Hertz - re offer to upgrade to Presidents Circle for $250 (annual fee)

Is this is good deal?

Upgrade your status to Hertz #1 Club Gold President's Circle.

Accept this special invitation to upgrade your status to Hertz #1 Club Gold® President's Circle® and enjoy:
Guaranteed availability during our busiest periods on just two hours' notice
Guaranteed one-car-class upgrades*
Preferred parking space assignments
600 Hertz #1 Awards® Points for every 15 rentals**
A 25% Bonus on #1 Awards Points on your Hertz rentals
Exclusive members-only offers with limited blackout dates*
Your upgrade invitation is valid until August 7, 2008, for the annual fee of $250. We look forward to welcoming you into the President's Circle.

For more details and to purchase upgrade, visit www.hertz.com/goldupgrade.

*Benefits apply to Economy through Full-Size vehicles.
**600 #1 Awards Points represents a 1 Free Non-Peak Rental Day award. Blackout periods may apply for certain awards. See hertz.com for details.

I'm also wondering if this is a good deal after receiving the offer (currently 5*).

The guaranteed availability with a two-hour notice might come in handy sometime.

Interesting way for Hertz to increase revenue.

Overall, could be of some value to people in the 10-25 rents per yr.

I also looked at the TOS for the purchase and if you don't like the program you can get a prorated refund at any time so no real risk.

I got the offer also. I don't see where it offers me anything that great for the money.

I took the offer last year and I have been very pleased with it. However, it all depends on your driving habits.

I don't drive small cars. Premium cars are my preferred vehicles. With this offer, I rent a full sized car and am guaranteed a premium car. Further, by reserving a full sized car, I can take advantage of the weekend 50 percent off coupon that's valid for much of the year.

I've saved several thousands of dollars as a result. Weekend rentals which used to average 200+, now average closer to $100. However, this offer becomes less useful if a full size car is acceptable to you.

does anyone ever get put into the Presidents Circle for free anymore (I mean, if they generated enough business)? or has it become a pay-to-get-in program?

And how different is the Presidents Circle program from Hertz #1 Platinum?

Further, by reserving a full sized car, I can take advantage of the weekend 50 percent off coupon that's valid for much of the year.



I don't recall anything about this benefit, could you post a link or any more info about it? I've been PC for a few years and never knew about this benny and haven't found anything on the hertz website about it. Thanks.

At least this offer documents a PC member's right to 'guaranteed availability' I have never seen it quantified in terms of time and thought you would have to give 48 hrs notice rather than 2 !!

does anyone ever get put into the Presidents Circle for free anymore (I mean, if they generated enough business)? or has it become a pay-to-get-in program?


For free, PC is meeting one or more of the following within a year:

- 40 or more rentals
- $7,000 or more in revenue
- 120 or more Days Charged

I don't know that guaranteed availability, guaranteed upgrade, and a shorter walk mean that much to me (personally) over 5* but for many it would - upgrades aren't guaranteed for 5* but the bonus points for rentals are already a part of the program.

I don't recall anything about this benefit, could you post a link or any more info about it? I've been PC for a few years and never knew about this benny and haven't found anything on the hertz website about it. Thanks.

It's probably in the discount thread but often there's a Rate Code "FIFTY" available for HLE (directly from Hertz' website), with a PC number I don't recall offhand for selected airport locations. The codes generally require a mid-size or larger car - sometimes it even applies to the Prius and they will be available on the website for less than a Hyundai or Focus . . .

The rate code is PC 104182. I was originally under AAA and set to expire on 6/30.08 but it appears randomly under #1 Club Gold and still works. It gives you half off a weekend rental up to a full sized car.

At LAX, my rate code usually gives a full size car for about $25 a weekend day. Premium cars for $55.

So I reserve a full sized car for $12.50 a day and am guaranteed a premium car. That a savings of $42.50 per day. So far, I have 25 rentals, all weekend days. Basically I spent $250 to save $1000. Not bad.

Interesting... it appears that I'm eligible, but because I am just a Gold member the charge is $450 / year. I think not...

