I am spending far too much with Avis. I've loved Avis's service but can't justify the cost if there is something that is far cheaper.

Anyone have experiences with Thrifty?

I have used Thrifty off and on. They are at fewer airports than others. A mixed bag. Many locations have off airport facilities that are further away, which can lead to longer time to get car. In ORD, (a while since I used) one needs to go to the "bus/hotel pickup area" which is a 5+ minute walk from baggage claim. I am Blue Chip and sometimes contact is not ready to go, other times fine. As Blue Chip, they give me an upgrade about 70% of time. Check in is not "at your car" - so a bit longer. And as they have fewer renters, shuttle service ususally not as frequent. Mileage credits are pretty good with some partner airlines (US Air promotion, for example). Cars may not be as new, but I have not got a real dog.

They have the PT Cruiser, but more expensive than other cars.

Overall, if not in a big hurry and occasional less than excellent service is ok with you - worth the approx. 25% lower rates in most areas.

I have had extensive experience with Thrifty, up until the last 8 months or so. In the past, I had always found them (along with sibling Dollar) to be a fair deal.

I usually travel out of town for a day, or two at most. The parking prices at SFO are confiscatory--- $25/day, which makes me either take a bus or taxi, or rent a car, depending on what makes sense for my travel plans, when I go/come from SFO. In the past, Thrifty's policy of actually giving you 500 miles on Continental, which I fly maybe once a year, made for a good extra. No more, as this policy ended a year ago, and now, like the others, it's a piddling number of miles--- time to look back at Hertz, Avis and National again.

But wait! Thrifty always had lower rates! And didn't give me grief like "drop fees" over one-way rentals airport-airport, airport-downtown, etc. So I stuck with them, using my "Blue Chip" number religiously. I usually rented Neons, at between $19-32/day. THEN, the rates crept up. THEN, they started to get pissy about one way rentals. THEN, I found that half the piddly frequent flyer miles I was entitled to didn't credit. FINALLY, I began to examine the service: did I really want to commit to using these guys?

The "Blue Chip" instant rental agreement was never ready, except at the airport, and then only about half the time. About half the time, the rates were different than the ones I had been quoted, and I had to argue. Likewise, they had many times filled me in for a tank of gas ("it'll drop off at checkin") when I wasn't at all interested in one (not for 30 miles of driving). Finally, the problem of "changes" arose.

In auditing my rental agreement vs. my charge card billings over a long period, I found numerous instances where I rented for one day and was charged for TWO on my card. What??? Speaking with Thrifty, who were extremely courteous and acknowledged their problem, it turns out that when you reserve a car for 7pm-7pm, and show up early (got lucky and flew home early--- come on now, it really does happen) and rented the car at 4pm instead, Thrifty automatically charged me for 4pm until 7pm the next day (2 days), and it was all "set" due to Blue Chip. But wait--- I returned the car at 9am the next morning! Thrifty made it right--- but not if I didn't spend time reviewing things.

This caused me to look again, and now I rent about 70% of the time with Avis. The other 30%, I'll use Hertz, Dollar or Thrifty, but it's strictly only if there's a lower rate. I note that Dollar almost NEVER comes up with a low rate anymore, at least in California, and Thrifty can't be counted on either. It's as if they abandoned their low-cost business plan, and mirror Hertz. But their service is so far beneath Hertz, there's just no excuse for renting there with any regularity.

In sum, I rent less frequently now (perhaps only 60 rentals per year), as if I can't get a low rate, the marginal rentals where a taxi/bus would do it are out. [AVIS et. al. seldom provides a <$29 rate, and so they all get less business today.] Thrifty's in the loop for consideration when Avis comes in at $47 for a compact, but so often either comes in at $45, or demands a drop fee, that I've only rented there twice in the last 3 months. Good luck in finding new loyalty-- perhaps you'd report back any positive findings.

They tend to be off airport and slower, but usually they are cheaper and give more double frequent flyer miles. Last year in early January they were slow so they rented cars for $22 a day very nice ones. Also not in all airports.

I agree with most of the comments about Thrifty. I used to go to them first as the rates in compacts (Neons - adequate for me) was very competitive. Recently, I have found their rates to have increased to such a point that I can get better rates with Alamo and National.

My advice is to keep shopping around, if you have the time. Unconditional customer loyalty is a blank cheque for businesses to squeeze more blood out of you.

For me they're second-string and don't always seem to have their act together, but also don't tend to commit any cardinal sins, thankfully. I last rented from them two months ago in Maui at their off-airport trailer location. They did the damage-slip bit but weren't aggressively trying to nail you for things.

I don't tend to rent with them often because I can usually beat their rates with Entertainment deals from others (especially Alamo and National).

OTOH, at least they're not Enterprise, which has done the hard sell on the coverages too many times (and required me to show my proof-of-insurance card AND verify with the credit card company that my gold card insurance would cover collision!)

I have been unconditionally loyal to Avis for years and they have treated me exceptionally well. But they are also expensive, I think, and I'm trying for alternatives.

I have had a bad experience with Alamo, but whenever I've had a problem with Avis they've always fixed it. OTOH, I rented a car in Houston for 1 day and 2 hours, a low end car, they upgraded me to a Nissan Altima and it costs $128

I rented with Thrifty in MSP last week, and everything went fine. They are even located right in the Bloomington Doubletree, which is IMO a better hotel than the Hilton that is just up the street. (I stayed at Doubletree last year, but wanted to try the Hilton. Had reservations for 12/16 and 12/19, but cancelled the 12/19 to return to the Doubletree.)

Very convenient if you are in HHonors and in MSP.

-KP

I just finished a 3 day rental with Thrifty Buffalo. The total cost was $111 for an Intrepid. The car was fine, the service was quick and the shuttle bus was okay. For $30 bucks a day plus extras, it was a good deal. I usually rent from AVIS and Alamo and I didn't notice any real difference in anything except Thrifty was cheaper.

Just an additional note: booking Thrifty through its website requires a credit card deposit for no-shows. It didn't use to be that the 800 reservation required a guarantee but there seems to be one now.

My only disappointment was some 3 years ago when the SAN location ran out of cars around the X'mas period. They gave me a free rental day (which i never used) when I wrote in.

I use Thrifty in exactly one place: Providence. At that location, Hertz tries all sorts of tricks, like pretending that your Gold res isn't really Gold, plus they're ridiculously expensive.

National is my #2 choice, but only when they have Emerald Aisle, which they don't at PVD. National's franchisee at PVD is awful, and I won't use them.

So there, I use Thrifty. Reasonable cars, reasonble prices, good service. The agent is in terminal, and the shuttle is frequent because they run a parking lot service. If I have a lot of bags, it's actually more convenient than the garage where Hertz is.

I have a Blue Chip card now, but haven't used it yet as I've ended up flying through Hartford a lot instead of Providence.

Nothing but problems with Thrifty for me.

I don't know how much in advance you rent a car, but I found that I usually get better rates at Avis or Alamo if I make a reservation online. Online rates can be significantly lower than those quoted over the phone. Thrifty I've never used, because I could get a better price with another company always.