Car rental in the US

No worries,

W9,W1 and RP(Gold) are the generic codes for the Travel Industry Rates so they are not limited to a specific airline .. as long as you have an airline ID you'll be OK with these rates. If there will be more than one of you driving then the RP rate will be the best value .. even with only 1 driver its a close call between the RP rate ( which gives you a free tank of fuel and 3 extra drivers ) and the W9 rate plus the cost of a full tank of fuel ( with Alamo you have to take a full tank of fuel and return empty ... the only negative if you are doing low mileage ).

Check out the rates for both codes online at www.alamo.com and see which gives you the best value.

Also if you are renting for more than a week, are using the RP option on the larger vehicles and can fit the change-over into your schedule you might consider making 2 bookings ... renting for one week and the remaining time ... and changing the vehicle after the first week ... in this case you get another free tank of fuel for the second rental ..worth USD 60-80.

Thanks for the reply, I will book using the W9 code, as it seems to be the best value around.
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BRITSKI99 @ May 12 2008, 02:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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.. even with only 1 driver its a close call between the RP rate ( which gives you a free tank of fuel and 3 extra drivers ) and the W9 rate plus the cost of a full tank of fuel ( with Alamo you have to take a full tank of fuel and return empty ... the only negative if you are doing low mileage ).

... and changing the vehicle after the first week ... in this case you get another free tank of fuel for the second rental ..worth USD 60-80.[/b]

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Definately something to consider. The attractions in LA are really spread out. You are going to be doing a lot of driving. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif
Word to the wise--Think twice before taking the "free large-car upgrade". Today gas is running $380 a gallon.
MSN local gas prices This link is a great site for gas prices and it has a map to the stations. (something you might need http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif )
The zip code for LAX is 90045.
BTW, you might also want to read my Los Angeles article lots of tips. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif

Mig,
I thought petrol here in the UK was expensive at $2 a litre ... but $380 a gallon over there http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/ohmy.gif ... I&#39;m going by bike next time I&#39;m in LA http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif

http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif Oh the difference a decimal point can make.

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I used W9 code on alamo in April08 and have the following experience. Firstly, I was used in LAX, lots of staff are waiting for customers, no need to queue. Staff was helpful, unless I didn&#39;t requested GPS and he suggested me to have one, fine, (and it did saved my life) and no Travel Industry ID required.

Second time in MIA, staff was like pissed off. In the outlet, long queue (like 10+ customers), only 2-3 staff, lots of customers waiting to be served. A staff called to ask customer to use automated machine, seems no one knows how to use, and I am not elgibile to use, so wait....

When my turn came, she asked me where do I get the code from. This code should be used by system to system booking, not booking through web. This code is for Lufthansa UK employees to travel in US, and you&#39;re not working in UK, you&#39;re not LH staff, you shouldn&#39;t do it through web, should do it from staff travel system blah blah.... I showed her my business card, staff card, with the 1W logo. Finally, she needed her supervisor to approve the code... And her supervisor just waved her hand, said OK.

As I was used for commuting in MIA, I booked a compact car without fuel option. She said you must get that as company policy requires customer to book on certain class must purchase fuel option... glosh....

After a long discussion I got my rental agreement and look out for car.... come on, there was no car in the compact parking lot! Ask a staff, he drove me a dodge avenger from the garage.

This code is really deep discounted, where all inclusive, but staff&#39;s attitute do make myself book somewhere else.

Hi Folks - just wondering how to reconcile prebooking car rental, possibly using this famous W9 code, with the chancy business of travelling standby when there is no guarantee one is going to arrive at the destination within any given time frame.

Presumably prebooked rentals are subject to cancellation charges if you don&#39;t make it - or are they ?

Thats not a problem ... these are pre-booked rentals but not pre-paid rentals.
You do not need to supply credit card details prior to arrival.
If you book online and don&#39;t get on the flight you can always go online and modify the booking to your new plans or cancel the booking if you don&#39;t need it ( you don&#39;t have to cancel but I always try to cancel the booking if I can&#39;t use it simply as a courtesy to Alamo since they do offer us such great rates http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif you can also phone Alamo direct to cancel/modify ).
Even if you arrive several hours late there is normally no problem in using a booking for an earlier time ... its the fact of having that booking that gives you the great rates as compared to the &#39;walk-in prices&#39;.

Thanks Paul, hadn&#39;t realised that it wasn&#39;t prepaid.

Normally I use Hertz with a CDP number, but for the best rates you have to bite the bullet and pay in advance.

I&#39;m actually now retired, but my ID card doesn&#39;t make that clear (and I&#39;ve still got stacks of my old business cards...), so possibly this discount doesn&#39;t really apply to me, so I&#39;ll have to search my conscience before using it. Probably.

Just wanted to add some info about the W9 code.

Was trying on the Alamo site to price a rental with a dropoff in Victoria BC, but there weren&#39;t any Alamo locations listed, despite the Alamo Canada website showing five locations in Victoria.

Alamo replied swiftly to my querying e-mail to say that Alamo and National had recently merged and the Victoria locations were originally National offices and&#39; hadn&#39;t been incorporated into the Alamo site yet. They suggested using www.nationalcar.com instead. I checked it out, and hey, the W9 code works there as well - you need to enter it in the Rate/Product Code box, and it then autocompletes the contract code with 5005946.

So if you need a rental location that&#39;s not on the Alamo site, try the National site instead.