So I reserve a full sized car for $12.50 a day and am guaranteed a premium car. That a savings of $42.50 per day. So far, I have 25 rentals, all weekend days. Basically I spent $250 to save $1000. Not bad.

That demonstrates another point - if you have 25 rentals thus far this year, then you would likely have over 40 by the end of the year, qualifying you for President's Circle next year by default. Paying for the PC upgrade is probably best for those who want the guaranteed upgrade (which might not be so hard on weekends) and/or rent very often.

That demonstrates another point - if you have 25 rentals thus far this year, then you would likely have over 40 by the end of the year, qualifying you for President's Circle next year by default. Paying for the PC upgrade is probably best for those who want the guaranteed upgrade (which might not be so hard on weekends) and/or rent very often.

So PC members are guaranteed some sort of upgrade on every rental, every time, regardless of when/where/for how long?

As a 5* I generally do very well for upgrades (usually renting a mid-size), but most of my rentals are 1-day or weekends. When I do rent for multiple days, especially during the week, the upgrades either aren't as nice (like a Ford Fusion), or non-existant (a beat up Chevy HHR in LAS).

I rent about 20-30x a year. I've been tempted to do some 'rental runs' or whatever they are called, to make it to PC. It would probably be cheaper to do a 1-day Fri-Sat rental with the FIFTY coupon at an HLE (around $20 each) than this, but has a hassle, especially if I would miss a return.

So PC members are guaranteed some sort of upgrade on every rental, every time, regardless of when/where/for how long?

As a 5* I generally do very well for upgrades (usually renting a mid-size), but most of my rentals are 1-day or weekends.

Upgrades are guaranteed for PC (and rentals are guaranteed with two hours notice) but I pretty much always get upgrades as 5*; in fact, I generally end up asking to downgrade because I reserve compacts and get upgraded more than one class (e.g. into SUVs and Grand Marquis' . . .)

Link below might be too long, but here goes:

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/emember/join/index.jsp?targetPage=clubsBenefitsView.jsp&contentPage=sumGoldbenefits.jsp&leftNavUserSelection=globNav_5_3_4

The upgrade benefit is quite loosy-goosy, actually. The upgrades are still "based on availability" and even as a PC I've had locations tell me that no upgrades were available even though I could see nicer cars all over the lot. The upgrade is also only for one class, so if you rent a midsize (for example) and they don't have any full-sizes available, they are under no obligation to put you in a premium or prestige car.

It's easy for me to say since I got PC the hard way, but I really don't see that I'm getting treated any better than I did as a 5* all those years. But when I was "only" a 5* I sure lusted after that higher status!

The upgrade benefit is quite loosy-goosy, actually. The upgrades are still "based on availability" and even as a PC I've had locations tell me that no upgrades were available even though I could see nicer cars all over the lot. The upgrade is also only for one class, so if you rent a midsize (for example) and they don't have any full-sizes available, they are under no obligation to put you in a premium or prestige car.

It's easy for me to say since I got PC the hard way, but I really don't see that I'm getting treated any better than I did as a 5* all those years. But when I was "only" a 5* I sure lusted after that higher status!

ditto here, except for one occasion, I only got one-class upgrade (most recently from a subcompact Hyundai to a Nissan Versa at LAX) or no upgrade for my past 20 rentals since I became a PC member. I just couldn't see any real difference between a PC and a 5*.

It's easy for me to say since I got PC the hard way, but I really don't see that I'm getting treated any better than I did as a 5* all those years. But when I was "only" a 5* I sure lusted after that higher status!

I have Sara Evans' "I Keep Looking" in my head after reading that one.

Anyway, the only time I don't get upgraded as 5* is when I book a Prius (and they darn well better not upgrade me then).

My experiences as a PC have been very different from the other posters. When I was 5*, I had been denied an upgrade because none were "available". As a PC, the Gold desk has occassionally tried to tell me that the upgrade benefit was based upon availability, which is of course not true. At that point, I've gotten all sorts of goodies such as Hummer, Mercedes-Benz etc.

