Hertz - Gold Club - Any actual benefit(s)?

Hi All,

I'm new here and have a situation that I haven't seen mentioned in the searches I've done here on the forum.

When at my local AAA office recently, I noticed a brochure that stated AAA members could receive free membership in the Hertz Gold Club. So, I took advantage of that and registered for Gold Club. However, now I'm thinking that wasn't the most sensible choice.

From what I have found while searching for a potential rental, there is no benefit provided by Gold Club except perhaps saving a couple of minutes waiting in line.

For instance, I went to the Hertz website and searched for a full size car without logging in, without providing my AAA CDP, nor any other coupon and received the following quote:

Chevrolet Malibu or similar
Full Size 4 Dr., FCAR

277.00 USD Per Week
Unlimited Free Miles, Loss Damage Waiver Included

Total (without taxes/fees) 277 USD



However, when logging into the Hertz website using my Gold Club ID, providing my AAA CDP, and using PC #960665 (1 free day for weekly rental), I received this quote for the same type of vehicle, same rental location, same date & time:
Chevrolet Malibu or similar
Full Size 4 Dr., FCAR

455.84 USD Per Week
Unlimited Free Miles Included, NO Loss Damage Waiver Included
LDW = 203 USD (7 * 29 USD/Day)

Total (without taxes/fees) 653.83 USD


Is this typical of people using Gold Club/AAA discounts? I would have expected the price results to be absolutely the opposite. A better price for those with GC/AAA and the more than two times higher price for anyone else without any CDP, PC, etc.

It's unbelievable to me that the pricing would be so much higher for something that I was led to believe was an actual 'benefit' for members.

If anyone could shed any light on this and why there's such a tremendous price difference, I'd be very grateful. As it stands now, I'd be foolish to provide any AAA CDP or PC when searching or making a reservation. For a savings of a few hundred dollars, I guess I can afford to wait in line for a bit.

Kenneth

Welcome to FlyerTalk Kenneth, and congrats on an insightful first post.

There definitely are benefits, but they aren't extensive. They boil down to not waiting in line (not just a few minutes, lines can be quite long at peak times!) and upgrades. You are much more likely to get upgraded as a Gold member of any level.

As for your rate issues, this is common, and has been discussed many times, including recently in this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz/1359442-upgrade-pc-making-rate-triple-normal.html

Quoting myself from that thread: it is completely common for a PC to jack up the rates, sometimes seemingly absurdly so.

In your example I wonder if you had a weekend rate, and the PC called for daily rates. Daily = Weekday, and is commonly 2 to 4 times as high as weekend rates. The PC will modify the rate to apply it. So, as you learned, "renter beware."I strongly suspect it is not an issue with your profile or your CDP, but most likely the specific PC.

Try clearing the CDP and PC and you should find the exact same rate. Next, add the CDP, and you should find the same rate discounted about 15%. Then test PCs until you find one that works without changing the rate to a higher rate.

Anyone who has rented a car at a popular vacation or resort location can attest to the benefit of Gold Club.

Just to clarify what the other posters are saying.. you are confusing two different things. There is no relationship between being a Gold Club member and the rate you will be charged.

You can login, but just do not use the PC (or CDP if necessary).

Avoiding the line to get your car can be a significant time savings, as some have said. Also in locations that run out of cars from time to time, you're more likely to have one waiting for you (like having an assigned seat on a plane and checking in early).

There is also a benefit for renting with a spouse (and maybe some other family members). AAA gets you free extra driver for these, and with Gold you don't need to register them at the time of checkout. About half the time I rent I am with my wife, so this is significant for me.

You can play games with the CDP and PC numbers to see what really changes the price. You can use your Gold account and not the AAA CDP if you wish.

Welcome to Flyertalk.

OK, I'll bite.

Exactly how are you getting a week rate for a full size car with LDW included for $277? Which dates and location? That makes no logical sense at all.

LDW by itself is usually like $22 (or in your case $29) per day, or over half the rate you were quoted.

I would guess you had a cookie from some cdp and discount combination that you searched with previously that was still in use, I don't think it's possible to get a weekly full size rental with LDW for that price without some discount coding.

Exactly how are you getting a week rate for a full size car with LDW included for $277? Which dates and location? That makes no logical sense at all.I noticed that, too, but figured there was some explanation, user error topping the list of possible explanations.I would guess you had a cookie from some cdp and discount combination that you searched with previously that was still in use, I don't think it's possible to get a weekly full size rental with LDW for that price without some discount coding.Intriguing!

Kenneth, have you used a different CDP in the past, perhaps one that includes LDW? (Large corporate accounts sometimes get this deal, also certain foreign CDPs.)

user error topping the list of possible explanations.That's the FT razor.

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

I went back and searched again using 2 different browsers this time to avoid any conflicts with cookies or prior search histories. I've found though that these rental rates change about as fast as airfares. In the span of 1 hour or so of searching, I could easily have 3 or more completely different rates for the same car type at the same location and same dates.

The full size car including LDW I had originally posted about was from SFO from 18 September to 25 September. I found that if I just use my AAA CDP and a PC, without logging in, the total rate including taxes/fees is: 303.13 USD. http://3xzx.com/hertz/hertzAAA_PC.jpg

However, as soon as I login using my Gold Club ID, that rate becomes 681.08 USD. But the LDW which previously was shown at 29 USD / day has become 15 USD / day. Still, when logged in as Gold Club (using AAA CDP and PC) the rate is more than double a standard rate without using any CDP or PC.

