National - Should I switch to National?

Hi all! I'm Avis First and considering switching to National. A bit of background: I rent probably 12-15x a year, 90% of which is at PDX. National used to be off airport there, but is now on-airport, and I've just about had it with Avis. The final straw came on Christmas day, when they didn't have my name on the preferred board. I went downstairs to stand in line while the man in front of me asked the price of literally ever car, then negotiated the price down by waving Enterprise and Thrifty prices at the agent for at least 20 minutes. He then was given a brand new <500 miles car, while I was given a filthy car not in the class I reserved with tons of miles. Yeesh.

Here's the rub - although I am often abused by Avis, I do have status, which provides some very minimal benefits, namely free weekend coupons. Is it worth making the switch to National? My rentals are primarily weekends - how is the Emerald Aisle at PDX on the weekends? The PDX thread seems to have some fairly mixed reviews on car availability, and as a non-Exec member, I'm wondering if it's worth switching...

Thanks!

Avis Preferred First will match you into the Executive tier at National...maybe try and achieve that status with Avis before making the jump? https://statusmatch.emeraldclub.com/ Just an idea. I don't know the Avis Preferred terms, but maybe try and reach the minimum number of rentals to get the status using points/free coupons/cheap weekend rates before jumping ship completely.

Short answer, absolutely worth it. If you like getting to choose your own car (my favorite part of the program) and driving mildly interesting vehicles for a mid-size price, switch. I think most of the National regulars would agree.

Interesting, thanks. I thought I had read somewhere that National doesn't match status. I am Avis Preferred First, so it would be great to be able to match into Executive...

They're aggressively pursuing Hertz and Avis business right now...I'd do it sooner rather than later (supposedly they can stop the status match at any time).

I had a status match response within 24 hours when I submitted mine. Good luck!

I switched from Avis to National mostly because I can use free days whenever, while Avis only gave me free weekends.

Is it worth making the switch to National? My rentals are primarily weekends - how is the Emerald Aisle at PDX on the weekends? The PDX thread seems to have some fairly mixed reviews on car availability, and as a non-Exec member, I'm wondering if it's worth switching...

Thanks!

With 12+ rentals a year you will make Emerald Exec and be entitled to Executive Selection at the ~60 US/Canadian airport Emerald Aisle locations for full-sized cars at a midsize rate. Plus, many locations stock a better ES variety than just the regular full size Impala/Camry/Malibu.

Thanks everyone - status match form is already completed. I just got the "tell us about your recent rental" survey from Avis and am once again steaming mad about Avis, so I'm looking forward to trying out National.

You should make the jump to National. Selecting your own vehicle every time is great! I rent about 100 days/year mostly at ATL. I'm Avis First and National matched to Exec. Avis cars are never clean and there are no real perks. I still can't figure out how to get to Exec VIP though.

https://statusmatch.emeraldclub.com/

I still can't figure out how to get to Exec VIP though.

Exec VIP is an invitation only unpublished level (think AA Concierge Key or UA GS). Exec Elite (EE) is the level above Exec with additional benefits of one rental credit less to get 1 free banked day (free day can be reserved in any car class) and free pickup at FBO (private/corporate aircraft locations). For most people, it's not a significant improvement over the "basic" Executive level.

BTW, welcome to Flyertalk and our National forum, Wf9150!!!

...and free pickup at FBO (private/corporate aircraft locations)Wf9150!!!

It is not free...I have tried to use it on a few occasions, and it is for a fee.

It is not free...I have tried to use it on a few occasions, and it is for a fee.

I stand corrected - thank you :) Unless you are EE, I guess they don't even provide the "service"?

Thanks everyone - I got status matched and have my first rental scheduled for next weekend! Looking forward to trying something new. Quick question - with Avis Preferred, my husband can drive the car w/o us having to go to the counter. It seems like from the National site that this is the same with them - is that right?

Thanks again!

Yes, spouse can drive the car - although you do have to be there to pick it up. I'm pretty sure all of the "free spouse" rules at all agencies are country-specific, so if you're renting outside the U.S. confirm the rules first. But at PDX, yes, no problem, spouse can drive.

I think you will like Exec Select.

I believe the other perk of Exec Elite (25 rentals) is being able to reserve any type of car on your free days. But...since ES selection is pretty good, that's not a *huge* perk unless you really need a van or something. I have redeemed a couple of recent free days for one-way luxury cars. But if I'd been forced into a one-way Exec Select car, that wouldn't have been too awful either.

The thing I like about National is that, so far for me, their free days are truly "no bull." One-way is no problem and I've never had one not be available when regular cars are available.

