Avis - Avis Preferred Select & Go Service

Just got this via email today--- looks like a hybrid National EA concept but with advanced email notice. I wonder how this will work for Chairman's members? :)


*****
As a valued customer and member of Avis Preferred®, we want to share exciting news about enhancements to your service. Beginning June 7, 2012 we're launching Avis Preferred Select & Go––a new service that puts you in control. Select & Go will be available at 50 airport locations in the United States and Canada by the end of 2012.

NEW Avis Preferred Select & Go
Select & Go gives you the freedom to select the vehicle that’s right for you and your trip. We will continue to pre-assign your vehicle based on your preferences, and now you’ll have three options when you reserve an intermediate or larger vehicle:

1. Keep: Check your email* or the Preferred board for your pre-assigned vehicle. If you’re happy with it, drive to the Exit Booth as usual.

2. Exchange: If your vehicle isn’t exactly what you want, select a different one from our Select & Go Exchange area at no extra charge.

3. Upgrade: Choose from our Select & Go Upgrade area—including Cool Cars, specialty vehicles, SUVs and more—for an additional daily charge.**

New Faster Service
Because your time is valuable, your Rental Agreement will no longer be in your vehicle. Simply drive your selected vehicle to the Exit Booth where an Avis representative will get you on your way quickly and easily––no additional paperwork required!

We thank you for making Avis your choice for your car rental needs and we look forward to you driving with us again soon.

It's on the website too: https://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/display.ac?contentId=select-and-go-US_en-033067

Oh NO!! This looks very bad. I much prefer the human element when picking up at Avis. At LAX I can get pretty much any available car I want but now I'll only be able to choose what the computer offers? Many times I get a really nice car that wasn't even listed as available, but I get it because the staff realizes it just hasn't been entered into the system yet. I hope this isn't a weak effort at laying off more staff. :td:

Oh NO!! This looks very bad. I much prefer the human element when picking up at Avis. At LAX I can get pretty much any available car I want but now I'll only be able to choose what the computer offers? Many times I get a really nice car that wasn't even listed as available, but I get it because the staff realizes it just hasn't been entered into the system yet. I hope this isn't a weak effort at laying off more staff. :td:
I'm not sure I follow your logic - how is this bad? From the sound of things, the computer is still going to pre-assign you a car. You can keep the car you're assigned, or go over to the Exchange area and choose a car from there. Presumably the station staff will replenish the exchange area on a regular basis, and if you're not satisfied with the selection in the Exchange area, you could still go speak to an agent.

I'm not sure I follow your logic - how is this bad? From the sound of things, the computer is still going to pre-assign you a car. You can keep the car you're assigned, or go over to the Exchange area and choose a car from there. Presumably the station staff will replenish the exchange area on a regular basis, and if you're not satisfied with the selection in the Exchange area, you could still go speak to an agent.

The problem is that with a computer there will be a limited and defined set of cars you can switch to. With a human there are no fixed limits. If you are allowed to, or can find an agent to help and they themselves will still be allowed to find a car for you, then fine. But I expect the worst with this, such as layoffs and stricter rules.

I have a feeling this will be exactly the same as Hertz's Gold Choice. Where they put a bunch of regular boring cars at the Select & Go area then luxury cars with an upgrade fee. I hope they have a section for President's Club and Chairman members with better cars.

So if you're a base Avis Preferred member like me, how will you know what each of those upgrade charges is before you get into a Cool Car or whatever on the "upgrade" aisle?

I still think the straightforward National process is best - especially if you have midtier status or better (access to Exec Select). That's usually a Premium car, sometimes luxury, usually SUV if you need it, and occasionally something very good like an Infiniti or a Volvo. Always at the midsize rate.

Of course, I also understand stimpy's sentiment if you're renting from a location that knows you well and takes care of its own best customers. In that case, the more "process" the less wiggle room they have to give you cars outside the process.

The problem is that with a computer there will be a limited and defined set of cars you can switch to. With a human there are no fixed limits. If you are allowed to, or can find an agent to help and they themselves will still be allowed to find a car for you, then fine. But I expect the worst with this, such as layoffs and stricter rules.

I agree and share your sentiment re LAX. Looking at the website, I see they wont be making any sort of a switch until August. Hopefully before they switch, I can request in my profile that they just have me walk in rather than wasting my time walking around the lot. Normally they upgrade me to a Mustang or better, I have a feeling this will now be in the "$$upgrade$$" area as a "Cool Car".

So if you're a base Avis Preferred member like me, how will you know what each of those upgrade charges is before you get into a Cool Car or whatever on the "upgrade" aisle?

I still think the straightforward National process is best - especially if you have midtier status or better (access to Exec Select). That's usually a Premium car, sometimes luxury, usually SUV if you need it, and occasionally something very good like an Infiniti or a Volvo. Always at the midsize rate.

Of course, I also understand stimpy's sentiment if you're renting from a location that knows you well and takes care of its own best customers. In that case, the more "process" the less wiggle room they have to give you cars outside the process.
The only way to know for sure, unless Avis posts some kind of video walk-through on their website (hint, hint, Avis) is to experience it for ourselves. I know I'll be renting from SFO at the end of July, so the Select & Go program should be in full effect by then; I'm happy to report back if someone doesn't beat me to it.

That said, I'm trying to keep an open mind. I prefer Ford products (in no small part due to my SYNC Services subscription, which I can take into any other SYNC-equipped vehicle, thus negating the need for a nav system), and every time I rent at SFO, I end up getting assigned a GM product, without fail. And every time, I have to go to the counter and practically BEG for a Ford product - ANY Ford product - instead. By my reckoning, Select & Go should save me a lot of hassle. But time will tell.

I have a feeling this will be exactly the same as Hertz's Gold Choice. Where they put a bunch of regular boring cars at the Select & Go area then luxury cars with an upgrade fee. I hope they have a section for President's Club and Chairman members with better cars.

My email had an extra paragraph that said:

As a Chairman's Club member, you will still receive free upgrades when available, and now with Select & Go, you'll have more options to choose the vehicle that best fits you and your trip.

I don't think that they will have a separate section for Pres & Chairman, but I am not worried about car selection.

My email had an extra paragraph that said:

As a Chairman's Club member, you will still receive free upgrades when available, and now with Select & Go, you'll have more options to choose the vehicle that best fits you and your trip.

I don't think that they will have a separate section for Pres & Chairman, but I am not worried about car selection.
My e-mail had the same sentence - and I'm First, not Chairman's.

My e-mail had the same sentence - and I'm First, not Chairman's.

Ditto here.

Actually, I quite like this. It seems like 50% of the time I get an "upgrade" to a vehicle I do not prefer (like a full-size SUV, or a bright orange Charger). Typically I do not switch because the hassle of going back to the Preferred counter is too much. Going to a kiosk may be an improvement.

Note the addition in terms for the upgrade to a Cool Car--corporate LDW does not apply (not sure if it did before).


http://www.avis.com/car-rental/html/global/en/terms/PrefMbrGlobalTermsMiddle-text.html?MID=avis.com_terms
28. Avis Preferred Select and Go Upgrades to Avis Cool Car

Avis offers you the opportunity to upgrade your rental vehicle to an Avis Cool Car at time of check out at participating locations as part of the Avis Preferred Select and Go service. You agree that if you utilize Avis Preferred Select and Go to upgrade to an Avis Cool Car, there will be an increase to the rental rate that you are obligated to pay. LDW is not included in this rental as part of any corporate or affiliated AWD program. If you would like LDW to apply to this rental, you will have to make that election for an additional cost at the exit plaza when you exit with the rental vehicle. If you do not elect LDW, you are responsible for all Damage to/Loss of the Car as set forth in paragraph 14.

DFW had some spots up front painted with Select & Go when I was there yesterday. The spots were empty.

I think this will work out much better for me.

I always reserve a car in the luxury car (so there's nothing to upgrade to), but I have to go through great pains to avoid a Town Car. This way, I can just pick something else (ANYTHING ELSE) in that category and drive off.

I don't really feel for Chairman's Members this is going to affect anything. You'll arrive at the airport, and find your vehicle waiting for you parked out front as they usually are.

I guess if you don't like your car*, you just walk back to the Preferred Booth and they will give you whatever you like. Never had an issue selecting a car BTW...

*most recently, its been either BMW or and Infiniti.

The real genius of this (apart from stealing customers back from National) is in the "Upgrade" option. When I travel for leisure I'm usually theoretically willing to pay a bit extra to get something a bit cooler, but I rarely do.

I won't book a "Cool Car" because they charge crazy-high amounts for them -- they have to because they're giving up a bunch of flexibility in their inventory by guaranteeing me a particular model. On the other hand I rarely book something as nebulous as "premium" or "luxury" because knowing my luck I'll inevitably just wind up with a Town Car instead of a BMW.

But if they start really pushing the idea of painless on-the-spot paid upgrades to defined cars I think they can sell a bunch of 'em while still maintaining flexibility in their fleet. Got some spare Infinitis? Great, stick 'em on the upgrade lot with "$20 a day extra" in the windscreen. They'll be raking in the extra bucks in no time.

