Common Airline Fees To Avoid
Airlines continue to add on fees for services and other common features when flying in an effort to generate extra revenue wherever they can. At E-Z Rent-A-Car we strive to help you get the best value for your discount rental car, and many of our customers travel by air first, so we want to help you save the most money possible! Here are some common fees when flying that you can avoid.
Checked Baggage
Many airlines now charge $25 for each checked bag EACH way. For a family of four, that can add up to $200 per trip! This is unfortunate, because some long trips require people to pack a larger bag. If you’re on a longer trip, try to call your hotel or whoever you’re staying with and see if you can do laundry while you are there.
How To Avoid It: The easiest way to avoid this fee is to pack light. You’ll be helping the environment by making the plane lighter, and you’ll have a more enjoyable trip without lugging around a ton of baggage. Another easy way to avoid this fee is to fly with Southwest or JetBlue. They both offer one free checked bag per traveler. Delta is also offering one free checked bag for SkyMiles gold car members.
Food and Drinks
In the early days of flying, it was customary to receive a light meal or snack on trips longer than an hour. Now, you’re lucky to get a pack of peanuts. Many airlines still offer a complimentary non-alcoholic drink, but hardly any of them offer free food. JetBlue offers good snacks for free, but you’re on your own for most other airlines.
How To Avoid It: Pack snacks with you. You won’t be able to get drinks through security (which is why airlines still offer drinks for free), but any kind of dry snack or even a sandwich should make it through security and hold you over if you have a longer flight. You can also try to eat right before you get on the flight, but make sure it’s not too heavy of a meal. As we all know, the airplane bathrooms are not very comfortable!
Reserved Seating
I was buying tickets on AirTran the other day, and I was shocked to see that they charged $6 for every seat that you reserved, and exit rows were $20 to reserve. This is the epitome of tacking on extra fees to gain more revenue.
How To Avoid It: The only way to avoid it is by not reserving a seat and getting to the airport earlier than normal so you can reserve seats at the counter. Also, some frequent flyers get priority seating for free, depending on the airline.
Watch out for fees from extreme discount airline companies. Companies like Allegiant Air will sometimes offer $10 and $20 flights one way, but they’ll charge you $15 to book it online, they’ll charge for seating reservations, checked bags, and they might even charge for a non-alcoholic drink.
Tags: airline fees, airtran, checked baggage fees, how to avoid airline fees, southwest air
Your Guide To The Best Summer Road Trip Ever
There’s nothing better than doing a summer road trip and exploring everything that the great country of the United States has to offer. Ever since cars have become more reliable and stable to travel long distances, road trips have been a great American tradition. At E-Z Rent-A-Car, we know that many of you still love to travel by car and take road trips, but you might not have a car that you trust on the open road. You should consider renting one of our discount rental cars for your trip. If you want to have the best road trip possible, then follow these tips below:
Maintenance
- Check your tire pressure – This will help keep you safe and prevent your tires from blowing out while on the road, and it helps with fuel efficiency.
- Check your fluids – Now is a good time to check your fluids and top off any that are low such as windshield wiper fluid, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steerin, and coolant.
- Have your brakes checked – Your brakes are obviously essential to your safety, so have them looked at by a mechanic before leaving for the road trip.
- Oil Change and Tire Rotation – It’d be a good idea to have this done even if it has a few miles before it needs to be done.
Saving Money
- Pack snacks, sandwiches, and drinks with you – You won’t need to stop as much, you’ll probably eat healthier, and you’ll save money!
- Use GasBuddy.com – Before you leave, map out your route and check which areas have the cheapest gas using Gas Buddy.
- Bring a GPS or phone with GPS with you – you’ll save time and money if you’re able to create your own detour when you run into road construction or an accident.
Having Fun
- Bring games with you – Being on the road can get tedious, so make sure you’ve got plenty of stuff to do IN the car.
- Burn some mix CD’s or create custom iTunes playlists – I like having fun with these like creating a list of old-school songs from your childhood or good dance music.
- Make some unexpected stops along the way – Being spontaneous during your road trip can be one of the most fun and memorable parts of your road trip.
Got any other suggestions to have the best road trip ever? Let us know! Be safe on the road this summer!