I think you will like the switch very much. I moved over from being an Avis guy for years and was First at the end. I just wasn't excited about the cars they assigned me, and I almost never made use of the weekend rental days. The time I tried to use a reward cert they gave me (good only on weekend rentals within california or nevada - never able to use those) on a local rental, the franchise owner begged me to please use them only at the big airport locations because they didn't pay her anything for them. :rolleyes:

I love getting to choose my own car, I find the selection of vehicles more to my liking, the free days are very powerful (use any time, and great for one-way rentals), and the exec asile is a real upgrade as opposed to being assigned a 20,000 mile G6 all the time. After you get used to how the system works, I'd be very surprised if you went back to Avis. Let us know how it goes!

I love getting to choose my own car

Once you get into the habit of selecting your own car at National, you get really frustrated when you have a client who requires that you use their Hertz or Avis CDP for their trips. :mad:

I drove a freaking beat-up Corolla from Hertz IAD three weeks ago. They consider it a midsize car. :eek:

My only (minor) complaint about National is that they don't renew XM in any of their cars. Once the trial subscription expires, it's gone. So later in a model year, when National has a lot of 6-9 month old cars sitting around, I'd have to try a few to find working XM. Somewhere on this board is a thread about it and which carmakers tend to have the longest trial subscriptions in their cars. (Seems like Chrysler is longer than GM...)

Once you get into the habit of selecting your own car at National, you get really frustrated when you have a client who requires that you use their Hertz or Avis CDP for their trips. :mad:

I drove a freaking beat-up Corolla from Hertz IAD three weeks ago. They consider it a midsize car. :eek:

My only (minor) complaint about National is that they don't renew XM in any of their cars. Once the trial subscription expires, it's gone. So later in a model year, when National has a lot of 6-9 month old cars sitting around, I'd have to try a few to find working XM. Somewhere on this board is a thread about it and which carmakers tend to have the longest trial subscriptions in their cars. (Seems like Chrysler is longer than GM...)

Yah, Dodge/Chrysler cars these days have 1 year free Sirius subscriptions; most GM cars at 3 months, and Ford at 6 months.

Freaking beat-up Corolla from Hertz? That's funny because it's so true. :)

Thanks everyone. Actually, I've gotten used to the no-Sirius thing...Avis stopped renewing its satellite subs on its cars a couple of years ago.

For my first Emerald rental, do I need to go to the counter first, or can I just go straight to the Exec aisle?

Thanks!

Thanks everyone. Actually, I've gotten used to the no-Sirius thing...Avis stopped renewing its satellite subs on its cars a couple of years ago.

For my first Emerald rental, do I need to go to the counter first, or can I just go straight to the Exec aisle?

Thanks!

If you haven't ever rented before, you should go to the booth and let them physically verify your drivers license and credit card. After that, go straight to a car and drive to the exit booth :)

I was in Hertz Presiden't circle and after the match, I started off as Executive Elite.

I was in Hertz Presiden't circle and after the match, I started off as Executive Elite.

Do you happen to know if Hertz does status match? My companies preferred vendor in the EU is Hertz. It would be nice to ave some pull there.

Another perk of Executive Elite is the 24 or 48-hour guaranteed full-size car.

Do you happen to know if Hertz does status match? My companies preferred vendor in the EU is Hertz. It would be nice to ave some pull there.

Another perk of Executive Elite is the 24 or 48-hour guaranteed full-size car.

This *might* be one area where Hertz holds an edge: isn't their PC guarantee two hours at an airport location? At least I think it was when PC was launched in 2000 or so...because I remember invoking it at ORD once when they were sold out of cars and it actually worked.

24 hours is okay, but when I think of emergencies when I'm stuck somewhere unexpected and it's also a place where the rental cars are all sold out, I'm probably just finding other transportation unless the agency can produce a car in one or two hours.

As for status match at Hertz, I am not sure...

Do you happen to know if Hertz does status match? My companies preferred vendor in the EU is Hertz. It would be nice to ave some pull there.

Another perk of Executive Elite is the 24 or 48-hour guaranteed full-size car.

Yup! Hertz status matches, Avis doesn't. :(

https://offer.hertz.com/offers/index.jsp?targetPage=TierStatusMatch.jsp

After four years of exclusivity with Hertz(apart from one PL rental)I am going to give National a try Because of the lack of Fords at Hertz these days.
I also like the lower prices and the tie in with Enterprise.
Thanks for the tips in this Forum BTW ^

Yup! Hertz status matches, Avis doesn't. :(

https://offer.hertz.com/offers/index.jsp?targetPage=TierStatusMatch.jsp

Thanks drzoidberg! I decided to travel over to the Hertz message board earlier today and found that thread/link. Looks like I am going to be President's Circle!

