Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - percentage of discount from hotwire to priceline for cars?
northwoods
May 28, 06, 10:07 am
I found a car on hotwire and I'm wondering is there a rough rule of thumb, a percentage or something when trying to get the same car on priceline? Do I take the hw amount and reduce it by 20%? 30%? Where do I start?
Thanks... :D
wildblue
May 28, 06, 12:08 pm
I'm not sure about a specific percentage, but I would also check other sources for rates if you haven't already.
Hotwire doesn't always have the lowest rate - I checked hotwire for an upcoming 4 day rental in Las Vegas - hotwire was $24.95 day for an economy car plus close to $54 in taxes/fees - over $150 total. On Orbitz I found Dollar and Alamo were both less than $20/day, with taxes/fees closer to $35. I made a reservation directly with Dollar for around $108 total, which I can cancel without penalty if a better deal comes around. Alamo was around $114 total.
If I just took 20% off the hotwire rate, I'd be bidding around $20 on priceline, which with their taxes/fees is already what I'd pay to Alamo directly. So I would definitely check around for prices beyond hotwire.
northwoods
May 28, 06, 12:12 pm
Yeah I checked sidestep, then went to Alamo (cheapest), used various coupons on Alamo (15% prepay and an ent discount) and the lowest I could get was $27 a day. Hotwire was $22 and $23 a day for same sized car so...
Are "cheap" rates available as late as 24 hrs before rental on price line and other "bidding" sites?