Tags: best summer road trip, discount car rental, road trip, road trip maintenance, save money road trip
Free Attractions and Things To Do in Atlanta
If you’re like me, then you love FREE stuff. My motto is always, “If it’s FREE, it’s or ME”. Atlanta has a lot of great cultural, historical, and educational things to do for free if you’re visiting on business or for vacation. Obviously, Atlanta’s rich history and instrumental role of civil rights and Martin Luther King, Jr. play a big role in the city and its historical sites. Here are some great attractions to check out for FREE.
1. MLK Jr. Historical Site – Encompassing nearly 35 acres, the free Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic Site is comprised of historic landmarks as well as modern-day monuments and facilities. At this free-parking, no-fee attraction, take a journey through the historical struggles of the South as well as the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visitors can see Dr. King’s original gravesite and current tomb. Take a tour of his boyhood home, Ebenezer Baptist Church and historic Fire Station No. 6 – one of the South’s first desegregated fire houses, which now serves the community with free exhibits. This is truly a great thing to do, and the history behind it is like no other. Admission is completely free, but donations are always welcome.
2. Centennial Park – This is the park constructed for the 1996 Summer Olympic games, and it remains a great place to hang out, have fun outside, and enjoy warm Southern weather! On Wednesday nights from 5:30 to 8pm from April to September, you might find some great live music including live reggae and jazz!
3. The Governor’s Mansion – Treat yourself to TRUE Southern hospitality, and take a tour of the Governor’s mansion. You’ll get to see how the governor lives and learn the rich history of the great state of Georgia, the last colony of the 13 original colonies!
4. Atlantic Station – If you’re just looking for a cool place to hang out, grab a bite to eat, or window shop, this is the place for you! Atlantic Station’s retail/entertainment district opened in October 2005. It counts a number of well-known names among its tenants, including Dillard’s, Banana Republic, IKEA, Old Navy, Pier 1 Imports, Gap, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Ann Taylor and Victoria’s Secret. Atlantic Station in Atlanta is also home to a variety of fine restaurants and casual eateries offering everything from pizza to sushi to strip steaks. You’ll also find a great Regal movie theater here.
About E-Z Rent-A-Car
If you’re flying into Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, consider checking out our great discount rental car rates! We’re now in-terminal at their new rental car center, so it’s very convenient to get off the plane and be shuttled to our facility to pick up your car.
Tags: atlanta airport car rental, free attractions Atlanta, free things to do Atlanta, in-terminal location in Atlanta
E-Z Customers Share Their Summer Vacation Dream Destinations!
This photo was submitted by Wayne, and it is off the coast of Bora Bora. I couldn’t agree more with Wayne about this being a DREAM destination. I would love to take my wife to Bora Bora for our 10 year anniversary. We’re coming up to 5, so I think I could save up enough cash in 5 years!
The Santa Monica Pier is one of my favorite places to visit in Los Angeles. You get a nostalgic feel like you’re in the 1950′s, and this is the way the United States used to be. It’s an iconic American pier, and it may not be a DREAM vacation, but if you’ve never visited Southern California, the weather feels like a dream most of the year! If you’re flying into Los Angeles International Airport, consider checking out our rates at our in-terminal discount car rental facility.
You may not think of Antarctica being a DREAM destination, but one of our E-Z Rent-A-Car customers thinks it is! I’ve heard that cruises to Antarctica are beautiful, and when you think about it, there’s something very mysterious and majestic about one of our largest continents.
Hawaii is always a popular favorite when thinking of a dream vacation. The weather is always great, there’s plenty of stuff to do, and there’s world-class resorts to pamper you. What more could you ask for? This E-Z Facebook fan posted a photo of Waikiki with beautiful mountains in the background.
Egypt is one of the most historical countries in the world. It could be the location of one of the first civilizations on our planet. Egyptian architecture is amazing and the pyramids and Sphinx are something that everyone should get to see before they die. Egypt makes for a GREAT dream vacation destination.
So, what’s your DREAM vacation destination? Post a photo on our Facebook page depicting it, and you’ll be entered to win a $50 AMEX gift card as part of our Summer Kick-Off giveaways!