The real genius of this (apart from stealing customers back from National) is in the "Upgrade" option. When I travel for leisure I'm usually theoretically willing to pay a bit extra to get something a bit cooler, but I rarely do.

I won't book a "Cool Car" because they charge crazy-high amounts for them -- they have to because they're giving up a bunch of flexibility in their inventory by guaranteeing me a particular model. On the other hand I rarely book something as nebulous as "premium" or "luxury" because knowing my luck I'll inevitably just wind up with a Town Car instead of a BMW.

But if they start really pushing the idea of painless on-the-spot paid upgrades to defined cars I think they can sell a bunch of 'em while still maintaining flexibility in their fleet. Got some spare Infinitis? Great, stick 'em on the upgrade lot with "$20 a day extra" in the windscreen. They'll be raking in the extra bucks in no time.

Indeed but possibly to the detriment of Chairmans and President's Club members. Am used to being able to walk back to the counter and negotiate an upgrade, often to a specialty, in instances where the first car wasn't a double upgrade. Worry it will now be more 'by the book' and they will be less likely to pre-assign PC and Chairmans something above Luxury class.

In other words, playing the 'tens of dollars' game we see at United.

This becomes less of an issue once the Town Cars are out of the fleet and things like an Inifiniti are a standard Luxury car.

Indeed but possibly to the detriment of Chairmans and President's Club members. Am used to being able to walk back to the counter and negotiate an upgrade, often to a specialty, in instances where the first car wasn't a double upgrade. Worry it will now be more 'by the book' and they will be less likely to pre-assign PC and Chairmans something above Luxury class.

In other words, playing the 'tens of dollars' game we see at United.

This becomes less of an issue once the Town Cars are out of the fleet and things like an Inifiniti are a standard Luxury car.

I totally agree.

I'm Avis First and never got the advance email about this. However, upon arrival at SEA this morning I got an email letting me know my car was ready with the exact type and spot:

Welcome to SEATTLE APO WA.

Your FORD FUSION SEL V6 is ready. Go to parking space P23 in our Avis Preferred area. (License plate # (WA) UPDATE; Rental Agreement # XXXXXXXXX)

Your rental document will be ready at the exit gate (because we're paperless now). Just show the agent your driver's license.

And if the FORD is not exactly what you wanted, you can exchange or upgrade from our Select & Go area.

The select and go plus the upgrade rows were on the way to my car and they had a pretty standard collection in the select & go plus some decent upgrades on the other side. Still not sure how the upgrades work with Avis First, assuming if I get an upgrade it'll be given to me as my initial assignment but I couldn't just choose something from the upgrade row and not be charged.

I'm Avis First and never got the advance email about this. However, upon arrival at SEA this morning I got an email letting me know my car was ready with the exact type and spot:



The select and go plus the upgrade rows were on the way to my car and they had a pretty standard collection in the select & go plus some decent upgrades on the other side. Still not sure how the upgrades work with Avis First, assuming if I get an upgrade it'll be given to me as my initial assignment but I couldn't just choose something from the upgrade row and not be charged.

What class of car did you book to get the Ford Fusion? Also what standard collections are we talking about at the select & go area? A bunch of Chevy Malibus and Impalas I guess?

This is sort of how the Avis at BDL already operates (minus the new choose an upgraded car on a whim). You take the shuttle to the facility and the driver takes the names of the preferred members. By the time he gets to the lot basically everyone has an assigned spot/car (Form and keys in the car). No human interaction. If you want a different car you have to go inside (Annoying for me because rarely do I receive much of an upgrade as a President's club member). I did notice yesterday that they had all of the "Cool cars" lined up next to each other. I forget if they always do that.

Any thoughts on this article? I'm PC and wondering how this will effect me...

http://milecards.com/4479/does-new-avis-select-and-go-mean-fewer-presidents-club-upgrades/

This is sort of how the Avis at BDL already operates (minus the new choose an upgraded car on a whim). You take the shuttle to the facility and the driver takes the names of the preferred members. By the time he gets to the lot basically everyone has an assigned spot/car (Form and keys in the car). No human interaction. If you want a different car you have to go inside (Annoying for me because rarely do I receive much of an upgrade as a President's club member). I did notice yesterday that they had all of the "Cool cars" lined up next to each other. I forget if they always do that.
You pretty much described the standard experience at any Avis station not terminal-adjacent or inside a consolidated rental car facility.

You pretty much described the standard experience at any Avis station not terminal-adjacent or inside a consolidated rental car facility.
Yea the more I read the thread I figured out that it sounds like many stations operate in this manner. This is my first experience renting from a facility that does not require human interaction.

Any thoughts on this article? I'm PC and wondering how this will effect me...

http://milecards.com/4479/does-new-avis-select-and-go-mean-fewer-presidents-club-upgrades/

It certainly echoes some of the concerns. We'll see how it is in practice.

Was in SFO this week, but didn't see Select n Go in action. In fact the entire lot was dry because of the US Open. Half the names on the Preferred board had no car assigned.

They offered a minivan, I balked, then a Camry. Being late at night I went out to see for myself. There was a BMW X3 parked across from it, and didn't see it assigned to anyone on the board. So negotiated an exchange to that.

I'll be renting at MCO on Thursday (6/21) and am wondering if the Select & Go Service is active there yet.

I'll be renting at MCO on Thursday (6/21) and am wondering if the Select & Go Service is active there yet.
According to Avis.com, MCO doesn't go online for Select & Go until next month.

https://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/display.ac?contentId=select-and-go-US_en-033067

This new program helped me out in Seattle yesterday.

Arrived at assigned spot to find a Crown Vic in my spot (yuck). Walked over to the exchange section and grabbed a Ford Edge instead.

I had to laugh, however, at the "upgrades" -- $45 extra/day for a Challenger? Many of the upgrades are commonly found at National's executive section for no extra charge.

According to Avis.com, MCO doesn't go online for Select & Go until next month.

https://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/display.ac?contentId=select-and-go-US_en-033067

Thanks. I guess I misread (or mis-remembered) the original announcement and thought it was this month.

This new program helped me out in Seattle yesterday.

Arrived at assigned spot to find a Crown Vic in my spot (yuck). Walked over to the exchange section and grabbed a Ford Edge instead.

I had to laugh, however, at the "upgrades" -- $45 extra/day for a Challenger? Many of the upgrades are commonly found at National's executive section for no extra charge.

Interesting. All the reports we're getting so far are from SEA; anyone seen it anywhere else?

Also: A Crown Vic? Seriously? There are still Crown Vics in the fleet?

I'm interested to understand the select-and-go a bit better though; is there just one select-and-go section, or multiple selections depending on your booked class? If I'd showed up with a Group A booking could I have run away with that Ford Edge too? Anything else in the section look interesting?

$45 a day extra for a Challenger? Tell 'em they're dreamin'. (And I say that as a big Challenger fan, at least if you get the upgraded seats -- for my money, the best seats this side of a Jaguar XJ).

Interesting. All the reports we're getting so far are from SEA; anyone seen it anywhere else?

Seattle, with the brand new rental car center seems to have implemented this new program pretty quickly.

Also: A Crown Vic? Seriously? There are still Crown Vics in the fleet?

Hey... it was an "upgrade" from my mid-sized car.

I'm interested to understand the select-and-go a bit better though; is there just one select-and-go section, or multiple selections depending on your booked class? If I'd showed up with a Group A booking could I have run away with that Ford Edge too? Anything else in the section look interesting?

Just like national, as long as you have a mid-sized or greater booked, you can pick anything from the "Exchange" section. I didn't examine the other cars very much though, but all seemed pretty good. For those locations with this program it makes sense, just like national, to not worry about booking anything greater than a mid-sized. As long as they have pretty good cars in the exchange section if you don't like your car just grab one from there....

Just like national, as long as you have a mid-sized or greater booked, you can pick anything from the "Exchange" section. I didn't examine the other cars very much though, but all seemed pretty good. For those locations with this program it makes sense, just like national, to not worry about booking anything greater than a mid-sized. As long as they have pretty good cars in the exchange section if you don't like your car just grab one from there....

Since the Avis website is pretty sparse on the exact mechanics of how selecting a car works (save for the high-level overview pasted upthread), I'm wondering how a customer in First/CC/PC encountering S&G for the first time would know what vehicles they can upgrade into. Is there something in the pre-rental e-mail that explains the process? Or window placards?

I'd love to see Avis post a video walkthrough of the S&G process...

I had my first experience with this at SAT without fully realizing until after. I had reserved compact, but the driver dropped me off at an Equinox. I have almost always been upgraded here but this was among the better. The main difference is now they print the receipt/contract upon departure. Since I got in so late and didn't fully realize the changes, I have no report of other available cars in the Select and Go area. But a thumbs up for my first impression. Too bad most of the small airports I travel to probably won't be participating.

Didn't realize I hadn't posted my experience from SFO last week, so here goes.

Arrived approx. 10am on Wednesday morning, and the lot seemed pretty full. Got the e-mail ahead of time indicating stall number and vehicle (Ford Mustang, but no indication of trim level or engine). On my way to the garage, I stop at the desk just to ask about the lay of the land:
Names & stall numbers appear on the Preferred board, as normal.
The first 10 spots in Row G are the 'exchange' zone. Take anything from there, no extra charges. (wasn't sure if that was in general, or specific to me as a First member)
The first 10 spots in Row H are the 'upgrade' zone, with the upcharge marked on the hangtag.

