PDA

View Full Version : Have you joined Dollar Express?



ALR
13-08-2006, 17:51
I'm considering joining Dollar Express. Has anyone any views on this?
If you have joined did it make a big difference timewise to collecting your car or not?

Thanks
ALR

roger
13-08-2006, 18:03
This really depends on the time and location. Sometimes if you arriving in to Orlando, and are last off the plane you can end up in a 1 hour queue for your car (for any of the rental companies). In this case, Dollar Express certainly is worth it!

Other times, you may find there is no queue at all.

Either way, I would recommend joining Dollar Express since it costs nothing and usually Dollar favour Express members if there are any free upgrades going.

Daglish
13-08-2006, 18:19
We took Roger's advice before our last trip through MCO in June and it really did speed the process up. There was a long queue at the Dollar Desk but we just went to the Express lane and were away within about 5 minutes.

Eden
13-08-2006, 18:25
I would highly recommend being a dollar express member.

We travelled out in July and there was a very long queue at Orlando International at the dollar desk. There is a separate queue for express members which had no-one waiting, and we got served straight away

On returning our car we had been incorrectly charged and my husband had to go to the desk to sort it out before we could get our flight home. Again we were able to get served immediately.

(although you do feel a bit cheeky, when everyone else is waiting!)

trevlad
13-08-2006, 19:42
how do you join dollar express please?

ShirleyD
13-08-2006, 20:54
http://www.dollar.com/expressmember/member_profile/acceptrules.aspx

Try the above, made no difference on this trip as there was no queue and we had ordered the biggest car due to our large party, but it is free and doesn't take long so may be of benefit sometime

trevlad
13-08-2006, 21:16
thanks shirley, as i got no reply i had a search and found the us. site. i have joined now, strange it asks for business details - i just gave them our villa website instead?? - just have to wait for reply email now

roger
13-08-2006, 22:56
That's correct, just enter anything for business name.

MTP
13-08-2006, 23:09
We had joined Dollar Express and then left as when we went to pick up our car we were charged an additional fee that was one of the preference options within our Dollar account. I stated that I didn't want this additional fee and that I just wanted the car hire as per the voucher (from this site) and was told that they were not able to not provide it at the desk and I would have to phone Dollar to sort this. I phoned the Dollar number (think it was a specific one for express customers) and they basically said tough as I had it as an option I had to take it. When we got home I then e-mailed them again and eventually said that I wanted to cancel my membership and was told that I would have to fax this request - this took several attempts with faxing and chasing up to get them to do.

So just be wary what options you have in your account. Also not every location operates an Express lane - from memory Boston's doesn't and there was a very miffed Express member in the queue.

dawn
13-08-2006, 23:46
We joined Dollar express, and found that although there is no dedicated desk at Sanford, we just asked a member of staff and were checked in straight away, so well worth it

Robert5988
14-08-2006, 00:07
Roger,
Could you please clarify the situation for both Dollar Express an the Alamo equivalent(Fast Track?).

I asked at Alamo and was told that you could could only use their fast track system if you booked through a Dollar or Alamo website and not through agencies such as yours which obviously provide cars cheaper.

I hope I was mis-informed.

roger
14-08-2006, 00:09
If you booked your car hire through us, we could have resolved all this for you with Dollar directly, rather than you having the hassle.

Also, there are quite a few locations without a dedicated Express queue, but you just need to make yourself known to any staff member and they will escort you to the front of the regular queue to save you a wait.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by MTP
We had joined Dollar Express and then left as when we went to pick up our car we were charged an additional fee that was one of the preference options within our Dollar account. I stated that I didn't want this additional fee and that I just wanted the car hire as per the voucher (from this site) and was told that they were not able to not provide it at the desk and I would have to phone Dollar to sort this. I phoned the Dollar number (think it was a specific one for express customers) and they basically said tough as I had it as an option I had to take it. When we got home I then e-mailed them again and eventually said that I wanted to cancel my membership and was told that I would have to fax this request - this took several attempts with faxing and chasing up to get them to do.

