Easy Giveaway: $1000 and National Car Rental Top Tier Elite Status!

by Gary Leff

National Car Rental has what I believe is the strongest promotion in the market each year, “One Two Free.”

You earn a free rental day for every two qualifying rentals (mid-size or larger for 2 days or longer). And when they run the promotion, they do so for long periods of time. The most current offer is for a five month stretch which concludes at the end of January.

I’ve been renting regularly from National for the past couple of years. The unique selling proposition to me isn’t the rewards, though I’ve earned plenty of free rental days. It’s the ‘Emerald Aisle’ where being a member of their Emerald Club program means you walk out to the lot, take your choice of cars from the designated row(s), and just get in and drive to the exit.

Sometimes I’ll take whatever is closest, other times an SUV when I want something larger, and occasionally I’ll get in a bunch of cars to look for the one with lowest miles and features I want. National calls it “speed, choice, and control.” I call it not having to go asking for something other than a Taurus.

As the current One Two Free promotion wraps up, National offered me the chance to interview one of their frequent renters and also give away status and gift cards. I jumped at the chance.

  • To be clear, I’m not taking anything from National for doing this — all of the prizes and benefits go to you, my readers.
  • I thought if they could put me in touch with someone to interview who rents much more frequently than I do, a minimum of 100 days a year, they could offer a really interesting perspective.

So here’s the giveaway:

  • (5) $200 gift cards
  • (5) National Emerald Club Executive Elite status upgrades.

There will be (5) prize winners, each to receive a $200 gift card and Executive Elite status. Not only do Executive Elites get to pick from the Executive aisle of higher category cars (as National Executive status allows) but they earn free rental days faster and in my experience are able to redeem those free rental days for premium vehicles.

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on this post answering the question: what is the one thing that can make your car rental experience better?

Please enter only one time. This contest will run through January 19 at noon Eastern, and I will draw the winners with the assistance of random.org. All of my decisions are final.

Here’s the interview, so you can learn about car rentals from someone who rents more than I do

I had a great discussion with Bruce McNeal who rents well over a hundred times a year, and thought I’d ask how he thinks about his rentals and since he more or less lives in a car how he approaches making it as comfortable and easy as possible.

How often are you on the road, and what leads you to travel so much?

    I am on the road sometimes for 15 days a month. I am part of the store support team on a national retailer. I have locations in ten states.

Are you renting from the same locations over and over, or different locations?

    I fly to 4 or 5 airports and try to know the staff on the Aisle or at the rental counter at the airports. The rest of my rentals come from the great staff at the National located in Naperville, IL. I park my car at that location and drive to areas where I can visit 3 or 4 stores at a time.

How many of your rental days are through National?

    All my rentals are with National, when the Markham location was closed, I tried Hertz local and the cars were inconsistent. I also had an issue with the I Pass ( toll road auto pay)system that they had.

Why do you choose National as your primary rental company?

    Our corporation uses National as a primary car rental company, the special treatment as an Emerald Aisle member and other perks keep me coming back.

How do you book – do you have an assistant, do you book yourself, and if so online/phone/mobile app? Why?

    I book thru a corp. travel site, as required by my company. I used to book on`line and take advantage of the great discounts sent out from National. I do not have anyone assisting me.

When taking cars from the Emerald Aisle what do you look for in making your choice – specific vehicle type? Do you get in multiple cars and select based on features or look at mileage? In other words, do you take the first car to get out quickly or do you use the Aisle to be picky?

    The first thing is a personal matter; I have several family members that either are retired from American car manufactures or are currently working for one; I take great pride in “Buy American” whenever I can. I enjoy SUV’s in the winter when roads can become hazardous. Then I like the great looking cars( in my opinion) like the Chrysler 300. Currently I am crazy about the Ford Explorer especially when it is fully loaded and has satellite radio.

Do you take any accessories or optional items? Why or why not?

    When I am in an area that I do not know and not working, I take insurance, I pass on everything else.

How do you refuel – do you prepay, fill up the tank yourself, or just return the car without a fillup? Why?

    I always refill, the National in Naperville is part of an Enterprise location, so I return with the same amount of gas. The main reason why is that it is our policy not to prepay gas.

How do you use your free rental days? Business or leisure? How do you decide whether to pay out of pocket or use a free rental day?

    More often than not I attach the extra days to a rental when I intend to enjoy a weekend in or near a city that I am working in that week. There have been several times that I let my wife drive my car and use a rental car if her auto in in the shop for several days. I will pay for the rental instead of using free days, if there are great weekend rates in the discount coupons that National sends out. Why use a free day for a nineteen dollar rental?

Any other tips and tricks that my readers should know?

    Being nice goes a long way. There was an airport location, I befriended one of the Aisle attendants; I would call and they would find the best available car for me. Please be pleasant to the people working at the locations, they rent 100’s of cars daily and some things do not always fall together. Lastly a smile means a lot to everybody.

Thanks, Bruce!

Now, leave your comment on this post to enter to win a gift card and status! And take advantage of 1-2 Free while there’s still time!

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

More articles by Gary Leff »

Comments

  2. I would love to win National Emerald Club Executive Elite status and a gift card! I would put them to good use.

  3. Quicker returns. Nothing worse that running late for your flight and having to wait to get checked in.

  5. what is the one thing that can make your car rental experience better? To have my car warmed up and running (or cooled off and running) at pickup.

  8. This would be perfect for all my trips to Vegas and Washington state – I’m sick of bad rentals!!!

  13. Returns in terminal or at the consulate very least quick shuttles running to keep from missing flight.

  15. Stressful returns are a result of poor planning, but enjoyable rentals could start with text message alert with the exact location of your car, model/brand.

  18. I live in a remote area 300 miles north of SFO. I wish or car rental agencies has BETTER car choices!

  19. I wish they would always include free toll passes and just charge the tolls. The pass fees are way too high, and these days there are many places doing camera tolling that can result in hefty charges if you are unaware. Very customer unfriendly.

  21. I wish the gas refill option was cheaper, especially when I am running late, or can’t find a gas station close to the airport.

  23. Having any sort of preferred status that allows you to go directly to your vehicle and skip the counter!

  24. Frequent renter…exclusively with National. Better experience: Encouraging Elite members to pick from Alamo/Enterprise (sister companies) if they see a preferred car on their side of the lot. This works best at a place like BWI or DCA where the companies are all next to each other in a garage. I have asked and been given approval in the past, but not sure many people know this is a possible option.

  25. The “drop-and-go” service that National provides at many airports is great. Having the ability to do this at the Departures level of the terminals, though, would be really outstanding – especially for airports with all off-airport car rental stations.

  28. Always having a car available. It seems like such a simple thing, but I’ve seen Avis screw it up. And not trying to charge me for your inventory mismanagement. “Oh, we don’t have any midsize cars right now. Would you like a full size?” “Sure… but why is this invoice $50 more than I was quoted?”

  29. Not needing any human interaction for the entire pickup or drop-off process. Make the whole thing faster.

  31. not having to drive a Ford Taurus or Kia Soul would be the one thing that would always make the experience better 🙂

  32. I would appreciate it if a company would make it easier and not so cost prohibitive to rent a van that seats 8. (Often we have to split our family into two smaller vehicles)

  35. Would love a little cheat sheet on how to operate basics–lights, radio, etc. and would love it if when I turn in a car with mechanical problems the staff would not look like they do not believe me!

  38. The one thing that can make it better is…….competent, knowledgable and friendly staff !!!

  43. Usually rent from National and love picking out my own car to fit my needs at that moment. It would be great if the gas refill when returning the car was cheaper.

  44. I think if you’re in a cold city and the rental company knows what type of vehicle you signed up for, having a couple options already on and warming up!

  46. Are we all Executives @ National?? I had Exec thru MilePoint, but now I see I also have it through AmEx Plat which has its own Contract ID. just called to switch ID # and saved $7 on upcoming rental @CUN in any event, I could use the $200 and maybe regift the status 🙂 As always, Thanks

  48. More cars with a sunroof! Ha – they never have them and that could make my car rental experience better…

  49. More transparent pricing. It’s amazing how rates differ when searching on different booking sites, and how the rates fluctuate. It’s worse than the airlines!

  50. I would love to win National Emerald Club Executive Elite status and a gift card! I would put them to good use on my future vacations.

  51. I’ve been using national for the last few years, however they keep closing NYC locations, i would say two fold: open more NYC locations and also – let us use discounts in NYC, I accumulate free car rental days and get a ton of emails with rental discount codes, however I can’t use any in NYC!

  53. When I travel and rent a car, the last thing I want to do is stand in line at the rental agency. I want to walk directly to my vehicle, drop my bag in the trunk, and drive to my destination.

  55. An easy way to figure out which cars have the lowest mileage would be great. Especially when you get to choose your own car.

