{"id":112751,"date":"2024-07-19T20:00:54","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T20:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/19\/heres-how-you-can-skip-long-rental-car-lines-for-free-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2024-07-19T20:00:54","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T20:00:54","slug":"heres-how-you-can-skip-long-rental-car-lines-for-free-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/19\/heres-how-you-can-skip-long-rental-car-lines-for-free-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"Here&#8217;s how you can skip long rental car lines for free &#8211; The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The last thing you want after your flight is to see a long car rental pick-up line \u2014 or worse, to be told there&#8217;s no car for you left at all.<\/p>\n<p>A while ago, I booked a car with Hertz from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) for a weekend at <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/ultimate-guide-to-walt-disney-world-resort\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disney World<\/a>. When we went to the airport&#8217;s rental car pick-up area, I was immediately grateful I did not have to wait in a shockingly long line, thanks to our free membership with Hertz&#8217;s Gold Plus Rewards program. I spoke with folks near the front of some lines, who said they had spent nearly two hours waiting to (hopefully) pick up a car.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/ways-to-save-on-rental-cars\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Save money on your next trip: Use these tips to never pay full price for a rental car<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:75%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">SUMMER HULL\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a id=\"car-rental-woes\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Car rental woes<\/h2>\n<p>The longest lines, lasting one to two hours, were for budget car rental companies such as Dollar Rent A Car and Sixt. Still, most of the car rental companies at the airport had significant lines, including my company of choice, Hertz.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:75%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-line-scaled.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">SUMMER HULL\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We often rent with Hertz because of the four-hour grace period we receive with <span class=\"jsx-eb69f9b09a3de1d0 jsx-eea0d1f218f5e80b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/apply-now\/the-platinum-card-from-american-express\/?tid=post\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"jsx-eb69f9b09a3de1d0 jsx-eea0d1f218f5e80b applyLink inherit\">The Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/a><\/span> (enrollment required). However, skipping the car rental pick-up line is another major plus, and one you don&#8217;t need any particular credit card to be eligible for.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/what-to-do-if-car-rental-sold-out\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Can&#8217;t find a car rental? Here are 7 secrets that may help<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"how-to-skip-the-line\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">How to skip the line<\/h2>\n<p>To skip the counter, join <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/hertz-gold-rewards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hertz&#8217;s free Gold Plus Rewards program<\/a> and pick up your car at one of the many locations with a Gold Choice aisle. In major pick-up locations, a board will direct you to a certain parking stall or aisle (Gold, President&#8217;s Circle or Five Star). You can also use the Hertz app to check in and skip the line.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/redeem-points-miles-car-rentals\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How you can redeem points and miles for car rentals<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve occasionally received the dreaded &#8220;see desk&#8221; message when a credit card on the account has expired or similar. Luckily, though, the desk in the garage often has a much shorter wait than the primary line inside.<\/p>\n<div class=\"&#10;        EmailSignUp_container__qYzYT&#10;        undefined&#10;        EmailSignUp_isLoading__i_qm0&#10;      \"><picture class=\"EmailSignUp_graphic__zgpFm\"><source media=\"screen and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-mob.svg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-dt.svg\"\/><\/picture>\n<div class=\"EmailSignUp_form__C8FWb\">\n<p>Daily Newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG\u2019s experts<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The keys should be waiting inside the car, so you only need to show your ID to the gate attendant on the way out of the garage. They will typically print your rental car agreement for you there, and you&#8217;ll be on your way.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:75%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/hertz-car-rental-board-scaled.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/hertz-car-rental-board-scaled.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/hertz-car-rental-board-scaled.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/hertz-car-rental-board-scaled.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/hertz-car-rental-board-scaled.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/hertz-car-rental-board-scaled.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/hertz-car-rental-board-scaled.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/hertz-car-rental-board-scaled.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/hertz-car-rental-board-scaled.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">SUMMER HULL\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a id=\"you-may-be-able-to-choose-your-own-car\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">You may be able to choose your own car<\/h2>\n<p>An added perk of picking the car from an aisle is looking at the cars and selecting one of the nicer, newer options in the row.<\/p>\n<p>On the previously mentioned Orlando trip, the first car we considered smelled awful and had more than 30,000 miles on it. However, just two cars over, we saw a newer option with only a couple thousand miles logged.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:75%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-row-scaled.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-row-scaled.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-row-scaled.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-row-scaled.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-row-scaled.