Car Hire Pick Up P4

[TomUK]

We arrive 12 noon on a Sunday so hopefully it will be fairly quiet. Also a Sunday morning return at 11 a.m. Last September we were on the same day and times and we breezed through, so fingers crossed!

[PTBUXTON]

Yes, you just take a ticket at the barrier. I parked I front of the hut/ cabin in P4, the car park is nearly empty

Pretty much the same when we arrived and departed at Easter, you could count the cars on one hand that occupied the parking slots.

[Aldo]

We use Travel rent and no issues on collecting. The car was parked in P1. As with everyting Portuguese, its just more expensive for the tourist!
€15 tax to ANA plus the Transponder €20 which both have to be paid in cash.
Returning on 4th but do not anticipate any issues.

[smudger]

We have used same company for years. Last 2 visits (March and April, 2 cars second visit) we were treated to the new collect/return system. Wasn't too comfortable with March hire procedures, slight differences (improvements) with April hire procedures but still not as quick as pre-new system. Also for first time felt uncomfortable about the return procedures, even for an after 9am return.
And I expect responses "change supplier", but had a disgraceful experience with another hire company so go with "the devil you know...."
Just saying.

[Satsuma]

Just an update after from our visit. We booked car hire with Drive 4 Fun through Economy Car rentals. Collection was as normal for us at P4 greenhouse & our car was waiting. Hardly any cars in P4 car park so felt quite privileged even if we did pay 15 euros for the privilege!
A lot of other people from different companies were being told to wait & their car would arrive shortly (it looked like the cars were coming into P1). Not sure if these people had to pay their 15 euros as wouldn't have thought the car hire companies were being charged by ANA if they weren't using P4. Not sure how long these people's wait was.

The lady from Drive 4 Fun told us to take a ticket at the barrier on exit, obtain one on return, & then leave both tickets & the car keys in the glove box. No one checked for damage, fuel level etc. even though it was late morning.

It all went quite to plan for us but on the way back there were problems with the P4 barrier which wouldn't open for anyone. This led to quite a tail back with people trying to reverse out & we had to wait for about 10 minutes to get in. Not sure of the reasons for this but a lady in a high vis jacket seemed to give the barrier ticket machine a few hits & did something to the ticket bit & then we were slowly in. I was getting a bit concerned due to time but it all worked out okay in the end. I'm sure there would have been a very big queue & some panicky people though if this was in the busier season.

Just as a side line, we only had hand luggage but for the first time ever we had to queue at the back of the check in desks for about 10 minutes to even get to security. Once at security it flowed pretty good but with the two slight hold ups it was a quick run around duty free & then our gate was up. Wouldn't really like to cut it much finer!

[TomUK]

So - another company, another different procedure. Take a ticket at the exit barrier and take another on return. Some have said car hire rep goes to exit barrier and lets you out.
I have seen the entry barrier problems often. What sometimes happens is drivers miss the markings on the road where you have to wait a set distance away from the barrier. This often happens when a drivers travels too close to the car in front. When the prceeding car goes through, the second car is too close to the barrier and nothing happens. Ok if nothing is behind them, because if you reverse about 6 feet and move forward again it usually operates.
This of course was common when the sensor on the barrier was a number plate recognition system. Perhaps this has been disabled now, as everyone seems to be driving up and taking a ticket at the barrier to raise the bar.
Be interesting to see which system we get with YOR on Sunday.

[Aldo]

Interesting observation from satsuma regaring pick up at P1
We used Travel Rent and the process was very efficient both on pick up and return. Used P4 kiosk as normal then collected from P1 just across the way
€15 was charged but as satsuma pointed out - why?

[sam]

I book through Economy Car hire and use Lagorent. They used to be based at P4, but now have a small site off the in road to the airport. I was met at the airport and taken to the site minutes away. So no charge for use of P4. Returned the car to their site and was driven in the car straight up the airport and dropped of at departures. All very simple and civilised. Additionally, the car is fitted with a transponder and if you use the motorway the charge is only the tolls plus 5euros admin charge. If you don't use the motorway there is no charge. I highly recommend them.

