We rented a vehicle from Alaska Auto Rental during our trip to Fairbanks. Overall, the experience…read morewas good, but there were some issues with the pickup process that cost us over an hour of vacation time. Our vehicle was supposed to be waiting for us at our hotel, but when we arrived, there were two Alaska Auto Rental vehicles parked side by side--both Chevy Equinoxes, just different colors. Apparently, another customer accidentally took the vehicle assigned to us because the lockboxes used the same access code. As a result, we couldn't get into the vehicle listed on our contract and were left confused about which car was actually ours. To their credit, Alaska Auto Rental answered our call and sent someone out to help. After some investigation, we realized the other customer had taken our vehicle and we had been left with theirs. New contracts had to be issued for both rentals to correct the mix-up. The replacement vehicle had noticeable damage, including scratches down the side and a broken passenger-side mirror, but it otherwise drove well and met our needs. While the situation was frustrating, especially after traveling, the staff was helpful and worked to resolve the issue. Fortunately, we didn't have any tours or excursions scheduled that day, so the delay didn't impact our trip. I would rent from them again, but I hope they improve the vehicle pickup process to prevent similar confusion for future customers.

FOR PIKES LODGE LOCATION super close to the hotel…read more Around 2 staff i think. Warm inside has water and pamphlets. The staff was very chill and patiently answered all our questions, no hidden fees. Car usable and relatively new. It did keep mentioning oil changes. Rental was around $88/d including coverage, all awd, has chevy. The car play doesn't really work. Return was easy (just drop off key), they do have short hours of operation. The car includes scrapers and cord for heating.

Definitely a place I never thought I would visit, yet here we are…read more Very very small airport. As in one building small. Departures, arrivals, rental car companies, and baggage claim are all located in this one building. Hell, there's only six gates, which should tell you enough. There's one coffee shop, one restaurant, and one gift shop. Fairly easy to get in and out of the airport as it's just one road, although it can be tough if it's snowy outside!

Very tiny airport. 1 shopping mart, few kiosks, and a Starbucks. Surprisely, it wasnt very crowded…read more The airport was clean, and I didn't experience/see anyone being unruly. There's a nice view of the surrounding area from the windows.

Budget Car Rental Fairbanks: Extremely disappointing and honestly unsafe experience…read more We specifically reserved an all-wheel-drive SUV to handle snowy conditions in Alaska. What they did not tell us at pickup was that the vehicle had all-weather tires, not proper snow tires. Also I think one of the wheel slip sensors was having a problem. Every turn was slipping. Those differences mattered and we found out the hard way. We got stuck in the snow twice. The first time, a Good Samaritan helped dig and push us out. The second time, I had to call AAA for a tow truck to save us. while stuck there serving time, I contacted the rental office and spoke with someone named Rita. While I was explaining the situation, she kept asking repeatedly if the car was damaged (it wasn't), instead of addressing the actual problem. I mentioned the wheel slippage warning light flashing constantly, which didn't feel safe at all. She told me to call back in five minutes so she could arrange help, but also made it clear we would have to pay for it. Fine, whatever, we just needed help; it was getting cold and dark. We called back in five minutes... and she had already left for the day. No follow-up, no support. WTH. She just did that so she wouldn't have to deal with it. Can you believe that? Thankfully, my own AAA came through and got us out. When I returned the car the next day, I told the staff that a mechanic should check the car because of the constant warning light. The response? Total indifference. No concern whatsoever. Bottom line: this felt like a bait-and-switch on snow capability, put us in a genuinely unsafe situation, and came with poor customer service from start to finish. If you're traveling in winter conditions, I strongly recommend using a different rental company for your safety and peace of mind. Zero stars.

Customer service was unpleasant. Not sure if it was the manager who came out and inserted herself…read moreinto our conversation with another worker, but she came out of the back room with attitude. Did not introduce herself and had talked about nothing pertaining to our questions. We were already nervous to rent a car a drive in the snow, last thing we needed was horrible customer service from the staff. Here's a pic of her. They should do better.