The 'Stang ended up not being a GT, so I decided to check out the swap area. The upgrade spots had a couple of interesting vehicles, including a Fiat 500, a Mini Cooper, a BMW 3 series, and...well, there was a Prius there too. The exchange spots weren't quite as exciting - Impala, Impala, Malibu, Impala, Ford Fusion SE, Mitsubishi Galant, a late model Ford Escape, and a 2013 Escape SEL. My curiosity about the Escape refresh overruled logic (seeing as how the Escape has been the subject of a few recalls already), and I drove the CUV off the lot.

The exit process is a bit more time consuming, since they have to regenerate the agreement in the booth (although I don't feel like it took any more time that it'd have taken at the desk once they found me a swappable vehicle in the past), and perhaps in deference to the slower process, they had multiple exit lanes running.

Too bad most of the small airports I travel to probably won't be participating.

Actually the largest, LAX, and perhaps other large airports aren't participating either thank goodness. It's logistically too difficult to manage when you have 8500 cars to juggle.

Didn't realize I hadn't posted my experience from SFO last week, so here goes.

Arrived approx. 10am on Wednesday morning, and the lot seemed pretty full. Got the e-mail ahead of time indicating stall number and vehicle (Ford Mustang, but no indication of trim level or engine). On my way to the garage, I stop at the desk just to ask about the lay of the land:
Names & stall numbers appear on the Preferred board, as normal.
The first 10 spots in Row G are the 'exchange' zone. Take anything from there, no extra charges. (wasn't sure if that was in general, or specific to me as a First member)
The first 10 spots in Row H are the 'upgrade' zone, with the upcharge marked on the hangtag.

The 'Stang ended up not being a GT, so I decided to check out the swap area. The upgrade spots had a couple of interesting vehicles, including a Fiat 500, a Mini Cooper, a BMW 3 series, and...well, there was a Prius there too. The exchange spots weren't quite as exciting - Impala, Impala, Malibu, Impala, Ford Fusion SE, Mitsubishi Galant, a late model Ford Escape, and a 2013 Escape SEL. My curiosity about the Escape refresh overruled logic (seeing as how the Escape has been the subject of a few recalls already), and I drove the CUV off the lot.

The exit process is a bit more time consuming, since they have to regenerate the agreement in the booth (although I don't feel like it took any more time that it'd have taken at the desk once they found me a swappable vehicle in the past), and perhaps in deference to the slower process, they had multiple exit lanes running.

Exactly like Hertz's Gold Choice, boring choices at the swap area, decent cars now comes in upgrade fees.

Does this mean that if there's a Town Car in your spot, you can just grab a luxury car from the "upgrade" lot without paying an upcharge? Or do you have to go to the counter and ask them to find you something else as has always been the case to date?

I am a PC member. I rent weekly at SEA.

Before S&G I would get a Genesis every rental with a mid-size reservation.

Now I get a Camry.

I now see my reserved car in the email with the space number. I stop at the counter upstairs and ask if they have anything else. They pull up my reservation and say. "Oh I see you are PC, would you like a Genesis"

Pretty weak if you ask me.

TW

I'm an AVIS First member... and according to their website (https://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/display.ac?contentId=select-and-go-US_en-033067), they state:

"More Options for Avis First™ Members

For members enrolled in the Avis First program, you will still receive free upgrades when available, and now with Select & Go, you'll have more options to select the vehicle that best fits you."

So am I allowed to select cars from the "upgrade" area without an upcharge? Are there certain car types that I can upgrade to without a fee? And others that have a fee? How can I tell?

They can't be referring to the "Exchange" area as an upgrade... can they? When traveling I most enjoy the upgrades that convert me from an "intermediate" to a "mid-size SUV". Will that be possible from the "Exchange" area?

So am I allowed to select cars from the "upgrade" area without an upcharge? Are there certain car types that I can upgrade to without a fee? And others that have a fee? How can I tell?

They can't be referring to the "Exchange" area as an upgrade... can they? When traveling I most enjoy the upgrades that convert me from an "intermediate" to a "mid-size SUV". Will that be possible from the "Exchange" area?

No, cars in the 'upgrade' area are only available if you pay the difference. For example, I was in SFO last weekend and as a Chairman I asked, in advance, for a BMW 528i. I was given a Cadillac SRX. When I arrived I saw that I could pay extra for the BMW, it just wasn't worth the conversation.

I am sure that you could go back into the counter and discuss other vehicles, but you won't be able to just take a car from the 'upgrade' area and claim that it is your free upgrade that you are entitled to, although that would be nice.

The upgrade spots had a couple of interesting vehicles, including a Fiat 500, a Mini Cooper, a BMW 3 series,

Did you notice what the upgrade charges were? I would have been interested in trying any of these, but can't see paying a big upgrade fee from a full size to drive the Fiat 500. And of course, it's a shame that cars like these you have listed aren't available with a manual (in the US).

Did you notice what the upgrade charges were? I would have been interested in trying any of these, but can't see paying a big upgrade fee from a full size to drive the Fiat 500. And of course, it's a shame that cars like these you have listed aren't available with a manual (in the US).
I didn't look that closely, since I know my company won't pay for the upcharge. I'm allowed to take a FREE upgrade if its offered, but if I take a paid upgrade I'm out-of-pocket. Sorry.

Actually the largest, LAX, and perhaps other large airports aren't participating either thank goodness. It's logistically too difficult to manage when you have 8500 cars to juggle.

Uhhhh LAX is one of the stations participating.
http://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/display.ac?contentId=select-and-go-US_en-033067

Uhhhh LAX is one of the stations participating.
http://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/display.ac?contentId=select-and-go-US_en-033067

When I was there recently they said that even though Avis corporate wants them to participate, they refused due to the logistical challenge. Have you been there in the last two weeks?

Actually the largest, LAX, and perhaps other large airports aren't participating either thank goodness. It's logistically too difficult to manage when you have 8500 cars to juggle.

Uhhhh LAX is one of the stations participating.
http://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/display.ac?contentId=select-and-go-US_en-033067

When I was there recently they said that even though Avis corporate wants them to participate, they refused due to the logistical challenge. Have you been there in the last two weeks?

I rented a car at LAX yesterday. I got an email 10 minutes before my pick up time telling me I had been upgraded (from economy rez) to a Ford Explorer 4WD. That thing is huge, and my parking spaces are always small, so I asked the roving attendant how the Select & Go works. She pointed me to an area with maybe a dozen cars and said I can choose anything from there. Curiously, she did not ask me anything about my rez, so I don't see how this "free" area was rez-level-specific. Anyway, I picked a Fusion (which happened to be the class I had reserved, I later figured out!), but I won't be using the car much, mostly parking it, so that's fine. There was one SUV in the "free swap" area (though smaller than the Explorer), a lot of "flex fuel" Chevy's, and one Nissan Altima, plus a few others I don't remember.

I took a couple minutes at the Exit gate for them to print my paperwork. (The new system, is among other things, "paperless" until you get to the Exit gate. But all the Select & Go cars have a card hanging off the windshield explaining whether it's free or upgrade, and you hand that along with your license at the Exit gate and they generate the paperwork from that.)

How does this work if you have a luxury category car booked?
Does this mean that if there's a Town Car in your spot, you can just grab a luxury car from the "upgrade" lot without paying an upcharge? Or do you have to go to the counter and ask them to find you something else as has always been the case to date?
Someone who does this will have to report after they've rented at a Select & Go live facility. (Perhaps that situation is explained in the just-before-pickup-time email?)

See my post above. At LAX the attendant didn't ask me what type of car I'd reserved, and pointed me to one "free exchange" area, and said I'd have to pay to take anything from upgrade areas. I doubt there are many if any luxury cars in the "exchange" area, so I have no clue what would happen if you reserved luxury car yet wanted to exchange? :eek: :confused:

It seems mostly set this up for "the masses" (who presumably mostly, especially once they figure out how this works, rent a cheap car and then can select from a bunch of different cheap and semi-cheap cars).

[deleted]

I rented a car at LAX yesterday. I got an email 10 minutes before my pick up time telling me I had been upgraded (from economy rez) to a Ford Explorer 4WD. That thing is huge, and my parking spaces are always small, so I asked the roving attendant how the Select & Go works. She pointed me to an area with maybe a dozen cars and said I can choose anything from there.

Thanks for the update. That change is definitely recent. But you left out your level. Are you Pres Club or higher?

I rented a car at LAX yesterday. I got an email 10 minutes before my pick up time telling me I had been upgraded (from economy rez) to a Ford Explorer 4WD. That thing is huge, and my parking spaces are always small, so I asked the roving attendant how the Select & Go works. She pointed me to an area with maybe a dozen cars and said I can choose anything from there.

Thanks for the update. That change is definitely recent. But you left out your level. Are you Pres Club or higher?

