National Car Rental

I normally love renting with National but my last experience was not good. I didn’t know that my rental was by the mileage rather than the destination. No one told me this when I reserved my car or checked in to pick it up. I guess I should have read the fine print and I would’ve noticed it, But I did not notice it until I turned the car in. Needless to say I paid way more than I anticipated and probably would have rented elsewhere.

I had booked early morning for a vehicle rental through an online travel website. I had to take a taxi cab to the airport from our house to get the rental vehicle. I showed up and the lady at the front desk told me she tried to call me. I looked at my phone and had only put my cell phone number on the confirmation. I never received a call. They had no vehicles left because of the flooding in Texas, which I can understand completely, but an honest call or an honest email (both were provided on the booking information) would of saved me a wasted trip. I was disappointed. I went over to the Thrifty rental and they had a car but, charged me double what I had originally booked for through National Car Rental. It ended up being a disappointing and expensive day. As I was leaving, I saw National was helping two men get a car. So, obviously they had cars, but were saving them for specific people, so that was a lie also. I am pretty understanding, but this was just poor customer service and management. Being a military family at a base with no one to help you and being stranded at the airport with no options besides to pay double what you were expecting is pretty painful. I won’t ever use National again. They were paired with Enterprise also and he said he had nothing too. Poor business practice. I had to call the travel booking to get a refund issued. National never contacted them that they did not have a vehicle available and that I did not get a vehicle from them. Unreal.

Christine… oh Christine. Christine is what my bestie named the yellow Fiat that I was given when I arrived at Fort Hood Texas airport. If anyone remembers an old movie way back in 1983 about a killer car named Christine who has a mind of its own, then you would understand why this particular yellow Fiat was dubbed Christine. We just didn’t jive, and maybe it was because I judged the yellow Fiat right off the bat. I felt bad, but she had to be returned.
After bidding farewell to Christine, a silver Ford Focus took her place. Now this Ford Focus got us around Killeen and even to Waco for a Renaissance Fair. The Ford Focus was no Christine, but either way I enjoyed the opportunity to drive both cars.

After a looooooong night of work, my work rental car decides to strand me here in Killeen with smoke coming out of the hood and my acceleration no longer working. Needless to day I was not in the mood because I have been up since 10am the day before and it is now 830am the next day. So I call National’s roadside assistance and they assured me that a tow car is on its way and will take me to the National booth at the Killeen airport and get me swapped out quickly.
Come 3 hours later.
The tow truck finally gets to me.
When I walked up to the National booth the guy didn’t really acknowledge me, I had to greet him and explain what I needed. He gave me a confused look. I then vaguely remembered a name that the national roadside assistance told me the person they spoke with (Cassandra) and he just pointed to the Enterprise booth next door and she greeted me and told me that she’ll get it taking care of. I learned the Enterprise and National are the same owners, or rather Enterprise owned National (I think). Long frustrating day and story short, the service I had received from her and the other ladies at the booth were great. This is a small airport so there is no Emerald aisle service, the booth is at the end of the airport by the baggage claim. The rental cars are out the far door and to the right side. The one star off is because I got into two cars here and they both weren’t as clean as I am normally use to. There was some sort of a brown tobacco like pieces in the center console and goop in the cup holders, while the other had animal hair on the seats. However, They went out of their way to get me what I needed. Which is the reason for the high rating here. I am rating them on their service at the booth, not on the National Car rental level.