Tags: $50 AMEX gift card giveaway, dream vacation destination, Facebook giveaway, summer destination
Mexico Affiliate Adds Two New Locations in Mexico City and Monterrey
Our affiliate in Mexico, Cars Plus, has recently added two NEW locations in Mexico. They are located in Mexico City and beautiful Monterrey. For those of you that travel to Mexico frequently or have friends/family in those cities, this allows you more options for renting a car when in those cities. Cars Plus is not owned by E-Z Rent-A-Car, but we help them process bookings and we fully trust that they will provide exceptional customer service and discount prices on rental cars!
Mexico City
This location does not participate in E-Z Money. To get to the agency from your airplane, exit the terminal and head towards the area for the car rental shuttle and look up for your E-Z Rent-A-Car representative. Take the car rental shuttle to the car rental facility. E-Z Rent-A-Car is located 5 minutes from Mexico City Airport.
For further assistance or directions, please call locally at 01800 216 7700. To book a reservation there, visit their page on our site.
Monterrey
If you’re visiting beautiful Monterrey, Mexico, you’ll find great rates at our affiliate location located conveniently near the Monterrey airport. This location does not participate in E-Z Money. Exit the terminal and head towards the area for the car rental shuttle and look up for your E-Z Rent-A-Car representative. Take the car rental shuttle to the car rental facility. E-Z Rent-A-Car is located 5 minutes from Monterrey Airport. Call toll free at 01 800 216 7700.
Book a discount car rental reservation in Monterrey right now.
Tags: cheap rental car Mexico, discount rental car, Mexico City rental car, Monterrey rental car, new affiliate locations, rent car Mexico
Giving Away $50 AMEX Gift Cards on Facebook!
The kids are getting out of school, the weather is turning drastically warmer, and baseball is in full swing, which means that summer is here! Many of you are getting ready for your upcoming summer vacation trips, and we want to help you with your traveling budget! E-Z Rent-A-Car is giving away (4) $50 AMEX gift cards over the next four weeks! All you need to do is become a fan of our Facebook page and either submit a photo of your dream summer vacation destination or a photo of you in one of the cities where our rental agencies are located. So, what are you waiting for? Get over to our Facebook page, and post a photo on our wall! You could be a lucky winner for one of our $50 AMEX gift cards!
Here are the official giveaway rules:
ELIGIBILITY
This sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the United States, 18 or older. This sweepstakes is not open to employees and their immediate families/households of E-Z Rent-A-Car, Inc, or anyone involved with the production of this sweepstakes. Void where prohibited and subject to all federal, state and local laws.
HOW TO ENTER
No purchase is necessary to enter the sweepstakes. To enter, become a fan of the official Facebook fan page. Once you’ve “liked” the page, go to the Facebook page and submit a photo on our wall of either your dream summer destination or a photo of you at one of the many cities where we are located! Only one entry will be permitted per household. If a participant enters the giveaway and does not win the weekly drawing, he or she will be automatically entered into the subsequent weekly drawing.
AMEX GIFT CARD
The winner of each weekly drawing will receive one (1) AMEX gift card in the amount of $50.00. The value of this prize is explicit dependent on the face value of the gift cards. The gift card and AMEX name are the property of American Express. The odds depend on the number of entries received. This prize cannot be transferred or otherwise substituted.
CONDITIONS
Upon entering the giveaway, you are agreeing to the posted official rules found herein and the decisions made by the judges. Submissions will be considered void if incompleted or erroneous. E-Z Rent-A-Car holds no responsibility for lost, late, stolen or untransmitted submissions, or any damage to any computer resulting from participating in this giveaway. The person whose Facebook profile is used to signup for E-Z Money will be deemed the official entrant for this giveaway. If E-Z Rent-A-Car determines or suspects that any tampering to the integrity of the data received has occurred, E-Z Rent-A-Car reserves the right to terminate the giveaway and hold a random drawing of received entrants to that point. Taxes on the prize are the responsibility of the winner. If the giveaway is modified, terminated or otherwise changed, a notice will be placed on the official Facebook fan page. Winners may be required to respond to the notificiation email within seven (7) days and failure to do so could result in disqualification and selection of a new winner.
