Alaska Car Rental
 

Just want to make sure I warn Alaskan tourists that Affordable Rental Car misrepresents itself and will charge you extra when you get to the airport.

What do you mean? We used them a few years ago and had no problems at all.

I'm always curious about posts like this. Surely you arrived with a printed out copy of your proposal or contract. When they say it is more than that, why didn't you walk to another agency? Or did you? It is pretty hard for them to charge more than the written confirmation you have from them. And if you didn't have one, shame on you.

I once approached the Alamo counter and was told "you can put that coupon away because we're not accepting them tonight". They were messing with the wrong girl, but to make a long story short - while printing up my contract the agent looked at me and said "look, miss, I'm doing this because you're pregnant and I don't want to upset you, but just so you know, it doesn't matter what your confirmation says, and it doesn't matter who you call...we only have four cars tonight and we have fourteen reservations, so we can accept or turn away whomever we damn please!"

Shut up and gimme the keys, bozo!

In fact I did have a copy of the email I requested from them. It clearly stated the amount we would be paying. They had also told me, on the phone, where we would be able to find them at the airport - "right across from where you get your luggage." Imagine my surprise when all I found there was a bank of telephones to various hotels and car rental agencies. Upon calling Affordable, I was told they would come and get us for an additional $30. They were a mile from the airport. They said that the airport "counts the trips" they make to pick up their customers. An airport employee came by while we were on the phone with Affordable. She was so amazed by the conversation that she got on the phone with them, arguing that this was ridiculous and not true. The upshot was that we cancelled the Affordable car and went to Hertz which we could see from the phone bank. It cost us more, but there was satisfaction in the feeling that we were not getting ripped off.

Wow. That's much different. I just thought you were saying they wanted more money for the car, but they actually charge you to come pick you up? This place should be run out of business.

We went with High Country in Anchorage. They also have a charge, but we were told about it before we got there.
They told us the reason was that they get charged a tax everytime they come to the airport, so they would have to charge us like $30. They also told us that we could just get a taxi for ~$12, so that's what we did. It was worth it for us since their prices were half what the others were.

I have two words for anyone renting a car at ANC. Price. Line.

The problem with Priceline is with people who later change their plans- and there are some. :) Otherwise it can be a good deal. I tryed it this last trip but couldn't get a rate below $20/day. Alamo has had good week rate sales come out about 30 60 days ahead. I did this the last 2 rentals for $149/week. Easy to cancel if needed. :)

Also, Priceline doesn't let you drop off at a different location, does it?

I think they might have been trying to save you the (Anchorage city?) tax. We were told if we took a cab from the airport ($7), we would avoid having to pay this tax which I think was 5-10%. Maybe it was a ploy to keep them from having to go to the airport but I doubt it. They were very nice and accommodating there so I'm surprised you had problems.

<i>Also, Priceline doesn't let you drop off at a different location, does it?</i>

No. But why would you?

Gardyloo, maybe because you're going to take a cruise after driving and need to drop the car at Seward, or Skagway, or Haines. Or maybe do some driving and the ferry to Juneau where you drop it off and fly home? Or maybe you're flying out of Fairbanks. I can think of lots of reasons.