Thrifty car rental
Thrifty’s counter is on parkade P1, 2-3 min walk from baggage claim. Exit Door 8, cross street, head left to rental desks. Cars parked nearby. Open till 1 AM.
Who It’s For
Budget travelers: Rock-bottom rates.
Solo drivers: Economy cars for quick trips.
Families: Affordable SUVs/minivans.
Pricing & Booking Tips
Rates (early 2025, thrifty.com/KAYAK):
Economy (Kia Rio): ~CAD$25-$30
Midsize (Nissan Sentra): ~CAD$32-$40
SUV (Jeep Compass): ~CAD$45-$60
Save:
Book 7+ days early for 30% off.
Use CAA or WestJet’s 20% off (LoungePair).
Join Dollar Express (free) to skip lines.
Skip GPS (CAD$14/day), CDW (CAD$20/day).
Pickup Experience
Bring: driver’s license, credit card, confirmation. 5-12 min; 20-25 min at peak (2-6 PM). Express skips counter. Dodge upsells, snap car damage pics.
Fleet Quality
Economy: Kia Rio, Chevy Spark.
Midsize: Nissan Sentra.
SUVs/Minivans: Jeep Compass, Dodge Grand Caravan. Clean, 10,000-35,000 km. Some wear. Upgrades off-peak.
Fuel & Return
Full: Return full or pay ~CAD$3.50+/liter. Gas at Esso.
Prepaid: Buy tank, return empty – long drives only. Return to P1, 5-min check. After-hours: dropbox. No Alberta tolls.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Cheapest rates (CAD$25+), close to terminal, Express perks.
Cons: Peak waits, older cars, upsell push.
Is It Worth It?
Thrifty’s economy (CAD$25-$30) ties Dollar, beats Budget (CAD$27-$32), Enterprise (CAD$30-$35). SUVs (CAD$45) undercut Hertz (CAD$60). Fleet’s older than Enterprise/Avis; Express matches National’s speed. Perfect for budget road trips.