Currently renting a vehicle from this location thanks to Avis rep and miracle worker Tabitha, who…read moremade several phone calls to secure their last available truck. At 10 pm the night before our last leg to Fairbanks, Enterprise sent me an email stating that they could no longer honor the reservation I'd made four weeks prior. I was scrambling to find a new vehicle for hours and finally booked one on Avis's website shortly before landing. However, the one I'd booked (as well as the others listed) were no longer available. To say Tabitha went above and beyond is a severe understatement - she was so kind and understanding of our predicament and made sure we weren't stranded even though she really didn't have an obligation to do so. On top of that, she made sure we had all the details we needed to make informed decisions on which additional services to purchase, went through instructions on how to drive safely in the snow and ice, and made suggestions for places to stop and fuel up on snacks and beverages. We also talked about how well the owners of this Avis treat their employees and have taken care of them throughout the pandemic. While Enterprise and their subsidiaries are no longer a safe bet for me (especially in a place where getting stranded can quickly become a health hazard), it's safe to say that I'm now a loyal Avis customer thanks to Tabitha. Will only use them from now on!

This is by far the worst Avis I've ever been to. They gave me a huge deal about the discount code…read moreon my account and associated rate. They wanted to see proof that I was an employee of "Parks and Wildlife". I'm not an employee of "Parks and Wildlife" and I don't think there is a company that exists with that name. I told her I was a govt employee and was happy to show proof of that but had no idea what "Parks and Wildlife" was. She said I'd have to default to a higher rate if I couldn't prove it. Finally the manager came over and told her to just honor the rate, which was fortunate. But for the record, I looked up what discount code I have associated with my account and as expected, its the Federal government discount code. So they gave me heat for no reason and I have no idea what the lady was even talking about. Also, they said that if I broke down, I was responsible for any costs for roadside service or anything. I took the car anyhow but this place appears to want to nickel and dime you for anything and everything.

Fairbanks has a crazy lack of 4WD vehicles available in the winter so I reserved a minivan. I…read morefigured if I crashed, at least it wouldn't be in something tiny. When I approached the EXTREMELY convenient counter right by baggage claim, 3 different companies were using one employee, so that took a little while. But then he told me they HAD an AWD available and for slightly less than my minivan! It was awesome driving around in my SUV. I was bumping up into and down out of icy parking lots with no problem. Learning about having to plug in your car was WILD to me! The return process seemed slightly under-explained but I figured it out. Same waiting for the only car rental employee to return the keys, and then I was done.

If I could give them 0 stars, I would. NEVER RENT FROM THEM!…read more After I prepaid for my 4x4 rental, they called me to cancel the morning of my flight because they had no AWD or 4WD vehicles available. This caused me to have to scramble at the last minute to find a vehicle for twice the price. It has been 2 weeks and I had multiple phone calls. Wasted time on hold. Had to call the main number, ask to be transferred to Customer Service and then Escalations to find out that I will receive my refund in 20 business days from today. Worse, if I had not called, they would not have initiated the refund. The lady was even rude enough to hang up on me. NEVER RENT FROM ALAMO!

This is the one rental car company that was highly recommended through locals (thank you, Reddit!)…read more I initially tried booking through Alaska 4x4's direct website which showed no availability for the dates I was booking (note that I did try a few days before). I then proceed to book through Expedia with NextCar which turned out to be an affiliate of Alaska 4x4, so it all worked out in the end. As persons not accustomed to snow, I wanted to make sure we were renting a car that would be well-equipped for inclement weather and Alaska 4x4 checked all the boxes. So why Alaska 4x4? 1) It's a local business 2) All their cars are equipped with winter tires and AWD or 4WD. 3) Engine warmer plugs provided in case your engine dies in the cold weather 4) Reasonably priced. 5) Excellent and friendly customer service. They are located at the end of the airport baggage claim level. As soon as you go down the escalator, just go right and you will see it at the end. It's separate from all the other rental car companies which are all bunched together left near the baggage claim pick up. Customer service was friendly and helpful. They let us know ahead of time to be careful on the roads if we were planning on driving to Chena Hot Springs (we weren't), had restaurant recommendations, and picked up promptly when I called their customer service line. Pick up and return process was easy. Just make sure to refuel before returning. Would definitely recommend for your rental car needs, especially if you'll be dealing with snow and ice on the roads.

