How to Make a Cheap Car Reservation-Secrets of a Pro

How to make a cheap car reservation for summer travel...Isn't that what you truly want to know? All, the secrets from a pro. Well, I used to book cars for Alamo-National, and I know all the secrets. Sorry there are no "real secrets" just common sense when it comes to making an inexpensive car reservation.

First rule, of thumb is the economic law of supply, and demand. When supply remains constant, increasing consumer demand will drive up the price. When demand remains constant, more supply will drive down the price. And of course, vice versa.

In other words, the first secret to a cheap car reservation is to make your reservation early, early, early! When I mean early, I mean 2 years early, if possible, or at least one year early. Two years early is about all Alamo will let you make it anyway. So if you know you are going to Hawaii two summers from now, make your reservation today!

Even if you want to go to the Phoenix FBR Open, the prestigious golf tournament, when it occurs in the first week in February, when you know demand will be through the roof, you can get a cheap price. That is if you make the reservation 2 years early, ahead of the pack. You can even get a full size car for a good price. Forget about luxury cars; however, they won't let you book that far in advance. If you are worried about the reservation disappearing relax. I have never seen a reservation disappear in the computer system, but if it makes you feel better call in every 6 months, or so, and make sure it's still operative.

I know you are worried what if my plans change by a day or so, 6 months from now? Well, make it today anyway. Keep in mind, however, that if you change the reservation 6 months from now to a day ahead or a day behind your originally scheduled pick up day, you will get a whole new reservation at a whole new higher rate. If I were you, I would keep the original cheap reservation, and make a whole new reservation for one day ahead, and then bring the car back after a day, and pick up a new car under the original reservation thus maintaining the original cheaper rate. And your one-day reservation can be at a competitor right next door, too. It's amazing how many of my customers never thought of that. See just common sense, no secrets.

The second secret, market rate fluctuates wildly, and often; prices will change, hour-to-hour, minute-to-minute, day-to-day. Just because you get a price quote today, doesn't mean when you call the reservation line tomorrow it will still be that price. Alamo's giant computer in the sky knows all things, at all times, such as how many people reserved a car for Florida during August, and how many people cancelled and how many cars they can park in their lots. If more people call in for those August days, in Ft. Lauderdale, the price will go up. Conversely, if there is a hurricane and all the cars in the supply chain are destroyed, well price will also go up. Or if a bunch of consumers spooked by a hurricane warning on the radio call in to cancel their reservation, prices will also drop. However, if the powers that be at Alamo decide to move cars around and purchase more cars, then supply will increase, and lo and behold prices may even drop! But be reasonable people; Alamo can only park so many cars in their lot.

The third secret is the economic reality of buying in bulk. I'm not talking about personally buying in bulk, as when I booked car reservations in 9 cities at one time, one right after each other for some traveling basketball NBA players. I'm talking about corporate discounts, travel agency discounts, Internet discounts, and consumer discounts. The major travel agencies such as American Express Travel, Carlson Wagenlit Travel, and others that you can find by the carload in your yellow pages negotiate their discounts because they purchase in bulk. Their contracts with Alamo are signed on a yearly basis, so if you make your car reservation two years in advance through American Express Travel you will only receive the market rate, not its lower negotiated contractual rate. Hey, I said there really were no secrets. You can't have it all, you know, Alamo needs to make a profit, and pay their employees.

The fourth secret is you should check all your consumer discounts, and choose the best one. I hope you get a real patient Reservation Agent. An agent by the way who is instructed to put a limit on this game, and only check 3 or 4 for you at a time. Some of these discounts set a certain price for a car in a certain city no matter what the free market is doing. Other discounts take a percentage off the going market rate that is fueled by supply, and demand. And no, you are not allowed more than one discount, at one time, silly goose.

Of course, it's silly to out there and join every association to get the discount, but hey, if you are a card carrying member anyway why shouldn't you use it? And yes, you need to show your membership card at the counter, when picking up your vehicle. Some of the more popular discounts include American Automobile Association, commonly known as AAA, The Entertainment Book, and various travel organizations. Even if you only belong to an off beat association, like American Dog Catchers of The United Front (I made that one up.); ask any way. You may be surprised.

So the fifth secret is to be nice, and polite to your Reservation Sales Agent. I never worked hard trying to find a good rate for a cranky, rude customer. And be polite with your travel agent also as she looks for discounts for you too. With the travel agents they can get you both the agency discount, and the association or corporate discount. Usually the travel agents are paid by the travel industry, but some are now charging consumers a small fee. Obviously, only go with an agent if the discount received offsets the small fee.

Number six, don't forget the corporate discounts. You are travelling on pleasure, not on business, you say? It won't matter as long as your company doesn't have direct billing to your corporate account, and of course you shouldn't put the charge on your corporate credit card either. Traveling on pleasure you can still get the buying in bulk discount, just bring a current pay stub to prove you work there. And yes you really do need to show it at the counter.

And of course, number seven is check the web, Alamo offers an incentive to book on the Internet, and cut out those exorbitantly paid Reservation Sales Agents. Just kidding, we didn't make that much over minimum wage. If you find a price on the Internet, and then call in to the reservation center at the toll free number 1-800-GO-ALAMO, asking for that price you won't get it as the agents can't even access the price. To get that price you must make the reservation on the web site you found it at. Also, check out the other travel websites too such as Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, and Cheap Tickets.

Okay, number eight is basically as common sense as you can get, bigger cars cost more, and there is less of them, as they take up more room in the parking lot. Also, people don't rent them as often, people are more willing, and able to pay more for them, and it cost the company more money to buy them. So the eight secret is always remember the company exists to make a profit. Rent economy, if you can; however, don't try to cram eight people into an economy car!

And lastly, an economy may not always be cheaper. Yes, I know, I know, I just contradicted myself. When you arrive at the counter, pretend you don't have a reservation, find out what the walk-up rate is on the least expensive car, and according to the most recent demand, economy may not be the cheapest. If the rate is cheaper than your reservation, take it. If not, say, oops, I forgot I have a reservation! After the agent brings up your reservation, see how much it would cost to upgrade to a bigger car, it may be worth it to you. Never, never, never book economy while counting on an upgrade to fit your whole traveling party in the car. I had customers do this, and regretted it. There may be no luxury, or full size cars left, or the price may be astronomical. Always reserve the smallest car that can seat you all comfortably, and then try for the upgrade.

So that concludes my secrets. Lucky you; you got them from a pro. Enjoy your summer travels!

Check out my other article in the travel section entitled, "How to Get a Rental Car When Everything is Sold Out." Just click on the supporting link below.