I recently learned of another benefit. The Gold desk is supposed to give PC members better deals. Last weekend at LAX I rented my usual full-sized car and they upgraded me to a Benz. I decided I wanted an Escalade. They only charged me $35 extra per day. The Gold desk said that since I was a PC, they could give me a great deal

Last night I did the same thing at RDU. The Gold desk was closed and the regular desk knew little of PC members. I wanted to upgrade again to an Escalade. This time the upgrade fee was $90. The said that the Gold desk would have been able to give me, as a PC, a better deal than they could.

So PC members are guaranteed some sort of upgrade on every rental, every time, regardless of when/where/for how long?

No. A recent rental, I always pick midsize, resulted in a 26k mile Ford Focus being in my gold but not PC parking spot. Ended up with a Honda Accord, so no upgrade, in serious need of a brake job. (warped rotors)

No. A recent rental, I always pick midsize, resulted in a 26k mile Ford Focus being in my gold but not PC parking spot. Ended up with a Honda Accord, so no upgrade, in serious need of a brake job. (warped rotors)

Notwithstanding your experience on the recent rental, that is simply not true. PC members are guaranteed a one class upgrade.

Our President's Circle Members will enjoy, free rental days, special savings offers, guaranteed one-car class upgrades and

Of course, that does not mean that ever location is aware of there obligations.

If you email Hertz that you didn't get an upgrade they will send you $50 in coupons.

QL

If you email Hertz that you didn't get an upgrade they will send you $50 in coupons.

QL
I have never driven a Hyundai Accent as a 5*. It would make my day to see one in my spot as a cheap PC who reserves economy vehicles ;)

If you email Hertz that you didn't get an upgrade they will send you $50 in coupons.

QL

I got $75 in coupons for an episode at DCA where I rented F and got F -- despite the bozo in the Gold Booth telling me the car was YF! Key fob and docs both showed F. I wrote an email explaining facts to customer service, and a week later got an email and regular mail response with 3 x $25 coupons.

I have never driven a Hyundai Accent as a 5*. It would make my day to see one in my spot as a cheap PC who reserves economy vehicles ;)

I've once driven an Accent as a 5* - that was after insisting that I be downgraded from the midsize SUV to the car class I reserved. Seeing the Accent as a PC member would be moot for me - I don't even want to be on the road that much anymore.

I really don't see that I'm getting treated any better than I did as a 5* all those years. But when I was "only" a 5* I sure lusted after that higher status!

Ditto on both statements. I hustled to get my 40 rentals in last year but, after being PC this year as a result, I don't see any real need to earn the status again.

I would get upgraded almost every time as a 5*, and I've even found that PC, like 5*, does not always guarantee that your car will be parked in a premium (close to the bus) location. Under both 5* and PC, I've had some rentals where the car was not even under the canopy.

Depending on your rental pattern, you might be better off to just rent a higher class of car. It's usually only a few dollars more per-day to go from compact to mid-size or mid-size to full size. I'd do the math before I committed to $250 a year.

I've had president's club for a few years, and I have yet to observe any major advantages over gold for that loyalty. Just about every week, I walk across the Hertz lot to the far end, past those "president's club" spots to get into a Ford Taurus.

Maybe I'm missing something -- I'll find out next year, since I'm only 18 rentals YTD and will surely get demoted to Five Star for 2009.

I had an emergency trip to SAN 2 weeks ago. I could not find a car or hotel. I tried National as Emerald Exec no dice. Avis etc all out. Joined Hertz upgrading from 5* and got a car. Lucky I am Marriott Plat and got a room.

This alone was worth the $250.

I just got offered PC for an annual fee of $450...makes that $250 sound like a bargain.

I just got offered PC for an annual fee of $450...makes that $250 sound like a bargain.

Yeah, I just got it too. There is no way this is a good deal for a standard #1Gold member. :eek:

Yeah, I just got it too. There is no way this is a good deal for a standard #1Gold member. :eek:

I just got the $450 offer a few minutes ago. Not a good deal in my opinion.

I just got the $450 offer a few minutes ago. Not a good deal in my opinion.

