Avis - Avis in SLC - Typical cars available?

Hey guys,

I'm headed to SLC for a bit over a month in October, and while our corporate policies prefer Enterprise, Amex have booked me in with Avis this time as I'm told there is no Enterprise office at the SLC airport.

I'm curious if anyone knows what the usual assortment of cars are at SLC in the intermediate grade? Are the staff pleasant to deal with? I also have a voucher for a single class upgrade that I plan to use.

This trip is to be the start of a number of long-term trips and rentals there for myself and my staff, so I'm really just trying to find out other peoples recent experiences, other that what I read from a quick search, and see if I should pull the plug now and just ask to have them re-book it with Enterprise.

For those stickybeaks who like all the info, the quote from the Amex Concierge is:

Car Hire Company Avis Rent A Car Confirmed
Pick Up 02Oct / xxxx SALT LAKE CITY Rental Period 31 Days 0 Hours
Drop Off 02Nov/ xxxx
Confirmation Number xxxxxxxx Size Inter Car Auto A/C
Rate USD 1290.11 additional local taxes and insurance costs may apply
Corporate ID xxxxxxx

We have a corporate insurance agreement, so it doesn't seem too bad price wise.

There IS an Enterprise on location at SLC--I just returned from SLC yesterday; rented from Enterprise for 1 week.

Previously rented Avis, Budget, Nat'l at SLC.

I would HIGHLY recommend Enterprise. Their SLC staff are helpful, very customer-oriented, and have offered me free upgrades at last 3 rentals. Their vehicles are generally new and comparable to Avis/Hertz, though some do not have Sirius.

Thanks, I'll follow it up with the Amex team.

Never used Sirius radio, we're only getting into digital radio now here in the asia pacific region.

Check out the sticky: Fleet List, for your reserved intermediate car.

Thanks 3Cforme. I saw them, but asked anyway as I've found that at least with Enterprise, the lists are no solid indication and each office usually has a couple of specific models they keep in regular rotation.

They have the standard Avis cars, with a bit higher percentage of SUVs and really large SUVs like the chevy suburban and ford expedition. If you're there anytime other than winter they're very friendly about giving you whatever you want. Preferred agents in the garage are great.

A while ago, I think someone here said Avis at SLC is an independent licensee. If so, buyer beware.

Thanks 3Cforme. I saw them, but asked anyway as I've found that at least with Enterprise, the lists are no solid indication and each office usually has a couple of specific models they keep in regular rotation.

That 'couple of specific models' thing really is not what I find in big, busy stations. They are routinely getting new cars, and getting one-ways from other stations. In the course of any 24-hour period I would expect Avis SLC to assign six or seven models each from midsize and full-size reservations.

They have the standard Avis cars, with a bit higher percentage of SUVs and really large SUVs like the chevy suburban and ford expedition. If you're there anytime other than winter they're very friendly about giving you whatever you want. Preferred agents in the garage are great.

I reserved at the Avis at the downtown Hilton in SLC a couple of years ago. Small licensee operation, but they run cars from the corporate fleet, which meant that I could one-way the car to DEN while also saving on all of the airport taxes. I reserved (IIRC) a Pontiac Vibe-sized vehicle (it was only a few bucks more than a fullsize car) and ended up getting a Chevy TrailBlazer. This was in May; I guess the local Avis area manager had overstocked the area Avis stores with SUVs.

A while ago, I think someone here said Avis at SLC is an independent licensee. If so, buyer beware.

I hadn't heard that. Talking with the gal at the Avis in the Hilton, it certainly sounded like the "big corporate airport location" supplied the "little licensee hotel location" with cars. I suppose it's possible SLC is just a very large licensee, but Avis was very aggressive several years ago at making all of their large locations corporate so as to better control the customer experience and supposedly help their brand image. SLC may not be the largest airport, but it's certainly not Podunkville.

Dollar and Thrifty are both (separate) licensees at SLC; are you sure you're not gettng mixed up with that information?

You're right. I was probably mixing it up with National at SLC. Avis' current NYC one-way special allows drops in nationwide "participating corporate locations," one of which is SLC. There is also an old thread where someone mentioned Avis in SLC giving them a WA-plated car for local rent.

You're right. I was probably mixing it up with National at SLC. Avis' current NYC one-way special allows drops in nationwide "participating corporate locations," one of which is SLC. There is also an old thread where someone mentioned Avis in SLC giving them a WA-plated car for local rent.

Well, to be fair, that can happen with Avis's licensees, too, since Avis licensees don't own their own cars.

I'd still be surprised to find Avis SLC is a licensee, though...

Wow, all very interesting information, thanks guys, greatly appreciated!

I signed up for Avis Preferred, but I don't think I can apply my membership number to the booking post-booking. I'm going to see if Amex Travel can cancel then re-book the booking for me, with my preferred details in it this time.

I'm hoping to get something a little more spacious than an intermediate, I had a Chevy Impala last time I was in MSP & ORD - Much nicer than the Mazda5 I was given in LAX.

Fat chance of it happening, but I'd REALLY love to get into a Cadillac CTS, to see how smoothly it rides against my Lexus IS250... ;)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, fellas!

Wow, all very interesting information, thanks guys, greatly appreciated!

I signed up for Avis Preferred, but I don't think I can apply my membership number to the booking post-booking. I'm going to see if Amex Travel can cancel then re-book the booking for me, with my preferred details in it this time.

If the rebooking changes your price, you can always try calling Avis and asking them to apply your membership number to your existing reservation. You can't do it online, but they should be able to do it over the phone without changing your rate.