  57. i like the Executive Aisle but sometimes all they have are minivans…. Would be nice to have a consistent variety to choose from. And of course gift cards would be nice.

  60. new cars = low mileage. renting a car with under 3000 miles on it from Silvercar over Xmas sure was nice!

  61. No wait times is by far the most important, the last thing I want to do after spending all that time on the plane and waiting to disembark is wait longer.

  63. Having the outside of the vehicle clean…especially the windshield during winter. I could barely see out of my last rental car!

  64. Skipping the check in line altogether is critical. I won’t rent from a company unless I can go directly to the vehicle.

  66. Nothing worse than getting into a dirty, smelly car after a long flight. It would nice to enforce the quality control on the cleanliness of rental cars.

  69. Skipping lines/reducing wait time. Although a close second is not having to worry about extra charges when returning a car.

  71. GPS free for all cars. Too many times it’s either prohibitively expensive or they’re out of units (I know, smartphones, but that drains your battery and don’t look at your phone while driving!). And a variety of phone chargers available for check-out/automatically in the car.

  73. What could make the rental experience better? More consistent availability of vehicles with Bluetooth pairing and/or USB plug-in ability so I don’t have to guess or search multiple cars for one that will let me easily access music and calling through my iPhone.

  79. I wish all rental car companies would note which vehicles have cigarette odors so those of us who are allergic don’t have to deal with it. I am in a rental car now (car is in the shop) and am now on my 3rd vehicle in 2 days because the previous 2 were filled with cigarette smoke. It’s been a horrible experience so far!

  82. I do enjoy cars with tech features. Syncing my phone to a car makes for a more convenient rental when I’m already in an unfamiliar city.

  83. Specifically for National EA/ES: have a display with the list of cars currently parked in these aisles to help make the choice without walking and looking around.

  85. A clean car interior makes a big difference in my rental experience. Spill residue on the center console or weird smells are a bad way to start your rental.

  86. I’d love to try the Emerald Aisle — it would definitely make my car rental experience better. Thanks!

  89. More variety is always good. I appreciate seeing cars other than Malibu/Impala/Maxima/Altima.

  94. I have been using National a bit lately and like their cars. I would like two things to work better in my rentals – firstly a list of gas stations near the return location as that is one thing I am always scrambling to do and the GPS i ssomewhat reliable. Secondly, for status holders, a longer grace period would be very helpful.

  96. Streamlining the check in process. Seems like it takes forever to get the car. Long lines, long wait to get the car. Maybe have an online check-in, where you could let them know exact time on the day of and they could have a separate line for those who are elite and who checked in early where your car would be pulled up and ready

  97. I think when customer service is good it can make your entire experience better. If you have someone who is willing to help and is friendly it makes it so much more easier than someone who is grumpy and has an attitude.

  100. I could happily use the Gift Card. I always look for counter free pickup, low mileage, basic features etc. Some cars I rented did not have cruise control which is a real pain.

  101. I prefer National because they are quicker, and don’t try to upsell like other rental agencies.

  102. Rental experience for the mass is based on price. Given that for most, the location is not an issue, the criteria beyond price is customer service. It will be helpful for the CS to guide the renter (who may or may not be a frequent user) through the process. Most of the time, when you hear “that made my day”, it’s a consequence of a good person-to-person interaction. That’s why we value high-end hotel, airline, etc. Like someone posted in the miles & points blogsphere sometime ago, we just want to get some kind of attention. Given the stress of air travel it’s really a small ‘price’ to pay for the company/attendee that can yield huge dividend.

  105. Using the added upgrade level with the Amex Platinum is going to make my experience much better! Thanks!

  106. Emerald VIP is actually top tier status, and its started to creep into a little bit of a devaluation with National. Cars that used to be a find in Emerald Exec are now sitting with VIP tags…Still National is by far the best US rental company.

  109. always frustrating when it takes a while for someone to check in the car upon return at busy airports. There must be a way to reduce this time

  110. I used National for the first time in the fall and I’m hooked. Being able to just walk up and pick any car makes it totally worth it.

  111. I wish that there was a way to make sure all costs are clearly explained and upfront. I was given bad information by a couple employees on how their toll tag worked and was charged a bit extra. My fault for not perusing the contract, but a little good info would not have misled me.

  116. Labeling of cigarette smoke. Indication of GPS if not standard would all help my rental car experience.

  118. Not having to stand in long lines! It would be great if all customers (not just those with status) could know which car was theirs and be able to skip a line and go straight to pick up.

  119. Anything to speed up the process of getting and returning the vehicle. Waiting for the car to get checked back in, then waiting for a rental car shuttle to a terminal, then more waiting in security… Business travel has enough of these hurry up and wait moments that any time one can be removed or minimized, it’s always appreciated.

  120. Quick returns is a must. I rent 3 cars a week and there is nothing worse then a long line for a return.

  121. Figuring out a better way to return the rental without gas if running late and not incurring fuel surcharge. Always the biggest issue.

  124. I think National is great. The only problem is that sometimes they are too expensive compared to their competition.

  126. I wish rental car companies at some airports could be accessed by the monorail/train systems. At ORD, when they were putting in the monorail system, the rental car companies were supposed to be on it but they all refused and instead kept their slow, individual buses. Having all the car companies on the monorail would cut down on wait time and congestion when picking up and returning rental cars.

  129. Hertz is supposed to offer a similar thing with their Hertz gold program but I’ve found much to be desired. Perhaps it’s time to try National!

  130. I use National and only on a very rare occasion Hertz and after several years I have found that National does a better job and offers a better mix of vehicles and adds the little touches that mar a rental car better and at no cost.

    12 rentals and 75 days in 2014

    Edward

  132. I recently got to return a car empty for free. My car rental experience would be better if I could do that every time for a non-extortionate rate.

  133. My car rental experience would be better if the process of getting the car can be made quicker.

  135. Not having to wait in a long line after a long flight. Executive status would be fantastic!

  136. streamlining the process is always helpful. Most people have just spent a long time on an airplane and just want to get to their final destination.

    Also, not having vehicles that aren’t just the base vehicle from the manufacturer. I pay the same amount regardless of if it has power everything or nothing. It just makes it more enjoyable when I don’t have to manually roll down a window.

  138. Better line of site into a rental location’s available inventory would be great. I’ve been stuck with minivans when traveling alone to San Antonio multiple times even as Exec Elite.

  142. More reliable bus service when rental cars require a bus ride from the terminal. The wait and overcrowding of buses at PHX and IAH is particularly bad.

  143. Consistently well maintained lower mileage vehicles and a better way to do the initial vehicle inspection and provide that information to the rental company.

  150. The one thing that would make my car rental experience better is making sure the car type reserved is available and provide a process where there is no need to go into the booth/office and interact with an agent unless there is a problem or a change/upgrade desired.

  151. For me it is making sure the inside of the windows are clean! Nothing is worse than trying to drive at night with dirty windows! This seems to happen to me a lot! Always seem to be trying to track down towels are something to clean windows!

  153. One thing that could make the National rental process better would be a removable sticker in the window that tells you the most important features of the vehicle. Functional satellite radio, heated seats, 4WD, and perhaps the current mileage. This would eliminate the need to get in and out of cars by just glancing at the sticker instead.

  154. When the car is ready to drive off the lot and I just need to show ID at the exit without having to go inside and wait on long lines.

  155. An automated return system would be awesome to avoid long lines for returns when heading back on a flight.

  157. Not having to pay exorbitant fees to the car rental agency for tolls in addition to paying the toll.

  158. I am not sure of what I would change at National. The ease of renting to returning the car is always such a breeze. Maybe some locations could have a few more nicer cars in the Exec. aisle, but over all I am very happy with my rental with National!

  159. Insurance pricing and choices if they are better, they would make car rentals much easier for the non road warriors.

  160. The most important feature is not having to wait in line to get my rental car. The Executive aisle at National is great.

  162. what is the one thing that can make your car rental experience better? SIMPLE CAR CHOICES. Often you make a reservation and arrive to the location not having the slightest clue of what type of car awaits you. It would be wonderful to know ahead of time what exactly what you’re getting.

  163. I don’t like going off site from the airport and standing in a really long line. Then the counter experience always takes forever. It just seems like in this computer age, the information is already in there, from prior rentals or what you filled in online.Maybe they are actually checking social media? Ha!

  164. I would make sure all important details of a rental car are sent out ahead of time in an easy-to-use (and emphasized) fashion. I recently traveled to Costa Rica and quickly overlooked the fact that I had to use a credit card with raised numbers and that my credit card would not provide insurance coverage unless I supplied a letter from my bank stating it had coverage included.

  165. The One thing to make a car rental experience better is to go straight to the vehicle upon arrival: no waiting in line, no insulting walk around with a staff member, etc.

