Which rental companies let you bypass the counters?

Champster & Allen,

Thanks for the info...I will try the online checkin with Alamo on my next trip...

tamashir

I like National. As an Emerald club member you can rent at a mid-size & get a complimentary upgrade to a full size. You can also pick your own car Last month in Vegas wound up with a chrysler 300 with less than 5k in miles.

You pick the car, put the bags in the trunk and drive to the gate & out you go - less than 10 minutes

I like to use Alamo or National.

Very possible this has changed; I believe the last time I used Advantage was last May.

The first time I used the Advantage online option I made the assumption I could simply go to the garage like I had done with Alamo. Wrong. I asked the guy in the garage what I gained by doing that - he said not all that much. So - back up the steps.

Your questions are already answered, but have to be confirmed or whatever. Generally Advantage holds you hostage for awhile as they go through their up-sell routine, but it was somewhat less.

The other thing you "gain" - - you're able to get into a special line, but the two times I did it, there's no one dedicated to the line - - meaning the counter person from the "regular" line has to abandon that post and come over to serve you. Which garners you all sorts of dirty looks from the general line populace.

All in all, it was better than going through the normal Advantage shakedown, but not totally slick.

While it's not a straight shot to the garage, I do like the Enterprise kiosk. No lines at it - maybe I just got lucky. Real fast process and your paperwork is waiting for you downstairs in a couple minutes.

Pretty much sign and go - no up-sell pressure.

I ended up using Dollar and was very pleased. Great price, getting the car was fast and easy by going right to it, fast check in coming back. I think I'll be using them in the future.

thanks for all the replys