Hertz - SFO problems

Monday the line at the Gold counter was ... over 500 deep (maybe even 1000). I am not joking. It went out the door, down the entire length of the rental car structure to where the Exit is, and wraped back half way back to the counter. They have got to do something about that place.

Most folks had confirmed reservations, but no one had a car waiting. Would have been hours to get a car.

In other words, the gold members got off the bus, did not see their name on the board, and went in to see what was going on. Do I have that correct?

If so, then Good Grief! what on earth was happening at SFO??? I may be taking a trip there in about 6 weeks, and have no desire whatsoever to get caught up in a mess like that.

Do you think this was a temporary aberration or something that may bite us on a regular basis? Any ideas?

P.S. Thank you for the heads-up, auh20

You have it correct. Happens alot on totally sold out Monday AM's at SFO. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

hnechets:

I was in SFO some time ago. All rental companies are in one big building. A rnetal bus (not a Hertz or Avis Bus) drives you to this building. When I remember it right, I went direct to the Gold parking area and found my car (the Hertz area is near the counters).

You may call Hertz how they handle the Gold customers right now.

for more than a year now, I (Hertz#1 Gold) rent my Hertz-cars now from the (personal owner) Hertz desk at the SFO airport Marriott.

My (very positiv) experience (last one shared with comicwoman on sep-10-2000):
reservations/paper-work is made in 5 minutes
the owner offered (without me asking for any special favour): no charge for the Never lost system (I allways rent with navigationthe system in SFO, the system even found dgolds-place!).
no airport pick.-up charge, etc. (isn't it some 17% at SFO airport otherwise?).
the Hertz desk isn't occupied during night time, nor on Sundays (but at the end, you just note the mileage and parking space and drop the key, and you might even spare the charge of some supplementary hours ... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif.
the car waits in the Marriott parking lot (it was about a 30seconds walk from the hotel entrance)
the Marriott Shuttle runs at least as many times as the Rental car shuttle.

I too have had dismal serice in SFO, not just from HErtz either. The rental car "structure" is off site and accessed by airport shuttles only. What that means is that they are NO help what so ever loading or unloading, and the ride is always full as they are servicing all of the rental cars agencies.
If you fly in on Delta, it is quite a hike just to get to the pickup location!

Thanks for the tip about the Airport Marriott Hertz!!

I rented at SFO twice in the last three weeks on a Monday and the gold desk had a line of 20 people at 10 AM. Cleared me in about 10-15 minutes, so it was just tolerable, but not what I would desire.

I think it is time to write a letter.

I have also rented from the airport Marriott, but just to save the airport access charge. I didn't realize that I saved a long wait in line, too.

The Marriott facility is very nice. I also got a free upgrade and NeverLost. And the van to the hotel is quick enough.

Bruce

Rudi, bdschobel:

Hertz at Marriott looks like a good deal.
How does the Hertz at Marriott SFO work?
Can I reserve it (on the Internet)?

one of the advantages at the SFO-Marriott-Hertz desk is that you are served by the owner himself. Booking through the Internet will automatically add charges the owner may wave if you book in person (He did wave the Never Lost system for us without us asking anything, he also gave me the tip, that if I return the car a 'little bit late, when the desk is closed (it is closed all Sunday) and if 'that late return wouldn't show 'anywhere' I would not be charged those suppl. hours ....

You can probably book it through the Internet (I did book a Hertz car being picked up at the Hertz desk at the Anaheim-Marriott this spring for my daughter).

Rudi:

Thanks. I will try the "Hertz/Marriott" next time; I still have a ticket to SFO which has to be used until Aug. 2001.

Thanks for the great tip Rudi and bdschobel. I rented from National last time at SFO and it wasn't bad, but I arrived at 7:30 a.m. so avoided a rush. I can imagine it gets worse at all the counters. Hertz at the Marriott sounds like the best solution for my November trip to SFO.