Hertz - President's Circle

Sorry if this has been reviewed before. I searched for previous threads on this, but was not able to find any info.

Anyway, I am about 5 rentals from obtaining 40 completed rental or Hertz President's Circle. Does anyone have any exprience with the President's Circle. Is there any practical difference between the President's Circle and 5 star. I know what Hertz says, but I was wondering if they really follow through with upgrades, like they say they will.

Cheers.

I noticed no real differences. I was always upgraded (usually to a Grand Marquis or a Kia Amati from a full-size), and my car was a bit closer, but never received anything nicer - no Prestige vehicles or such. And when I did reserve a Prestige, I usually received the base model and not the upgraded optioned one.

I found it pretty much useless, but if you're essentialy there, might as well get it. But I would not do "rental runs" or such to get there.

Thanks

I noticed no real differences. I was always upgraded (usually to a Grand Marquis or a Kia Amati from a full-size), and my car was a bit closer, but never received anything nicer - no Prestige vehicles or such. And when I did reserve a Prestige, I usually received the base model and not the upgraded optioned one.

I found it pretty much useless, but if you're essentialy there, might as well get it. But I would not do "rental runs" or such to get there.

I too notice litte difference, at least nothing earth shattering.

Usually (but frustratingly not always) you are will be in one of the first spaces, some locations have dedicated PC stalls. My experience is that my car will be in one of these about half the time. Occasionally, you still end up with stall 462 - miles from the bus drop or door. Just happens less often that otherwise.

Upgrades don't get particuarly better than 5*, like SEA_Tigger says, it's usually a marquis or amati. Very occasionally I've had an x-type, avalon or other near luxury.

In locations when keys aren't in the cars (HNL comes to mind) PC does yield the benefit of skipping past the check in counter to pick up keys. In HNL the driver grabs your keys behind the counter and hands them to you on the bus.

Perhaps the real benefit - like top tier status with airlines or hotels - is for the once a year occasion when the s**t hits the fan. You know, the day they really overbook and just don't have enough cars for everybody. As PC you can be pretty certain that you'll avoid the conga line of folks waiting for returns to be processed before they can pick up their car. Once at LAX on a Monday afternoon the line waiting for return cars was 75+ deep (and I was told an hour long) - once establishing that I was PC the bus driver asked me to "stop by the maintanace shack" where I was given my car and contract on the spot. There wasn't a car in sight on the lot and tempers were short all around, but I drove away seconds after exiting the bus. The ultimate reward for my loyal business! Very similar to UAL UGS status, you can only truly appreciate PC when the wheels fall off.

Lihue1k

I always receive an upgrade (although it's sometimes F->YF) as a PC. I always res F and have received my share of prestige, Luxury, H ect... Almost never happened as a 5* without asking which kinda defeats the purpose of #1Gold service.

Also as a PC you can combine free rental day certs(which you earn at a faster rate).

Car is closer most of the time.

Sorry if this has been reviewed before. I searched for previous threads on this, but was not able to find any info.

Anyway, I am about 5 rentals from obtaining 40 completed rental or Hertz President's Circle. Does anyone have any exprience with the President's Circle. Is there any practical difference between the President's Circle and 5 star. I know what Hertz says, but I was wondering if they really follow through with upgrades, like they say they will.

Cheers.

I get upgraded most of the time, and pretty much feel I own a Taurus franchise (I typically reserve mid-sized cars). If you rent and pick up your car on Monday night, you have a MUCH higher chance of getting a big upgrade, as all the "normal cars" will have been rented already to biz travellers, leaving them with no choice but to bump you two or three levels.

But if you come in on Sunday night, you'll almost always get "one level" up to a max of "full size". Much past that, and not only do you have to be PC, but you have to know and recognize the staff (and they you)... :)

Steve

I usually always rent F and almost always get upgraded to H which is exactly what I like. H class includes Infiniti G35, Avalon, Azera, 300, Magnum. I sometimes get Volvos, Jags (not anymore), Infiniti FX35, Audi A6, 300c. I also sometimes get small SUVs, which I don't like. Kia Sorento, Hyundai Tuscan, etc.

If you're a repeat customer, and the gold folks know what you like, they will often hold the car for you if they see you're coming.

At MCO, there were many customers waiting, while we were one of the few who had their names on the board. Unfortunately, we were assigned a Grand Marquis and they didn't have anything else interesting to give us.

BTW, it takes only 20 rentals if you "live" in Canada when they do the annual database update.

Do not forget about the 25% point bonus. The upgrades are hit and miss.

My experience has been that at SOME airports, upgrades are much nicer then 5 Star. However, at my home airport (ATL) and at my local edition, they don't appear to believe in an upgrade unless it's to a Grand Marquis which I hate...

My experience has been that at SOME airports, upgrades are much nicer then 5 Star. However, at my home airport (ATL) and at my local edition, they don't appear to believe in an upgrade unless it's to a Grand Marquis which I hate...
Oh, the Grand Marquis! The land tank that Hertz LOVES to 'upgrade' you to. I get them frequently offered to me in DFW. They never move from the parking spot!

Well, at MSP you get a car in slot 909 (the farthest from the counter) and an wonderful 'upgrade' to a Dirty Taurus.

At ATL, you get a car within a few steps of the door and a nice upgrade.

