How to Avoid Long Lines at Rental Car Counters
In the summertime of 2021, rental automobile corporations appeared caught off guard by the sudden restoration in rental automobile demand. Rental corporations had downsized their fleets and workers to make it by way of the worst of the pandemic downturn. Then, relatively immediately, vacationers began taking to the highway as soon as once more, and extremely lengthy traces at rental automobile facilities turned frequent.
Sadly, we aren’t fairly by way of the worst crunch of the rental automobile restoration. Hertz’s common American fleet dimension was nonetheless 34% smaller in fall 2021 than in fall 2019, and Hertz cannot make up that 200,000-vehicle distinction in a single day. Add in staffing shortages and the upcoming holidays, and circumstances are ripe for lengthy wait instances to change into a significant issue as soon as once more.
In truth, on-line rental automobile reserving service AutoSlash noticed a 65% improve in its rental automobile bookings for Thanksgiving 2021 in contrast with 2019. And rental automobiles in common vacationer locations like Kauai, Hawaii, have been booked stable forward of the 2021 holidays, in line with AutoSlash.
Nobody desires to delay the beginning of their trip or journey to go to family and friends by ready in line at a rental automobile heart. Listed here are our prime suggestions for the way to keep away from lengthy traces at rental automobile counters.
5 methods to keep away from lengthy traces when renting a automobile
If you wish to be among the many many who cruise previous the check-in counter to seize their keys and go, you should definitely:
1. Join rental automobile loyalty packages
For some rental automobile corporations, skipping the road is as straightforward as signing up for the corporate’s loyalty program. For instance, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members can skip the counter and choose their automobile from the lot at most main airports.
AutoSlash offers an in depth checklist of packages that let you skip the counter simply by signing up for the loyalty program. Nevertheless, not all main manufacturers give members this feature. You may wish to keep away from corporations that require all renters to choose up keys from the counter.
Be aware that it is not sufficient simply to enroll in a program. Ensure to finish the important step of including your loyalty quantity once you ebook your rental automobile. Even when reserving a rental automobile by way of a 3rd social gathering like Priceline, you’ll be able to enter your rewards quantity. The additional effort is definitely worth the time saved on the counter.
2. Get rental automobile elite standing by way of bank cards or airline/resort elite standing
For instance, cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Categorical can enroll to get Avis Most popular, Nationwide Automotive Rental Emerald Membership and particular elite-like perks when renting by way of Hertz. Phrases apply.
IHG Rewards Spire Elite members can enroll to get Hertz Gold Plus Rewards 5 Star elite standing. 5 Star standing comes with perks like free upgrades, bonus factors and no further driver price in your partner or home companion.
3. Test in on-line earlier than arriving
Some rental automobile corporations let you skip the counter by checking in on-line earlier than arriving on the rental location. For instance, for choose Alamo areas, you should utilize the free Skip the Counter choice to examine in, submit your fee and settle for the rental settlement, all on-line. As soon as on the rental location, you’ll be able to choose up your car from the lot.
4. Lease at an off-airport location
It might appear counterintuitive as a time-saving measure to lease from an off-airport location. However renting from these locales could possibly prevent each time and money.
“You possibly can keep away from lots of the taxes and charges rental corporations cost on the airport,” says Jonathan Weinberg, CEO and founding father of AutoSlash. “And it may well even be a extra handy choice since you’ll be able to keep away from the traces and airport shuttle buses by taking a cab or rideshare to a close-by native workplace.”
Savvy renters may even save time on the return by reserving a one-way rental at an off-airport website and returning the automobile to an airport location. Simply ensure to issue within the wait time and the price of the additional transportation to the off-airport location.
5. Use a peer-to-peer automobile rental service
One other strategy to skip the lengthy rental automobile pickup traces is to not lease a automobile by way of a conventional rental automobile firm. As an alternative, you’ll be able to lease a automobile by way of a automobile rental different, like Turo, and prepare to choose the automobile up from the airport.
Turo even has agreements with round a dozen airports to permit for seamless pickup and drop-off.
If you wish to keep away from lengthy traces when renting a automobile
Most rental automobile corporations supply so some ways to keep away from lengthy traces at their check-in counters that it is a marvel there are traces in any respect. At many airports, rental automobile corporations permit loyalty program members to skip the counter simply by together with their quantity within the reservation. Different rental corporations let renters examine in on-line to keep away from the counter.
Exterior-the-box methods to keep away from lengthy traces at rental automobile facilities — and doubtlessly lower your expenses — embrace renting from off-airport areas or from peer-to-peer rental automobile companies. Hold this all in thoughts the following time you ebook a rental automobile and benefit from the stress-free course of.
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