Car hire in USA through Airline Network

quote:Originally posted by jilly
quote:Originally posted by spiceke
Something must be going on. I have just booked my car hire for MCO for 2 weeks time and :-

1) The VS car booking worked - previously the times would only show a.m. so not much good when the VS flights all arrive and depart p.m. !

2) I have used Airline network and USRentacar (and many others previously), but VS came out much cheaper this time. This was a first !

Spiceke


I have booked my car hire with VA this time due to this thread and, like yourself, have always used other agents before due to price.

I'd be interested to know where I should pick up in MCO. As the voucher is from Virgin Holidays I'm presuming I'll use their desk for collection rather than the Dollar one that I normally use for other Agent bookings but not certain.

As you're travelling before me, your experience on arrival would be appreciated.

Thanks
Jilly



Jilly, just go to the Dollar desk. The voucher is processed exactly the same as those issued by other agents.
DL

quote:Originally posted by DragonLady

Jilly, just go to the Dollar desk. The voucher is processed exactly the same as those issued by other agents.
DL


Thanks Julie, much appreciated.

Jilly

quote:Originally posted by alexb
does the va price inc insurance

Yes, with the option of fully inclusive (which comes as standard )or platinum (extra charge).
DL

quote:Originally posted by jilly
I have booked my car hire with VA this time due to this thread and, like yourself, have always used other agents before due to price.

I'd be interested to know where I should pick up in MCO. As the voucher is from Virgin Holidays I'm presuming I'll use their desk for collection rather than the Dollar one that I normally use for other Agent bookings but not certain.

As you're travelling before me, your experience on arrival would be appreciated.

Thanks
Jilly




Good question Jilly. I have often been in the queue at Dollar and seen people pulled out as they have a Virgin Holidays voucher.

I think I will just go to the Dollar desk as I use the Express Line.

I'll let you know if I end up with egg on my face when I am told in no uncertain terms I am in the wrong line[:I]

Spiceke

Have used Airline Network for years with no problems. It will be interesting to see how they perform now they are controlled by the Thomas Cook Group.
We used Dollar through the above in June and ordered a Jeep Grand Cherokee but we were given an 'upgrade' to a Jeep Commander which looked and was terrible. I made up an excuse about a sound from under the dash and swapped it at SFO after 2 days.
I found one of our old invoices from approx 5 years back that had a 4 door intermediate at 580 against 385 for a 4x4 in June 2008, same number of days,month and same pick up/drop off. Shows now how competitive they are having to be.

[buns]

quote:Originally posted by buns
Up to now Airline Network / Netflights have been my choice for booking Dollar as they have always been the cheapest and I have never encountered a problem.

However, I thought I would see what it was cost using the Virgin Atlantic site and it worked out 10 cheaper.

Only few times had i had duff cars from Dollar, so I am happy to stay with them as they are much cheaper in the US usually

buns


Just a quick update to say that got my miles for booking through VH[y] I did succumb to asking for an upgrade and got the miles for that too[:D][:D]


buns

I thought that Dollar and Thrifty were part of the same company, when we picked up our car from Newark last week there were separate desks for the two companies but the cars seemed to be all parked together.

Incidentally we have booked our car for Washington in June through VS as they were over 100 cheaper than Dollar, first time that has ever happened.

Miopyk[8D]

[buns]

Airline Network, (aka Netflights) is now part of the Thomas Cook Group - offering both Dollar (on-site) and Thrifty (off-site) for MCO.

Based on my last experience where booking through VS worked out cheaper, I will continue to shop around

buns

I'm in the process of checking all suppliers again. Seems like Budget are coming out a lot cheaper than Dollar and Alamo this time, although I've never used them before so a bit unsure of their service. Dollar have always changed the car for me if I had any problems no matter how small along with supplying another full tank of fuel.

VS prices are again competitive for Dollar and they are now throwing in free Sat Nav, although I don't really need it. I'll probably end up booking with VS again as they take Amex, and I had miles posted to my account within a few days last time.

Jilly

quote:Originally posted by jilly
I'm in the process of checking all suppliers again. Seems like Budget are coming out a lot cheaper than Dollar and Alamo this time, although I've never used them before so a bit unsure of their service. Dollar have always changed the car for me if I had any problems no matter how small along with supplying another full tank of fuel.

VS prices are again competitive for Dollar and they are now throwing in free Sat Nav, although I don't really need it. I'll probably end up booking with VS again as they take Amex, and I had miles posted to my account within a few days last time.

Jilly

Jilly I used Budget for one of my rentals back in Oct/Nov,along with 2 Dollar rentals (Budget rental was collected in MIA and returned to MCO). Service at both ends was excellent, but the line for collection was long-probably be the same at MCO.
DL

quote:Originally posted by DragonLady
Jilly I used Budget for one of my rentals back in Oct/Nov,along with 2 Dollar rentals (Budget rental was collected in MIA and returned to MCO). Service at both ends was excellent, but the line for collection was long-probably be the same at MCO.
DL


Thanks Julie, were Budget's car standards as good as Dollar and Alamo?

I can get Budget Gold hire through UScarhire for slightly less than VS Dollar all inclusive, so Budget also includes the fuel. You can register through Fastrack with Budget and go straight to the car park so it cuts out the queue. You register your licence and their T&Cs state you have a spouse included but other drivers need to go to the queue. As others are following me a week later, I could always add them at a local office when they arrive.

Decisions, decisions.

Jilly

Yes Jilly, the standard was just as good (if not better cleanliness wise than some of the more recent Dollar rentals I've had (I've not used Alamo for a few years so can't comment on them recently). I too had used uscarhire for that booking and got a free class upgrade. I didn't like what they offered me and ended up with a two week old Mustang [:D].I hadn't realised Budget offer the equivalent of Dollar Express until it was too late!