  166. I am a devoted National renter. Would love to see a sticker or a marking on the car indicating satellite radio.

  168. National’s elite status should definitely making renting a car easier! The idea of being able to just walk up to a group of cars a choose the one of your liking is key. No standing in line! No begging for another car. Just walk up, choose your pleasure, and drive away!

  169. What would make my experience better would be not getting upsold when you don’t have the car I booked anyway. I don’t mind an upsell, but not when you are going to give me that car anyway when I turn down the offer because you don’t have my car.

  170. Simply have what I requested/rented available and ready when I arrive. I can’t tell you how many times it’s all wrong when I get there.

  172. The one thing that could make my car rental experience better is more airports with on-site rental (no shuttle required)!

  174. No hassle renting: go directly to the car with no line, automatic picture of car exterior when exiting the lot so there is no dispute on damages.

  175. What would make my rental experience better is a faster checkout. Especially the smaller locations should have my car ready and the paperwork printed.

  176. The one thing that would make it better would be to allow the renter to go straight to the lot and pick whichever car they would like. No lines, no agents, no back and forth.

  179. Knowing where to pick up the car seats when using national at a new airport. I have learned to do this ahead of time so I can avoid going to the desk.

  180. Being able to go straight to the lot and not have to wait in line at the counter to get everything from an agent! Even when the choice of cars isn’t that diverse I appreciate saving the time and not having to deal with someone trying to up-sell me on a bunch of stuff I don’t need.

  181. One thing that could greatly improve the car rental experience is not having extra fees for getting and using an EzPass / TollPass in the vehicle.

  183. Shorter wait times for sure. Especially for late night flights. I just want to get to my hotel.

  184. Less scamming. I have had great, wonderful, happy experiences with car rentals, such as the one at National at Kona. [This is why I would love to win the National Emerald prize].

    However, Avis at Lihue was a nightmare for my elderly parents–it was a real fight for my mom to get several hundred dollars of extra charges removed from a pre-booked reservation with the Avis employee’s hard-sell tactics. In additional to all the add-ons, the agent first tried to say my parents needed to pay for an upgrade because they were too big for a Ford Focus sized cars and would not be comfortable. Mom is 5’4″ and weighs about 120 pounds (Dad is about 5’7 and about 140 pounds). When they said they did not want to upgrade, the agent said they were out of the Ford Focus type cars and said that they would get a reduced price for an upgrade since their reserved car was sold out. My parents paid after spending the prior 30 or so minutes arguing and and getting removed all the other add-ons.

    I am sure there are unethical types would add on baby car seats and Fast Trac electronic toll payment for people who are driving without children (with no intention on driving with children) in areas that have no need for Fast Trac, like Lihue! Afterwards, I asked my mom if part of the Avis inflated price (three times the Avis reservation price I had booked at Costco) included charges for child car seats and Fast Trac. Mom was in a bad mood and did not answer me. Fighting at the car rental office really started the trip on a bad note for my parents.

  185. The only issue I’ve had with National is charging to the default credit card in my account rather than the one used for the rental itself. So very little to improve my experience — National is doing a good job.

  187. hedge. make 2 reservations at 2 different agencies. in case the 1st one is out of cars.. happened many times to me.

  188. I’d like better publishing of some of the higher level elite benefits. I.e. getting a car dropped off X miles from a location when flying into a smaller airport w/o a National location nearby. A couple years back I looked high and low only b/c I read of it and still could barely find any firm information…let alone agents that knew of it either. Just makes for a worse experience trying to obtain a benefit you’re allowed, but not disseminated well.

  191. the one thing that makes my rental car experience better is fast and friendly customer service. Waiting line is made better by happy people.

  192. So many locations available and ready for my cross country trip without any worrisome. Thanks!

  194. My car rental experience could be improved by the company providing a full listing of toll fees, etc. that will be charged to my credit card when using the e-toll or rental car pass. I rented a car in October and toll payments are still showing up on my card without any email or explanation from the company. Thank you!

  195. my last experience with national rental was stellar! the gentleman at the desk helping me out made me laugh the entire time I was standing there and he even helped me with an upgrade. That experience alone has made me a loyal customer. the return process was just as easy and pleasant. the only thing that might need improvement on is maybe a speedier check-in process.

  196. Faster check-in and check-out is always what I’m looking for in a rental car. And a free GPS! Hope I win!

  197. All I care about is getting in and getting the car as fast as possible. I hate waiting in lines, so self serve machines are on my radar when looking who to rent from!

  198. Never used National before, but sounds a lot like the Budget Fast break – nothing better then skipping the line and jumping into any car in the row and driving away. Love to give national a try!

  199. Being able to skip the counter and pick any car on the lot would be great! It sounds like National’s Executive status lets you do just that.

  201. Having a reasonable gas refill option so you don’t have to worry about filling up at the end (especially if you are running late) and not worry about being gouged on the price per gallon!

  203. Most important: quick in and quick out. National is great, but I waited an hour at a hertz location. After that, I said “never again” to hertz.

  204. Keeping the aisles well stocked makes the experience better. Having a choice of vehicles only makes sense when there are different models to choose from. Still, National is miles ahead of everyone else.

  205. Not having Exec/Emerald selection run out on peak days/holidays.
    Not much of a choice when all you have is choice of color in taurus!

  210. Specifically for National (my preferred rental car agency): more local rental locations. I am sometimes forced to Hertz since they have more local locations.

  213. I love having the choice of cars…although I hate when I forget to use the free days that I had earned through the year, left two on the table at end of 2014! grr..

  216. To not be harassed to buying additional insurance cover. I have been misled by many agents throughout the years 🙁

  217. Ditching the franchise locations, and making all of the corporate, e.g. National at SLC, in order to make the experience more consistent.

  218. The one thing rental car agencies can provide in the car is an adapter for my phone to charge the battery!

  219. what is the one thing that can make your car rental experience better? – Friendly agents at the desk!

  221. Rental car employees, from the shuttle driver to the desk agent to the rental lot security guard, who are courteous, pleasant, smiling and treat me as an individual.

  223. Rentals would be much better if the cost of gas refills were lower. It’s always stressful to try and find a gas station in a city you don’t know, especially if you’re rushing to catch a flight!

  224. OMG; what a great giveaway! I have always like National but their prices haven’t been competitive the last few times I needed a rental. The 1-2-free promotion makes rentals very attractive.

  225. Here a couple of things to make it better for me off the top of my head:
    1) More on-site locations or more frequent shuttles if off location – nothing worse than adding on significant amount of time while returning the car
    2) Toll pass fees – eliminate these as this should be a standard, convenience benefit. That is especially the case as more locations start to introduce camera billing – these isnt even a cash option! These can be significant when added up.

  226. Big fan of National Program. Much better program then Hertz and really helped me to save on one-way rental.

  230. Have an Emerald Aisle at ALL airports. I just rented from ANC and they didn’t have an aisle. Made me appreciate the Aisles at other airports!

  231. Had a nice Ford Mustang my last holidays, anything nice for my next one would be great. Route 66, I’m coming!

  232. The biggest benefit for me is being able to get through the rental pickup process as quickly as possible. It helps to have status so you can walk right through.

  234. I would love to see an improved return process that embraces the use of a smartphone app. Perhaps using the GPS feature, it knows when you are back on the lot and can start the check in process with me entering the miles and gas level through the app.

  238. Customer service at rental car companies varies widely. I’ve always been pleased with the service I get from National. Thanks for the giveaway!

  240. Worth keeping in mind the high premium you pay for rental at the airport. There are definitely instances where it’s cheaper to Uber to an off-airport location and rent there.

  242. I wish the cleaning crews would be a bit more thoughtful in prepping the rental cars. That is, returning the passenger seat to a normal position (i.e., not fully forward) after vacuuming, leaving the auto climate controls at a reasonable temperature (hint: setting the thermostat to 85 degrees and fan to full speed doesn’t heat up the car any faster), and turning off the radio. While I understand that car cleaning crews are often under considerable time pressure, hotel maids would never get away with such a lack of attention to detail.

  244. Greater clarity/disclosure/plain language of insurance options. Yes, credit cards often/usually cover CDW, disclose that (but in some places, e.g., Italy, insurance is required, I believe). Clarification in advance can speed the process. Pressure at the counter is never a good thing.

  246. Something as simple as deleting the previous renter’s bluetooth info as the car is being vaccumed would go a long way. (I’ve rented a few cars where I had to delete upwards of 5 people’s phones before I could add my info.)

