Hertz - Crossovers vs. Luxury & 5* upgrades on crossovers?

Not logged in as 5*
Luxury, 2-4 Door, Automatic, Air = $88.99
- Lincoln Town Car / Cadillac DTS or similar
Luxury, Crossover, Automatic, Air = $99.99
- Lincoln MKX Prestige

Logged in as 5*
Luxury, 2-4 Door, Automatic, Air = $80.09
- Lincoln Town Car / Cadillac DTS or similar
Luxury, Crossover, Automatic, Air = $47.99
- Lincoln MKX Prestige

I nearly booked the luxury sedan until I realised I forgot to log-in. After doing so, I see a huge price difference. Is it because I'm with Ameniti or is it because I'm 5*? Are other non-Ameniti 5* members getting the same prices? Now that Ameniti is being phased out, I am concerned I would not be able to see these terrific rates again.

Also, as a 5*, I understand I'd get upgrades. I see that crossovers are more expensive than luxury for the regular folks. Will they upgrade me to something even more outrageous than the luxury seeing that I rented a crossover or will they look at the rate I'm paying and try to stick with me with a "more expensive" luxury since I'm 5*? Hmm, Shelby 'Stang comes to mind....

My understanding is that rates are determined by your CDP, it has nothing to do with your 5* status.

I believe 5* upgrades are officiallly only applicable to A-F rentals with a maximum upgrade to G class, if you're booking a luxury car there is no applicable 5* upgrade.

5* get upgrades "if available". Most of the time the upgrades are "not available", so don't get your hopes up.

The agents at the location really do not care about the rate you're paying.

5* get upgrades "if available". Most of the time the upgrades are "not available", so don't get your hopes up.

The agents at the location really do not care about the rate you're paying.

I believe the agents do care about the rate you're paying, but only when they're trying to sell you an upgrade (they work on commission, so they would probably want to charge you up the whazoo if you were using a free day coupon or had some insane cheap rate)

That's what I think anyway, I could be wrong.

The way I see it, Cinco de Mayo's a fairly large holdiay here in Orange County and if they're offering the MKX at a cheap price, I suspect they'll more likely be sold out. I may be wrong here... but I do have my heart set on the Mustang or Navigator :)

Thanks for the input

(they work on commission, so they would probably want to charge you up the whazoo if you were using a free day coupon or had some insane cheap rate)

Exactly.

I just completed a Hertz rental from a C to a Jeep Commander (forgot what class it was) and since my C rate was something like $18.99 less 22%, she said she HAD to charge me about $35/day to upgrade to the SUV because "your rate is so low".

I had a Earned Free Day coupon as well.

I bargained her down to $30, and she acted like she was doing me a favor by "including" the SAT radio (I know it's extra, but c'mon...)

Getting a Prestige anywhere for a low rate period -- it's getting very hard to do.

5* get upgrades "if available". Most of the time the upgrades are "not available", so don't get your hopes up.

The agents at the location really do not care about the rate you're paying.The secret to good upgrades is to reserve an A or B class ... I get much better upgrades doing that than reserving C or F class. :) My last two B class rentals got me a Subaru Forrester and a Toyota Camry.

The secret to good upgrades is to reserve an A or B class ... I get much better upgrades doing that than reserving C or F class. :) My last two B class rentals got me a Subaru Forrester and a Toyota Camry.

Agree since there are usually few cars A/B/C size. I feel the minimum is an F for me to be happy, so I always book F or higher and usually get something in H or better. Though sometimes they put me in a Clowncar or Cadillac which is just too big and floaty.