Hertz - #1 Club Gold First Rental

So I'm planning to do my first #1 Club Gold rental at YEG. This would be the rental where they verify my info and that. After that I should be good to go and just pick up my car on the lot? I understand it works like National but you go to a pre-assigned stall instead of a general selection area. If I have the verification done at a Canadian location, it's good in the US too? And does it expire if I don't rent for a while, as in would I have to re-verify?

Thanks in advance

You should be good to go right after the first rental.. after that, everything should kick in and your "good as gold" :).. It's just a way to basically validate the customer.

Just a word of note: If you book a car through the Southwest website, it will NOT book your reservation as gold - I don't know why that is, but I have seen it often.

I also have no knowledge of the airport you are flying into - but the Gold program works in two ways -- at the major airports, you basically look for your name on the board and go to the assigned car.. At smaller airports, you need to go to the counter, just present your license and then pick up your pre-printed contract and keys and go to the car.

Your Gold is active upon the first verification, whether in Canada or the US. Your Gold lasts for a year, and then there should be a fee to renew (don't know if anything has changed since my employment days ended), but there is no "expiring" for a validation (just think of it as your "first rental").

Your Gold is active upon the first verification, whether in Canada or the US. Your Gold lasts for a year, and then there should be a fee to renew (don't know if anything has changed since my employment days ended), but there is no "expiring" for a validation (just think of it as your "first rental").

I am not aware of anyone that has ever been charged a renewal fee for Gold.

Really? I could be mistaken -- it used to be $50 signup (now $60), and it was to be every year (at least all the literature I had said on it)..

Corporate Golds were renewed by the respected companies.

Interesting...

They may have had it through a promotion or their company.. or may have slipped through the cracks :)

Really? I could be mistaken -- it used to be $50 signup (now $60), and it was to be every year (at least all the literature I had said on it)..

Corporate Golds were renewed by the respected companies.

Interesting...

They may have had it through a promotion or their company.. or may have slipped through the cracks :)

Thanks for the help! I know there was a thread going not too long ago asking how many people still pay for Gold. The general consensus was no. I know that by renting a Prestige vehicle in Canada you get upgraded to Gold for a year, so that's one way to do it (especially since at YVR the cost of an A4 or 328i isn't too much more than a regular car).

Really? I could be mistaken -- it used to be $50 signup (now $60), and it was to be every year (at least all the literature I had said on it)..

Corporate Golds were renewed by the respected companies.

Interesting...

They may have had it through a promotion or their company.. or may have slipped through the cracks :)

What they say and do are two different things. Most never pay for Gold, and I am not aware of anyone who has ever paid for a renewal.

I picked up my first rental today since signing up for Gold - my name was not on the board, so I checked in at the counter in the garage...nothing special was mentioned about 1st-time verification...I guess my status would be updated after I complete the rental?

Okay so here's what I've got right now:

Fullsize booked at YEG Feb 22
Audi A6 booked at YVR Jun 13

I'm obviously using the YEG rental as my qualifier and it worked out since they were $2 cheaper than National (my usual due to underage benefits). On the A6 booking it says "Gold service not confirmed". Should this change once I've completed the YEG rental?

Should this change once I've completed the YEG rental?

It did for me...now when I make a reservation it says: Service level: Gold Counter

It did for me...now when I make a reservation it says: Service level: Gold Counter

Aah.

Mine says "Service Level: Prestige" since it's a Prestige Collection car, but also "Gold Service Not Confirmed". I'll report back once I've done the YEG rental.

Is it possible to get verified locally? I loved the ease of #1 Gold, but my husband kept his account and I need to get my own now. I'm planning my first vacation with my son next month and want everything to go seamlessly. Just walking to the rental car and avoiding the counter at ORL is something I hope we can do.

Also, is there any way I could get the membership fee waived? I don't have a corporate job.

If you sign up for Gold service, then make two future reservations, the first is not true Gold service due to the verification. That's clear. But will the second one automatically switch to "Gold Canopy" once you've picked up your first car?

I am also interested in the answer to the question posted above about local verification. It would be very convenient to stop at the Hertz desk at your home airport before heading out on the trip, then have the Gold service already set up at your destination.

I don't believe you can be "verified" I think it has to be on a rental.

If you have AAA you can get gold for half price, check under car rentals to sign up on your local page.

If you google hertz gold free you will find links to get it free, I would assume many of them are out of date, but some may work.

I don't believe you can be "verified" I think it has to be on a rental.

If you have AAA you can get gold for half price, check under car rentals to sign up on your local page.

If you google hertz gold free you will find links to get it free, I would assume many of them are out of date, but some may work.

That's basically what I'm doing. I don't own a car so I always rent something for a day to get home...cheaper than a cab and no waiting around in -40. I usually go National (and will continue until I'm 25 to avoid surcharges) but in this instance Hertz still gave me a weekend rate while National gave me the weekday. Thus, even with an age differential Hertz came out cheaper, so I can save a couple bucks and get the verification out of the way.

I am also doing my first Gold rental. So to clairfy, I should NOT go to the Gold counter? I should go to the regular? I will be renting at YVR for a weekend to Whistler. Also, should I not expect a free upgrade?

Thanks

You should never expect a free upgrade on #1 Gold. Even if you get a free upgrade, it may be to something you don't want and need a stepladder to get into.

If you sign up for Gold service, then make two future reservations, the first is not true Gold service due to the verification. That's clear. But will the second one automatically switch to "Gold Canopy" once you've picked up your first car?
Found out the answer to this is Yes. Future reservations automatically switch to Gold Canopy after you do your first rental.

I am also doing my first Gold rental. So to clairfy, I should NOT go to the Gold counter? I should go to the regular? I will be renting at YVR for a weekend to Whistler. Also, should I not expect a free upgrade?
Go to the Gold counter. I rarely get an upgrade even when using a AAA upgrade coupon code.

Bumping my old thread to ask a clarificaiton question.

Does it matter where I go to make my Gold qualification? If I can do it at the Edmonton downtown location then it wouldn't cost me anything more to cancel a National booking in its place. Does it have to be a Gold location or does it matter?

Okay so here's what I've got right now:

Fullsize booked at YEG Feb 22
Audi A6 booked at YVR Jun 13

I'm obviously using the YEG rental as my qualifier and it worked out since they were $2 cheaper than National (my usual due to underage benefits). On the A6 booking it says "Gold service not confirmed". Should this change once I've completed the YEG rental?

Are you allowed to book prestige if under 25? I thought the max you could book is fullsize due to the insurance or something like that.

Are you allowed to book prestige if under 25? I thought the max you could book is fullsize due to the insurance or something like that.

My birthday is June 13, 1984 :D