Quick Summary
- Learn why queues form at rental counters and which times of day tend to be busiest.
- Pick a collection time that fits your flight while building in a realistic buffer for arrivals.
- Use Hola Car Rentals benefits and smart preparation to spend more time driving and less time waiting.
What actually creates long lines at rental counters?
Long queues at airport rental desks rarely happen by accident. They tend to form when several full flights arrive within a short window, when staffing is stretched or when many travellers reach the counter without the correct documents or payment cards. Holiday weekends, school breaks and big conventions can all turn an otherwise calm mid morning into a bottleneck at the keys rack.
Understanding those patterns makes it easier to plan around them. If your arrival coincides with a bank of transatlantic flights or a wave of domestic services from major hubs, you can expect the desks to be busier. By contrast, midweek midday arrivals outside peak seasons are often quieter, especially at airports that see heavy weekend leisure traffic such as Orlando or Las Vegas.
Choosing a pickup time around your flight
When you book, you usually choose a specific collection time rather than simply saying that you will arrive some time in the afternoon. As a rule of thumb it is sensible to allow at least half an hour after your scheduled landing for immigration, baggage claim and the walk to the rental area at a familiar airport, and longer if you need to clear passport control or cross to a separate transport centre.
Setting your pickup time a little later than your scheduled landing will not normally cause problems if you arrive early, because staff are used to some variation and will usually hand over the vehicle as soon as it is ready. Most of the time your booking with Hola Car Rentals partners is linked to your flight rather than the exact minute on your voucher, but it is wise to contact support if a major delay changes your arrival to the middle of the night.
For airport specific ideas, you can even use an Orlando airport timing guide to think through when queues build up at a busy family destination and then apply the same principles at other hubs.
Morning, afternoon or evening: which is best?
Every airport has its own rush hours, but some broad patterns repeat. Early morning can be crowded with people collecting vehicles before conferences or long drives, while mid to late evening often sees a cluster of arrivals from long haul flights. Mid morning or early afternoon on a weekday is often calmer, especially outside major holidays, giving cleaning teams time to turn vehicles round between waves.
If you have flexibility, aim for a slot that avoids obvious peaks such as Friday evenings, Sunday afternoons at leisure airports and the first Monday of popular conference weeks. At some gateways it is also worth looking at the average arrival times of your airline and adjusting your collection time slightly so that you miss the biggest crowds by twenty or thirty minutes. When your plans include theme parks and resort hotels, a well timed car hire booking can mean you reach the pool while others are still queuing at the counter.
Other ways to cut waiting time
Time of day is only one part of the queuing puzzle. You can also save time by completing online check in steps where offered, making sure the lead driver has a valid licence and payment card in their own name and keeping confirmation emails handy for quick reference. Having a clear plan for optional extras such as child seats also speeds things up, because you will not be deciding at the desk.
If your flight lands late in winter or during a snowstorm, look for airports with well organised collection areas so you can move quickly from desk to car. For example, arranging pick up at Denver airport arrivals makes it easier to head straight for the motorway into the Rockies once you have your keys. Late evening fliers to Nevada might prefer a smooth handover at Las Vegas airport collection zones, while New York visitors can plan arrivals and departures around JFK terminal pick up times to avoid the worst of the crowds.
How Hola Car Rentals helps keep queues manageable
Hola Car Rentals focuses on making the handover process as predictable as possible. Clear pre trip information about documents, deposits and inclusions means you can arrive at the desk ready to start the paperwork straight away. All Inclusive+ rates with maximum coverage, free travel insurance up to US$150,000 on selected itineraries and maximum liability coverage of up to US$300,000 on selected itineraries remove the need to negotiate complicated insurance add ons at the counter.
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick up also lets you adjust collection times if your airline reschedules flights or you decide to travel a day earlier to enjoy the destination. Combine that flexibility with sensible timing and you greatly increase your chances of walking past a line of tired travellers and heading straight out onto the open road.
FAQs
- What happens if my flight is delayed and I miss my pickup time? If your booking includes your flight details, staff usually expect some variation in arrival time. For very long delays it is still best to contact customer service so the local office knows you are on your way and can hold or reassign the vehicle if needed.
- Are city locations quieter than airport desks? City centre branches can be calmer outside commuter peaks, but they may have shorter opening hours and fewer vehicles. Airports offer more choice and longer hours but can be busier when several flights land together.
- How early should I arrive before my scheduled pickup? Reaching the desk a little before the time on your voucher is usually fine as long as your car has been returned and cleaned. There is no need to arrive hours in advance, but do allow enough time to check documents and inspect the vehicle without rushing.
- Can I change my pickup time after booking? In many cases you can amend collection times before the start of the rental, although availability will depend on local stock and opening hours. With Hola Car Rentals you also benefit from free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick up on many rates, so you can rebook a time that suits your revised plans.
