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.
- Worth noting that WorldElite MasterCard cardholders and American Express Platinum cardholders are entitled to National’s Executive status, which also gets access to the Executive aisle. That’s worth signing up for.
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!
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I could really use the status and gift card. About to start planning for my African Safari!
I would love to win National Emerald Club Executive Elite status and a gift card! I would put them to good use.
Quicker returns. Nothing worse that running late for your flight and having to wait to get checked in.
This would be a good way for me to give National a try.
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.
Yes, please.
What would make the experience better is longer hours for in-town rental locations!
This would be perfect for all my trips to Vegas and Washington state – I’m sick of bad rentals!!!
I love National Emerald Executive Aisle!
Hate that I have to fill up gas and if not they charge double the premium gas price!
A shorter wait when I return a car would make renting cars more pleasant.
The one thing that would make it better is to address the toll roads conundrum!
Returns in terminal or at the consulate very least quick shuttles running to keep from missing flight.
The faster I am out of the airport, the better the rental experience
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.
Car rental companies are less picky about minor scratches.
National is all I’ll ever rent from (if they’re available)!
I live in a remote area 300 miles north of SFO. I wish or car rental agencies has BETTER car choices!
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.
My own dedicated exit lane from the rental car area 😀
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.
Shorter wait times
Having any sort of preferred status that allows you to go directly to your vehicle and skip the counter!
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.
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.
walking in and having an exact car that you chose waiting for you ready to go.
Not having to wait in long lines.
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?”
Not needing any human interaction for the entire pickup or drop-off process. Make the whole thing faster.
A longer grace period
not having to drive a Ford Taurus or Kia Soul would be the one thing that would always make the experience better 🙂
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)
Not having to wait in line at the counter makes my rental experience better.
I wish every airport location had Emerald Aisle service!
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!
Have gold car type service available everywhere.
No wait times!
The one thing that can make it better is…….competent, knowledgable and friendly staff !!!
In
seamless check-in and check-out experience.
Planning a weekly rental now…Executive Elite status would make a great trip that much better!
I like picking my own car and fast service. Not stopping at a counter is totally worth it.
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.
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!
I think national has a better product than Hertz.
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
No waiting in lines at a rental counter!
More cars with a sunroof! Ha – they never have them and that could make my car rental experience better…
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!
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.