Match the booking to your luggage
Count people and bags separately. Include strollers, fishing equipment and anything too large to sit safely in the cabin. If you are comparing a vehicle’s total seat count, remember that one of those seats is for its driver.
Confirm how you reach the counter
An airport arrival and an airport rental counter are not the same thing. Check whether your reservation includes a shuttle arrangement, where to contact the team and which address applies. Do not extend Anchorage shuttle assumptions to another location.
Review documents before departure
Check driver eligibility, licence validity, insurance requirements and the accepted physical credit cards before leaving home. An online booking confirmation does not replace those checks at collection.
Discuss the route honestly
Mention any gravel approach, border crossing or remote destination in advance. Navigation software suggests roads; it does not grant permission to use them in a rental vehicle. Ask about authorised options rather than making a change on the day.
Inspect, photograph and understand the return
Walk around the car, record existing marks and ask about unfamiliar controls before driving away. Confirm the return address, fuel requirement and procedure for an unexpected delay. Keep those instructions somewhere you can access without a mobile signal.