Hertz - Thinking of switching from Avis

Hi, I'm a n00b! :p


I'm currently with Avis First, I rent 1-3 cars per week (usually Compacts, occasionally larger vehicles if I have longer drives). I book the cars through my company's online travel agent software (Carlson Wagonlit).

Here is what I currently get from Avis First:


1: Two-day weekend rental rewards earned with every fourth qualifying rental of two or more days
2: FREE one-car class upgrades when available - to get you to your destination in style
3: Continued Preferred Service - skip the lines and go directly to your vehicle
4: Dedicated 800 number available day and night - for service at your convenience
5: Members-only Web site that gives you easy access to special offers, your personal profile and online support 24/7.

1: Well I've stopped getting the weekend rental awards (not that I got much chance to use them in the first place), because it seems my corporate booking doesn't qualify.

2: I can't remember the last-time I got an upgrade, it's about one in twenty. Actually I do remember the last time I got an upgrade - it was when Avis was sold out, and I had to hike to the nearby Enterprise facility.....:D (Enterprise service has always been great, the few times I have used them).

3: This is vital to me, but everyone offers it.

4: I've used this a few times, useful.

5: I rarely use this, to check certain data now and again.


So basically, I'm really not getting much out of my loyalty to Avis, or at least, it doesn't seem so, in comparison with my loyalty to Continental and Hilton.

In addition to a Preferred-type service, and telephone support, I need a company with excellent on-airport coverage, which rules out a couple of the smaller outfits. Hertz is the obvious (to me, anyway) alternative to Avis.


So my two questions are:
1. Is it worth my switching to Hertz, if so, why?

2. Will Hertz give me a status match if I switch? (I'm happy to pay the 65USD(?) membership fee .)

First of all, nobody really pays the membership fee to Hertz...there are tons of "free #1 Club Gold" offers out there. I don't know whether there are status matches up to President's Circle (which is what it sounds like you would be). Give 'em a call...my guess is that they may toss you a Five Star membership (mid-tier), if not the whole enchilada.

Hertz rentals booked with a corporate code typically do count for either Hertz points or FF miles/credits. If you do a series of short rentals (that's what 3 per week sounds like to me), you might be better off earning some currency besides Hertz points - WN credits, BMI miles (I think...), Marriott points, etc. There isn't a X rentals = 1 Free Day like with Avis or National. It's based on points, which are based on dollar spend.

I've recently moved some business from Hertz to National. I've found that some of the basic Hertz #1 Club Gold processes are breaking down. My car won't be ready when I get there, there is no one waiting at the return area to promptly print a receipt, or I get charged when a location decides at the last minute to close unannounced, leaving me to abandon the car and get charged an extra day. In short, pretty much every Hertz rental I've had in 2009 has either incurred a wait at pickup or a lot of phone calls afterwards.

You may also consider National - see the forum here for a comp code to get you a mid-tier type status with them. My only complaints there are that the car quality is somewhat hit and miss and they don't tend to restock the actual aisles marked with the Executive Elite and Emerald Aisle signs. They've never stopped me from grabbing a nearby full-size or "premium" car, but I prefer it when they stock a variety of cars on the Exec aisle. Processing (out and in) is always quick, and that takes precedence for me. I have yet to have a "problem" rental with them...just a couple of blah ones where I had to wander around the lot looking for a decent car. They have the 1-2-Free promo regularly, plus you earn Free Days after every 5 or 6 rentals. That's more than the Avis 4-to-1, but the National Free Days are pretty much universal: any day of week, one-way allowed, NYC allowed.

Agreed with the recommendation for National. Their fleet is in better shape than Hertz these days, and I've had excellent customer service recently.

Thanks guys. National is on-airport as often as Avis/Hertz, if I remember rightly?

National and Alamo are almost only on-airport. Their off-airport locations are scarce and only in certain markets. Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, and Budget do both.

I regularly consider leaving Hertz for Avis. Then I see posts like yours and it reminds me that things suck everywhere in the car rental industry. The only positives i'm hearing are w/ National, but my company will only let me use Hertz or Avis.

I personally don't feel I get any real value out of Hertz, but I guess i have to go w/ someone. Though w/ the random platepass charges lately, and the recent trend of having to fight them for everything, I might have to switch anyway.

I regularly consider leaving Hertz for Avis. Then I see posts like yours and it reminds me that things suck everywhere in the car rental industry. The only positives i'm hearing are w/ National, but my company will only let me use Hertz or Avis.

I personally don't feel I get any real value out of Hertz, but I guess i have to go w/ someone. Though w/ the random platepass charges lately, and the recent trend of having to fight them for everything, I might have to switch anyway.

If there's any silver lining here at all it's that all of the agencies - including the 2nd tier ones like Dollar, Budget, Thrifty, etc. - have some sort of basic expedited renter process. Generally free and with no concept of elite status like with airlines.

So we aren't hostage to one agency like we sometimes are with an airline alliance. In 2009, with everybody racing to a somewhat equal bottom in terms of service, that cheap Dollar rental that you wouldn't have considered 5 years ago suddenly looks palatable.

2. Will Hertz give me a status match if I switch? (I'm happy to pay the 65USD(?) membership fee .)

I agree... no need to pay for Gold. They are currently running a "complimentary gold" referral for family. Are you my long lost son? :D Try http://www.hertz.com/goldfamily There may be some other links floating around for free gold signup.