Not at all. Lust a lowly Preferred. I'm doing a bunch of one-day rentals in Aug purely to (with the very same "useless" rentals) get back to Avis First (before a long rental in Europe) and earn 3000 AA miles a pop:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage/1369042-earn-3-000-5-000-aadvantage-miles-up-35-off-until-31-aug-2012-a.html

(while paying only $35ish per rental plus a couple bucks for gas).

Btw, I just returned the car, and went to Avis.com, and saw my same exact rental agreement twice. I called up Avis and asked about that (to make sure they weren't bililng me twice!), and they said that happens when you "change a car". So are other people who switched cars swith Select & Go getting their rental agreement to show up twice (at least on the date of return) under "past rentals" when they log in to Avis.com?

See my post above. At LAX the attendant didn't ask me what type of car I'd reserved, and pointed me to one "free exchange" area, and said I'd have to pay to take anything from upgrade areas. I doubt there are many if any luxury cars in the "exchange" area, so I have no clue what would happen if you reserved luxury car yet wanted to exchange? :eek: :confused:

You'd be paying for a luxury car and getting something from the exchange area... probably not a good deal.

If you're planning on selecting something from the exchange area don't reserve anything higher than a mid-size! I only reserve something higher then that if it's a few dollars of difference just in case I get something better in my selected space.

If you're planning on selecting something from the exchange area don't reserve anything higher than a mid-size! I only reserve something higher then that if it's a few dollars of difference just in case I get something better in my selected space.
What exchange area? :)

I mean, how do you tell (without doing some sort of totally separate search) if the location you're renting from is a Select & Go location? I see nothing of the sort identified about LAX if I try to make a test reservation (while logged in as Preferred) at LAX.

To be able to use such a strategy, don't you have to be aware of whether you're renting at a Select & Go location or not? (I think there are only about 50 IIRC, which is a fraction of the Avis airport locations in the US.)

(In my own case, I am very price conscious, as all my rentals are on my own dime, and I'm used to driving a Civic, previously Accord, at home, so I pretty much never try to reserve above Compact myself. But I know lots of other people in this forum do.)

[...] I had been upgraded (from economy rez) to a Ford Explorer 4WD. [at the Select & Go "exchange" area] I picked a Fusion (which happened to be the class I had reserved, I later figured out!) [...]

I took a couple minutes at the Exit gate for them to print my paperwork. (The new system, is among other things, "paperless" until you get to the Exit gate. But all the Select & Go cars have a card hanging off the windshield explaining whether it's free or upgrade, and you hand that along with your license at the Exit gate and they generate the paperwork from that.)
Well, it turns out the paperwork generated at the exit gate disagreed with my final receipt as to what car class that Fusion was! The rental paperwork generated at the exit (in the same cardboard format you find inside your car at a non-Select-and-Go location) said I was charged for economy and then separately said that my rented car class was economy. But my receipt said I was charged for standard and my rented car class was intermediate! (Why can't the standardize on nomenclature??? The website calls the classes economy, compact, etc, so why the standard, etc, on the receipt???)

Anyway, I mention this because I've never seen the car class for the car I'm actually getting wrong on the paperwork I'd find inside the car, but it sounds like it got printed wrong when they did it at the Exit booth.

I mean, how do you tell (without doing some sort of totally separate search) if the location you're renting from is a Select & Go location? I see nothing of the sort identified about LAX if I try to make a test reservation (while logged in as Preferred) at LAX.

To be able to use such a strategy, don't you have to be aware of whether you're renting at a Select & Go location or not? (I think there are only about 50 IIRC, which is a fraction of the Avis airport locations in the US.)

Yes, you'd want to make sure that it's a Select and Go location, of which there aren't that many yet. Here's the current list:

•Albuquerque
•Atlanta
•Austin
•Baltimore
•Chicago ORD
•Dallas DFW
•Denver
•Fort Lauderdale
•Fort Myers
•Houston HOB
•Houston IAH
•Indianapolis
•Kansas City
•Las Vegas
•Los Angeles
•Miami
•Minneapolis
•Oakland
•Orlando
•Phoenix
•Seattle
•San Antonio
•San Francisco
•San Jose
•St. Louis

For a (hopefully) up to date list:
http://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/display.ac?contentId=select-and-go-US_en-033067

Did the AA thing at MSP this weekend, had a compact reserved as I didn't care about the car for this rental. The Select & Go area was no more than 8 vehicles and greatly resembled the federal fleet, white domestic sedans and a black Crown Victoria. National's Emerald Aisle has nothing to fear. The upgrade area had a bunch of SUVs and a BMW sedan that caught my eye. I did not check prices as I was not eligible with a compact reserved and it was a little off the beaten path.

a Select and Go location, of which there aren't that many yet.
How many will there ever be? Select and Go seems to require an Avis-specific Exit gate (because that's where your contract paperwork is printed for the first time), but lots of Avis locations don't have that. I don't see how they would ever implement Select and Go at locations where you have to go to a Preferred desk to pick up your keys, as opposed to the keys already being in your car and you just showing the contract and your license to the Exit gate attendant.

I presume there will be more than is on the current list, but I don't know how much more. I presume it'll always be mostly just at bigger airports where Avis has it own totally separate lot (or at most integrated with partner Budget).

I have some doubts as to whether it could ever work at SNA (Orange County CA), HSV (Huntsville AL), LUB (Lubbock TX), or hundreds of US airports where there is no Exit gate at all and so they have to manage the keys at the counter. (At best, they would need a totally different procedure, presumably with a slightly different name like Select & Go Back To The Counter :eek:, at those kinds of airports!)

LAX does have Select & Go now. I hit it around 10am this past Monday.

I got the email when I landed which I like. Why couldn't they do this a long time ago?

I'm Avis First. Was assigned a Ford Escape. Usually an Escape is might-go-back-to-negotiate-a-different-car type of vehicle. In this case, it was a brand-new (still had the residue from the sticker on the window) 2013 model. My curiosity about a re-designed model over-rode my desire for something different.

The Select and Go had a Camaro ($40/day extra), a Taurus and some other vehicles. They had an awning set up to handle swaps. Getting off the lot was the big bottle-neck. Previously, I could get in my vehicle, show my id and contract at the exit and leave. Now it's show my id to the attendant after waiting in line behind several cars (with two exits open), have then scan the bar code, print out a receipt and then get to leave. Why couldn't they have a "Select and Go" exit and a "Got My Contract" exit???

This is not well thought out at all. Based on how the Cool Cars and Specialty cars are extra $$$ now, I'd vote to return to the old sweet-talk-the-counter-rep system.

This is not well thought out at all. Based on how the Cool Cars and Specialty cars are extra $$$ now, I'd vote to return to the old sweet-talk-the-counter-rep system.

+1. Maybe time to look at Hertz again.

Another weekend at LAX, another (as Preferred) auto-upgrade (from economy rez) to something ridiculously huge (Ford Edge AWD this time). So I self-exchanged for a Chevy Avenger. Once again, the exit gate paperwork claimed it was also economy, but the receipt upon return classifies it as "intermediate".

At the exit gate this time, one attendant walked ahead and took my license and "exchange" tag (that had been hanging from the windshield visor) and directed me to the side. Then, while that was being processed (which took several minutes), they let other people go in front of me if they needed no such rework of their paperwork. (There was only one exit gate operating this Sunday midday, while the previous Sunday around the same time there had been two.)

Btw, while I was looking for a smaller car (because I have to park it in a tight space), I saw a family going through the cars in the "exchange" area and settling on a smaller SUV with the mother commenting to her kids "this looks like it'll hold all our stuff". So this "exchange" area can work fine if what you want is more space for stuff in the car or a smaller car for fitting into parking, it just doesn't seem to work well if you want a luxury car without paying for it. :)

I self-exchanged for a Chevy Avenger.


Dodge Avenger or Chevy Cruze/Malibu/something else? :D



Btw, while I was looking for a smaller car (because I have to park it in a tight space), I saw a family going through the cars in the "exchange" area and settling on a smaller SUV with the mother commenting to her kids "this looks like it'll hold all our stuff". So this "exchange" area can work fine if what you want is more space for stuff in the car or a smaller car for fitting into parking, it just doesn't seem to work well if you want a luxury car without paying for it. :)

Yeah, 2 college girls were ahead of me at the preferred counter (I was swapping for a Genesis that was in the UG aisle but I didn't want to pay for it..): "I reserved an economy car. There's a Lincoln something in my spot. I don't think this is right for what I paid (as she handed over the rental agreement from the car)." The employee directed them to the Select & Go aisle to "just pick something and drive to the exit gate." They were thrilled to get a midsize Jeep SUV (Compass?) with all their bags.

Dodge Avenger or Chevy Cruze/Malibu/something else? :D

It was an Avenger so I guess it was a Dodge. :)

But that's how big a blur all those cars in the Exchange area seemed to me. Like, what's the difference between this one and that one (of the same size)? The SUVs (which I had no interest in) seemed all different, but the "intermediate" cars looked very similar no matter which brand...

As a chairman, when my car is parked in the VIP spaces, I have not been receiving the email. I had one economy rental where I was assigned to a space. In that instance, I did receive the email. Overall, checkout takes a few more seconds, but it has not been a big deal. If I need to change cars, I will march over to the preferred desk and politely ask for a different car. I would expect that Chairman and Presidential preferred members should receive this higher level of treatment. For First and Preferred, I would not be surprised to be directed to the exchange areas rather than an agent assisting you.