  247. Quicker pickup. Sometimes it takes 15-30 minutes after arriving to finally be driving away in a car.

  249. The most important thing for me is best value for the price being paid. I want the best car for the money!

  252. What would make renting a car better/easier? NOT UPGRADING THE SIZE OF MY CAR! I asked for an economical or small car for a reason, I do not need a gas guzzling tank that I will have to buy gas for. It is not a hotel room, I do not need to stretch out. Give me an “upgrade” benefit in the class I signed up for, like a free GPS or something.

  254. Cheaper prices from the big chains.

    With other options now available (flightcar, silver car, uber, etc), renting a car isn’t as necessary as before, and prices need to come down to reflect increased competition.

  255. The one thing that can make my car rental experience better is nt having to deal with the counter. I love blowing past the lines getting in my car and going.

  256. I typically choose National Car for their consistently good customer service. They have always resolved any issues promptly.

  258. Frequent National renter and I have been very happy.

    Manufacturers should provide rental companies with well-optioned vehicles that people would want to drive. When buying a car, previous experience with the brand goes a long way. If all I’ve driven are base model Malibu’s, I probably won’t have a high opinion of Chevy. But if I receive a fully-optioned Passat and am happy with it, I may take a closer look at VW when car shopping.

  259. I’d love to see gas refill rates that are no more than $.40-$.50 above the area’s prevailing gas station rates.

  260. As always, quicker rentals and quicker returns. Leave the trunks open, clear the snow off the windows so they’re ready to go. An elite returns lane so we don’t have to wait for the families of 5 to get the kids out, put jackets on, gather all their stuff, etc.

  263. Eliminating the upsell at the counter would be great. I picked the class of vehicle online that I want to drive, don’t need extra insurance coverage for me or the vehicle, and bring my own GPS and smartphone for navigation.

    Also, if I rent an SUV at a resort/ski area, I expect 4WD. “Traction control” is a poor substitute on steep, icy roads.

  265. Shorter time from pickup at airport to the rental area. I’ve waited 30 minutes and that’s no fun when I am eager to start my vacation.

  266. Cheaper rates. And easy gas fill up at the end – maybe normal rates for some limited amount of gas?

  267. what is the one thing that can make your car rental experience better? – Having a quick pick up experience (not having to wait inline to double check my credit card and license which is on file)

  269. Upgrades are the thing I enjoy most I rent 60-90 days but there is just an enterprise near me maybe I should credit to national. 😛

  272. Better customer service. I’ve had some really horrible experiences at car rental places recently.

  274. Having the flexibility to chose from various types of vehicles shapes and sizes from within one class.

  277. I would love to not have to fill up the gas tank, and only pay market rate, plus a $2 convenience fee, or something like that, rather than pay double the cost of the gas!

  279. Quick and seamless pick up and return. I love it when I’m in the car driving off 10 min after deplaning. Same on the return. National seems to be very consistent at this.. Solid experience with National so far!

  284. I don’t rent enough to have earned an elite membership – but why is there always a huge amount of time-wasting paperwork to do at the counter when I’ve already given them all the information when I booked on-line? Surely there’s a better more efficient way of processing the data?

  286. A reasonable policy on refueling – market based rate for the fuel and a standardized flat-fee service charge. No more $7/gallon gas.

  290. Not having rental car companies inspect my returned car like I’m a criminal, trying to nickel and dime me over invisible dings (that were probably there when I rented it) would improve my experience!

  297. The main thing that makes my experience better is National Executive Aisles that have cars that elite status members actually want. A lot full of “full size” entry-level Sonatas is not impressive and cheapens the benefit, in my opinion. I LOVE when there is a vast array of options for the Executive Aisle. Hope to win!

  298. The ability to by-pass the counter to an already air-conditioned or heated car is a truly great benefit – oh yes, and so is earning a free rental. Thanks!

  299. I use National because of my Executive Status. I most often travel to a DFW. I wonder if the Executive Aisle at Love has as much selection.

  300. As an executive, I think it’s a good promo as long as you have a lot of short term rentals planned. You can rent for 2 days 7 times and end up with a bunch of free days.

    However, if you have longer rentals then you’re absolutely getting the shaft. You can rent 3 times for an entire week and have barely one free day to show for it with the promo.

  302. I hate the way companies charge a transponder fee for every day of your rental even if you only use it once. I would gladly pay a fair fee for the convenience of skipping the tool booth.

  303. The thing that would make it easier for me, specifically at National, would be to have something on the outside of the car to tell you what the features are. Bluetooth? GPS? Satellite? Miles? Make it easier for me to pick when I have a choice. Jumping from car to car is awkward.

  304. Need more employees handling the reservations. Everytime I go to rent a car, I stand in line for at least 15 to 20 mins!

  306. Improved electronic check in at HNL airport. Someone have an automatic key dispenser where I dont have to stand in line at the Emerald Aisle waiting for my key.

  308. Quick and efficient check-in and check-out. Don’t mind 5 to 10 minutes, but more than 15 minutes is irritating and unnecessary if you staff to reservations.

  310. Anything but Hertz please…i was too loyal for too long to Hertz but they finally done it this past holiday season – eat my dust….

  311. Having a car that is properly equipped for the weather condition. Winter tires and – please – an ice scrapper!

  312. This is a coll giveaway. I have a scheduled rental for February and certainly could use one of the prices. Thanks.

  313. Rental counters directly at the airport instead of having to take a shuttle always makes me a happier renter.

  314. Easy pick up and return would be the most important to me. I hate it when I have to spend a lot of time at the counter.

  315. Not having to haggle to get the deal I made online or fight about add on’s, no cars in that class etc.

  320. The thing that can make my experience better is definitely newer cars with lower miles. Thanks!

  321. What matters most to me is how quickly I get from the line out the door. The last thing I want after a long flight is a long wait/many details to go over.

  325. By-passing the counter (and waiting line…): Just walk straight away from the airport terminal to the rental car.

  328. I wish the fuel rate was cheaper or you could specify a half tank refill on the pre-rental rate. I would like to pre-pay for the gas to not worry about it, but most of the time i don’t drive enough to use the full tank of gas.

  331. One nice touch that would make every rental reservation just a little bit better is having company representatives that always actually care about their customers (or at least pretend to). It seems that lately anytime that I’ve had to speak with someone regarding my vehicle / rental agreement / etc, I would have appreciated a little less apathy.

  333. The Emerald Aisle will greatly contribute to a couple of upcoming ski trips. I fly into the SF area and bring my own tire chains. I can select the car based on the tire size!

  335. It would be nice to not have to argue about not needing insurance due to primary coverage on my credit card every single time.

  336. My experience would be so much better if the rental desks were located in the airport. I dread waiting for and taking a shuttle to the lot, especially when my kids are with me. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
    Erin
    fairyfractal at gmail dot com

  338. I would have to say being able to pick from various models of vehicles and sizes from within one class rather than usually only get no choice

  340. It would be great to have expanded hours at non airport locations. I live 20 minutes from EWR and sure I can rent a car there pretty much 24/7, the rates are always high. There are many off airport locations from several different companies but they are always closed after 1PM on Saturday and closed all day Sunday. It would be great to rent a car on Friday night (after 6) or Sat AM (before 9) and return it Sunday. Plus, off airport locations are almost always cheaper.

  347. A website that doesn’t make me use some archaic calendar to select dates that was developed in the 90’s.

  349. The thing that could make my rental experience better would be if they would just charge a reasonable price for filling up the gas tank when you return the car. Just charge a small premium and I’d be happy to pay it.

  350. A few fun or interesting cars in the National executive line up. Once got to drive a BMW Z4 while entertaining a foreign guest. It was a real treat for both of us.

  351. Made the mistake of picking an “off-brand” rental company on a recent trip to Miami. Made it out without any issues, but it just reconfirmed that if I want a smooth rental experience that makes me feel comfortable with the agency and the way they’ll treat me, I need to go with one of the major outlets.

  352. My car rnetal experience is always better when I don’t have to worry about paying tolls.

  353. I need to be able to receive my rewards while using my company’s direct billing. (Hear me Hertz!? Thats why we all switching from you to National to start with)

  356. Do business like you value the customer – I’m always worried I’ll get charged for damage I didn’t see when I picked yup the car or will get blamed if something breaks. That said, I do prefer national as they don’t have as much of a “We’re here to screw you” attitude as many of their competitors.

  358. Having better rates for those under 25 would make my experience better. It’s hard to fathom some of the surcharges especially since I’m equally insured just like anyone over 25

  359. I would like to be charged normal rates for gas based on how many miles I drive and the size of the car I rented (algorithm) instead of the usual extortion.

  362. I like when they don’t push the insurance and additional things like prepaying for gas and upgrades.

  364. The hassle free experience is paramount. Not aggressively upselling insurance,etc makes the check in experience better. Not sticking a bs up charge at the end for “7/8 tank of fuel” makes paying the bill much more fulfilling (looking at you, b@dget).

