National Car Rental

2012 was my first year in using National Car Rental.  Previously, I had been a loyal customer to Avis (due to a previous employer's strict usage of Avis) and the Hertz.  I switched based on some online reading that I did.  It intrigued me that as an Emerald Club member I could pick any car (from a particular aisle).  I loved the idea that I could just pick something I liked.  Countless times when I used to rent from Avis or Hertz, I didn't particularly care for the vehicle I was given.  Bypassing the counter and being in my car quick was great, but if I didn't like the car I had to find someone and it took time to get me changed.  No Hertz did start a new program that you could choose a car from the Gold Choice area if you didn't like your car, but it was a new system and had it's learning curves.  

So I decided to switch it up to National starting in 2012.  Other than a hiccup in Seattle (where there were no cars to select due to the mass amounts of renters that arrived at once), I've been REALLY happy with my vehicles.  Thanks to the American Express Platinum card, I get automatic upgrade to the Executive status of the Emerald Club.  This is an even more select aisle (titled Executive Selection) where the cars are just nicer and bigger (not by much though).  With Executive status, one gets a free day rental every 6 rental credits (vs every 7 for regular level).  So it's just a slightly quicker means to get free rental days.  I end up in SUVs or exotic muscle cars (ie. Camaro or Mustang) frequently with the Executive Selection aisle.  I will even check a few cars to get a nice and clean one and one with less miles on it.  The choices are endless.

The pickup and drop off is very quick.  For pickup, you just pick up your desired car (both the Emerald Aisle and the Executive Selection area are usually the closest to where you arrive) and then drive to the  checkout booth and hand the attendant your driver's license; when they give it back you are on your way. Upon return, my receipt is in my email inbox before I even get to the shuttle for the airport most of the time.  

National appears to run a promotion called One Two Free.  With this promotion (which is over the course of several months, one earns a free rental day every 2 rentals (of two days or more).  Since the promotion started on August 20, I have obtained 3 free rental days.  Add that to the 3 days I have accumulated based on the standard free rental day earning in the program, I have over a week's worth of car rental available for free.  I will be using this during my 2+ week stay on Hilton Head Island over Xmas and New Years.

Switching to National Car Rental this year has been the best loyalty change decision that I have made in a long time.  I am now a dedicated client of theirs and will only use them.  The only time I would switch to another program would be if the cost of my rental is DRASTICALLY different.  A few dollars here and there and I would stay with National.  National's prices are always competitive.