Author Topic: Strategies For Picking Up/Dropping Off Rental Cars at Airports  (Read 7351 times)

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Strategies For Picking Up/Dropping Off Rental Cars at Airports
« on: February 11, 2018, 02:54:59 PM »
Many airports have a setup requiring a whole runaround to pick up a rental car which can be even more difficult when traveling with luggage and/or children. What strategies have you come up with to make this easier?
« Last Edit: February 11, 2018, 04:50:56 PM by Dan »
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Offline moko

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Re: Strategies for Picking up Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2018, 03:48:06 PM »
Usually go pick up the car then swing by and pick up the family. Same on the return with some exception. This time I'm flying out of MIA a week from Wed morning. We decided to stay at an airport hotel to make life easier in the morning. I;m dropping off the car the previous evening after checking into the hotel. Will walk back to hotel after returning the car(according to google maps it's only .5 mi.)

Offline DTM

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Re: Strategies for Picking up Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2018, 03:52:21 PM »
On arrival let the DW and family wait for luggage to come out while you dash out directly to pick up the rental car, and then pick them up. On departure, drop off DW and family and their luggage first, they can check in, while you go return the car and meet afterwards.


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Re: Strategies for Picking up Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2018, 03:54:28 PM »
Many airports have a setup requiring a whole runaround to pick up a rental car which can be even more difficult when traveling with luggage and/or children. What strategies have you come up with to make this easier?
Get the Black card and have them deliver the car to the airport

Offline coralsnake

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Re: Strategies for Picking up Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2018, 04:07:31 PM »
Usually go pick up the car then swing by and pick up the family. Same on the return with some exception. This time I'm flying out of MIA a week from Wed morning. We decided to stay at an airport hotel to make life easier in the morning. I;m dropping off the car the previous evening after checking into the hotel. Will walk back to hotel after returning the car(according to google maps it's only .5 mi.)
Most airport hotels have a shuttle.
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Offline moko

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Re: Strategies for Picking up Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2018, 04:30:56 PM »
Most airport hotels have a shuttle.
not so easy to get the shuttle to drop you off at the hotel instead of the airport. though its been done before..

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Strategies for Picking up Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2018, 04:36:10 PM »
Get the Black card and have them deliver the car to the airport
Hertz platinum has that, anyone else?
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Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Strategies for Picking up Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2018, 04:37:08 PM »
Many airports have a setup requiring a whole runaround to pick up a rental car which can be even more difficult when traveling with luggage and/or children. What strategies have you come up with to make this easier?
If it's an off airport rental, definitely go alone.
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline Dan

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Re: Strategies for Picking up Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2018, 04:50:38 PM »
Hertz platinum has that, anyone else?
-Avis Chairman
-Tipping the return guy $10 or $20
-Telling the return guy that you're runnning very late for your flight.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Strategies For Picking Up/Dropping Off Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2018, 04:52:09 PM »
-Avis Chairman
-Tipping the return guy $10 or $20
-Telling the return guy that you're runnning very late for your flight.
That's when you return it, what about bringing the car to you when you pick it up?
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline Dan

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Re: Strategies For Picking Up/Dropping Off Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2018, 04:53:02 PM »
I rent the car and drive back to pickup everyone and the luggage on the curb.

For the return I'll checkin the luggage while Mimi makes it look like she's busy with the kids so that bored airport police don't make her move. Then they'll hang out around checkin while I return the car, unless we're running late in which case they'll go through security before me.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Dan

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Re: Strategies For Picking Up/Dropping Off Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2018, 04:53:43 PM »
That's when you return it, what about bringing the car to you when you pick it up?
Chairman will deliver if you request it, but usually I like seeing the available cars anyway.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Strategies For Picking Up/Dropping Off Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2018, 04:55:05 PM »


For the return I'll checkin the luggage while Mimi makes it look like she's busy with the kids so that bored airport police don't make her move.

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Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Strategies For Picking Up/Dropping Off Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2018, 04:56:44 PM »
Make a poll here?
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Offline DTM

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Re: Strategies for Picking up Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #14 on: February 11, 2018, 05:21:25 PM »
Get the Black card and have them deliver the car to the airport
What does this mean; how does this work?

Offline ilherman

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Re: Strategies for Picking up Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #15 on: February 11, 2018, 05:26:34 PM »
-Avis Chairman
-Tipping the return guy $10 or $20
-Telling the return guy that you're runnning very late for your flight.
Tipping whom? To do what? To drive you from rental car to departure terminal?
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

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Re: Strategies for Picking up Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #16 on: February 11, 2018, 06:00:52 PM »
Tipping whom? To do what? To drive you from rental car to departure terminal?
I find it highly doubtful that the return guy at the MIA or FLL car return centers would be permitted to just leave their posts and drive a customer to the terminal, unless that’s a specific benefit provided by a black Card or Chairman which I guess is an elevated points status.

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Re: Strategies For Picking Up/Dropping Off Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #17 on: February 11, 2018, 06:05:48 PM »
I find it highly doubtful that the return guy at the MIA or FLL car return centers would be permitted to just leave their posts and drive a customer to the terminal, unless that’s a specific benefit provided by a black Card or Chairman which I guess is an elevated points status.
If you're late for a flight they can do valet return in your car...if they want to.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Strategies For Picking Up/Dropping Off Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #18 on: February 11, 2018, 06:06:07 PM »
I find it highly doubtful that the return guy at the MIA or FLL car return centers would be permitted to just leave their posts and drive a customer to the terminal, unless that’s a specific benefit provided by a black Card or Chairman which I guess is an elevated points status.
Or a tip....
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Re: Strategies For Picking Up/Dropping Off Rental Cars at Airports
« Reply #19 on: February 11, 2018, 06:40:19 PM »
I find it highly doubtful that the return guy at the MIA or FLL car return centers would be permitted to just leave their posts and drive a customer to the terminal, unless that’s a specific benefit provided by a black Card or Chairman which I guess is an elevated points status.
I've had many airport locations do it for me many times. Depends how nice you are and a tip definitely helps