Assuming your flight isn't delayed by hours you should be fine. Rental companies know they have X number of people coming in on a certian flight and often make adjustments to account for it. I'm sure they're used to having this flight coming in. Send someone right to the rental counter while somebody else waits for the luggage and make sure you let them know what flight you are on when you reserve it.

awesome, thanks for the tip. This is my first time renting a car on a late flight.

Car rental tip"

Number one, we traveled light with only one duffel each for a two week stay. One additional advantage to having a condo with your own washer and dryer.

Once at Lihue, Erica would go to the baggage area, I would immediately head for the car rental van....no one else would be on the van....since their entire groups would stand waiting in the baggage area.

I would be off the van, no line at the counter, and be back to pick erica up at the curb in short order. We would be on our way to Poipu Kai when the rest of the flight would just be getting on the now totally filled van, packed with people, and great piles of luggage.

Anyway, it worked well for us for 12 years of visits. Easy stuff.

Denny

For a little extra peace of mind, you might also want to give them a call as soon as you get off the plane (or before you get on, if the flight is running late).

The LIH/Alamo local #'s are 808-246-0645 or 0646

Lucky you're with Alamo, on our last visit, they, and Hertz, were the only two car rental agencies staying open past 9:30.

Wow, thanks for the great advice! I think I'll do that, send the wifey to the baggage claim, we won't have much either, and then go run to get the car and come back to pick her up. How big is the area around there? I've only ever rented a car at LAX and I'm sure Kauai is a lot less congested than that area :)

We always rent with Budget and they, too, stay open until that last flight comes in. We've even been over an hour late before, but they keep track of the flight and stay open for their customers.

Think small airport . . .open, with tropical breezes . . . nothing remotely like LAX. You will feel that aloha spirit as soon as you get off that plane . . . take a deep breath and you'll know you are in paradise. You won't have any problem finding anything here. Hey - and congrats on your marriage and upcoming honeymoon. You are going to be so glad you came to Kauai!! :)

Sorry I missed this post ... being a former car rental reservationist...

You should make sure that Alamo has your arrival flight information and expected time of arrival noted correctly on your reservation. If you booked online, there is a box for that information. If you called in your reservation and you're not sure if you gave your flight info, CALL to confirm before your trip and have them add your airline and flight number, so they know to send the shuttle when the plane lands.

Even if your flight is late, they'll stay open for their customers on that flight. I doubt you'll be the only one with an Alamo reservation.

Most of the car rental companies DO stay open late for those odd late night arrivals, even though their hours state otherwise. They'd be foolish not to. It's best to check - but the companies I worked with always stayed open late when a late night flight was expected AND they had customers on it.

Size-wise here is one way to look at it...there is only one baggage carousel in the airport. That carousel is only about 30 feet from waiting benches along the curbside and security guards will accommodate you picking up your new wife and luggage. I am thinking the local Wal-Mart building is larger, maybe? Happy landing!