AI would expect that Chairman and Presidential preferred members should receive this higher level of treatment. For First and Preferred, I would not be surprised to be directed to the exchange areas rather than an agent assisting you.

That's what I would expect too at major US airports.

Question about Select & Go program:

I'm an Avis Preferred member and booked a one-day car rental from SJC last weekend. I got an email about the car they assigned to me but out of curiosity of this new program, I went straight to the "Exchange" area to see how this new program works and surprised to see couple of Ford Mustangs and other cool cars in the "Exchange" area. So, I asked the Avis representative in the counter about the "Exchange" area and they told me that I can pick any car I want from that area for "free".

So, my question is what happens if I reserve a economy car which are like ~$12 per day and pick up a ford mustang from exchange area which usually runs for about ~$40+ per day. Does this really work out? If this is possible, I would save some big bucks while driving a cool car though I know this all depends on the availability on that day and I might as well end up with a economy car if the "Exchange" area have much worse cars but looking at the cars in the "Exchange" area the other day, I'm willing to take the risk and reserve a economy car next time.

Thanks.

Question about Select & Go program:

I'm an Avis Preferred member and booked a one-day car rental from SJC last weekend. I got an email about the car they assigned to me but out of curiosity of this new program, I went straight to the "Exchange" area to see how this new program works and surprised to see couple of Ford Mustangs and other cool cars in the "Exchange" area. So, I asked the Avis representative in the counter about the "Exchange" area and they told me that I can pick any car I want from that area for "free".

So, my question is what happens if I reserve a economy car which are like ~$12 per day and pick up a ford mustang from exchange area which usually runs for about ~$40+ per day. Does this really work out? If this is possible, I would save some big bucks while driving a cool car though I know this all depends on the availability on that day and I might as well end up with a economy car if the "Exchange" area have much worse cars but looking at the cars in the "Exchange" area the other day, I'm willing to take the risk and reserve a economy car next time.

Thanks.

I believe you need an intermediate size reservation at least, economy and compact might not do it.

I believe you need an intermediate size reservation at least, economy and compact might not do it.

It's a good deal even with intermediate size. A quick search for this weekend at SJC shows an intermediate car for $35 whereas the Ford Mustang goes for $73. Maybe one should be lucky to see these specialty cars in the "Exchange" area for no additional charge.

I usually book a full-size car and ask for "Ford Mustang" or "Buick" or a luxury segment car for a free upgrade if available when I reach the Avis counter in the past and the answer has always been "Yes sir, we have them but for an additional $25+ per day". So, this new Select & Go program might work well for people like me and at the same time save some bucks.

So, my question is what happens if I reserve a economy car which are like ~$12 per day and pick up a ford mustang from exchange area which usually runs for about ~$40+ per day. Does this really work out? If this is possible, I would save some big bucks while driving a cool car though I know this all depends on the availability on that day and I might as well end up with a economy car if the "Exchange" area have much worse cars but looking at the cars in the "Exchange" area the other day, I'm willing to take the risk and reserve a economy car next time.
If you want a cool car, I don't know if this is a good strategy. I've done Select & Go 4 times so far, and the mix of cars (beyond always a selection of compact and intermediates and some kind of SUV) was rather inconsistent. Out of the 4 times, I think only 1 time did I see anything approaching a "cool car" in there.

So IMHO it's likely to be very hit & miss as to whether there's going to be a "cool car" in the exchange area on future times you're there.

Reserving an economy car if you want a compact or intermediate, at Select & Go locations, seems like a reasonable strategy. But reserving anything other than a "cool car" (or perhaps the category right below, I dunno) and hoping to get a "cool car" sounds like not the best odds, unless you're going to do this a lot and be happy enough if it only happens to you once in a rare while.

The exchange area seems to be the same no matter what type of car you reserve. At the very least, it's definitely the same whether you reserve an economy or a compact, and furthermore I have yet to have anyone ask me what category I reserved before pointing me to the exchange area. And no one here past an experience explaining they could exchange for free from anything other than exchange area just because they reserved a higher category car. (We're still waiting for that reported experiences from people who reserved high-category cars at Select & Go AFAIK.)

By the way, I duno about other people, and I dunno about other airports (including SJC), but for me, renting one-day on weekends this month (at LAX), every single time reserving an economy (or one of those times reserving a compact), they've given me some sort of SUVish thing by default. So there's no "economy car to go back to" in my experience. Since I don't want an SUV at all, I'm forced to pick a car from the exchange area! And, ironically, the exchange area doesn't always have economy cars, so in a sense I'm forced to upgrade! (And, btw, all this is as a simple Preferred.)

Hey all, looking forward to sharing my experiences w/ Select and Go as well. My company just switched to Avis as the preferred vendor effective September 1st. Supposedly we are all going to receive status match, which I assume means that we will all be given Avis First, even if we were ES or EE with National.

I primarily rent out of IND, PHX, and LIT/TUL so once I travel to those places I will update with my experience, and how it seems to compare to my usual Emerald Aisle experience in those locations.

I am National EE going back many years. My company has either Avis or Budget as our preferred. Avis is not horrible, but I have always had better luck with National.

One thing to watch is check your email to see what car you are assigned. A few times I didn't check my mail and my name wasn't on the board. The car in the email was better than what was offered at the counter.

At least if you check, you can decide if you want your emailed car or not. Lost a Volvo S60 that way last week.

Hey all, looking forward to sharing my experiences w/ Select and Go as well. My company just switched to Avis as the preferred vendor effective September 1st. Supposedly we are all going to receive status match, which I assume means that we will all be given Avis First, even if we were ES or EE with National.

I primarily rent out of IND, PHX, and LIT/TUL so once I travel to those places I will update with my experience, and how it seems to compare to my usual Emerald Aisle experience in those locations.

One thing to watch is check your email to see what car you are assigned. A few times I didn't check my mail and my name wasn't on the board. The car in the email was better than what was offered at the counter.
So far (all at LAX) I've tended to get my email only about 10 minutes before the pick-up time. So you may need to check your email right as you arrive at the Avis counter, especially if you're early, because the email may not be there before that.

I haven't had a case where my name wasn't on the board. But I did have a case where I showed up 45 minutes late, with no airline flight in the reservation record (because I wasn't flying in), and the car in the space (the email and the board agreed about the space number) was very different (and very different category) than the car in the email. The staff speculated that they'd given the car in my eamil to someone else because I'd been late; I dunno if that was the real explanation or just made up.

(Not that I cared in this case; the car in the email was an SUV, and I had wanted a sedan. Fortunately, plenty sedans to choose from in the exchange area always.)

I primarily rent out of IND, PHX, and LIT/TUL
On the first page there's a link to the Avis site about Select & Go. There they list the locatins thus:

Avis Preferred Select & Go Locations

•Albuquerque (Book Now)
•Atlanta (Book Now)
•Austin (Book Now)
•Baltimore (Book Now)
•Chicago ORD (Book Now)
•Dallas DFW (Book Now)
•Denver (Book Now)
•Fort Lauderdale (Book Now)
•Fort Myers (Book Now)
•Houston HOB (Book Now)
•Houston IAH (Book Now)
•Indianapolis (Book Now)
•Kansas City (Book Now)
•Las Vegas (Book Now)
•Los Angeles (Book Now)
•Miami (Book Now)
•Minneapolis (Book Now)
•Oakland (Book Now)
•Orlando (Book Now)
•Phoenix (Book Now)
•Seattle (Book Now)
•San Antonio (Book Now)
•San Francisco (Book Now)
•San Jose (Book Now)
•St. Louis (Book Now)

More Locations Coming Soon

As you can see, IND and PHX are already on the list, but LIT and TUL are not.

Does Avis have its own exit gate at LIT and TUL?

The Select & Go system, as presently implemented, requires a location to have an Avis-specific exit gate, since that's where your paperwork is generated. Thus I don't see how Select & Go could ever work at locations where there's a consolidated exit gate (ie, one exit gate for all rental companies), or no exit gate at all.

Does National's system also depend on a Natioanl-specific exit gate?

At any rate, I don't necessarily see this ever (in this form) coming to small airports where you have to go to the counter, even as Preferred, to pick up the keys, because the lot is unsecured and often even unattended (eg, HSV or LUB or SNA), and because those locations have so few cars they probably can't set aside on bunch as exchange and another bunch as upgrade. (At those locations, I suspect it would have to be handled on an individual basis, just as requests for a change of car always have been. But it's harder when the rental counter is a 5 minute walk from all the cars...)

I've never rented in LIT or TUL so I don't know what type of rental facilities there are at those airports.

Also: A Crown Vic? Seriously? There are still Crown Vics in the fleet?
At LAX today shortly after noon, the exchange area had five (5) Ford Crown Victoria LX cars. (It's so funny, I was going around counting them so I could post the count here, and the attendants kept asking me if I wanted that car!) Some were different colors, but otherwise, it was a sea of that. Given the size of the exchange area (and the fact that some spaces were empty), it seemed like a monopoly, but at any rate was about half of the cars available at that moment.

