Car hire and state lines

[mike4scuba]

If you get a flight to atlanta and pick up a hire car are you allowed to drive to orlando as you are crossing a state line

[Mr Tom Morrow]

All the major rental companies allow you to go anywhere in America but not into Mexico.

However if you drop it on a 1 way rental in a different State apart from a few West Coast exceptions there is a hefty fee for that 1 way drop. If it's returned to it's 'home' State then no fee.

[mike4scuba]

Thanks for the reply.
Have seen direct flights to atlanta for a reasonable price with virgin for Sept. There are flights to mco via atlanta but have a 7 hour wait time plus the 1.5 hour flight and collecting bags and getting to hotel
Figured it easier driving from atlanta. Would probably drive an hour down the road and get an overnight stay and continue to orlando the following day.
Staying at the same hotel overnight on return leg.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Mike. Have you checked out all the different airlines doing that route?

It's a very popular one so I amazed you would have a 7 hour wait.
Plus bear in mind you are basically losing 2 days of your holiday if you do 2 x overnight stops. One heck of a drive as well

[chmurf]

Mike, the drive from atlanta down to orlando will take you over 6 or 7 hours

meaning you'd spend over half a day on the road to save a bit ... that would need to be a fair bit as far as I'm concerned.

have a look at alternatives, like Tampa for example. Shorter drive, way shorter drive

also bear in mind that connection times will change, and what is today a 7hrs layover might shrink over the course of time

And, to add to what Mr Morrow said, Virgin will partner with Delta, and Delta operates 1 flight per hour to orlando until 11pm, so, yeah, that 7hrs wait is only what is marketed by virgin, but you can get much shorter connections, although I wouldn't advise for under 3hrs in ATL)

but, well, unless I have business in the atlanta area (visit the aquarium, coca cola and other stuff) or plans to visit along the way down to florida, that drive would be "unacceptable" in my book (I have to be careful with that word, ROFL)

[mike4scuba]

We were going for 14 days but can always tag a day or 2 days either side of those.
We have virgin miles and a companion flight.
To atlanta economy there and premium back its £580 for 2 adults plus 70,000 miles and companion reward.
From manchester to mco with a 7 hour layover its same price but an extra 50,000 miles