Car Rental Return -- DCA

[Mark in CA]

I'm picking up a rental car at DCA next month, but won't be arriving on a flight. Rather, my daughter will be dropping me off there at the Terminal A Garage, which houses several car rental companies. There appears to be a Terminal Garage A/Rental Car shuttle bus stop the.

Does anyone know if this will work, logistically? If she simply follows the signs for rental car return, will that take her to the proper entrance for this? Will there be a place where she can stop her car and let me out without getting into any sort of awkward situation?

Thanks.

[PAXboy]

I have not done that at DCA but at other places and it's fine - they want the money! Usually, when booking an airport location they want a flight number which you may be able to skip or just put in a suitable one that is arriving 30 mins before you expect to collect.

[Thatsthewaytodoit]

I did exactly that last September at DCA, no need to go to the Terminal Area simple drive to the off-airport garage.

I used Dollar and their website gives an accurate map of the site

I think I left the flight number blank.

Hope this helps

[LFT]

Get her to drop you off at the kerb at Departures, the Car Hire 'Lot' is directly across from the Terminal, the main one, but you might need to go upstairs and cross using the covered walkway.

[Mark in CA]

I did exactly that last September at DCA, no need to go to the Terminal Area simple drive to the off-airport garage.

I used Dollar and their website gives an accurate map of the site

I think I left the flight number blank.

Hope this helps

That's what I initially thought, as I, too have done this before at DCA. But now it seems Dollar's off-premises garage is no more and the Dollar facility now is on the airport grounds in the Terminal A Garage, along with several other rental companies, similar to what they did years ago at SFO.

[Mark in CA]

Get her to drop you off at the kerb at Departures, the Car Hire 'Lot' is directly across from the Terminal, the main one, but you might need to go upstairs and cross using the covered walkway.

Thanks. Didn't realize it's that close. On the other hand, it appears there is a shuttle bus that can let you off at the car rental facility main floor, which I've read is there the rental counters are located, with the cars for pickup on higher floors. And so I'm thinking that if there's a place for the shuttle bus to let you off, I should be able to use that, too, to be dropped off by car.

[Mark in CA]

I have not done that at DCA but at other places and it's fine - they want the money! Usually, when booking an airport location they want a flight number which you may be able to skip or just put in a suitable one that is arriving 30 mins before you expect to collect.

Didn't have to provide a flight number for this reservation, which, by the way, is pre-paid, or even an airline.