This is my 5th weekend rental at LAX S&G this month but the first one in which this car (or in fact any one car) was so overrepresented in the exchange area. (I wouldnn't have noticed if there was just one, since it's bigger than what I want, so I don't know if there was one there before, but certianly never this many before.)

At LAX today shortly after noon, the exchange area had five (5) Ford Crown Victoria LX cars. (It's so funny, I was going around counting them so I could post the count here, and the attendants kept asking me if I wanted that car!) Some were different colors, but otherwise, it was a sea of that. Given the size of the exchange area (and the fact that some spaces were empty), it seemed like a monopoly, but at any rate was about half of the cars available at that moment.

This is my 5th weekend rental at LAX S&G this month but the first one in which this car (or in fact any one car) was so overrepresented in the exchange area. (I wouldnn't have noticed if there was just one, since it's bigger than what I want, so I don't know if there was one there before, but certianly never this many before.)

I have to admit, after 2 times renting at LAX in the past month (all at night, 9pm-midnight), I have no idea where to go to find the Select & Go area, I would have to ask someone.

Also pretty crazy that they are trying to throw the crown vic in the upgrade area. Not only do we all know that it is not an upgrade but it is a gas hog and will be a nice sticker shock for anyone not renting on an expense account.

I have to admit, after 2 times renting at LAX in the past month (all at night, 9pm-midnight), I have no idea where to go to find the Select & Go area, I would have to ask someone.
The Select & Go area at LAX is right next to the Preferred booth. If you are facing the Preferred board, turn around 180 degrees and the upgrade area is right in front of you and the exchange area is just to the right of that.

Having said that, I haven't seen it at night, so I don't know if it's sufficiently lit (for it to be easily recognizable after dark) or not. It was pretty obvious to me in daylight, though (in fact, the very first time, I found it much easier than finding the car at my assigned spot! :) ).

I do have to qualify, though, that I read this thread first, so I knew up front that there was a Select & Go area to look for. And I was coming on foot (from beyond the main shuttle bus boarding area), and the Select & Go area was between me and the Preferred booth.

(Obviously, if you got dropped off at your assinged car by the shuttle, it may not have been as obvious as for me walking in from outside and having to walk across 2/3 of the Avis facility to get to the Preferred booth anyway.)

I rented from Avis at MCO (A side) a little after midnight on Thursday. I don't have a comprehensive list since it was late (several hour flight delay), I was tired, and in a hurry. For you MCO renters, keep in mind that there are two parking garages, only about 5 minutes apart if you walk briskly. So if you don't find what you want, the other garage might have something better.

Exchange area included:
A couple of two row pickup trucks.
Midsize SUV
Chrysler mini-van
two non-GT Mustangs.
Several other cars.

Upgrade area and daily upgrade fee (sorry I didn't all of the prices):
Corvette $125
Lincoln Navigator
BMW X5 - $50 IIRC, this was the cheapest upgrade
BMW 3 series - $65
Camaro convertible - $65
Two Camaro SS - $75
Other vehicles I didn't note.
http://www.swift-river.com/x5.jpg

I rented from Avis at MCO (A side) a little after midnight on Thursday. I don't have a comprehensive list since it was late (several hour flight delay), I was tired, and in a hurry. For you MCO renters, keep in mind that there are two parking garages, only about 5 minutes apart if you walk briskly. So if you don't find what you want, the other garage might have something better.

Exchange area included:
A couple of two row pickup trucks.
Midsize SUV
Chrysler mini-van
two non-GT Mustangs.
Several other cars.

Upgrade area and daily upgrade fee (sorry I didn't all of the prices):
Corvette $125
Lincoln Navigator
BMW X5 - $50 IIRC, this was the cheapest upgrade
BMW 3 series - $65
Camaro convertible - $65
Two Camaro SS - $75
Other vehicles I didn't note.
http://www.swift-river.com/x5.jpg

Thx for the picture and the info! That sounds pricey!

I rented from Avis at MCO (A side) a little after midnight on Thursday. I don't have a comprehensive list since it was late (several hour flight delay), I was tired, and in a hurry. For you MCO renters, keep in mind that there are two parking garages, only about 5 minutes apart if you walk briskly. So if you don't find what you want, the other garage might have something better.

Exchange area included:
A couple of two row pickup trucks.
Midsize SUV
Chrysler mini-van
two non-GT Mustangs.
Several other cars.

Upgrade area and daily upgrade fee (sorry I didn't all of the prices):
Corvette $125
Lincoln Navigator
BMW X5 - $50 IIRC, this was the cheapest upgrade
BMW 3 series - $65
Camaro convertible - $65
Two Camaro SS - $75
Other vehicles I didn't note.
http://www.swift-river.com/x5.jpg

I was at B side and a day after you around 11:00PM. The X5 there is actually $100. 3 series is $75.

I was at B side and a day after you around 11:00PM. The X5 there is actually $100. 3 series is $75.

I thought it strange that the X5 would be less than the 328, it was probably a mistake, and the price you saw was more likely correct.

I thought it strange that the X5 would be less than the 328, it was probably a mistake, and the price you saw was more likely correct.

Those rates seem rather exorbitant, since they're on top of existing rental pricing. The 528i has a daily price of ~ $115/day.

Perhaps they reflect the increase in Labor Day demand?

I rented from Avis at MCO (A side) a little after midnight on Thursday. I don't have a comprehensive list since it was late (several hour flight delay), I was tired, and in a hurry. For you MCO renters, keep in mind that there are two parking garages, only about 5 minutes apart if you walk briskly. So if you don't find what you want, the other garage might have something better.

Exchange area included:
A couple of two row pickup trucks.
Midsize SUV
Chrysler mini-van
two non-GT Mustangs.
Several other cars.

Upgrade area and daily upgrade fee (sorry I didn't all of the prices):
Corvette $125
Lincoln Navigator
BMW X5 - $50 IIRC, this was the cheapest upgrade
BMW 3 series - $65
Camaro convertible - $65
Two Camaro SS - $75
Other vehicles I didn't note.
http://www.swift-river.com/x5.jpg

That's pretty consistent with what I saw on the "B" side earlier that day.

Question about Select & Go program:

I'm an Avis Preferred member and booked a one-day car rental from SJC last weekend. I got an email about the car they assigned to me but out of curiosity of this new program, I went straight to the "Exchange" area to see how this new program works and surprised to see couple of Ford Mustangs and other cool cars in the "Exchange" area. So, I asked the Avis representative in the counter about the "Exchange" area and they told me that I can pick any car I want from that area for "free".

So, my question is what happens if I reserve a economy car which are like ~$12 per day and pick up a ford mustang from exchange area which usually runs for about ~$40+ per day. Does this really work out? If this is possible, I would save some big bucks while driving a cool car though I know this all depends on the availability on that day and I might as well end up with a economy car if the "Exchange" area have much worse cars but looking at the cars in the "Exchange" area the other day, I'm willing to take the risk and reserve a economy car next time.

Thanks.

I was there at SJC yesterday night and saw couple of Ford Mustangs ("cool car") in free exchange area. Later when I came back home and realized that the exchange area is free but with a caveat after reading this from Avis T&C:

28. Avis Preferred Select and Go Upgrades to Avis Cool Car

Avis offers you the opportunity to upgrade your rental vehicle to an Avis Cool Car at time of check out at participating locations as part of the Avis Preferred Select and Go service. You agree that if you utilize Avis Preferred Select and Go to upgrade to an Avis Cool Car, there will be an increase to the rental rate that you are obligated to pay.

I was there at SJC yesterday night and saw couple of Ford Mustangs ("cool car") in free exchange area. Later when I came back home and realized that the exchange area is free but with a caveat after reading this from Avis T&C:

28. Avis Preferred Select and Go Upgrades to Avis Cool Car

Avis offers you the opportunity to upgrade your rental vehicle to an Avis Cool Car at time of check out at participating locations as part of the Avis Preferred Select and Go service. You agree that if you utilize Avis Preferred Select and Go to upgrade to an Avis Cool Car, there will be an increase to the rental rate that you are obligated to pay.
A couple points:

1. Are you sure every trim of the Mustang is a "cool car"?

2. Whether you are charged an increase depends on whether the car is from the Exchange area or the Upgrade area, not on whether it is a "cool car" or not. Note that the T&Cs you quoted don't explain that there is an Exchange area vs an Upgrade area, and also doesn't explain that there should be a tag in each car explaining whether it's a free Exchange or an Upgrade, and if an Upgrade showing the Upgrade cost per day.

3. I've seen all sorts of "fancier" cars on a one-off occurrence in the LAX exchange area that I would not expect to be Exchange material (only Upgrade material). But each one I saw once was only there on one of five visits last month. So it's possible that SJC had an overflow of Mustangs that day, and thus made some of the available for Exchange that day (but that doesn't necessarily mean they will the next you're there).

Those rates seem rather exorbitant, since they're on top of existing rental pricing. The 528i has a daily price of ~ $115/day.

Perhaps they reflect the increase in Labor Day demand?
Just considered upgrading to a 528i at LAX and the upcharge was $75/day (I was already renting Full Size at ~$53/day). The guy at the desk said they could bring it down to $35/day bc of President's club. It would have added ~$120 to my rental which I didn't think was worth it.

