Navigating Car Rentals After Dark May Present Surprising Hindrances
Vacationing late at night? Watch out for hiccups in your ride! To keep your vacay on track, heed the tips from a bigwig at a reputable rental car company, Rental Center Crete, which has been dispatching whips in Greece since the disco era. (Y'know, 1975.)
Late-night rentals, especially during the sweltering summer travel rush, could mean deserted desks, hidden costs, and vehicles missing-in-action, warns Harry Anapliotis, CEO of Rental Center Crete.
"I've been in this car-rental game for decades, and I've seen most issues flare up during late-night pickups when travelers are tired and eager to reach their crash pads," says Anapliotis. "Late-night car rentals may seem snazzy, but they come wrapped in hazards that most vacationers don't consider until they're stranded at an airport at 2 a.m."
A good chunk of rental operations at minnow airports and some at big-time airports skip round-the-clock staffing. To verify the operating hours and if a pickup after hours is an option when a flight is delayed or lands after the rental car spot shuts down, Anapliotis advises.
"Travelers tend to presume that rental desks mirror airport hours, but that's rarely the norm," continues the CEO. "If your flight is delayed or lands after the rental desk's closing time, you might find yourself carless until the following morning."
Rent-a-car titan Enterprise instructs customers to dish out their flight info when booking a ride. The company states that its U.S. and Canadian airport locations will stay open for "up to two hours after their posted closing time" to accommodate delayed travelers.
Hertz, on the other hand, lays out its tardy arrival policy for airports and train stations. "In case of a flight/train delay where the new arrival time is outside the pick-up location's operating hours, the location will remain open, provided the correct flight/train number is present in the reservation and the carrier or operator has confirmed the delay and the new arrival time."
Some rental outfits offer self-serve boxes or kiosks for post-hours pickups. But, Anapliotis stresses, these systems can fail, with codes not working, instructions being unclear, or the incorrect keys being supplied. (Oops!)
If you choose the keys-and-kiosk method, Anapliotis advises requesting a step-by-step guide before takeoff and an emergency contact number.
Late-night renters might also discover that the specific car class they booked is off the market. With minimal staff on duty overnight, inventory management gets shaky, increasing the chances of landing a small car for a large family or, worse, no ride at night.
To dodge this uncomfortable situation, renters should call the rental firm a day ahead of takeoff to double-check their booking and vehicle class, while mentioning the late-night pickup.
A late-night worry is examining the car for pre-existing damage. This is tricky in daylight, let alone in a dimly lit parking lot.
"Ignoring damage during your initial inspection can lead to squabbles when you return the ride," Anapliotis cautions. "Customers have gotten stung for scratches and dents they couldn't possibly have spotted during a nighttime pickup."
Renters should whip out their phone's flashlight for a thorough inspection, snapping detailed pics and vids of the interior and exterior and time-stamping them, advises the CEO.
Anapliotis' concluding counsel? "My suggestion for travelers is succinct: Whenever possible, schedule your flights to land during regular work hours. If that's not an option, plump for a rental company with a proven track record for dependable late-night service, even if it nicks your wallet a bit. The peace of mind is worth it, especially when you're someplace unfamiliar late at night."
- "Late-night car rentals may seem stylish, but they come wrapped in hazards that vacationers don't consider until they're stranded," warns Harry Anapliotis, CEO of Rental Center Crete, emphasizing the potential problems associated with late-night travel and car rentals.
- To avoid problems when renting a car during nighttime, a good strategy is to call the rental company a day before takeoff to double-check the booking and vehicle class, while also scheduling flights to land during regular work hours, as suggested by Anapliotis, for a more dependable service experience.