  365. I’m satisfied with both retrieval of the vehicle at check out and the ease of checking back in. The variation of availability of offerings and upgrades (loyalty-based complementary, in particular) at airports (I travel to a great many smaller fields) offers an opportunity for improvement (consistency), in my opinion.

  366. Satellite radio. I’m regularly traveling for work approximately 6 hours away by car, and it’s a bit more by plane due to lack of a direct connection. Sometimes I drive and satellite radio is a must.

  370. Not having to wait a long time to check in to return the car and not having to wait long for the return bus trip to the airport makes things easier when renting a car.

  372. National Car Rental is hands down best in the business. They have terrific service and it’s hard to come up with improvements since I have no complaints. If there was one suggestion I could give it would be to create another status level above Excutive Elite for those customers who have been loyal for so long. This new status level could give more reward days or better upgrades.

  373. Tying loyalty programs with branded credit cards in order to open up new opportunities to earn with the company.

  375. Being able to get through the check-in and check-out processes as fast as possible. Sometimes it seems like they use computer systems from decades ago.

  376. Lower prices and being able to have multiple drivers without paying extra would make renting so much better for me.

  379. It would be ideal if car rental companies would pick you up at the airport and everything was automated and digitized so there was no paperwork and you could get in and out quickly – this has worked for us with Silvercar and we LOVED it!! If National/Alamo/Enterprise could do it too, we’d be even happier, since Silvercar is only in select airports.

  380. The one thing that would be nice is to not have to stop at the exit, before leaving any of the airport locations.
    At airport locations (which is 100% of my rentals), you stop at the exit and have to show the paperwork, license, etc. It just slows the process of the elite status down, especially when there is a line.

  381. I’ved used NCR as my own preferred car rental company when it was my employer’s preferred company and later when my company switched to another. Although retired and my status coming to an end, I will still rent from these people. They have been too good to me. Most recently in BUR for an entire year.

  385. My rental car experience would be better if I didn’t have to take a boatload of pictures both pre and post rental to prove I didn’t damage the car.

  388. Since I like to experience a different car at each rental, I almost always have to spend a while in the car to figure out where the switches for the trunk, the gas tank, the cruise control, the lights, the radio, the temperature control, etc., are. It’d be great to have a quick way to learn them.

  393. A more seamless and quicker check-in and check-out experience with less paperwork would be great!

  396. Being able to see what cars are on the lot through a mobile app as you are walking towards it.

  398. A two-fer at check-in: (1) Having an agent waiting to examine and prepare the receipt for the checked-in rental car (so I don’t have to go try to find one, and/or wait for one); and (2) Not being nickeled and dimed by the check-in agent for small scratches or other minor blemishes that I didn’t cause.

  399. Ability to select the car from the phone app or browser (similar to how national does it) but available in more places and with better selection

  404. Being able to bypass the rental desk and head straight out to the aisle is the most valuable thing that National offers.

  405. The thing that could make my car rental better. Well other than a vehicle that is clean and works well mechanically, would probably come when I reach the counter. Not feeling pressured or tricked into purchasing add ons I don’t need as has happened in the past.

  407. I have been a National Executive Club member since 1995 and have never been disappointed. Just back from Hawaii where the staff in Kona and Maui were great. I wish all the locations had that Aloha spirit.Choosing your car is a great feature. I would love to make it up to the next level- Executive Elite – for a year.

  409. No hard sell on insurance coverage at the counter. Especially that trick question”what insurance do you usually get the basic or…”

  415. I think the one thing to make my rental experience better is to offer great low one way rates.

  416. If a car has xm, keep it activated, keep counter from up selling, give benefits (upgrade) as promised.

  421. I would love it if the tank was full when I checked out the rental and the location would fill it up at market price (say the price at the nearest pump) when I returned it.

  424. I am a BIG proponent of EMERALD! I get frustrated when I discover my FULL TANK of gas is actually a bit low because previous user refilled 15-20 miles from airport. Need a way that rental company can verify tank is truly full. Hope to win GIFT CARD!!!!

  427. Not having the counter staff trying to hard sell upgrade or insurance i don’t want or need like Thrifty at the Denver airport does.

  432. i feel like the experience would be slightly better if there aren’t so many add on fees (I.e. Additional driver fees , gps fee, upgrade fee).

  434. In terminal drop off, even if they don’t have an on-site presence. Who likes wasting time waiting around for a shuttle?

  435. I enjoy Emerald aisle, but National could increase check in staff at busy times. Nothing like fighting traffic and then waiting at LAX for space to come in off the street to check in and run to the shuttle.

  436. I’d like to see a more interesting fleet of cars. They don’t have to be nicer, just less boring – like Zipcars instead of mass volume sedans in various sizes.

  438. Would like to have a seamless counter experience and I would love when the cars are newer models with fewer miles and that they are clean and not trashed with coffee stains on seats and such. Would love to try out National….

  440. What would help me when renting cars is the peace of mind knowing I have insurance in case of accident or damage to a rental car without paying a fortune. The area of insurance coverage for car rentals remains too uncertain/confusing/expensive IMO.

  441. Offer luxury cars at all National airport locations. We have noticed in the last few years that many National airport locations no longer offer luxury cars.

  444. Bigger stations should use a “Now helping guest #…” numbering system (and include chairs to sit in) so renters and sit and wait to be called up, rather than stand in a cattle line. Simple fix, not too much cost, but the return in goodwill would be tremendous.

  445. For the love of all that is holy in the rental car business… GIVE ME A CLEAN WINDSHIELD INSIDE AND OUT.

    Thank you.

  446. Please give me the choice of hybrids, I love my Prius at home and hate having to gas up so frequently.

  448. I only rent from National. The ability to choose my own car for the needs of each trip is a great perk for me. Convertible in Vegas, 4-wheel drive for Oregon’s sandy beaches, compact car for short drives, and mini van for a family trip in Hawaii, National always has the right car for my needs.

  450. In emerald aisle, knowing what features cars have without having to look inside them . For example, Bluetooth, satellite radio, backup camera, etc.

  451. The one thing that could make my car rental experience better would be rocket launchers on my car. Seriosuly, have you seen the other drivers on the road? I defenitely need rocket launchers on my next rental.

  453. Car rental experience can be much better if I had a elite status with the agency and faster pickup process.

  458. I wish rental car companies would stop with the bait and switch of offering one car online that is different than the one you pick up.

  459. clean nice car with friendly customer service , no dents or scratches that I have to take pictures of before I leave the lot with the car as proof there were already there.

  462. a car rental that’s within walking distance to the airport terminals instead of having to wait for the shuttle.

  467. Wish more rental companies would have dollar’s “lock&low”. Lock in the cheap economy/compact price – but usually drive off the lot in a mid-size or bigger!

  468. I rent from different airport locations depending on where my customer is located that week.

    The one thing that would make my travel easier would be PRICE MATCHING. Why does National want $535 for one week in PHL and their next-door neighbor Avis wants $228 for the same week?

  469. Bypassing the tedious and time-consuming “walk around” to examine the car with the sales agent. In my opinion, it only increases the anxiety of renting. I have often chosen Hertz just to avoid this.

  476. To make it better will be to include free toll passes or EZ passes, and not charge us an enormous fees.

  477. Being able to pick a car that allows for easy child car seat installation! When we travel it always seems that getting the seat installed correctly vaires from each car. Some are super easy, others are much more challenging.

  490. I wish that there was a cheaper gas option upon return so that I wouldn’t have to try and find a gas station at the last minute (with a small child) before returning my vehicle. That would be so helpful.

  491. Wow, so interesting to get the thoughts from someone who spends so much time in rental cars. Would love to win for some upcoming travel. Thanks!

  493. I loved my recent executive I’ll experience. If this “walk up and grab any car and drive off” feature is remarkable.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  496. Navigation as standard equipment in all cars and less exorbitant gas scheme. For example: charge me only for the gas I use (instead of a whole freakin’ tank!) based upon the price of the station that is closest to the airport. Then add a flat $5 fill-er-up fee to cover the cost of the dude filling the tank.

  500. I agree with other posters who mentioned getting out of the airport quickly with a car. No one likes to start a trip out with a major hassle.

  505. Car rental status is something I haven’t gotten yet. Would be nice to have one! With gift card to boot!

  506. My car rental experience is definitely better without the dreaded long ling (especially the one with tired whiney kids – my own or others).

  507. Out of all the rental companies I’ve tried, National provides the most seamless experience, especially with the Emerald Aisle perk.

    However, I would like to see better fuel options. The last time I opted to pre-purchase fuel, it was a hefty add on because of taxes and the rate for “regular” on a Flex vehicle.

  510. It’s a shame that:
    While the easiest part of travel in the US is car rental;
    That the hardest part of travel outside the US is
    Car rental.