So just be wary what options you have in your account. Also not every location operates an Express lane - from memory Boston's doesn't and there was a very miffed Express member in the queue.
[/quote]

roger
14-08-2006, 01:23
I cant answer regarding Alamo since they do not offer a fast track system that we can pass on.

With Dollar, most agents can not offer their Express service. We are one of the only (maybe even the only) agents that can do this. To date, none of our many customers that have used this have had a problem using the service.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
Roger,
Could you please clarify the situation for both Dollar Express an the Alamo equivalent(Fast Track?).

I asked at Alamo and was told that you could could only use their fast track system if you booked through a Dollar or Alamo website and not through agencies such as yours which obviously provide cars cheaper.

I hope I was mis-informed.
[/quote]

trevlad
14-08-2006, 01:45
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by MTP
We had joined Dollar Express and then left as when we went to pick up our car we were charged an additional fee that was one of the preference options within our Dollar account. I stated that I didn't want this additional fee and that I just wanted the car hire as per the voucher (from this site) and was told that they were not able to not provide it at the desk and I would have to phone Dollar to sort this. I phoned the Dollar number (think it was a specific one for express customers) and they basically said tough as I had it as an option I had to take it. When we got home I then e-mailed them again and eventually said that I wanted to cancel my membership and was told that I would have to fax this request - this took several attempts with faxing and chasing up to get them to do.

So just be wary what options you have in your account. Also not every location operates an Express lane - from memory Boston's doesn't and there was a very miffed Express member in the queue.
[/quote]

thats lucky , wasnt sure about that when i read it cos after nominating your 2 credit cards it mentions about confirming authorisation for them to debit your account and on an earlier topic someone said mind you dont get charged twice, so.... i just ticked decline everything which from your comment looks the right thing to have done..phew[msnsmile2]

Snapper
14-08-2006, 01:51
Errrrrr, surely if you have a voucher from here and the agent at the desk wants to charge you a whole heap of extras that you have already paid for the answer is just to ask them to ignore the Dollar Express part and handle the booking as a normal reservation. Or am I missing something?

MTP
14-08-2006, 02:58
Snapper:

I tried to do that, but the additional cost wasn't part of what is included in the voucher for the car hire (I can't remember off of the top of my head which one it was as it was two years ago that this happened), but the frustrating thing was that the car hire desk wasn't even busy so it's not like I got the benefit of the Express service.

It seemed to be that once I had made it known that I was an Express member they couldn't ignore that fact - funny that they couldn't also accept the upgrade vouchers that I had been sent as part of the membersip as that only did apply to bookings made through the Express reservation number, apparently!!!

Roger:

Wish I had thought of that, but it wasn't a huge charge so I put it down to experience and determined to close my membership on my return home (which I eventually did - funny you don't have to fax them to join!).

I also want to make it clear that in no way is this a detrimental comment about the car hire service provided by yourselves. I have always found the car hire from yourselves to be excellent, both in terms of price and quality of service. (especially as I want to book some more car hire in the very near future and recommend you to anyone that will listen)

I think the problem in Boston is more to do with the fact that the Dollar location there is a franchise (I didn't realise that this was how these companies operated) and like many franchises there are good locations and poor ones. The staff there were de-motivated and rude and the fact that the woman made herself known as an Express member didn't make any difference, she had to wait her turn.