I ended up with a Hyundai genesis but rather than getting a PC upgrade they charged me $15/day for it (down from the regular $30/day).

The Genesis isn't a bad car but not really a car I expected to have to pay for an upgrade.

They only had a 528 and an X3 in the upgrade section but I noticed about 5-8 other BMWs in a premium section.

Just considered upgrading to a 528i at LAX and the upcharge was $75/day (I was already renting Full Size at ~$53/day). The guy at the desk said they could bring it down to $35/day bc of President's club. It would have added ~$120 to my rental which I didn't think was worth it.

I ended up with a Hyundai genesis but rather than getting a PC upgrade they charged me $15/day for it (down from the regular $30/day).

The Genesis isn't a bad car but not really a car I expected to have to pay for an upgrade.

They only had a 528 and an X3 in the upgrade section but I noticed about 5-8 other BMWs in a premium section.

Hyundai Genesis is luxury category, if you rented full size you should've got that car for free with President's Club, it is a two class upgrade.

Was at OAK on Saturday. The Select & Go exchange had 4 cars in it: a big pickup truck (Dodge Ram?), a Dodge Grand Caravan and 2 Impalas. There were more cars in the upgrade area. The only one that I really paid attention to was a Volvo S60 for $20/day extra.

I've grabbed a Mustang twice from the Select and Go at DFW. No extra charge onto my rate.

Ford Mustang is NOT in the cool car category, I've had a GT model and it was labeled as Premium on my receipt. The V6 model is considered as standard class and it is in the same class as Nissan Altima Coupe and Ford Fusion. The convertible model is in the convertible class and it is not cool car either. Everything in the Select & Go are Full Size or lower, much more like National's Emerald Aisle and Hertz's Gold Choice.

Everything in the Select & Go are Full Size or lower, much more like National's Emerald Aisle and Hertz's Gold Choice.

Not always the case. I've seen SUVs and Premiums (Grand Marquis... at least premium per Avis :rolleyes:) in the S&G aisles.

Not always the case. I've seen SUVs and Premiums (Grand Marquis... at least premium per Avis :rolleyes:) in the S&G aisles.

Yes you are correct, I should say most of the time it's full size or lower. Sometimes they throw in few SUVs, the Mercury Grand Marquis is in a class of its own - the boat class. :D

I'm Avis Preferred and am planning on renting at SFO this weekend. Thinking of a challenger RT, X5 or 528. Any hints on select and go prices for these? What would be the suggested strategy? Rent intermediate (around $37) and add select&go upgrade fee or rent these cars straight away (around $147)?

Any hints on what the upgrade fee might be for these?

One more question on insurance. LDW for an intermediate size is around $15/day. For a cool car, it's more around $27-28/day. When doing s&g the insurance fees will be upgraded too, right?

I'm Avis Preferred and am planning on renting at SFO this weekend. Thinking of a challenger RT, X5 or 528. Any hints on select and go prices for these? What would be the suggested strategy? Rent intermediate (around $37) and add select&go upgrade fee or rent these cars straight away (around $147)?

Any hints on what the upgrade fee might be for these?

One more question on insurance. LDW for an intermediate size is around $15/day. For a cool car, it's more around $27-28/day. When doing s&g the insurance fees will be upgraded too, right?
Unless the intermediate reservation is the same cost as an economy (subcompact) reservation, I don't see the point of even paying for intermediate. You get the exact same Exchange area and the exact same Upgrade charges whether you pay for Economy or Intermediate. It sounds to like if you pay for Intermeidate (at a Select & Go location, as at least a Preferred), you are throwing away money (the difference between Economy and Intermediate).

So if you think you want to Exchange or Upgrade at Select & Go, I'd say reserve Economy.

If you're afraid that either the Upgrade section won't have the car class you want, or that you'll end up paying more, the rent the exact class you want, so that you can go to the desk and say "I just want what I reserved".

I don't see the point of anything in between.

Meanwhile, do you have your own personal car insurance (if you live in the US)? If so, why are you worrying about LDW? Or, if not, do you have good credit card collision insurance? LDW is usually a very bad deal, compared to almost every other alternative.


... And welcome to FlyerTalk, mcfly9!

Meanwhile, do you have your own personal car insurance (if you live in the US)? If so, why are you worrying about LDW? Or, if not, do you have good credit card collision insurance? LDW is usually a very bad deal, compared to almost every other alternative.


... And welcome to FlyerTalk, mcfly9!


Thanks! :)

I am from Europe and only have a company car, so I don't have a private insurance liable for rental cars. Not even my corporate amex has LDW covered :( I was looking at some LDW insurance companies online but they didn't seem to be much trustworthy.

Dropped off a car today and two sets of 6 or so spaces were sectioned off and the pavement had been painted. Signs by each space were covered. This can only mean bad things in CLE

anyone with LAS experience? Hoping it's better than my dealings with Hertz.

They have an interesting system at LAS, if you want an upgrade, they take you to a wheel and spin it, you might end up with a BMW, or subcompact. They even have a few Crown Vics and Town Cars on the wheel.

anyone with LAS experience? Hoping it's better than my dealings with Hertz.

Unless the intermediate reservation is the same cost as an economy (subcompact) reservation, I don't see the point of even paying for intermediate. You get the exact same Exchange area and the exact same Upgrade charges whether you pay for Economy or Intermediate. It sounds to like if you pay for Intermeidate (at a Select & Go location, as at least a Preferred), you are throwing away money (the difference between Economy and Intermediate).

So if you think you want to Exchange or Upgrade at Select & Go, I'd say reserve Economy.

If you're afraid that either the Upgrade section won't have the car class you want, or that you'll end up paying more, the rent the exact class you want, so that you can go to the desk and say "I just want what I reserved".

I don't see the point of anything in between.

Meanwhile, do you have your own personal car insurance (if you live in the US)? If so, why are you worrying about LDW? Or, if not, do you have good credit card collision insurance? LDW is usually a very bad deal, compared to almost every other alternative.


... And welcome to FlyerTalk, mcfly9!
In theory yes....however agents fudge numbers to give you a deal on the listed Select & Go charges (At least they have for me as a PC member)

For instance they told me a BMW would be $110/day upcharge but he could give it to me for $45. I still said no way and he said Ok the lowest I can do is $25/day. The funny thing is when I rented the same car class a month prior they told me the best they could do was $30.

So I have no idea what basis agents use to come up with these reduced upcharges and in my experience they fudge the bill. I was suckered into one of these once and there was no record of the select&go upcharge, instead there was an additional charge for some liability insurance or something.

Decent selection last week in Select and Go. They put me in a Maxima w/ 2200 on the odo so I didn't switch, but I was directly across from the select and go row. Were a couple of the new Ford Escapes, a Malibu, an Impala, a Ford Edge and a few others that I don't remember in the Exchange section because they probably weren't noteworthy.

I HATE S&G! I'm probably a 100 day/yr renter - Avis First. My company doesn't care what size you get, as long as it is full sized or less. You can pick Budget or Avis. My past tactic was to reserve Avis, full size, and take my one car upgrade to Premium. Always got something nice to drive.

Since S&G started, I have NEVER been assigned an upgrade. Today was just another example - get to a deserted BWI (due to Sandy) and my car is the paid full size Altima - despite over 100 cars parked in the stalls. Not like they didn't have a premium car available. So go over to the exchange lane and there is nothing remarkable there - wound up taking an Escape because in MD & DC you have to be hands free and I like the Ford BT ease of use.

The point is this - when I drove off in the Escape, paying for a full size, it was the same car I could have had while paying for a mid-sized and without being Avis First. It just seems like Avis didn't think this through. It is counterintuitive to disincentivize your most loyal customers, paying at a higher price point.

How is Select & Go working for Chairmen's Club members? Does this mean we're no longer going to get BMWs but instead have to pay to upgrade?

Just noticed that S&G is coming to DCA starting November!

How is Select & Go working for Chairmen's Club members? Does this mean we're no longer going to get BMWs but instead have to pay to upgrade?

Just noticed that S&G is coming to DCA starting November!

Noticed NO difference since S&G started (been to many locations including DFW, ORD, LAS, EWR and SAT that I remember). If I see something else that I want, I grab my contract/folder and go in to the desk and say, "As a CHM, can I get xxx instead of yyy?" I haven't had any issues getting anything. Historically, it seemed I was often denied specialty cars, but lately I've gotten anything. Some of the best have been the QX56 in SAT and red 'Vette in SMF.

Unless the intermediate reservation is the same cost as an economy (subcompact) reservation, I don't see the point of even paying for intermediate. You get the exact same Exchange area and the exact same Upgrade charges whether you pay for Economy or Intermediate. It sounds to like if you pay for Intermeidate (at a Select & Go location, as at least a Preferred), you are throwing away money (the difference between Economy and Intermediate).

So if you think you want to Exchange or Upgrade at Select & Go, I'd say reserve Economy.

I just checked the terms and conditions and found this (emphasis mine):

When you enroll in Avis Preferred Service, we'll pre-assign a vehicle based on your travel preferences. Then you'll have three options allowing you to choose whether you keep your pre-assigned car or select a new one when you reserve an intermediate vehicle or larger.

