Comments on: Are new remote rental car facilities too far away?

By: helly ander

helly ander — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:52:00 +0000

The trend is for major airports to consolidate their rental operations a distance from the airport. According to me long as service is provided consistently, then the consolidated centre are no issue.

By: James M

James M — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:11:10 +0000

I get offended when I pay “airport” fees, but the trip to the rental car facility takes more than 10+ minutes. When leave most airports, 10+ minutes usually finds me a many of miles from the airport. Taxes and fees often make it worthwhile for me to take a cab to the hotel and then pick up the car from a city location later. This is especially true in Germany, where there’s a great train to downtown and the airport pickup puts 20% on my bill (tax). I usually suck it up for a weekend in Detroit, but always consider the alternative.

Overall, I think the time and cost make it worth considering the alternative. 15 years ago, I rarely thought about in-city pickup.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:39:36 +0000

Shuttels to central car rentals, I find not all that bad, it does save you those airport fees, traveling does have some built in discomforts.

By: Lewis

Lewis — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:31:06 +0000

I have yet to find a consolidated rental facility which could be classified as an improvement over the prior process. All of them take longer than the old company run process.

The drivers are typically less helpful and courteous than their private company predecessors. Why? Because they work for the airport, or a local government agency, and not a publicly held competitive company. They are not worried about losing you to the company down the street. No competition no courtesy.

Waiting till the bus is full is fine when the customer has no choice. I’ve switched rental companies at several airports just because their drivers were consistently poor.

It’s a bad idea, but the coming oil crisis will make it justifiable and more prevalent.

By: Phillip L

Phillip L — Sat, 24 May 2008 20:46:19 +0000

Depends on the facility. Las Vegas is awfuly — I will never rent a car at the airport in Las Vegas again — the shuttle service is awful, primarly because the drivers insist on handling the luggage, the luggage storage in the shuttles is poor, and they will not let riders stand. Most others I have used (BWI, IAH, SFO, FLL) I have no complaints. I do wonder why the FLL shuttle drivers can do such a better job of filling up the shuttle and begin on their way than at LAS. And FLL includes cruise ship passengers with lots of luggage.

My only conclusion is at LAS they are trying to discourage car rentals. Of course, that will also discourage guys like me who can drive from Los Angeles from flying as well.

By: Joe Z

Joe Z — Thu, 22 May 2008 04:04:08 +0000

Oh yeah, SEA’s car rental facility is a short walk. No shuttle bus needed as well.

By: Joe Z

Joe Z — Thu, 22 May 2008 04:02:23 +0000

“Today, the trend is for major airports to consolidate their rental operations a distance from the airport.”

Just to clarify, FLL’s car rental facility is not “a distance from the airport.”. It’s more like a few hundred feet away. You can choose to take a bus or walk. I have not rented a car there, since family always picks me up. But, I have seen people walk from the terminals to the car rental facility and/or take the shuttle bus.

At IAH, there seems to be plenty of shuttle buses to the rental car facility a couple miles away. I never had problems with those buses making me late for my flight.

I’m in PHL, and while waiting for the parking shuttle for my car, I see the rental car company buses going round and round – sometimes empty, wasting all sorts of fuel, and since the arrival area is covered, all the diesel fumes permeate the air. I don’t know how the Philly cops can deal w/ the pollution for 8 hours. A consolidated rental car facility would do wonders for the arrival area at PHL and many airports.

By: BE

BE — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:29:18 +0000

In most cases the remote facilities don’t create too much problem. DFW, ABQ, LAX, DEN, PHX, LAS, SEA, ETC….all have good and bad days. Most times it is just that one shuttle driver that drives you mad. Yells at you for standing over the line, demands that he has to take your luggage onto the rack, does not allow beverages in the bus, remains at the stop with a packed bus. It is these guys that do not draw onto common sense. That is what drives you nuts while taking you to the airport.

Let us all not forget the laundry list of charges above and beyond the rate:
Taxes
Surcharges
Fees
Customer Facility Charge $/day
Concession Fee 9.89 %
Leased Vehicle Gross Receipts
Leased Vehicle Surcharge
Gross Receipts Tax (6.8750%).

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:49:51 +0000

SFO adds a flat $15 to each rental for ‘transportation’ on the Air Train. I preferred the free walk which burned a few calories.

I always try to use Orange County airport when flying to So Cal because you can walk across to the garage and pick up your car. No waiting for a bus.

By: jlawrence01

jlawrence01 — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:07:44 +0000

All I know is that you pay dearly for the consolidated facilities – as much as $8-10 per rental. Cleveland Hopkins’ fees and taxes take a $15/day rental to $34.