Will my rental car wait for me?

[calgal]

United has changed the flight times so that we will arrive in Kona an hour plus later on Thanksgiving week. I have a minivan at a low rate due to way advance booking, and if I amend the time of pickup on the reservation I think I will lose my rate. We will pick up over an hour after the scheduled time. Is this going to endanger the whole reservation? If I call from departure airport that day, is that the best way to handle this? Thanks.

 

[dwojo]

Call the rental company and notify them of the change. Some companies only hold the reservation one hour unless informed you will be late.

 

[timeos2]

Many rental reservations ask for your flight & it is my understanding they use that - IF you supply it - to adjust reservations when flights get changed/delayed. My most recent delay, that got me free meals, tow round trip flights & a 20% one way discount for compensation, was delayed over 7 hours! The car was there as planned when I arrived and they never mentioned the LONG delay - late pickup. I hadn't thought to call them or even email - but I had put the flight number on the original car reservation. Now I do it every time!

 

[Elli]

Many rental reservations ask for your flight & it is my understanding they use that - IF you supply it - to adjust reservations when flights get changed/delayed. My most recent delay, that got me free meals, tow round trip flights & a 20% one way discount for compensation, was delayed over 7 hours! The car was there as planned when I arrived and they never mentioned the LONG delay - late pickup. I hadn't thought to call them or even email - but I had put the flight number on the original car reservation. Now I do it every time!

When you book the car far ahead, John, some times the flight # changes and, if you make any changes to the res., especially with Alamo, the rate may change as well. As someone suggested, may be a call to the rental company will do it.

 

[zcrider]

We just came back from Kauai where our flight got delayed 6 hours and it was over an hour after closing at Alamo when we finally landed. We were worried we would be stuck without a car as we tried many times to call them to explain, but nobody ever answered the phone! We were much relieved to find they waited for us! The price didn't change. I am guessing after reading this my husband must have given our flight # with the reservation??

 

[dougp26364]

If you provided your flight information, they should check that and see that your flight times have changed. However, I've always thought it the best policy to call and that's what we've always done.

The last time we had a delay, it was long enough that we missed our connection and we didn't get to our destination until early morning the next day. We called the rental car company, in this case Thrifty, and told them the situation. Our car, with the original price quote, was waiting for us.

Each car rental agency might have different rules and, even within the same company, some will be franchises and have their own slightly different rules. So we've always felt that it's best to call ahead the day we'll be traveling and let them know there's been a time change for our flights arrival.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

If you provided your flight information, they should check that and see that your flight times have changed. However, I've always thought it the best policy to call and that's what we've always done.

I always let them know of delays as well. I've never had a problem with a car not being available after a delay.

 

[cissy]

If you rented online with Hertz, you can change your reservation, and click the "keep my original rate" box. They've stayed open for me even when not notified too.

 

[calgal]

Just checked, and the reservation is with Alamo and I did not put the flight information on it. In the future, I will! I will not amend the time of pickup now, but will call the day of my arrival and let them know the flight will be late.

 

[Tia]

We got delayed/rerouted a year ago summer going to Maine, called Alamo, and got our upgraded car the next day when we got there no change in rate.

Real adventure for us as we'd arrived in one NY airport and were to leave out of the another in the am. So back to arrival airport next am where airline arranged for a taxi to the departure airport nearly $100 ride. Most I'd ever seen of the city til then.

 

[dougp26364]

I found this in the fine print from one of our rentals. I find it's always best to at least scan through the fine print as I caught one recently who charged a days rental fee if you canceled your reservation less than 24 hours before scheduled pick up.

Reservations will be honored for 6 hours after original scheduled pick up time. Customers with reservations who experience weather or mechanical delays with airlines will be accommodated.

Remember to read ALL reservation agreements. Some rental counters within the same company may be franchises and have slightly different rules.