Even without using any CDP or PC, the results when logged in as Gold Club and not logged in at all are that Gold Club = more than double the normal base rate as verified by the images attached.

I have added images of some of the results I have found while doing my searches. Hope they can help shed some light on what I've discovered in my searching and what others here had questions about.

This image is the selection of vehicles available when NOT logged in, NO CDP, NO PC:

http://3xzx.com/hertz/hertz_no_gc.jpg


This image is the selection of vehicles available when logged in as Gold Club, but again with NO CDP nor PC:

http://3xzx.com/hertz/hertz_gc.jpg

Thank you all again.

Regards,

Kenneth

Usually when Hertz shows Rate 1 and Rate 2 options, it thinks you live in someplace other than the US.

You should not be seeing that option when renting in San Francisco if the system thinks you live in the US.

I don't have a clue why it's doing that, but it's not something most people would see.

I say make the reservation, then use the contact us section to have them associate it with your gold account. It won't matter for picking up on your first rental, you still have to go through the line (cut can go out to the gold booth instead of wasting an hour in the general line). San Francisco can sometimes have the longest lines of any Hertz counter I've been at, indeed every time I walk past the zig zag of the dozens of people waiting I'm glad I'm gold and can just go to the car.

Kenneth, have you used a different CDP in the past, perhaps one that includes LDW? (Large corporate accounts sometimes get this deal, also certain foreign CDPs.)

Hi Rut Dog, The only CDP I have ever used is from AAA. I've been tempted to use others, but if I'm not technically qualified to be using them, I don't want to risk any problems down the road, so to speak, if any accidents or other damages.

Usually when Hertz shows Rate 1 and Rate 2 options, it thinks you live in someplace other than the US.

You should not be seeing that option when renting in San Francisco if the system thinks you live in the US.

I don't have a clue why it's doing that, but it's not something most people would see.Kenneth, could it be that you have a US address on your gold profile, but are using a website outside of the US? If so, then you'd get the foreign quotes when not logged in (subject to foreign regulations regarding insurance, I don't know much about this but know it exists), but when logged in you will get US quotes.

I say make the reservation, then use the contact us section to have them associate it with your gold account. Or just call the 800 number. But if you are not a resident of the UK and you book UK rates/insurance, those rates are not likely to hold, regardless of whether you use your Gold profile.

Usually when Hertz shows Rate 1 and Rate 2 options, it thinks you live in someplace other than the US.

Kenneth, could it be that you have a US address on your gold profile, but are using a website outside of the US? If so, then you'd get the foreign quotes when not logged in (subject to foreign regulations regarding insurance, I don't know much about this but know it exists), but when logged in you will get US quotes.

Mike & Rut Dog,

This is exactly what's happening. I'm actually in Taiwan at this time, but my Gold Club is linked to my home address in the US. I hadn't realized Hertz would offer much better rates & options to those living outside the US.

So, if I do go ahead and book the car while I am still in Taiwan, would they later be able to claim that I was provided a rate that I'm not really qualified to have received and charge me a higher fee?

Kenneth

So, if I do go ahead and book the car while I am still in Taiwan, would they later be able to claim that I was provided a rate that I'm not really qualified to have received and charge me a higher fee?



They usually include this line in their confirmations

This reservation is based on information you have provided Hertz, including information regarding your current geographic location. Hertz reserves the right to demand proof of what you have told us. In particular, if you have indicated that you are located outside your country of residence, you may, at the time of rental, be required to prove where you were when this reservation was made, through evidence such as an air or rail carrier ticket receipt, a hotel bill or a utility bill addressed to you at the location where you say you were. Failure to provide such substantiation may invalidate the rates you have been quoted, or in validate the entire reservation. Providing false information to Hertz in connection with this reservation would also breach your rental agreement and could violate the law.


I've never tried it, but if that's still the wording they are using, you just have to prove you were not in the US when you made the reservation.

I think I should be safe then if they try to question the rate. While I still maintain US citizenship, state driver's license, AAA membership, etc, I'm a legal resident of Taiwan and have no problem to provide documentation and air ticket to show the fact that I am physically in Taiwan when making the reservation.

Kenneth

2006 article on the country of origin rate disparity issue http://articles.boston.com/2006-03-12/travel/29252296_1_neil-abrams-rental-car-pricing

There is no relationship between being a Gold Club member and the rate you will be charged.NOT true, and well-documented here. hertz often charges much higher rates to gold members, even if there are no CDPs or issues with renting or having a license in a different country. hertz tries to impose the "gold surcharge" on at least 10% of my rentals.

in this particular instance, it so happened that the renter discovered an origin rate disparity. but it is still worthwhile to caution renters that hertz will happily quote a higher rate based solely on the renter's status as gold.

NOT true, and well-documented here. hertz often charges much higher rates to gold members, even if there are no CDPs or issues with renting or having a license in a different country. hertz tries to impose the "gold surcharge" on at least 10% of my rentals.

in this particular instance, it so happened that the renter discovered an origin rate disparity. but it is still worthwhile to caution renters that hertz will happily quote a higher rate based solely on the renter's status as gold.I haven't seen this or read about it here. Which doesn't mean its not true. Can you provide some links and/or examples?

here's a discussion i started. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz/1085518-1-club-members-always-forget-log-when-checking-rates.html)