  512. Ability to put in preferences for cars you hate at time of reservation. While there are multiple cars that fit in the same class, at smaller locations you can easily get stuck in the bad car model because it is what they have

  515. I get tired of trying discount code and promos to come up with the best rate. Having an easier booking process would make my car rent experience better.

  523. Ease of check-in. I have no car rental status and LAX rental is a zoo. National, Enterprise and now Silvercar are quick options and I value that most.

  525. I love National especially the pick your own car. I was 5 Star with Hertz. National is better

  532. The one thing is to guarantee the actual car I select, will be available and reserved for me!

  534. I’d like to see SiriusXM automatically included… or at least an aux cable and a car charger! Somehow those things always end up staying at home.

  537. I have to rent a car to drive 2 hours to SFO often If I had the national status I would be able to always get a fuel efficient car.

  542. I tend to rent from Thrifty, but their cars have gotten really bad recently. I’d pay more to switch to National or Hertz, but at least at San Jose which is where I travel most, their rates are twice as much, which is hard to justify. What makes my rental experience better is getting the Kia Soul which is actually an OK car. Way better than the Chevy Cruz, which makes my rental experience worse.

  563. Some way to automate both pickup and return to alleviate the long lines at major airports. Longer hours at smaller airports – I’ve come in on delayed flights too many times to find the counter closed and no way to pick up a car.

  569. I like being able to skip the counter/lines and go directly to a car.. so, Hertz, National, and yes even Dollar allows you to print your contract online and drive off more quickly.

  570. If you plan on charging in a 24 hr increment, not billing the customer for an extra day when the customer returns the car in less than 24 hrs but after the time they stated in their reservation, especially if they pick the car up later than the start time of their reservation.

  571. I’d like it if it wasn’t so expensive to confirm vehicles like vans. You can usually get large vehicles on the Emerald Aisle or Executive Aisle, but not always.

  585. Ok “Real” things to change about car rentals.

    1) allow the contract with all the addons to be completed Online. If I can order a pizza and party sub nowadays and come pick it up with the condiments I want, I can surely get my car with insurance options chosen and contract ready to go.

    2) Stop with the silly refueling markup. It makes your customers feel like you are out to get them.

    Have a great year.

  596. The one thing that would make my rental car experience better is to stop with the upselling. Sure, I’ll take a FREE upgrade, but there is no way I’m paying for more car than I reserved.

  598. Love being able to pick the car I want. Then I can pick something I will recognize in a parking lot. Little white cars all look alike to me.

  600. Reduce the amount of time I have to wait to see an agent. There are times where I have to wait a while even if I am a member of the rental car company’s loyalty program.

  602. I like being able to choose the vehicle. My last rental with National I chose a hybrid Chevy Sierra Pickup that got 22 MPG. My current GMC pickup gets around 12. Guess what I’m buying when I replace it. I use rental’s to do test drives on vehicles that I might consider down the road.

  606. Offer a more streamline service with technology. Long lines are often common for me as I do not rent cars a lot.

  607. While I like the car being ready for me on arrival, a tip at the check in desk always gets me an awesome upgrade… 😉

  609. Best improvement would be changing some car rental company’s policy of charging you for etoll transponder usage for every rental day even if you use it just once.

  612. They should have a sign with the mileage in the Pick Your Own Car place, like at used car dealers

  614. Waiting in line to rent the vehicle. Also, another irk is that a second driver usually costs $10day extra at most car rental companies.

  615. A clean car (inside and outside) goes a long way towards making me a happy renter. Also, if there are ‘hidden’ tools that are needed, figure out a way to let us know before we waste time trying to find it. Wasted 30 minutes in Frankfurt trying to figure out how to turn the built in GPS on in the Volvo SUV they gave me. The button was literally hidden on the BACK SIDE of the steering wheel. Ridiculous not to tell me when I paid for the GPS because I needed to use it.

  619. Have a prominent car return street address on the contract so you can use your GPS to get to the car return location.

  625. Sometimes when I rent there’s tons of paperwork, which I filled out already online or with my account for an earlier rental. I don’t want to fill out paperwork and I don’t want to wait for the people in front of me. At the very least let me scan my driver’s license and my insurance card.

  627. I’ve never rented from National — if I’m picked as a winner, I’ll be happy to compare them with my experiences with their competitors. I wish their TV commercials weren’t so obnoxious, though…

  630. I’m an Avis renter and enjoy the premium status/treatment but having status at national would certainly change my habits.

  632. Hi Gary. Would be mighty useful for my upcoming trip to the UK and also let me try National from an elite perspective.
    Thanks for all the great work 😉

  633. Instead of prepaying for a tank of gas, prepay to bring it back to the level you left with at the start.

  647. 100% availability of the car you reserved, or being upgraded 1 class at no extra charge if unavailable.

  648. What really matters to me is actually having the vehicle I reserved on-site! I recently spent 2 weeks traveling through the Kalahari Desert and of all the (car rental) companies in Upington, ZA that I reserved a vehicle through, only National had the SUV available on my date of arrival at the airport. The rest of the other company cars were “in the shop” (lots of clutch problems while driving through the bush)or “the website was wrong”. Thanks to National there was actually a vehicle waiting for me at the airport.

  649. We travel with our kids quite a bit. Having car seats available for free or a reasonable cost would certainly make the plane rides and getting luggage easier. 🙂

  651. I would love to win a gift card! I rent a lot of national but just missed out on elite status last year.

  657. Choose your own car (like the executive aisle). Drive out with only having to checkout at exit booth. (No waiting in a line inside). And then upon returning vehicle, have a consistent email receipt.

  659. The one thing I would like is an option to have the car meet us at baggage claim w/ a driver who could help with luggage. Then I’d drop the driver back at the rental office. I’d pay ~$50 extra for that option. This would be great for times when traveling with a disabled person.
    It would be like a limo greeting, but just to take us to the car rental office.

  661. Speed! Getting off transatlantic flights >1/mo th you just want the car quickly so you can get to your hotel.

  666. I have been renting from National for 8 years now. I love Emerald Cub. I have gotten tons of great cars all over. But I have never qualified for elite status. Maybe this offer will get me there.

  672. I have President’s Circle status with Hertz, which to date, has done nothing for me. Would be interested in comparing Emerald Club Executive benefits

  674. Just rented with them at ktw, good service great price, but was tod that they will nm of honor upgrades!?

  676. After very poor experiences with thrifty at SFO and ATL, I have switched almost 100 percent to National for rentals. It’s well worth it.

  681. I would like a full map, like the A-Z style, so that I stop getting lost. GPS isn’t always reliable and it doesn’t show me where I am in the grand scheme of things or where I want to go “as the crow flies”.

  682. Thanks for the chance to win this great prize! I have some trips coming up that this could definitely be useful for 🙂

  683. Straight to car would be helpful and also not charging too much if dropping the car from one location to another (say less than 300 miles).

  696. i love the convenience of avoiding the lines and having my choice of cars depending on my mood of the day!!!

  698. I just want the car rental process to be predictable. Get the car I reserve, at the price reserved, with no surprises, charges, changes, or hassles. My experience is that it’s only a 50/50 chance of that happening.

  699. Best improvement for me would be reasonably priced gas fill-ups, so I don’t have to gas up the car on the way to the airport.

  700. The way many (all?) car rental companies expect customers to pay tolls on highways using electronic toll collection is a scam (aka white collar crime). See
    http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/10/nyregion/fighting-back-on-toll-fees-for-rental-cars.html?_r=0
    (For the record, I developed the reconciliation network that connects all the E-ZPass customer service centers so that E-ZPass looks like one big homogeneous network to drivers – even though it’s dozens of independent agencies.) Scams like this give the toll agencies (and me by extension) a bad rap! Rental companies: clean up your act!

  704. No lines, I try to avoid any rental companies where I have to wait in line before getting my rental car.

  705. What makes my rental car experience better is being able to have streamlined paperwork (leisure traveler), so I can go on to the car and on to my travelling experience.

  706. Faster checkout when leaving the facility – there’s always a line! Perhaps an elite line only?

  707. What would make my car rental experience better?

    This probably would be hard to implement given how fast the cars change, bt sometimes in new cars/rental cars I can’t figure out where some functions are. Is there a USB port? AUX jack? Windshield wipers? Etc.

    Would love to just have a handy piece of paper in each car to tell you where the most important “gadgets” are.

  712. i would love if one way rentals were cheaper. I’m taking an open jaw trip this summer and the one-way car rental rate is painful!

