Hertz - Any advantage to PC over Centurion privileges?

As a Centurion card holder I get a nice upgrade every time I rent anyway. In fact, the 5* status gives me a worse upgrade than I'm supposed to get and I frequently have to argue with them. I'm three rentals shy of 40 for the year. Is there any benefit to making it over and above what I already get with Centurion?

QL

Your Centurian level should actually be a little better then their President circle membership which is what you should become at about 40 rentals.

As a PC I can only say that in 2003 the level of service and upgrades has deteriorated significantly from prior years. In most cases when booking a full size I typically don't ever get better than a Mercury Marquis, and in most cases I show up to see only a Ford Taurus, sometimes with Satellite radio (Big Whoop).

While I understand that this is the stated benefit of PC, it is actually exactly the same as 5* and typical of what I have always received through the years as both a 5* as well as a PC.

It is very discouraging that in almost every case I have to ask for an upgrade. This is not what I have come to expect from premium programs. As a top tier on AA I NEVER have to ask for the standard upgrades, especially when I check-in. AA, Marriott and most other hospitality companies have dedicated phone numbers and reservation lines for top tier frequent customers, I am not aware of one at Hertz. Maybe I've just been a PC for so long that I never updated my file but I think that a reservation agent and advocacy team such as the other premiere elite programs provide would be a significant benefit to Hertz elite customers and even more important than upgrades (although these are nice too).

Merry Christmas

The difference between 5* and President is that the PC you get a gauranteed upgrade to at least a Premium car as long as you book at least a midsize, the 5* I believe is not gauranteed. Only time I could see that they may have needed to give you just a fullsize is if maybe they were already all pre-reserved and didnt want to give someone elses car away that had actually paid for it. Also to know the exact difference's you can always call up Hertz and have them read to you what the difference is. It is in there computer on what both are intitled to. If for some reason they seem to not be able to answer just ask to speak with one of the CSS and they will be able to tell you.


[This message has been edited by pokes (edited Dec 25, 2003).]

I have done some investigation as to why I am not getting automatic upgrades. My best guess is that the 5* status is overriding the Centurion status ("AG" in their system). I too would rather not have to argue but overall I'm happy with the program, especially with the endless discounts and free days for leisure rental.

Sounds like there's no point in making PC; it offers no advantage over Centurion.

QL

You may contact the Gold department that actually sets up the accounts and make sure the your centurian level shows instead of the 5*. Not the res. center but the actual Gold department over accounts. I am pretty sure your Centurian level is better then PC. I think it would def. be worth the call.

I've called. They removed the 5* but it came back.

QL

humm.. I wonder why it would keep converting back over? Sounds like either someone is accidentaly changing it when updating the file or there may be a glitch with that part of the system? Depending on how many times you have already called, like if you have only spoke to them one or twice then I would call them back and ask them to check into why it keeps getting changed. If you have called numerous times then it may just be a hopeless case.

Just as is QuietLion, I am 5* and also a Centurion cardholder. However, I don't always use that card when booking Hertz because the company requests that whenever possible on business I use a different card.

It is my experience from using alternates that the card used overrides the status and the privileges provided have always been as advertised for Centurion. Whenever I use the black card, I get the upgrade to premium. However, whenever I use the company's gold card, I need to request the 5* upgrade after they have already set me up with the usual Taurus.

OK, I just called Gold CS again and spoke to the same nice woman I spoke to last year. She said 5* was removed and is still removed and the Centurion status is showing so her conclusion is that the locations I rent from most frequently are botching it. She is forwarding the problem to another department, which will contact the locations involved and attempt to resolve the problem through training.

QL

QL ~ What are the Centurion benefits supposed to be? As a Platinum I have "one car class upgrade" "hard-coded" into my profile and I think I get guaranteed availability using the Platinum CDP, but that's it ..

Monitor,

Can you tell us what Centurion card-holder status entails and how you get it?


<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by monitor:
Just as is QuietLion, I am 5* and also a Centurion cardholder. However, I don't always use that card when booking Hertz because the company requests that whenever possible on business I use a different card.

It is my experience from using alternates that the card used overrides the status and the privileges provided have always been as advertised for Centurion. Whenever I use the black card, I get the upgrade to premium. However, whenever I use the company's gold card, I need to request the 5* upgrade after they have already set me up with the usual Taurus.</font>

Beckles,

Do you mean you are a Platinum Amex member? If so unfort. a person is not always gaurenteed avail. of cars. It is true that in some cases it may help out but there are a few times to where they will not be able to get anything at all.

As for what it takes to become a Centurion member I would kind if be interested in knowing as well. Not because I would want to be one but just to have a little incite for other people who may have that same question later on down the road.

Glad things seem to be working out for you now QuietLion.

You will be eligible for a Centurion Card if you charge 150K per year on your Platinum Amex.
If that is your case, you can get a whole lot more information by searching the Amex board.

The Hertz Centurion privilege includes an upgrade to Premium if an Intermediate car is reserved; a four-hour grace period for rental return; and weekend rates starting Thursday morning instead of Thursday afternoon. There may be other benefits I don't recall.

QL

In Australia the benefits for Centurion are:

Upgrade to Sat Nav or vehicle in the Prestige Collection

Free hotel delivery

Discounted Rates

Free Child Seats

Guaranteed availability with 2 hours notice

Sounds like Centurion is pretty good - better than PC in some ways. But a couple of ways that PC *might* be an advantage:

- Guaranteed availability with 2 hr notice. I don't know if Centurion also offers this worldwide, and if so whether Hertz will throw a fit when you try to invoke the guarantee. As a PC, I've invoked it once and gotten a car at a sold-out airport within an hour without any pushback or hassle whatsoever.

- Those free day certs. Since I actually like to take 1-day rentals from time to time, it's basically like Hertz is mailing me $60 cash every so often. Priceline and your favorite discount codes are no use for these rentals, but the Free Day cert works like a charm. Even in downtown locations.

- Some locations upgrade PC to Prestige Collection. 3 out of my last 5 MCO rentals have been Jaguars without me having to ask (booked full-size). I wish there was more rhyme or reason to this - DFW, MCI, SFO, and DCA have never put me in anything besides a Crown Vic, leaving me to grovel for something else. Depending on your frequent airports, the upgrades may be sweet, or they may suck. Hard to tell. But if Centurion puts you in a Crown Vic at the max, then PC is a slight advantage.

Centurion upgrades from mid size to premium, which I believe is actually better than PC. I have got luxury and prestige cars on occasion.

QL