SELECTION OF WINNER
One winner will be selected on June 9th, 2010, June 16th, 2010, June 23rd, 2010, June 30th, 2010, and July 7th, 2010 at 5pm. Entries for the weekly drawing will be accepted up until 4:30pm. Any entries received after 4:30pm on the day of the giveaway will be placed into the subsequent week’s drawing or they will not count if submitted after 4:30pm on July 7th, 2010. Winner will be notified via a Facebook message or email on the day of the drawing.
LIST OF WINNER(s)
Visit the official Facebook fan page of E-Z Rent-A-Car for a list of winners.
Tags: AMEX gift card giveaway, discount rental car, e-z facebook page, Facebook giveaway
Airfare For Flights Will Increase 22% This Summer
According to Bing Travel, they estimate that that airfare will increase by 22% this summer. The average domestic flight will cost around $303 per ticket, so that’s $1,200 just for a family of four! If this estimation is true and with many families still recovering from lost jobs and reduced salaries, more families will be traveling on the road this summer. But, if you still choose to fly this summer, here are some quick tips to help you save on airfare.
Have you considered renting a car for your road trip?
Some families have older cars that they don’t trust to take on the open road or they may not have a larger SUV or van to transport their big family all at once to a summer vacation spot. Renting a car for a few days can help you have peace of mind, keep your family safe, and possibly help you save on gas mileage if you choose a car that’s more fuel efficient than the car you own. You can choose a discount rental car from one of our corporate or affiliate locations around the world.
Finding the Cheapest Gas on Your Road Trip
If airfare is just too expensive this summer, and you choose a road trip, some gas stations have significantly lower gas and the location of the gas station often matters, because city and county taxes differ. Also, if you’re traveling between states, you may want to check if the other state has cheaper gas. GasBuddy.com is a great website (and there’s an iPhone and Android App) that you can use to find the cheapest gas in your area or along the way on your trip.
So, will the increase in airfare this summer cause you to take it to the road? Would renting a car be a good option for you?
Tags: airfare increasing, discount rental car, E-Z Rent-A-Car, E-Z Rent-A-Car cheap rental car, gas buddy, summer airfare
Avoid Checked Baggage Fee With Delta SkyMiles Credit Card
If you’ve been flying lately, then you’ve noticed that the price of your airline ticket is not the only expenses you’ll have when flying. To cut down on expenses and avoid bankruptcy, many airlines have started charging for checked baggage, in-flight meals, and entertainment. Some airlines like Southwest and JetBlue do not charge for the first checked bag, but you can often find better rates and more flight time options on some of the other larger airline companies such as Delta, US Air, and United. However, many of these airlines are charging $25 per checked bag, each way. For a family of four, this could add up to $200 per trip! Here’s a way to avoid those checked bag fees for Delta.
At the beginning of the year, we announced that we were partnering with Delta airlines and their SkyMiles program to offer 200 SkyMiles per day for every day you rent a car with E-Z Rent-A-Car. We’re really excited to be partnered with a loyalty program that so many people use. Delta recently announced that they would start offering 1 free checked bag per family member if you carry a Gold, Platinum, or Reserve American Express SkyMiles card. That’s a pretty sweet perk considering the cost of checking a bag nowadays.
Here are the terms of the deal:
There isn’t much of a catch with this deal. If you have one of the three eligible SkyMiles cards from American Express, and you need to check one bag, you won’t have to pay any extra for it.
As an added bonus, you can apply the benefit to up to nine members of your traveling party. On any one flight, you could save up to $100 for a family of four. Oversized and overweight baggage charges do still apply.
So if you’re one of those people who likes to rack up credit card rewards and pay off the balance at the end of the month for your travels, this is a great card to hold, because it gives you an immediate reward of a free checked bag!
Tags: Delta SkyMiles credit card, Delta SkyMiles partnership, free checked bag
Important Links and Information For The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport
If you’ve ever been to the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, it only took one visit to realize that it really is one of the busiest airports in the world. Because of its central location, it is one of the most common connection airports in the United States and the world. Over 250,000 people per day fly in and out of this airport, and this can make it a very confusing and frustrating experience if you’re not used to going through big airports. Here are some important links and information for you to have when planning your trip to Atlanta.
