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Car Rental Cancellation Question
Posted on 5/25/22 at 10:39 am
Posted on 5/25/22 at 10:39 am
For car rentals that are free cancellation/pay at pickup can you cancel up to the last minute or maybe even a few mins late if you don’t use the reservation. Flying into Boston Logan next week for a trip on Maine coast and cape cod. Gonna be four adults and a 4 yr old and we’re wanting to share a rental car. I booked an emerald aisle reservation with national. I’d like to use national but if they don’t have a car big enough for us all would I be able to cancel on the spot no strings attached ? Alamo has a full size SUV for the same price I’m paying for emerald aisle. Was considering booking it for 30ish mins or so later as a backup option but I didn’t want to end up being stuck with two charges. Anyone have any experience with a similar situation? Thanks in advance.
Posted on 5/25/22 at 11:01 am to jkylejohnson
If Alamo definitely has the vehicle you need for the same price, why not just go with the sure thing ?
Posted on 5/25/22 at 11:18 am to yaherrdme
Thought about that. I just don’t know how “sure thing “ anything is with car rental companies. Countless times had a certain vehicle reserved and get there to bad news that they’re all out of that type. Also, really wanted to avoid line if possible with emerald aisle. Last time (and only time ) I used emerald aisle was in SLC and they had tons of mini vans and suvs available. Hoping for the same thing in Boston.
Posted on 5/25/22 at 11:20 am to jkylejohnson
I've got limited experience with National, but I use Enterprise a lot. As best I can tell the reservations are one way "contracts." I always book with Enterprise and then watch the rates. If they drop I rebook at the better price and cancel the other.
I don't know that there is any penalty for cancelling or no-showing even. It's a rare business deal that leave the consumer with the power and no skin in the game.
Again, this is Enterprise experience. You don't even put your CC info in for their reservations.
I don't know that there is any penalty for cancelling or no-showing even. It's a rare business deal that leave the consumer with the power and no skin in the game.
Again, this is Enterprise experience. You don't even put your CC info in for their reservations.
Posted on 5/25/22 at 12:08 pm to RaginCajunz
Yeah the emerald aisle has my cc info but hasn’t charged me. Alamo one has just my name.
Posted on 5/25/22 at 12:09 pm to jkylejohnson
Alamo has good reviews at Boston Logan. I may just cancel national and roll with it.
Posted on 5/26/22 at 8:40 am to jkylejohnson
I use National for the Emerald aisle advantage and 9/10 times I get a car I like. One time they were wiped out and I needed a bigger vehicle for everyone. On that trip I booked another car at the same time so I just walked over and got that one. I guess I was a no show technically for National and nothing happened. For all they know my flight was cancelled. So now what I do is book National and then book a specific car I need (van/suv) with Priceline for the same time. Never had any issues.
Posted on 5/26/22 at 10:04 am to Clark W Griswold
quote:
I use National for the Emerald aisle advantage and 9/10 times I get a car I like. One time they were wiped out and I needed a bigger vehicle for everyone. On that trip I booked another car at the same time so I just walked over and got that one. I guess I was a no show technically for National and nothing happened. For all they know my flight was cancelled. So now what I do is book National and then book a specific car I need (van/suv) with Priceline for the same time. Never had any issues.
This was the reply I was holding out for. Lol. This was the plan for me as well. I feel like emerald aisle will have an suv or van that’ll work but just wanted a backup in case they didn’t but also didn’t wanna be double charged. National does have my card info but didn’t figure they’d run anything until /if I checked outta the garage with the guy at the booth. Thanks !
Posted on 5/27/22 at 7:27 am to jkylejohnson
Renting a car assume you were able to arrive first. They don’t know if you got on that plane or why you didn’t. So they really have no leverage unless you abuse it too much. But we usually need a van or large suv when we travel with the kids and they almost always have one of the airport is decent size.
Posted on 5/27/22 at 9:56 am to jkylejohnson
Not really an answer to your original question, but I just returned from Boston and used Budget, rented a minivan and was given a brand new Toyota Sienna hybrid minivan, it was excellent. Drove a total of 540+ miles in five days (mostly highway driving but did go into the city a few times) and probably burned maybe half a tank of gas total.
Posted on 5/27/22 at 10:00 am to jkylejohnson
You are going to want to read the fine print, my guess is worst case you will be charged for one night but mostly likely its free cancellation up to a certain point. You may consider renting it 5-6 hours later, and then you can cancel without any issues. If you still need it, often times you can just check in early to get the car.
You can almost always return a rental car early and get any nights you want back.
Pro tip, you will often get priority for a longer rental. Rent a car for a week and you can often find one if inventory is low for a 2-3 day rental. Return the car early, get a refund, profit.
You can almost always return a rental car early and get any nights you want back.
Pro tip, you will often get priority for a longer rental. Rent a car for a week and you can often find one if inventory is low for a 2-3 day rental. Return the car early, get a refund, profit.
This post was edited on 5/27/22 at 10:02 am
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