Thread: Car rental in the US

Thanks for the reply, I will book using the W9 code, as it seems to be the best value around.

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'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're not working in UK, you're not LH staff, you shouldn'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'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't make it - or are they ?

Thanks Paul, hadn't realised that it wasn'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'm actually now retired, but my ID card doesn't make that clear (and I've still got stacks of my old business cards...), so possibly this discount doesn't really apply to me, so I'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'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' hadn'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's not on the Alamo site, try the National site instead.