Rental car woes 🚘

As a frequent rental car user, it’s always a treat to be rewarded with a convertible upgrade. The cool aunt status jumps instantly!

After a whirlwind, last minute 72 hour trip to celebrate my nephew’s 5th birthday, I had to endure a brutal 3am wake up call to catch the first flight back home/work. He personally called to invite me, so naturally I had a flight booked within the hour without hesitation (yes, I’m totally wrapped around his little finger).

Well….. at Monday 3:15am sharp, I stumble outside to brace for the uncomfortable 39 degree wind in my face to a dead key fob. And of course this is one of the few times in my life where there isn’t a spare attached, so I frantically jiggle the manual key hole for another 10 mins with no luck while lying on the concrete using the flashlight from my cell. Not one of my best moments! I reluctantly wake my brother up & he was also unsuccessful. So I call the emergency roadside assistance hotline. They suggest that I grab an Uber (which normally wouldn’t be a challenge but I’m smack in the middle of an army base, so virtually impossible to get clearance) and go to the local car rental counter. Again, it is now 3:30am and no one opens until 7am. So back to square one…. I wake my sister in law up to see if they have any spare circular batteries, which is another hard no.

So inevitably, I miss my flight and immediately rebook for the following morning on my own dime as there are only 2 seats left. I try to fall back asleep on the couch for a few hours, which is nearly impossible. But can you imagine the surprised faces on the kids when I pop out from underneath a pile of blankets as they take their first bite of cereal? Priceless…. especially since it is his actual birthday!

So at 7:30am we drop the kids at school and find the closest Batteries Plus to hopefully be back in business. But another small wrinkle, as my purchase won’t ring up on the register. After multiple attempts, I finally get 2 batteries comped & we head back to the base. The battery swap out is an immediate success and fortunately the next morning I don’t have my own Groundhog Day & arrive back home in Orlando without more incident.

Now the task of getting reimbursed by the rental car company for the extra day I had to extend, second flight bought, home airport parking fee and the invaluable work time lost…..