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-row-scaled.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-row-scaled.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-row-scaled.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/04\/Hertz-car-rental-row-scaled.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">SUMMER HULL\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Even if the Hertz location you are using isn&#8217;t one with a dedicated aisle, you can still use a shorter check-in line simply by being a member of its Gold Plus Rewards program. That&#8217;s how I saved an hour picking up a car rental in Honolulu a few years ago, even though that location didn&#8217;t have dedicated aisles in the car rental garage.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:75%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2019\/06\/20190614_rental-car-line_SHull-1.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2019\/06\/20190614_rental-car-line_SHull-1.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2019\/06\/20190614_rental-car-line_SHull-1.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2019\/06\/20190614_rental-car-line_SHull-1.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2019\/06\/20190614_rental-car-line_SHull-1.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2019\/06\/20190614_rental-car-line_SHull-1.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2019\/06\/20190614_rental-car-line_SHull-1.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2019\/06\/20190614_rental-car-line_SHull-1.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2019\/06\/20190614_rental-car-line_SHull-1.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">SUMMER HULL\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a id=\"joining-a-rental-car-rewards-program\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Joining a rental car rewards program<\/h2>\n<p>Most car rental companies, like <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/enterprise-plus-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Enterprise<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/loyalty-guide-to-avis\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Avis<\/a>, have similar programs. To increase your odds of skipping the line, be sure to join the membership programs for the car companies you rent from and enter all necessary information in advance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/autoslash-review\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How to use AutoSlash to save on rental cars<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>TPG has a full guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/rental-car-rewards-programs\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">rental car rewards programs<\/a>, including information on how to sign up and the perks you&#8217;ll enjoy as a member.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"credit-cards-that-offer-elite-status-for-car-rentals\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Credit cards that offer elite status for car rentals<\/h2>\n<p>There are a handful of credit cards that can help you skip the long line at the car rental counter with <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/cards-elite-status-car-rentals\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">automatic elite status<\/a>. You do have to enroll for this benefit, so if you have one of these cards, be sure to complete enrollment before your next car rental.<\/p>\n<p><em>*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"car-rental-skip-the-line-tips\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Car rental skip-the-line tips<\/h2>\n<p>Be careful if you rent via a third-party site. You may not always be able to add your car rental membership number, which could result in a long pick-up line. Sure, you may save a few dollars, but you need to weigh the savings against the time you might spend waiting in line to pick up your car.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:75%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/08\/rental-cars-ohare.jpeg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/08\/rental-cars-ohare.jpeg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/08\/rental-cars-ohare.jpeg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/08\/rental-cars-ohare.jpeg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/08\/rental-cars-ohare.jpeg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/08\/rental-cars-ohare.jpeg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/08\/rental-cars-ohare.jpeg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/08\/rental-cars-ohare.jpeg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/08\/rental-cars-ohare.jpeg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">Avis&#8217; lot at Chicago&#8217;s O&#8217;Hare International Airport (ORD). SEAN CUDAHY\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For these reasons, it usually makes more sense to rent directly, even if it costs you a little more. Ensure you sign up for a relevant car rental program, fully complete your profile and double-check to see if your car rental member number is attached to your reservation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/car-rental-elite-status-match\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The complete guide to car rental elite status matches<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you need something special, like child safety seats, you may end up in some line with a rental car company regardless of your status. For that and other reasons, it might be a good idea to travel with your child&#8217;s car seat.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"bottom-line\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>Joining a rental car rewards program can save you time, help you make progress toward a free rental and increase the odds that a car will be available when you&#8217;re ready to start your trip.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related stories:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/avoid-waiting-in-rental-car-line\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The last thing you want after your flight is to see a long car rental pick-up line \u2014 or worse, to be told there&#8217;s no car for you left at all. A while ago, I booked a car with Hertz from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) for a weekend at Disney World. When we went [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":112752,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-112751","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112751"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112751\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/112752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}