National - Rate doubled for picking up late?

So, on last Sunday, I had a res for ES in LAS, picking up 8:00am and drop off 8:00am next day. The cost after taxes was ~$26.

I eventually picked up the car at 5:00pm because I had previously heard from National that they hold reservations for Execs for 24 hours (probably to account for airline interruptions).

I grabbed a car off ES, went to the gate, and checked out. 2 hours later, I looked at the rental agreement, and noticed that my total had shot up to $52. A closer inspection showed that my base rate jumped from $17 to $37, and taxes adjusted accordingly.

I called National's 1-800 number, and the rep told me it was because I accepted LDW. I replied that I have NEVER accepted LDW on a National rental, and it's in my profile. Also, I had the email confirmation that showed nothing on that.

He then told me to call LAS directly, which I did. The rep there looked up my RA and told me the same total ($52). I explained that I had my confirmation and didn't know why it would jump automatically. After checking (with her manager, I assume), she asked me if I picked up at a different time, to which I replied "yes." she credited the difference on the RA to reflect the original rate.

I asked her if it's true that reservations are held for 24 hours, and she said yes, but because I picked up so late, the rate changed automatically.

Anyone have this experience before or any insight on this? seems strange to me...

My two cents:

8am Sunday still gets you the weekend rate. 5 pm Sunday does not.

My two cents:

8am Sunday still gets you the weekend rate. 5 pm Sunday does not.

+1

This is a textbook example of weekend vs. weekday pricing. IME the rate flips @ noon on Sunday. You can certainly ask for your rate to be matched as a goodwill gesture, but keep in mind that the rep/manager you'll be speaking to has probably heard 100s of similar stories from people who deliberately booked a bogus pickup time to get the cheaper rate knowing full well they'd be late (or early in the case of Thursday/Friday pickups).

If you have any documentation supporting an unforseeable delay it will certainly help.

EDIT: Whoops, just noticed that you did get your original rate quoted. I'll keep my notes above as a reference to others who find themselves in a similar situation:)

Sounds like they made you a new reservation!

I never let them do that, I will just cancel and rebook on my phone.

Sounds like they made you a new reservation!

I never let them do that, I will just cancel and rebook on my phone.

Not exactly, the reservation remained the same, the rate just recalculated based on the actual pickup time. SOP across the industry, all reservations are just estimates based on the inputted information. Once the reservation turns into a rental the actual parameters are used to calculate the charges, regardless of the reservation. The reservation simply "guarantees" that a car will be available up to 24 hours from the pickup time, not the rate. In a case like this rebooking the reservation would not have prevented a change in the rate.

Provided nothing changes from the reservation to the rental the two amounts are nearly always identical, or pretty close to it.

I had this situation at LAX last year.
Sunday 13:00 pick up, 4 day rental, $150ish. Sunday evening pick up about $400.
I booked the cheaper time. When I dropped the car off, I was charged the higher rate. I called customer service and was refunded the difference to the lower rate.
I did pick up the car in the evening.

Not exactly, the reservation remained the same, the rate just recalculated based on the actual pickup time. SOP across the industry, all reservations are just estimates based on the inputted information. Once the reservation turns into a rental the actual parameters are used to calculate the charges, regardless of the reservation. The reservation simply "guarantees" that a car will be available up to 24 hours from the pickup time, not the rate. In a case like this rebooking the reservation would not have prevented a change in the rate.

Provided nothing changes from the reservation to the rental the two amounts are nearly always identical, or pretty close to it.
Officially there’s no such a policy on National's site. this is what they guarantee:
Vehicles will be held until the end of the business day on the scheduled pickup date or for 12 hours, whichever comes first

Not exactly, the reservation remained the same, the rate just recalculated based on the actual pickup time. SOP across the industry, all reservations are just estimates based on the inputted information. Once the reservation turns into a rental the actual parameters are used to calculate the charges, regardless of the reservation. The reservation simply "guarantees" that a car will be available up to 24 hours from the pickup time, not the rate. In a case like this rebooking the reservation would not have prevented a change in the rate.

Provided nothing changes from the reservation to the rental the two amounts are nearly always identical, or pretty close to it.
Officially there’s no such a policy on National's site. this is what they guarantee:
Vehicles will be held until the end of the business day on the scheduled pickup date or for 12 hours, whichever comes first

Hence the quotation marks :p