Comments on: Help! My rental company ran out of cars http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/help-my-rental-company-ran-out-of-cars/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ed Ferrell http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/help-my-rental-company-ran-out-of-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-11759 Ed Ferrell Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:34:09 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=13275#comment-11759 I agree with the comment about calling to confirm. How many travelers, business or otherwise, call ahead to confirm every airline, hotel, and car rental? I certainly don't, and, while I am no longer classed as a road warrior, I travel a lot. I also agree: the person you're going to talk to to confirm your reservation, etc., only knows what they know at the moment, which probably isn't much, especially at corporate call centers. Ain't gonna happen. I agree with the comment about calling to confirm. How many travelers, business or otherwise, call ahead to confirm every airline, hotel, and car rental? I certainly don’t, and, while I am no longer classed as a road warrior, I travel a lot. I also agree: the person you’re going to talk to to confirm your reservation, etc., only knows what they know at the moment, which probably isn’t much, especially at corporate call centers. Ain’t gonna happen.

]]> By: mindy http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/help-my-rental-company-ran-out-of-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-11725 mindy Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:03:34 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=13275#comment-11725 I have been able, with a phone call to a Station Manager, to get a rental car company to put a car aside for my client. I have done this about a half dozen times over the years. I have been able to do this in the case of hurricane (at least twice) but most importantly when clients have wanted a specific model and I've known that there are not too many of them out there. Chris was not off base with that suggestion - TAs just can't guarantee that they'll be able to do this. (It's very difficult to get to the Station Manager.) I have been able, with a phone call to a Station Manager, to get a rental car company to put a car aside for my client. I have done this about a half dozen times over the years. I have been able to do this in the case of hurricane (at least twice) but most importantly when clients have wanted a specific model and I’ve known that there are not too many of them out there. Chris was not off base with that suggestion – TAs just can’t guarantee that they’ll be able to do this. (It’s very difficult to get to the Station Manager.)

]]> By: Bodega http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/help-my-rental-company-ran-out-of-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-11720 Bodega Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:38:06 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=13275#comment-11720 Dollar should have called the other car company and protected the clients price. Chris, your advice that a call to the car company or the agency to confirm is poor at best. Situations change minute by minute. There could be 10 cars available right now, but in two hours they could get enough walkins that those cars are gone by the time someone with a reservation arrives. Most car companies have many noshows and they allow a car to be taken on a first come, first serve basis. Dollar should have called the other car company and protected the clients price.

Chris, your advice that a call to the car company or the agency to confirm is poor at best. Situations change minute by minute. There could be 10 cars available right now, but in two hours they could get enough walkins that those cars are gone by the time someone with a reservation arrives. Most car companies have many noshows and they allow a car to be taken on a first come, first serve basis.

]]> By: Arizona Road Warrior http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/help-my-rental-company-ran-out-of-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-11716 Arizona Road Warrior Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:08:56 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=13275#comment-11716 This is why I use a travel agent. This is why I use a travel agent.

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