I really couldn't find any threads over there, other than the benefits between status' thread, which didn't state much.

What can I really expect from President's Circle, especially in Europe?

Is Navi included FOC for President's Circle? Can I expect an upgrade? etc.

Thanks,
Jeremy

Thanks drzoidberg! I decided to travel over to the Hertz message board earlier today and found that thread/link. Looks like I am going to be President's Circle!

I really couldn't find any threads over there, other than the benefits between status' thread, which didn't state much.

What can I really expect from President's Circle, especially in Europe?

Is Navi included FOC for President's Circle? Can I expect an upgrade? etc.

Thanks,
Jeremy

Navi isn't even included for Hertz Platinum members :) Sorry, don't have experience renting overseas.

For mid-level to full size cars, I'm much happier with National, as the cars are consistently newer and lower mileage. For Prestige vehicles, at least at DCA, Hertz has better vehicles.

After four years of exclusivity with Hertz(apart from one PL rental)I am going to give National a try Because of the lack of Fords at Hertz these days.
I also like the lower prices and the tie in with Enterprise.
Thanks for the tips in this Forum BTW ^

I don't get *many* Fords at National either. I see them more in Canada than the U.S. But there are some...in the past year, I've driven a few Ford SUV's that were well-trimmed.

Yup! Hertz status matches, Avis doesn't. :(

https://offer.hertz.com/offers/index.jsp?targetPage=TierStatusMatch.jsp

In less than 24-hours I was approved for President's Circle. They are pretty efficient over there.

Another question. I heard their rewards are not that great. Is it worth even getting points?

Another question. I heard their rewards are not that great. Is it worth even getting points?

National still has best overall program for earning rewards, IMO. Now Hertz did run a promotion where you could earn 100 points/rental day (5-600 points to redeem) and/or airline mileage points, making it on par with National EE or Elite banked free day earning power, but that promotion is now over.

I earned 9 points for my last Hertz 2-day rental, and my points from their 100 point promotion still haven't been deposited, lol.

In your personal opinion, would you choose the points option?

I have 2 rentals in Europe next week that will cost about $400 USD total.

What are your thoughts?

In your personal opinion, would you choose the points option?

I have 2 rentals in Europe next week that will cost about $400 USD total.

What are your thoughts?

I personally have no need for frequent flyer models, so I always spring for points. :)

Won't hurt asking.

In less than 24-hours I was approved for President's Circle. They are pretty efficient over there.

Another question. I heard their rewards are not that great. Is it worth even getting points?

The problem is that most airline rewards are paltry. 1 Hertz point is still worth 10-15 cents, so on anything but a super-cheap rental I'd probably go with points. I'm not sure if any airline out there still issues a flat 500 or 1000 miles per rental (BMI maybe?) - that would certainly bump up the breakeven point at which you'd flip from miles to points.

When I used to have the occasional 1-day rental from Hertz, I'd select 500 Marriott points.

Hertz's rewards aren't nearly as good as National's but they're still (usually) better than a tiny pile of airline miles. The main case where Hertz awards can beat National on the long run is a very high-dollar rental pattern, such as Manhattan. (We have a whole thread about that around here somewhere...) Then you'd potentially reach 1,200 points faster than 5 rentals, especially with the bonus points as a PC. Again, I think you just have to do your own math and figure out what's best.

But there's still that little qualitative edge to National: the free days for Exec Elite are in whatever car category you want. :D My last three have been SAT-AUS in a Mercedes SUV, MCI-MSP in the smaller (but brand new) Lincoln, and LGA-BOS in a loaded GMC SUV (it was wintertime). ^ Holding a four-day PHL-IND reservation for this summer in a minivan (baseball/golf trip).

I hear of an internet forum where people discuss the virtues of Hertz and its specific programs:



http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz-423/

OK, first rental at National, and...well, I'm a little underwhelmed. Picking your car is nice, but when I went to pick a car last night at PDX, my options were Impala or Impala or Impala. I picked the only non-Impala in the Executive aisle, which was a Nissan Altima. The Altima's OK, but just a regular full size, so not any kind of upgrade. Were my expectations too high that I might have something better than an Impala? I'm a little concerned because PDX is my primary rental location, and if they've got nothing but Impalas, I think I'm better off with Avis, where at least a good bit of the time I'll get a Hyundai. I don't know if this is normal, but the guy at the desk tried to upsell me an SUV. He told me they had removed all SUVs from the Executive aisle due to the predicted weekend snow, and then gave me a bit of an Enterprise-like hard sell for the SUV.

Thoughts? Recommendations? Thanks!