Hertz - Local Drop Fees

I know it never does any good to complain on FT about market driven pricing considerations. Today Hertz charged me a drop fee of $250 (prorated in daily rate) to drop a car rented at BWI off at IAD/Dulles. Two years ago there wasn't even a charge for this. But, it would mitigate my frustration a little to know their rationale.

This came up because my flight cancelled and the only way I could get to Wash. DC was to fly WN which almost never cancels. Wanting not to drive back to BWI at rush hour and to catch my original return flight I returned the car to Dulles.

Are their any locations which have sister airports in the US like SFO-OAK where Hertz does not charge these drop fees?

I know it never does any good to complain on FT about market driven pricing considerations. Today Hertz charged me a drop fee of $250 (prorated in daily rate) to drop a car rented at BWI off at IAD/Dulles. Two years ago there wasn't even a charge for this. But, it would mitigate my frustration a little to know their rationale.

I've had two things happen in similar situations (unanticipated changes in airports):

1. Last fall, a switch from PHX to TUC for a return flight. Hertz did charge a drop fee (well, not really, they did like they did with you, it appears, which is change the daily rate).

2. Earlier this spring, did a switch from SJC to OAK. But unlike the PHX/TUC switch, I knew when I was renting it that I was switching airports, and they adjusted the paperwork, and it was ~$30 less for the 4 days I had.

If the two airports are within the same city limits then one-way rates will not apply.

According to the Hertz site, they don't charge drop fees (but I guess they could adjust your daily rate, as you mentioned).

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/byr/index.jsp?targetPage=hertzonewayrentals.jsp?leftNa vUserSelection=globNav_3_5_1&selectedRegion=United%20States