Hertz - Guaranteed Rate vs Rate Subject to Change

Two weeks ago, I made a reservation on Hertz's website for a 3 day midsize car rental in Sacramento (SMF) entering the USAA CDP #77694. It said rate is guarateed and rate code GOV1. Everything worked out fine with the rental.

Today, I make a reservation for a car in Denver (DEN) in September on the Hertz website using the same USAA CDP#77694 for a full size car. On the confirmation page, it says "Rate Subject to Change" and in the email confirmation it says rate code "CR." I'm a little worried about this because what if, when I arrive, the rate is a lot higher? Has anyone else experienced this before?

Also, I noticed there is an "airport concession fee on flight arrivals within 24hrs and facility use fee on flight arrivals within 24hrs." I am arriving on Southwest Airlines and I did enter the flight number, but how is this enforced? Logically, one would assume that 95% of people who rent a car at the airport have arrived on a flight, but what if someone really didn't.

I'd like to rent from Hertz even though Budget and Avis are cheaper, because I've read that a lot of people are complaining about being "upgraded against their will" to an SUV or a fuel inefficient car at Budget and Avis.

While I don't think you are gonna have any issues with the rate there is pretty good chance you'll end up in a SUV in DEN.
The location is SUV-heavy and recently as a PC with a mid-size booked I was offered the choice of Grand Marquee, minivan or SUV. Interestingly the minivan (of Mazda 5 variety) was in my stall when I arrived forcing me to wait in line for 10 min.

The few times I've run into the Rate Subject to Change message I've been able to call the Gold number and find out when I'll be able to get a guaranteed rate for my arrival date. It seems that some locations (e.g. MFR) don't guarantee rates too many months in advance. Maybe that's what's happening with you, although September is not exactly far off.

If nothing else, maybe the Gold line can at least check and explain why the rate isn't guaranteed.

Edited to add: If you're not Gold maybe the regular reservations line people can help.

Wirelessly posted (FlyerTalk.com/wap is fun : BlackBerry8330/4.3.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

If op is not gold, we need to change that.

I am not a Gold member. I like Hertz because I've had good luck with them in the past with their vehicles and their straighforwardness (never any pressure, shady practices etc).

Rented "full size" in LAS week before LAS. Some huge honking SUV was in the stall. They quickly changed it for an Impala (which was the example car in the class I requested anyway). I had called earlier in the week to ask Gold to put "no SUVs or vans" in my profile.... So if you don't get what you want, do complain (at whichever desk is closest to the cars).

I am not a Gold member. I like Hertz because I've had good luck with them in the past with their vehicles and their straighforwardness (never any pressure, shady practices etc).

From your original post, you're using USAA. If you're really a USAA member, you can get the gold membership for free. Just login to the USAA web site, go the rental car section on the products and services area. Follow the links through the the Hertz site, and right under where they're showing the reduced gas refueling service charge there's the info about enrolling in gold service fee-waived. (And FWIW, even if you don't rent a lot of times every year, it does seem to continue to be fee waived, so it's well worth it even for the occasional renter.)

I entered my rental info again for a rental in mid September and it came back with the same rate as last month but it still says "rate subject to change" at the end.

I found a fix to my problem. I extended the rental (changed the return time by a few hours) to make the rate a weekly rental and received a lower rate that said "rate is guaranteed."