I got it too. At least it gave me a good laugh before I clicked Delete. :)

Maybe Hertz needs to go the other direction, and start charging for basic #1 Club Gold again. That would thin the ranks of gold members, making it easier to provide benefits to 5* and PC members (and also potentially making it worth actually paying for PC). As the program stands now, inconsistent customer treatment makes it virtually the same to be a free Gold member as to be a $450 PC member.

Hertz does charge for Gold, but you can get it for free if you are elite with Marriott (gold and platinum) and certain airlines. After the initial sign up, Gold is free if you have at least three rentals a year.

I think the bigger problem is that Hertz is selling platinum and Presidents Circle status. This inflates the pool of elite members and makes it harder to get special treatment.

I really wonder how many people will pay the $450 offer I just got.

My profile: I signed up for Hertz #1 Gold a few years back under a free offer...I have NEVER rented from Hertz as a Gold. Somehow my account still shows me as Gold...I don't care.

Hertz does charge for Gold, but you can get it for free if you are elite with Marriott (gold and platinum) and certain airlines. After the initial sign up, Gold is free if you have at least three rentals a year.

Ahhhh, I wondered how long my Gold membership would last (picked up via AA status). Nice to know.

I got it too. At least it gave me a good laugh before I clicked Delete. :)

I'll be saving my $450 for AA's increased international upgrade co-pay fees. :mad: But it was nice to get the PC offer as I'm apparently not part of the desired demographic for AA or Citibank's targeted promotions. :rolleyes:

My profile: I signed up for Hertz #1 Gold a few years back under a free offer...I have NEVER rented from Hertz as a Gold. Somehow my account still shows me as Gold...I don't care.

I was given Gold free again last year after three years away - I don't travel as much as I used to, but started taking advantage of airline promotions at the HLE across the street from my office. A good number of rentals, received the PC offer yesterday. Doesn't do a lick of good, as Gold / 5* / PC are essentially the same at this particular HLE.

Just got this offer to upgrade to PC for $250. Ive been with National since the second half of last year and very happy with it. I am a 5* currently with no rentals with Hertz this year.

Midsize with XM is very acceptable to me, and considering the other comments in this thread, there is no real value received by paying them $250. I suppose if you really liked Hertz and want Premium cars all the time, it may make sense.

There's no way that Hertz should charge for basic #1 Club Gold. That's a joke. (Thankfully, they've never attempted to charge me, even though I had a yearlong stretch at one point with no rentals.)

The basic #1 Club Gold type service is free at all agencies. Although Hertz used to execute the expedited rental better than anyone, they don't anymore. Even the basic Alamo or Dollar setup works as efficiently as Hertz these days. National is (IMHO) superior because you get both the speed and the choice of cars. The Exec level is comparable to Hertz 5* and always yields better cars.

Just got this offer to upgrade to PC for $250. Ive been with National since the second half of last year and very happy with it. I am a 5* currently with no rentals with Hertz this year.Just got the same offer today. And I've had ~10 rentals this year. Of course it's a no-brainer to not consider it.

They would have to pay me $250 to join the PC. I'm 5* and could care less about Hertz and their programs.

I've been PC for about a year, I really haven't noticed any benefit.

I took the offer a year ago, experienced essentially zero difference from five star and dropped back since.

I took the offer a year ago, experienced essentially zero difference from five star and dropped back since.

The big difference for me is that for sold out locations. I get a car.

The biggest difference for me as being PC (earned, not bought btw) is the growing collection of 2X25$ rental coupons I am getting for not getting upgraded :( :)? That and the Gold #1 points I get...

I had an emergency trip to SAN 2 weeks ago. I could not find a car or hotel. I tried National as Emerald Exec no dice. Avis etc all out. Joined Hertz upgrading from 5* and got a car. Lucky I am Marriott Plat and got a room.

This alone was worth the $250.



And I can tell you a a multi-year PC it is NOT worth it.

About 3 months ago I needed a last minute rental at BDL-was told they couldnt do it. Called Hertz, and no dice. They didnt have to offer the PC offer of GUARANTEED rez!!!!!!!!

Also-upgrades are usually NON-EXISTANT. I would NOT pay for PC...I have moved a lot of my rentals to National.