The company cancelled my reservation 3 days before my trip. I have originally made the reservation…read more2 months ago on their website. They did not offer an alternative vehicle, leaving me scrambling to find something else at substantially higher cost.

12 hour flight delay. Called them and was reassured that my car would be there as long as I arrived…read morebefore 0230. I arrived at 0100 and they had rented my car to someone else and had NO vehicles, leaving us stranded. DO NOT RENT HERE

EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE: (MAGGIE)…read more I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding customer service I received during my recent interaction with National Car Rental. Due to occupational obligations with the government, I was required to extend my car rental with very short notice. I explained my circumstances to Margaret at the Fairbanks airport location (FAI), and she took every available measure to aid and assist me in switching out my vehicle and extending my rental agreement. I was exceptionally pleased with her personal and professional demeanor throughout the entire process. She was very understanding of the circumstances involved with the weather conditions and transporting military equipment from Fairbanks to the Arctic Regions Test Center. Her overall patience and professional attentiveness were truly commendable and had a significant positive impact on my experience. I feel it was necessary to take a moment to inform you about how Margaret demonstrated a commitment to going above and beyond to resolve my issue in efforts of upholding customer satisfaction principles. Thank you for making me feel valued as a customer. Your dedication to excellent service is a credit to the National Rental Car brand.

I had a windshield that had a pretty massive crack in multiple places right from the start…read more I was supposed to get at least two levels of upgrade because of my credit card and president circle but they don't honor the loyalty programs of the bigger hurts company. The person at the desk was nice and the car ran fine with no breakdowns or issues so it was okay but I was really expecting a little more and the upgrades that I'm supposed to be getting would have been nice with being in town especially Alaska for a wedding for 10 days. The broken windshield I hear is a common thing in Alaska but it was really broken and I would say it was a safety issue because it really did hamper how all I could see in certain light conditions because it was right through the center of the windshield.

I really wish I could give ZERO stars. My organization rented a car from there. While there we had…read moreto drive on a maintained gravel road outside of town. Because it was raining, the car had mud on it when it was returned. They charged us $300 fee to wash the car!!! REALLY!!! I am going to do everything in my power to ensure my organization NEVER does business with these crooks again!! Do better Hertz!

Never went there. Went to Enterprise after I place an appointment to rent a car & when I got to the…read moreairport they would not take my debit card unless I had a return flight. The lady told me to go to Hertz which told me if I lived here they would not use my debit card.

This was by far the worst car rental experience I have ever had. The vehicle was fine, but the…read moreagent who checked us in, Rachel, was extremely condescending and hostile. She made a very simple situation into a complete mess that affected my family's entire weekend. Further to this, she actually threatened to cancel our reservation when I pushed back against her condescending attitude. Rachel actually pushed our paperwork and IDs right back at us, causing my daughter to cry more than she already was. Rachel made my wife beg her not to cancel the reservation. I would have simply taken my business elsewhere if we weren't already dealing with so many things at once, but we were forced to actually beg this hostile woman not to ruin our daughter's first road trip. My wife and I talked repeatedly about how much Rachel affected our entire experience, and her actions definitely had a ripple effect for us throughout that entire day. Our two year old daughter even mentioned "the bad lady" a few times unprompted from us. I can't say I will ever want to rent from Dollar again after this horrible experience. A special thank you to Rachel for adding an unforgettable touch to our first ever family road trip. We will never forget how terrible you were to us and our young daughter.