So, it depends on where you go...

Well, I've been renting at SEA a lot lately, and 5-Star gets you exactly what you book. No upgrades. I would hope that PC would get you something.

I was PC for 2 years right when the program was rolled out. At the time, it varied widely by station - I drove several Jags that first year, but also encountered employees at other airports who had never heard of the program.

Honestly, the most important things Hertz can do for me are (a) minimize time it takes to get me on the road, and (b) perhaps juice up the number of free rentals/days I get back. I really don't care a lot about upgrades except in rare cases. So in this sense, I don't think 5-Star and PC are all that different.

I doubt I'd go on "rental runs" in order to get the extra 15% ZE1 points at the PC level. I'd have to be sitting at 38 or 39...then maybe it would be time to pick up a Chevy Aveo or two from the Overland Park HLE... :)

Well, at MSP you get a car in slot 909 (the farthest from the counter) and an wonderful 'upgrade' to a Dirty Taurus.

At ATL, you get a car within a few steps of the door and a nice upgrade.

So, it depends on where you go...

Just the opposite for me. At MSP, my car is always just outside the doors and I've gotten Escalades, Lincoln LSs, Jags and S80s.

At ATL, I've often had a hike to the car and always just get the CVs and GMs.

Always reserve F.

Well, I've been renting at SEA a lot lately, and 5-Star gets you exactly what you book. No upgrades. I would hope that PC would get you something.

I consistently received better upgrades (Avalons, Infinitis, Town Cars) as a 5-Star at SEA then a PC. :rolleyes:

I consistently received better upgrades (Avalons, Infinitis, Town Cars) as a 5-Star at SEA then a PC. :rolleyes:

Odd.

Well, as of this month, they've fixed that problem. There is no way that a PC could get less of an upgrade than a Five-Star. ;)

At ATL, you get a car within a few steps of the door and a nice upgrade.

So, it depends on where you go...

Hmm. At ATL I got a car on the SECOND level and it was a "Mustang" (Which is on my profile and does not want)

Personally I find ATL to be a very badly run station...

I completed by 40th rental of the year yesterday, so I assume that I am now with the PC; however, do I have to call Hertz to get the "promotion"? I guess I am assuming it's automatic, but maybe it's one of those things that won't kick in until next year unless I ask.

Hmm. At ATL I got a car on the SECOND level and it was a "Mustang" (Which is on my profile and does not want)

Personally I find ATL to be a very badly run station...

I'll grant that I hardly ever rent at ATL (being that Atlanta is home for me), but every time I've rented there has been a good expierence. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I'm from ATL.

I suggest that you call customer service and make sure - they tend to forget

I completed by 40th rental of the year yesterday, so I assume that I am now with the PC; however, do I have to call Hertz to get the "promotion"? I guess I am assuming it's automatic, but maybe it's one of those things that won't kick in until next year unless I ask.

As a PC it varies by airport, but I find that if I ask I can get almost anything I want, but I like the Grand Marquis :D so never have a problem getting one :)

Personally I find ATL to be a very badly run station...
Amen to that. I 100% agree.

Sorry if this has been reviewed before. I searched for previous threads on this, but was not able to find any info.

Anyway, I am about 5 rentals from obtaining 40 completed rental or Hertz President's Circle. Does anyone have any exprience with the President's Circle. Is there any practical difference between the President's Circle and 5 star. I know what Hertz says, but I was wondering if they really follow through with upgrades, like they say they will.

Cheers.
I've been 5 Star for a something like two seconds but I can tell you that as President's Circle person I have received some pretty snazzy upgrades once every so often... I mean renting a compact car at YVR and getting a Jag Type R as the upgrade.
In March 2004 at ABQ I was upgraded to an Infiniti G35.
I rent once a week, so these are just two examples that stand out.

I completed by 40th rental of the year yesterday, so I assume that I am now with the PC; however, do I have to call Hertz to get the "promotion"? I guess I am assuming it's automatic, but maybe it's one of those things that won't kick in until next year unless I ask.

I can confirm: YES you need to email Hertz. It isn't automatic at mid-year. I completed Rental #10 last month, saw it post to my ZE1 balance, but my status didn't change. I somewhat expected that from reading this board...

I sent them an email, and they updated it within 2 days. My status reflected online immediately after that, and a couple of weeks later, I got the welcome kit.

Nice thing about the 5* welcome kit is that it includes a Free Day cert. So, effectively, your first ten rentals earn you 1 free day above and beyond normal ZE1 points. But only if you call them or email them after the 10th rental posts. Otherwise, you could rent all year long and not begin to see any 5* or PC benefits, including the subsequent Free Day rental-counts and enhanced ZE1 earnings. (Not to mention the lavish upgrades that Hertz SEA showers its 5* members with. :rolleyes: )

My experience has been that at SOME airports, upgrades are much nicer then 5 Star. However, at my home airport (ATL) and at my local edition, they don't appear to believe in an upgrade unless it's to a Grand Marquis which I hate...
I always do well at ATL. Lots of SUVs. Which I like. The only problem with ATL is, it is to big. Kind of like everything at ATL. Service is decent for having ten million people in line.

I've been upgraded to PC sometime ago but still never received my kit - can anyone tell me what is the pc# on the free day coupon they get with the PC kit?