[TomUK]

Arrived last Sunday (10th). Used YOR Rentals as usual. Airport and car parks very quiet. As expected it is now necessary to go into the office/cabin. There are several firms using the long counter. The lady and gent from YOR had the end position. Signed up and paid. Car was just behind the cabin, across the road in P1. Car was pointed out to me and the exit barrier also indicated (which is of course in a different place than the P4 exit).
The guy told me to approach the barrier and take a ticket to raise the exit barrier. However, as I approached the barrier to take a ticket from the machine, it automatically rose anyway without the need to take a ticket. I noticed whilst driving through, that a sticker on the machine stated 'number plate recognition' which is how it's always had been.
My instructions for returning the car are that I have to enter by the P4 barrier as previous visits. I was told that this barrier still recognises the car's number plate and rises automatically. I have to park the car as near to the cabin as possible and report to the rep.
I was charged €15 for the airport subsidy, and I opted for the €20 transponder charge, which is €5 for transponder hire and €15 to use for the A55 tolls.
Interestingly, the first toll gantry I passed under after leaving the airport (85 cents) didn't cause any 'bleep' from the transponder, so I'm not sure whether the gantry was out of order and not charging the toll. It wasn't a transponder fault, because it bleeped on passing all other gantries.

[Geoff]

We used Discovery for a change ( cheaper than TravelRent for once). Pick up was fine, went to the P4 box though collected car from P1.
When we brought it back, we were told to go to P1 again but use the Via Verde button : no ticket. No Discovery agent at 0800 either, so had to ring them : they came after 10 minutes or so and said I could have just left the car unlocked with keys on the sun visor!

Wouldn't have felt happy doing that : who would have been responsible if it had been stolen?

Anyway, fortunately still had plenty of time, good job as Security queues were horrendous at 0830 yesterday!

[widge]

Arrived last Sunday (10th). Used YOR Rentals as usual. Airport and car parks very quiet. As expected it is now necessary to go into the office/cabin. There are several firms using the long counter. The lady and gent from YOR had the end position. Signed up and paid. Car was just behind the cabin, across the road in P1. Car was pointed out to me and the exit barrier also indicated (which is of course in a different place than the P4 exit).
The guy told me to approach the barrier and take a ticket to raise the exit barrier. However, as I approached the barrier to take a ticket from the machine, it automatically rose anyway without the need to take a ticket. I noticed whilst driving through, that a sticker on the machine stated 'number plate recognition' which is how it's always had been.
My instructions for returning the car are that I have to enter by the P4 barrier as previous visits. I was told that this barrier still recognises the car's number plate and rises automatically. I have to park the car as near to the cabin as possible and report to the rep.
I was charged €15 for the airport subsidy, and I opted for the €20 transponder charge, which is €5 for transponder hire and €15 to use for the A55 tolls.
Interestingly, the first toll gantry I passed under after leaving the airport (85 cents) didn't cause any 'bleep' from the transponder, so I'm not sure whether the gantry was out of order and not charging the toll. It wasn't a transponder fault, because it bleeped on passing all other gantries.

I had a similar experience TomUK, transponder seemed to have a mind of it's own bleeping at will - if I get a silly bill for tolls I will update you !

[Bruce Wallis]

Dont hold your breath waiting for an unpaid Toll bill. I just received one dated July 2012

[Geoff]

I just received one dated July 2012

Was that for your own car Bruce, or a hired one?

[TomUK]

After that one initial incident Widge, the transponder has worked perfectly. Been to the western end of the A22 and back, plus a couple of shorter stretches, and it's reacted at every gantry. Used €11 of my €15 so far, so hopefully there will be no glitches with the final total.

[lincdoc]

Picked car up from P4 with Drive4Fun this am. No problems, no queue and thanks to previous posts was aware of extra charge. Daughter coming out in a few weeks and I think she might hire "off airport" as the fee is worth a meal for her and boyfriend