean close to nothing by the way). There are still occasional problems that turn into absolute disasters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

In Phoenix it’s better to take an Uber to an offsite rental office. Rentals at the airport are always frustratingly slow.

Not if you sign up for the frequent rental car accounts. Honestly, I really don't understand why this is so hard. Ya'll are really jumping through a lot of unnecessary hoops here. I've rented cars probably 20x/year, both in the US and around the world and certainly within the US, don't think I've ever waited more than 10 minutes (and only at small airports). 90 pct of the time I just go straight to a car and exit.

Rules for quick rental cars:
1. Sign up for a frequent rental car account if you use one of the majors (National, Avis, etc)
2. Don't use Hertz (their computer systems are awful and there are many reports of people being falsely arrested after Hertz computers think they didn't return cars. They also are now using AI cameras to check for dings)
3. Use National. They are the best, by far.
4. Never use Turo.
5. Check rates on Autoslash for both booking and tracking rentals.
6. Use National.

You still have to wait for the shuttle which takes a while. Uber is so much quicker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

In Phoenix it’s better to take an Uber to an offsite rental office. Rentals at the airport are always frustratingly slow.

Not if you sign up for the frequent rental car accounts. Honestly, I really don't understand why this is so hard. Ya'll are really jumping through a lot of unnecessary hoops here. I've rented cars probably 20x/year, both in the US and around the world and certainly within the US, don't think I've ever waited more than 10 minutes (and only at small airports). 90 pct of the time I just go straight to a car and exit.

Rules for quick rental cars:
1. Sign up for a frequent rental car account if you use one of the majors (National, Avis, etc)
2. Don't use Hertz (their computer systems are awful and there are many reports of people being falsely arrested after Hertz computers think they didn't return cars. They also are now using AI cameras to check for dings)
3. Use National. They are the best, by far.
4. Never use Turo.
5. Check rates on Autoslash for both booking and tracking rentals.
6. Use National.

You still have to wait for the shuttle which takes a while. Uber is so much quicker.

Uber to an offsite, off-airport rental car location is faster than a rental car shuttle? I'd imagine at the vast majority of US airports this wouldn't save you any time at all.