My son went out to Florida last Friday(Good Friday). He flew Continental from Manchester to Newark and was going to Melbourne airport(about 60 miles SE of Orlando). However plane left Manchester over 4 hours late, missed his connection and finished up at Orlando at Midnight some 22 hours after leaving home.

He had a voucher for an Alamo car. However there were only 2 desk clerks, a long queue, and he waited a further two and a half hours to get a car. He and the many(mainly Americans) in front and behind him in the queue were highly un-amused.

This is the second time he has had a similar wait – the last time on a direct flight from Gatwick arriving mid-afternoon.

In the many times I have used Alamo at MCO I have only had a couple of lengthy waits in the queue - never more than an hour – however I know lots of people who have had horrendous delays.

I cannot understand the logic of only having minimal staff on duty at holiday times when they must know that they have many customers arriving – nearly all with pre-paid vouchers.

At a time when Airlines have to pay compensation for delays, it seems a pity that car rental companies do not face similar sanctions.