Dont fall for it!

[LiesaAnna]

We usually always decline an upgrade, but due to my foot/calf swelling bigtime i had to use a wheelchair and it made it late for us getting to Alamo, the guy on the desk said they didnt have any more cars left of the economy we had booked, he said we were down to have a fiat 500, my husband knows much about cars hes been a mechanic for over 30 years, so we asked what we should do, this guy said 'it wouldnt take ur 3 cases only room for one, so us panicing because of my swollen foot/calf, (couldnt get a shoe on) and medication needed... he offered us an upgrade and muttered the cost of $200 extra at the end of the holiday, we just wanted to get out, he took us to his 'mate' who then preceded to take us to a chrysler jeep, very nice and comfy but we are so usually on the ball for this sort of thing...

just beware there arent many fiat 500 on the road here, in fact we have seen a whole 1 in almost 2 weeks!! also the paperwork says $307 nice one eh!....

[Lyn]

Leisa, we booked an economy and when we went to choose our car one of them was indeed a Fiat 500, we chose the other one (can'trememb er what it was) that unfortunatly had a flat battery! Bill went and told one of the attendants and he took us to a Toyota Corolla and said just take that one - phew, Bill would not have let me hear the last of it if we had had to take Fiat 500.

[christhear]

Never upgrade if they haven't got any left. They have to give you something so you would have got a free upgrade.

[wilfy]

Never upgrade if they haven't got any left. They have to give you something so you would have got a free upgrade.

A fiat-500 is an economy spec car from Alamo - We had a similar thing occur in San Francisco a few weeks ago. The choice of the fiat or older kia. We chose the kia, as we could at least get both bags in the boot/trunk

[Lesley S]

We were with Alamo this year and were told just to go and pick a car from their line up, we had only booked an economy car. Ended up with a HHR, Plenty of room in back for 3 cases and all hand luggage.

[sammibabe]

We had booked 7 seater and there weren't any so gave us an 8 but that was in the pick up area. Alamo fast track bypassed the need to speak to bods at the desks thank goodness (although 2 of the seats were very narrow and wouldn't have wanted to use them)

[Jill]

Last time I booked an economy for myself with Budget they told me I would need an upgrade which I declined (didn't think I did as I was on my own with only hand luggage) they then said they did not have any left so gave me a Prius instead.

[Lynnes]

Not your fault they didn't have the car Liesa, I would have asked what they intended to do about it!! We have been in the situation where the car size we booked was empty and they just sent us to another row with upgrades no problem at all and didn't have to pay for it.

[roger]

I'm sorry to hear about that. Alamo do have Fiat 500's in their Economy line-up. From what you say I can't tell for sure if they told you there were no economy cars left or if they told you that you are down for a Fiat 500 so you might want to upgrade. If they say there are none left then you should not agree to a paid upgrade. If ever the car rental company suggest you might not get your luggage in the car you have booked, then we always recommend that you try it before upgrading. Bear in mind that any local fees (upgrades etc) that you choose are subject to all sorts of local charges and airport fees, so although the upgrade costs may be $200, the fees can add a third again. All costs are shown clearly on the rental agreement, so you can always double-check.

A good thing with Alamo is they have a 24 hour period where if you take an upgrade, you can change your mind and go back to any local depot to change back to the car you booked, at no cost to you. That way, if the next morning when you are a bit more refreshed you decide you did the wrong thing, you can change back again.

[No Shoes]

A good thing with Alamo is they have a 24 hour period where if you take an upgrade, you can change your mind and go back to any local depot to change back to the car you booked, at no cost to you. That way, if the next morning when you are a bit more refreshed you decide you did the wrong thing, you can change back again.

Thanks for that information Roger - very useful to know. I assume it applies at all their locations?