Flight Information
If you need to track a flight or make sure a flight is on schedule, click here. Flights are delayed and cancelled all the time in Atlanta, so it’s good to be prepared and check your flight or the flight of someone you are picking up before you visit the airport.
TSA Security
You’ll find some quick tips here for getting through security quickly and efficiently, plus there’s a tracker that estimates the wait times at the security checkpoints so you have an idea of how much time you need to allow to get through security and make your flight.
Click here for a list of prohibited carry-on items
Rental Car Center
This newly opened rental car facility is on the airport property, and it’s just a short sky train ride away. Here’s the link for all of the information regarding the new rental car facility where you’ll find discount rental cars from E-Z Rent-A-Car.
Terminal Maps
Go to this page for all of the terminal maps so you can be prepared once you get inside the airport and know where you’re going! All of the maps are downloadable so you can print them out and take them with you.
Wireless Internet
It’s not free in the Atlanta Airport, you’ll have to pay a fee, but you can access it virtually anywhere in the airport. All you do is click on your Wi-Fi network settings and connect to the ATL-WIFI SSID. Then, open up a web browser and a splash page will come up for the airport connection manager. You’ll have five options to connect:
- Boingo
- T-Mobile
- Advanced Wireless Group (AWG)
- AccessAnyplace
- Opti-Fi
Choose which one you want, pre-pay, and you’re ready to go. This may be worth it to a business traveler who has a long layover, which is common when connecting at this airport.
Pet Assistance
To accommodate passengers’ pets and guide dogs, Hartsfield-Jackson has a Poochie Park located on the lower level of Terminal North outside door LN2 to the right of the building. Owners can take animals to this grassy area and allow pets to relieve themselves. Contact your airlines directly for specific directions and guidelines for transporting pets with you.
Tags: atlanta airport car rental, Atlanta Airport information, Atlanta airport links, cheap car rental, discount car rental, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport
Best Disney Resorts in Orlando, Florida
The Grand Floridian
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a Victorian-style Disney Deluxe Resort distinguished as the flagship hotel of Walt Disney World Resort and offering world-class dining, entertainment and luxurious accommodations in its 6 striking red-gabled buildings. This magnificent hotel sits along the white-sand shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. This is THE premier hotels on the the Disney World property, and if you want a truly magical experience during your vacation in Orlando, this is the place to stay. The price ranges from $200 to $400 a night, depending on the season, but it’s well worth it.
The Fort Wilderness Lodge
You won’t be doing any roughing it in this lodge! Fort Wilderness is one of the first resort and campgrounds areas built when Disney World was built, and it continues to be one of the most popular places to stay at Disney in Orlando. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, inspired by the Great American Northwest National Park lodges from the turn of the 20th century, is an architecturally grand Disney Deluxe Resort hotel honoring American craftsmanship and artistry, and celebrating the majesty of the unspoiled wilderness. The theme of being in harmony with nature winds through the lodge—inside and out. Authentic decor and genuine artifacts pay homage to ancient Native American cultures and the pioneering spirit of early American explorers.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort: The white sandy beaches and large water slide complex of Disney’s Beach Club are situated on a lake adjacent to the Epcot theme park. Disney’s Beach Club has a more casual decor than its sister resort, Disney’s Yacht Club. You’ll also spend less!
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
The Disney Boardwalk is often overshadowed by Downtown Disney as a place to hang out, but it’s definitely a diamond in the rough on the Disney property. The Boardwalk is a destination all to itself, with restaurants, clubs, midway games and a great view. The pool is themed to a 1930s Atlantic seacoast resort, with a roller coaster-style water slide ending in a giant clown face. There is also a carousel pool bar and whimsical elephant fountains. A boat ferries guests to nearby Epcot and MGM theme parks. You’ll love hanging out at the ESPN club, the piano bar, and other fine dining restaurants.
E-Z Rent-A-Car is dedicated to helping you get where you need to go in Orlando. We have hundreds of discount rental cars, and our largest fleet is located in the Orlando International Airport. If you’re traveling to Disney or other attractions in Orlando, we’re conveniently located in-terminal at the airport.
Tags: cheap rental cars, disney resorts hotels, Orlando Discount Car Rental, orlando disney hotels, Orlando hotels, traveling orlando, visit orlando