The flip side of this is that on route to Vegas last year I managed to lose some of our travel documents (thankfully not tickets or passports) going through a security checkpoint when transitting through Houston. The car hire voucher was one of them. When we arrived at Vegas we were told that we had to sort this out at the office and not at the airport desk (but this is where you go to pick up your car anyway, so no biggy). On the way out there we were of course expecting the worst, however they let me use one of their office computers to log in to my e-mail and re-print the voucher - problem solved, they then processed my car hire with the next available agent rather than re-joining the back of the rather large queue. Just glad I didn't delete the e-mail from the server, and a good tip for those that use a combination of webmail logon and offline reader (eg Outlook). (Documents and travel wallet were safely returned a few weeks after we got home)

I am tempted to try rejoining Express and just make sure that no option is chosen - but I was concerned when I signed up that the reverse situation would arise (ie that the voucher booking would include some insurance that they would then cancel off the hire if some of these options were not set up in my Express account).

roger
14-08-2006, 11:55
That will be the personal insurance then, which is not included in the pre-paid insurances on the voucher, but which should already form part of your travel insurance.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by MTP
I tried to do that, but the additional cost wasn't part of what is included in the voucher for the car hire (I can't remember off of the top of my head which one it was as it was two years ago that this happened
[/quote]

MTP
14-08-2006, 13:17
Yes I think that was it. It was the fact that I couldn't refuse it there and then as it was in my Dollar Express account, it just seemed a little bizarre.

neilriley
29-08-2006, 13:30
I am a member of Dollar Express and think it's invaluable after a long journey.We have arrived at Orlando MCO on numerouse occassions when the Dollar desk has been very busy but there is no que at the Dollar express stand so we have been sorted straight away.Definately Join.

Ian Dee
30-08-2006, 02:57
moral is
book through this site with Dollar Express[8D]

E. Cosgrove
30-08-2006, 11:54
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Ian Dee
moral is
book through this site with Dollar Express[8D]
[/quote]
Is there another way???[msneek][msnwink]

Pluto
30-08-2006, 16:31
Hi

Sorry if the answer to this is obvious - but it isn't to me!!

I have already booked my car hire through this site, for our trip in October. Would I still be able to join the Dollar Express if I already have the car hire booked?

Flying from Gatwick to Sanford and having checked the Gatwick web-site I have realised that there are 7 flights all leaving for Sanford at the same time!! so it could take us hours to get through the normal car hire desk.

caroline
30-08-2006, 16:48
Hi Karen

Yes you can still register for Dollar express - once you have your membership number, you need to email Roger and ask him to add your membership number to your reservation.

Sanford doesn't have a dedicated express line, but you just need to make yourself known to a Dollar staff member and they will escort you to the front of the queue.

Pegasus928
05-09-2006, 01:36
Roger

Hope you can help. We went through the registration process for Dollar Express and on the last page there is a tick list to Accept/Decline the extra when hiring. I hope we have done right as we declined them all??

Any advise would be appreciated

Mr & Mrs Pegasus

roger
05-09-2006, 01:50
Yes, thats right. If you have booked the Silver option then I'd recommend going back in and accepting the pre-paid fuel.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Pegasus928
Roger

Hope you can help. We went through the registration process for Dollar Express and on the last page there is a tick list to Accept/Decline the extra when hiring. I hope we have done right as we declined them all??

Any advise would be appreciated

Mr & Mrs Pegasus
[/quote]

Pegasus928
05-09-2006, 01:54
Thanks - feel better now.

We always hire from you and have the Gold Option.

How far in advance can we book via this site?

The Pegs

roger
05-09-2006, 11:38
Usually you can book up to around 18 months in advance. If the quoter on www.uscarhire.co.uk gives you a quote then you can go ahead and book.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Pegasus928
Thanks - feel better now.

We always hire from you and have the Gold Option.

How far in advance can we book via this site?

The Pegs
[/quote]

Pegasus928
05-09-2006, 13:33
Many thanks again Roger for your help

We will keep checking the car hire link and book asap.

The Pegs

roger
05-09-2006, 15:22
What dates are you looking for?

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Pegasus928
Many thanks again Roger for your help

We will keep checking the car hire link and book asap.

The Pegs
[/quote]

Pegasus928
05-09-2006, 22:16
May 2008

We have just checked and the dates we need are now coming up with a quote so we shall be sorting it in the very near future. [msnsmile2]


We hired a Hummer last time so our son has requested that we hire an Escalade or Navigator and will be needing to organise that with you once we decide on the dates.

The Pegs