Alamo @ Sanford - Direct to Garage/Lot with SAVETIME/OLCI or Not ?

[Rowlf]

Just back home after doing this with Alamo at Sanford. It goes like this:

1. Do the Save time OLCI before you go - it's no chore and you're probably sitting there excitedly anticipating your trip anyway!

2. Get off plane at SFB go round the back of the Welcome Centre to the separate Alamo building and parking lot (clearly signed). Go into office - there may be a short queue but if it's a longer one they put on more clerks and it moves OK.

3. At the desk the clerk scans your OLCI code and checks your licence(s) and CC. Offers you the usual upgrades and extras which you politely decline, gives you the contract to initial.

4. EITHER walk out the back to the lot and find the line of cars indicated on your document and choose a car you like from it. Go to No 6 below - OR

5. Accept the offer of one of the helper guys who will walk you out to the lot. As you chat ask him if he's got anything particularly nice in. He may well then guide you to his recommendation which will probably be from a better row. If it's what you want, he'll help load your bags and explain controls etc. Depending on the service you would naturally want to tip $10 to $20 for his help.

6. Drive out to the gate where the staff scans the actual car you've chosen and off you go.


We ended up with a well spec'ed black Hyundai Tucson int SUV rather than the boring int sedan we'd ordered. It was ideal for the Gulf coast beach areas

[pchivvy]

Originally Posted by Rolf

Just back home after doing this with Alamo at Sanford. It goes like this:

1. Do the Save time OLCI before you go - it's no chore and you're probably sitting there excitedly anticipating your trip anyway!

2. Get off plane at SFB go round the back of the Welcome Centre to the separate Alamo building and parking lot (clearly signed). Go into office - there may be a short queue but if it's a longer one they put on more clerks and it moves OK.

3. At the desk the clerk scans your OLCI code and checks your licence(s) and CC. Offers you the usual upgrades and extras which you politely decline, gives you the contract to initial.

4. EITHER walk out the back to the lot and find the line of cars indicated on your document and choose a car you like from it. Go to No 6 below - OR

5. Accept the offer of one of the helper guys who will walk you out to the lot. As you chat ask him if he's got anything particularly nice in. He may well then guide you to his recommendation which will probably be from a better row. If it's what you want, he'll help load your bags and explain controls etc. Depending on the service you would naturally want to tip $10 to $20 for his help.

6. Drive out to the gate where the staff scans the actual car you've chosen and off you go.


We ended up with a well spec'ed black Hyundai Tucson int SUV rather than the boring int sedan we'd ordered. It was ideal for the Gulf coast beach areas

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If you do this though, what's to stop them charging you a full upgrade when you go to get out of the parking lot? From memory, you have to hand in your paperwork before you drive out, so surely they would just charge you for an upgrade regardless?

[Rowlf]

Originally Posted by pchivvy

If you do this though, what's to stop them charging you a full upgrade when you go to get out of the parking lot? From memory, you have to hand in your paperwork before you drive out, so surely they would just charge you for an upgrade regardless?

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We were given our paperwork at the desk based on the info included from the Savetime . It was printed out on a laser printer. You then sign or initial all the normal accepts and no accepts. We only accepted pre-pay fuel. We signed nothing to pay for an upgrade.

On exit the actual vehicle selected was entered on their system and we weren't asked to authorise any additional charges. On return the receipt simply showed the amount we'd agreed to pay for the fuel and that went on our cc as expected.

They can't charge you for upgrades you didn't sign for. We simply took the car their employee offered us.

HTH

[pchivvy]

Thats really interesting- and I didn't doubt what you said just was curious how it worked. TBH, anyone could technically do this anytime. How would the garage know whether or not you were shown to the car by an employee? Opens up a whole new question for someone that was brave enough to try! You could just plead ignorance and give it a try.

[Rowlf]

Well it's not a garage at Sanford it's an open parking area so the staff will be in control via the gate person and the car guys. I think it works out the way it does because the car guys have a certain discretion if a customer is not happy with the array of cars available at that time. The normal procedure with car rentals is to keep disgruntled customers happy by offering them an upgrade. This has happened to us a number of times before with Avis, Budget and Thrifty.

With us at Alamo this time our rental folder just said Int and the guy took us to the int SUVs and helped us choose one. No fuss or haggling, in fact we also managed room upgrades on two overnight hotels on this trip without asking, just being friendly and chatty with desk clerks. Actually it's Mrs Rolfie who has the knack for this, I just keep my mouth shut and act dumb (not hard!)

[DIBBadmin]

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