  715. I rented once in Ireland (not from National), my only experience to date with a car from the Emerald Aisle.

  717. Rental car company is the most important factor to me. Easy pick up and drop off services are priority!

  719. I would like more variety – and I don’t mean size and color. I want more brands! I want some performance oriented cars without paying for ‘exotic’ prices! Where are all the Manual cars? I once had a stick, convertible BMW with a competitor to National’s but that cost almost $400 a day (I paid less, thanks to my corporate partnership)

  723. I have been a Hertz customer, but this would give me the incentive to give National a try.

  725. I think National has already done it. Being able to pick your own car is, to me, a HUGE selling point. I’m a giant fan of their brand!

  729. I have to say, slow/inconvenient returns are the worst and wreck havoc on my schedule. Anything that streamlines returns, even if I have to pay a slight premium, is a golden opportunity in my book.

  733. I love the Emerald Aisle setup. What could they do better? Clearly display the address of the return location so one doesn’t have to hunt for it.

    They could also dispense with the metal cables linking the giant key fobs together. It can be uncomfortable to carry such a big bunch of keys in your pants or jacket pocket.

  734. I use National regularly and I have enjoyed hand picking some cars that I would not otherwise have the chance to drive.

  739. Company would charge for filling up tank at local retail price plus reasonable markup, so no need to stop at gas station on return.

  743. I’d love it if more of the offsite (non airport) rental locations would stay open past noon on Saturdays!

  744. Renting cars always adds more stress to my trip; I always worry that I’m going to get charged for some dent acquired during the trip. 🙁

  752. All inclusive rate advertising both taxes and fees the way airlines are forced to do. This adds transparency.

  763. I would love extra help lugging my suitcases out to the rental car or having them pull the car up for me. I often travel alone with children and we have a lot of baggage.

  769. A better rental car experience would be shorter lines and more expedient delivery of the car.

  770. More efficient pick up process. If I reserve a car online, they should not need to ask/re-ask me about info such as car type, refueling preference, insurance preference, etc So when I go pick up a car, all they should really need is my driver’s license before handing me the keys.

  771. i would like to comment about what is the one thing that rental companies should be doing that I haven’t heard about yet is

    They should start including all tolls in the rental price and not charge exorbitant fines for going through a toll lane and not having an ez pass with you at the time.

  772. I rent from the Philly airport every single week. It’s not always the same rental company as the price fluctuates so much there. As much as $30 a day.

  773. Always have a car ready when a customer shows up. My local Hertz office overbooks regularly, and often has multiple people waiting for a car to be returned before they can rent and go.

  777. Totally agree with you points on National and the Emerald Aisle experience. I traveled weekly to Newark, NJ on Amtrak between the Airport and Penn Station location via Enterprise, the consistency was superb. I got to know the staff and they were always willing to help me get a similar model each time, and an SUV in bad weather. This made my travel much less stressful.

  782. Two things actually:
    1) Not having to deal with Enterprise’s vehicle inspection
    2) Not having to wait in line at the counter

  790. Last year I rented a car for 44 days with National – not to mention the days rented under my husband’s name. Sometimes we didn’t even NEED another car, I just love picking one out from the aisle when there’s a great deal.

    So far I’ve earned 8 free days from their recent promo.

    The one thing that can make car rental better? More convertibles in the executive aisle!

  796. As non-car owners, a rental car allows us to have a fun weekend getaway without a plane involved!

  797. What would improve the rental experience would be consistency across a brand. Especially in Canada and Europe, your favorite company can differ tremendously.

  801. It would be great if they can have the car ready when I arrive so I don’t have to wait in line.

  804. I want to have more control of the kind of car I rent. As someone who drives a compact Toyota most of the time, I have a lot of difficulty managing a full-sized Ford. I also hate worrying about being charged an exorbitant amount of money if I forget to put in gas.

  806. I love your site! My husband is the road warrior but I constantly forward your posts to him. Your alert that Delta would be raising award mileage at the beginning of the year was great! We took it into account and booked our trip early for 2015. Thanks again!!

  809. More clarity about whether buying the insurance is actually in your best interest (I take it that it’s usually not). Makes me feel like I’m being suckered.

  810. The 1 thing that makes my car rentalore pleasant is pre-registering all information with the car rental company so when I arrive At my destinTion to rent, I’m ready to go with minimal inconvenience.

  814. Elimination of National locations that don’t have Emerald Club Aisles (RNO comes to mind from being there a couple weeks ago)

  818. Having more rental buses running through airports so that pickup and drop off are faster and less crowded. In airports where they have a central rental for all agencies, would be awesome to have your own National Buses running to expedite and eliminate all the other people.

  820. I wish they would consistently put a map of the local area and directions to the nearest freeway in the contract folder when you are picking up the car. I have been lost countless times getting out of the airport.

  821. The one thing that can make car renting better is consistency between descriptions of the type of car and what the actual car is. Descriptions don’t always match with expectations.

  822. All that’s really important to me is that I get the car Inreserved (not a minivan, please) and it runs well.

  826. Pick up and drop off at the airport, instead of having to travel to a remote rental car facility.

  827. The one thing that will make the car rental experience better is for RAC co’s to issue electronic “boarding” passes like airlines which are coded. Upon boarding the shuttle or approaching the rental center, the immage can be scanned along with a license(if necessary). You are then “checked in” and proceed to an aisle; pick out a car and exit. Both your pass and the car”s code are auto scanned upon exit.
    1, 2 3. Less people, more efficient, faster.

  835. Best part of Alamo and national together….you can pick up your compact Alamo car in the national emerald aisle…

  839. Help! I need help! Putting my bag in the trunk, figuring out how to put the head rest down, tune the radio, adjust the seat, use the gps. These new fangled cars are just too much for me!

  842. It would be better if all rental car companies let you bypass the desk and pick your car with loyalty program membership–like National does.

  843. Quick and easy check in and out is crucial. I agree with building a rapport with the National team.

  852. Making my rental car experience better is exactly what National has done with the Emerald system. I don’t have to stand in line at the counter, I don’t have to complete paperwork, I can choose what vehicle appeals to me that is available and I just get in and go. Couldn’t be easier and the return is just as easy.

  858. I’ve been using Hertz Gold Plus, but I’d like to go back to the Emerald Aisle, where I think the selection of cars was better and more varied.

  862. Drop off and pickup transfer to/from the terminal and rental depot so I don’t have to take the bus.

  863. I love getting the car that’s right for my situation. Whether I need a car that sips gas or an SUV when my nephew is with me, I can have the car that’s right for me, all for the price of a midsize.

  864. Mid-size airport locations open longer hours, and more consistent transport to/from the terminals.

  866. The one thing that makes the experience better for me is a short check-in line and not having to battle with the agent to get the car that I reserved (I hate attempts at upsell…..)

  867. If I already booked online, please don’t attempt to get me to pay more. I know what I want and I don’t have much time to banter. If it’s a walk-in, trying to up-sell is still OK, although I usually do know what I wanted…

  868. Short wait time and cars in excellent condition. I once had a rental that smelled slightly of wet socks, and another time one that went “squeak squeak” every time I accelerate.

  869. For me, the keeping the check in process as short as possible is the most important thing. Being able to bypass the process completely with Emerald Aisle is great

  870. Planning my summer vacation with family, could use the upgrade. National is always my “go-to” but I don’t rent frequently enough when not on vacation

  874. Nice article, I like National. They consistently have newer cars than their competitors and it’s great to pick your our ride!

  879. The one thing that could make my car rental experience better is never having to wait for a clean car.

  881. Car rental experience would be better if I could use the Emerald Aisle so that it was easier to get and return a car. I don’t travel as much as the gentleman you interviewed so I didn’t both sending this first times I saw contest. Thanks for encouragement.
    ps my college age daughter had to help me find where to put this response as I didn’t know that in order to get to comment section you scroll to end. Love your blog.

  885. The one thing that could make it better is the shuttle bus experience – too few National shuttles – especially at LAX!

  888. the one thing that can make your car rental experience better: is that it not ever be with Alamo.

  889. Speed up the paperwork process at the beginning. Even when I’ve pre-paid for the car online, there is still a significant amount of time standing at the counter, waiting for the clerk to fill out a myriad of choices on their computer, print out various forms, get signatures and more signatures and more signatures… NONE of that should be occurring. I should be able to make all choices and sign all waivers ONLINE. I SHOULD be able to walk to the counter, give my confirmation #, and be handed the keys.

  893. The one thing that can make my car rental experience better…would be to have quality customer service during the car rental process. I rent cars regularly enough, but have found that most of the employees are pretty jaded and don’t provide a great experience despite my attempts at being friendly or nice to them.

  894. Thank you for the article. I needed an advice for renting a car for my first time family Hawaiian trip in this coming spring break. It would be our first time using the rental car for our vacation:)

  896. Ta-da!

    On the other hand, I hate car rentals. It feels like a scam, they are trying to nickel-and-dime you (thou, truth to be told, for now I do most of nickel-and-diming. Once I even managed to return a seriously damaged car!)