I had a feeling I had seen that before, and it makes sense since National's Emerald Aisle requires an Intermediate booking to access (Economy/Compact you have a car assigned to you or choose from a row of Compacts only). Not sure what Avis would do in such a case, but chances are you wouldn't be eligible for Select & Go with an Economy or Compact booking, rather they'd make you pay the Intermediate rate or switch you into a different small car.

I had a feeling I had seen that before, and it makes sense since National's Emerald Aisle requires an Intermediate booking to access (Economy/Compact you have a car assigned to you or choose from a row of Compacts only). Not sure what Avis would do in such a case, but chances are you wouldn't be eligible for Select & Go with an Economy or Compact booking, rather they'd make you pay the Intermediate rate or switch you into a different small car.
Well, I have no S&G experience since (a bunch of rentals at LAX in) August. I cannot say whether anything's changed since then.

But in August (when I was only Preferred), whether I rented Economy or Compact (it was never anything higher), I still got access to the Exchange Area, and the Exchange Area had multiple car types. Perhaps it was the "less desirable" (to some) cars within the higher categories, I dunno, but it certainly had cars in at least the Intermediate category (plus some SUVs typically), and I got access to it (even an email telling me I was getting access to it) on every one of my 5 rentals.

So they were clearly not restricting it to Intermetiate rentals and above back in August at LAX.

They also claim you need Avis First for upgrades, and yet I was usually (at least domestically) getting upgrades from Economy or Compact even as Preferred. (Plus there was that thing I discovered a few months ago where their US website was blatantly wrong about where you could drive European cars.) So I take their official written policies with a grain of salt.

Noticed NO difference since S&G started (been to many locations including DFW, ORD, LAS, EWR and SAT that I remember). If I see something else that I want, I grab my contract/folder and go in to the desk and say, "As a CHM, can I get xxx instead of yyy?" I haven't had any issues getting anything. Historically, it seemed I was often denied specialty cars, but lately I've gotten anything. Some of the best have been the QX56 in SAT and red 'Vette in SMF.

I was at DCA this morning, and their upgrades comprised a BMW X3, Volvo C70 convertible and a Camaro SS. I was told no upgrades for Chairmen.

I'm beginning to think that National Executive is superior, especially since I've been able to snag brand new Caddy ATS/XTS cars recently.

I was at DCA this morning...I was told no upgrades for Chairmen.


Seriously? I'd have called the CHM desk from the lot if the manager wouldn't do anything. If you try to make a reservation and it shows lux (or whatever class) you want, tell them it's obviously "available". I've done both of the above previously with success.

Seriously? I'd have called the CHM desk from the lot if the manager wouldn't do anything. If you try to make a reservation and it shows lux (or whatever class) you want, tell them it's obviously "available". I've done both of the above previously with success.

I should clarify that with "no complimentary upgrades to the upgrade section of preferred select & go". I was assigned an FX35 that smelled smoky so I asked for the BMW X3 next to it, but they refused. Technically they would be correct since the X3 is a specialty vehicle, but I was annoyed that they didn't seem to care about the cigarette odor.

DCA is just more parsimonious about upgrades. District manager said I can only receive a BMW upgrade if I reserve a premium unfortunately.

I should clarify that with "no complimentary upgrades to the upgrade section of preferred select & go". I was assigned an FX35 that smelled smoky so I asked for the BMW X3 next to it, but they refused. Technically they would be correct since the X3 is a specialty vehicle, but I was annoyed that they didn't seem to care about the cigarette odor.

DCA is just more parsimonious about upgrades. District manager said I can only receive a BMW upgrade if I reserve a premium unfortunately.

If you log into your Avis account and hover over your status, it will show your benefits. One now shows "Free upgrade to best available car". It doesn't show "not specialty" or any other restrictions...

If you log into your Avis account and hover over your status, it will show your benefits. One now shows "Free upgrade to best available car". It doesn't show "not specialty" or any other restrictions...

On the CC welcome packet there was an index card that has T&C on it. It says "Upgrade to best car available does not apply to Cool Cars (X car group) or on long term rentals."

The BMW X3 is classified as an "XG". I guess YMMV on how strictly each station enforces that.

On the CC welcome packet there was an index card that has T&C on it. It says "Upgrade to best car available does not apply to Cool Cars (X car group) or on long term rentals."

The BMW X3 is classified as an "XG". I guess YMMV on how strictly each station enforces that.

Not trying to argue, just pointing out what Avis says.. I know the welcome packet originally stated no specialty (and some stations enforced this) but their website now doesn't have ANY exclusions, nor does it say "read the fine print below", etc. I know Avis doesn't often follow their written policies, so nothing is guaranteed, but at least the website wording gives you a leg to stand on if you want to complain to them abt upgrades.

Not trying to argue, just pointing out what Avis says.. I know the welcome packet originally stated no specialty (and some stations enforced this) but their website now doesn't have ANY exclusions, nor does it say "read the fine print below", etc. I know Avis doesn't often follow their written policies, so nothing is guaranteed, but at least the website wording gives you a leg to stand on if you want to complain to them abt upgrades.

Are you saying that the Avis website used to exclude Cool Cars but now does not?

If that's the case, then I shall follow your lead and call the Avis CHM desk next time I'm there.:)

Not trying to argue, just pointing out what Avis says.. I know the welcome packet originally stated no specialty (and some stations enforced this) but their website now doesn't have ANY exclusions, nor does it say "read the fine print below", etc. I know Avis doesn't often follow their written policies, so nothing is guaranteed, but at least the website wording gives you a leg to stand on if you want to complain to them abt upgrades.

Are you referring to this reliable (NOT!) website:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avis/1382611-avis-com-claims-cars-rented-switzerland-cant-driven-out-country.html

or some other one? :confused:

Avis clearly does not put a priority on keeping the fnformation on their website accurate. It feels like it just contains what some low-level intern decided should go up there, and left off anything the low-level intern didn't think was important.

I wouldn't assume it reflect actual policies. Sometimes it says things are worse than they are, sometimes it says they are better. Rarely does it seem to reflect reality. :td:

Are you saying that the Avis website used to exclude Cool Cars but now does not?


There wasn't anything on the web before that I knew of, just what came in the mail when I originally got CHM status. It stated unlimited upgrades, except to cool/specialty cars (forget the exact wording). Now, if you log into your Avis account, under Membership Status, it shows "See all the benefits" beside CHM Club. It lists meet & greet service, personal return valet service, GUARANTEED car availability (caps theirs), and free upgrade to the best available car.


Are you referring to this reliable (NOT!) website:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avis/1382611-avis-com-claims-cars-rented-switzerland-cant-driven-out-country.html

or some other one? :confused:


As noted above, when you lot into your acct at Avis.com. I first noticed this a few weeks ago but don't know how long it's been there.


Avis clearly does not put a priority on keeping the fnformation on their website accurate. It feels like it just contains what some low-level intern decided should go up there, and left off anything the low-level intern didn't think was important.

I wouldn't assume it reflect actual policies. Sometimes it says things are worse than they are, sometimes it says they are better. Rarely does it seem to reflect reality. :td:

+1 on everything you said!

Just to beat this into the ground further, I sent an email to the Chairman's desk to inquire about upgrades.

CHM benefits only extend up to luxury vehicles. Upgrade vehicles in the Select & Go section will be charged at the listed per diem rate.

So YMMV as always; very location specific. The manager can of course choose to give a specialty upgrade but it would otherwise be difficult to argue that I'm entitled to one.

On a separate note, has anybody done an upgrade with one of the Avis First free weekend days coupons? Does it negate the two free days, or does the upcharge just work as an additional charge for all days of the rental?

I was surprised to see this thread hasn't seen any action in a while.

For anyone that regularly does Select&Go and various airports are the upgrade fee's consistant or do they vary?

6 months ago in LAX they wanted $100/day upcharge for a BMW 528i. Today I happened to notice a 528i, 328i, and X3 in the ORD upgrade aisle each for only $20/day upcharge. I thought that was quite low compared to my experience at LAX.

I was surprised to see this thread hasn't seen any action in a while.

For anyone that regularly does Select&Go and various airports are the upgrade fee's consistant or do they vary?

6 months ago in LAX they wanted $100/day upcharge for a BMW 528i. Today I happened to notice a 528i, 328i, and X3 in the ORD upgrade aisle each for only $20/day upcharge. I thought that was quite low compared to my experience at LAX.

Wow, a $100 upgrade fee for a 528?!? I wouldn't pay $60/day for the vehicle. The highest upgrade I've seen is $100/day for a Navigator in DFW. I can't comment on the others/consistency as I haven't studied them. I'll try to take note in the future.

Wow, a $100 upgrade fee for a 528?!? I wouldn't pay $60/day for the vehicle. The highest upgrade I've seen is $100/day for a Navigator in DFW. I can't comment on the others/consistency as I haven't studied them. I'll try to take note in the future.

Yes, it was something absurd and because I am a PC member they said they would "help me out" and give it to me for $35/day.

I just saw a BMW X5 at ORD Select & Go, for a $75/day upgrade. A far cry from the 528i $20/day upgrades I saw last Monday morning.