    Anyway, hope it will improve someday.

  902. The one thing that can make your car rental experience better is to allow to use our free days on upgrades. Another idea would to give me a “showcase car”, something sponsored by an automobile manufacture that allows to be to drive a current year model with all the bells and whistles.

  904. Definitely believe a reasonable gas fill-up rate is the single most important thing which could be done to improve the rental experience. Hate having to find a gas station while trying to return a car.

  908. I would like car rental agencies offer free car seats for families who need them. Most car rental agencies run a racket with the exorbitant prices they charge. Given the cost of renting a car seat for a week, you might as well purchase a cheap car seat, but it’s a hassle to travel with car seats on planes.

  909. Having the car waiting for you when you get off the shuttle makes everything so much easier. No waiting in line, just drive to the gate and you’re on your way!

  912. The best rental car experiences are where you can walk to the cars from the terminal (looking at you DCA, RNO, OKC & countless other airports!). The 10+ minute bus-rides to off-site rental locations are the worst.

    (Using a different e-mail as BoardingArea still thinks my email is spam? Ug.)

  913. better customer service certainly makes the rental experience better. I have found too many inconsistencies in service.

  915. Having the car right outside the shuttle ready to go would be nice although logistically a nightmare.

  916. have always had great experiences with National. Definitely our go-to car rental company!

  920. being able to choose exactly the car I want with a mobile device 24 hours prior. Year, make, model, color, options from a list of cars.

  927. I would like it if car rental agents didn’t employ hard sell tactics on the prepaid gas and car rental insurance. I know these are the big margin items, but it diminishes the experience.

  929. I’ve had a chance to enjoy the benefits of Emerald Aisle in the past and it makes car renting a pleasure! I’d love a $200 gift cert for my upcoming trip (this Friday!) 🙂

  931. I’d love to win these–didn’t rent cars enough last year to maintain any status, but have a number of trips coming up where I’ll need a rental.

  932. Emerald aisle is wonderful, Last month o was denied a car form the aisle they told me i need to upreared to get car

  934. All cars should come with…… Free Wifi! All we need and we’re up and about! Thanks for the promotion and thanks for all you tips!

  935. It would be nice to get a benefit with some minimum rental period, like free GPS with 5-day rental.

  937. For me, it would be awesome if you could get access to real-time inventory and choose your specific car.

  940. I love National, but I also find the Enterprise pick up option is often a money saver when avoiding super high airport rates.

  941. Being able to pick out any car and not having to wait in line. Also I’ll be turning 25 soon so no more young drivers fee!

  945. Two things make a difference to me: not having to take a shuttle, and having working satellite radio.

  947. Anything that the rental company does to make the pickup and dropoff as quick and as painless as possible is always appreciated.

  948. The rental experience all depends on how easy it is to get to the site from the terminal and how quickly I’m able to get in and out to get on with my vacation or trip

  949. Would love the ability to have a spouse pick up car… Logistically it can be easier on occasion and avoiding the planning to have elite member pick up car.

  952. Remember, we are all walking around with camcorders in our pocket – a smart phone. Make sure you do a 15 second walk-around of the vehicle to ensure you’re not blamed for someone else’s damage.

  954. Not having to fill up the car before I return it, and also not having to pay an exorbitant price for them to refill it.

  955. Lowering the gas prices for fill up by the rental company. Or at least have them tell you where the closest gas station is to the return location. Still disappointed that so many refuse to do so.

  956. One thing that would make my car rental experience better is not having to deal with the constant attempt to upsell, even after I have left the rental office and am literally getting into the car.

  957. The one thing that could make my car rental experience better would be to have an option for the rental company to refill the car with just the amount of gas I used (not a full tank) at a fair market rate.

  958. Making sure my care seats fit and getting them installed-not fun in the summer in places like South Carolina with 95% humidity

  961. The ability to get off a plane and go directly to my car. I don’t want to spend any time at a counter. Request all of the information you need from me ahead of time.

  963. What would make the experience better would be credit card terminals that work when you arrive at an airport at midnight to rent a car. None of the credit card terminals at the Hertz location at DTW worked, so I had to cancel my reservation and head next door to get a car….

  968. I would like to be able to reserve based on actual car model, not class. Why can’t they know in advance what cars should be in the inventory?

  970. Super clean rental cars without the ionizer smell would make my rental car experience exponentially better.

  971. I’d find it helpful if more rental locations offered 24 hour pickup and dropoff. I often need to begin or end a rental at odd hours.

  972. As sad as it may sound, the car rental experience is much better when I’m able to use a computer kiosk versus working with a real person.

  973. Not having to wait in an extremely long line after I get off the airplane. i just want to get my rental car quickly and be on my way.

  975. Making my experience better would be always getting a low mileage car without damage that I don’t have to note any damage to rental car company before driving off lot.

  980. Choice of car without the need to ask, just as National provides, paired with hassle-free insurance just as American Express provides.

  981. A speedy and painless pickup and dropoff process is the biggest thing to improve on a car rental for me.

  983. One thing that would make it a better experience would be no additional charges for authorized drivers or having the flexibility to drop of at a different location!

  984. The ability to register all preferences for the transaction via their website (insurance, gas options etc) and simply have them honored with no upsell at the counter would be amazing

  985. Have a cheat sheet in the car to maximize familiarity/use of things like bluetooth, or sat radio, or whatever, for the less technical renter (thinking bout the parents)…

  986. Not being asked to confirm the condition of a car at the rental desk before having a chance to inspect it.

  987. I’ve enjoyed a no-hassle, quick and efficient rental experience with National the last few years but free GPS would definitely be the one thing that can make my car rental experience better.

  988. The one thing that could make my car rental experience better would be a quicker return process.

  990. It would make my car rental experience better if when I rent a midsize and they take me to the executive aisle, the cars that I can take are an Escalade, Rolls Royce, or pretty much any car that James Bond drives.

  991. Not a big fan of rental car companies despite having to use them…but I’d welcome the status upgrade. Or $200.

  993. Beyond able to drop the car off without worrying about having a full tank and without paying an exorbitant price per gallon would make my rental experience better!

  995. I don’t rent very often, but would try National for their “extras”. Thanks for the info.

  998. What is the one thing that can make your car rental experience better: have more fancy cars,perhaps?

  999. The one thing that always drives me crazy is when you get charged $9 a gallon of gas for them to refill it. It is such a hassle to have to get gas in an area that I am unfamiliar with while I’m rushing to the airport.

  1003. Know this cannot be accomplished, but I hate it when I go to pick up a car and my visual inspection is severely hampered due to being in a covered building. The lighting is so horrid as to make it near impossible. But as to what the rental companies can do? — give us a map with some gas station options NEAR the airport would be most helpful. (with prices?) realize that could change on a daily basis, but maybe it could be on a bulletin board above the counter, so the customers could get a vague idea of which one might be best and where it is.

  1004. I am happiest when my bonus hotel or airline points are credited — without having to chase them — after a car rental.

  1017. not having to take a 45 minute shuttle from the airport to an off-site facility just to pick up a rental.

  1024. I love national I only rent from them due to their emrald eisle which saves ton of time after a long flight.

    What I think could make thinks better is hhaving only cars equipped with GPS. XM radio would be nice as well.

    Thank you,

  1025. a program that allows me to bypass lines in the terminal (or at the rental lot) and also has quick & easy returns.

  1028. Not being nickle and dimed over every scratch, ding, or whatever else they can make up to charge me more.

  1029. Bring a copy of your car insurance and your DRIVER’S License. Really bad when you get to the agency and realize you leave your license at home because your clean out your wallet of “extras” knowing you have your passport with you.

  1030. I just wish it was cheaper, I hate renting cars but every time I do I gasp a bit at the price, even when you get a good deal I think it’s too pricey.

  1031. My husband and I are planning our dream trip around the world. These prizes would definitely help us! Thanks for the chance.

  1032. I enjoy the American Express premium emerald club deal because I love that National Car Rental at DEN is open 24/7 is good because I can rent a vehicle whenever I need an extra vehicle or put my vehicle in the shop. I like using the app to rent a vehicle and use Aisle service because I have many options to pick for myself and try many different vehicles. I also enjoy the partnership with other car rentals companies, I like to rent near my house so I don’t have to go all the way to the airport to enjoy national car rental. I always use my membership while I rent vehicles now, just one membership for national car rental and other rental companies that National car rental teamed up with.

  1034. Couple things… shorter wait at the rental counter, GPS or NAV in the cars, and of course fair market price for gas when I return it empty!

    Thanks for doing the Gary!

  1035. Couple things… shorter wait at the rental counter, GPS or NAV in the cars, and of course fair market price for gas when I return it empty! Thanks for doing this Gary!

    Repost since I typed my email address wrong the first time… sorry!

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