National - Strange Pricing

Have a wierd situation.

Trying to book a convertible at KOA. Really need 4 days. However, if I book for 5 days and use the Entertainment 1 day free coupon, the total cost is significantly lower than just the 4 day rental. Unfortunately, the 4 days are not over a weekend so I can't use a coupon.

Price for 5 days is $246, and the price for 4 days is $336.

Is it possible to only use the car for 4 days yet get them to charge me for the 5 days?

Nothing strange about it. This happens all of the time. The logic is the same as the now abandoned airline practice of the lowest fares requiring a Saturday night stay.

On your second question, my answer would be that you can try, but it probably won't work. That especially true for the coupon, which your rental won't qualify for. I'd assume that you'll pay more -- and it could be more than the $336 that you could book today.

Check Alamo too. The entertainment book has a $25 off a convertible with a three day minimum.

The 5 day was probably a weekly rate, and the 4 day just 4 daily rates added together. I would bet any amount that if you booked for a week and brought it back after 4 days they would charge you substantially more than your booked weekly rate.

Thank you for the information......However, it appears we are all wrong. I sent the following question to National:

Message: Currently have the car reserved for 5 days. Total price is $247 after the Entertainment coupon.

However, I only really need the car for 4 days. When I change to the fewer days, the price goes UP to about $336.

Can I turn the car in after 4 days but pay for the 5 days?

The answer I received was the following:

Thank you for contacting National Car Rental

Yes, there is no penalty for returning the car early. Usually when you make a change to a reservation it will go to what the current rates are, which seems to be the case here. I would leave your reservation as is and just return after 4 days.

Thank you,
Jill
Help Desk
National Car Rental

So based on this, I am going to keep the rental as a 5 day rental and just return after 4 days, and still pay for the 5 days.

Well, I think "Jill" is wrong, but that's totally cool.

Keep that e-mail. You may need it. And please report back -- if that's really the policy, I'd like to know.

Well, I think "Jill" is wrong, but that's totally cool.

Keep that e-mail. You may need it. And please report back -- if that's really the policy, I'd like to know.

You had better believe that I saved the e-mail!

I think they don't normally run into this situation because the weekly rate is about 5.5 times the daily rate. In this case, the weekly rate is only about 4 times (less the free day coupon) the daily rate.

You had better believe that I saved the e-mail!

I think they don't normally run into this situation because the weekly rate is about 5.5 times the daily rate. In this case, the weekly rate is only about 4 times (less the free day coupon) the daily rate.

I havent been on the forum in a while but I thought I'd jump in and comment. You will have a problem when you return. The system will bounce out the rate as it will not be a 5 day rental (our system cannot move a day ahead, only the current return time). If the rate changes (which I'm 99% sure it will), tell the handheld agent to not complete the return and head to the customer service booth or counter, with your email from "Jill" and they will have to manually adjust it. Could take a few minutes but worth saving the $$. Give yourself some extra time on return.

I havent been on the forum in a while but I thought I'd jump in and comment. You will have a problem when you return. The system will bounce out the rate as it will not be a 5 day rental (our system cannot move a day ahead, only the current return time). If the rate changes (which I'm 99% sure it will), tell the handheld agent to not complete the return and head to the customer service booth or counter, with your email from "Jill" and they will have to manually adjust it. Could take a few minutes but worth saving the $$. Give yourself some extra time on return.

Thanks for the input. I sort of figured that I would have a problem and need to work it out on the return. I don't think they find this issue too often (or at least customers don't realize it). I just found it because I made a mistake on the reservation.

Yes, there is no penalty for returning the car early. Usually when you make a change to a reservation it will go to what the current rates are, which seems to be the case here. I would leave your reservation as is and just return after 4 days.


She does say that the reservation will "go to what the current rates are" which I would think would be the higher "rack" rate.

Reminds me of the Southwest policy. There is no penalty for changing to an earlier flight but you have to pay the "current rate" which is a full fare rate.

She does say that the reservation will "go to what the current rates are" which I would think would be the higher "rack" rate.

Reminds me of the Southwest policy. There is no penalty for changing to an earlier flight but you have to pay the "current rate" which is a full fare rate.

Have sent a note to National asking for clarification. Don't want any surprises.

Well, the following is the clarification I asked, and the answer:

Question
So just to be clear, if I return the car after 4 days, I can still get the 5 day price of $247?

Thank you for your help.

Answer:
Dear DeanT,

Thank you for contacting National Car Rental
Right, you would still be charged the amount on your reservation.

Thank you,
Jill
Help Desk
National Car Rental

I will keep both e-mails for and take them with me so that if (when?) I have a problem, I can show them the documentation. Again, I think this is a very unique situation in that normally the weekly rate is about the equiv. of about 5 plus days, there is hardly ever a point where the weekly rate is so much less than the daily rate.

Do you have a direct e-mail address to "Jill"? That could really come in handy for everyone here. I have a 4 day reservation coming up and could use to get her to say the same silly thing for me.

The e-mail address that I have used is:

National Car Rental <reservationsna_nationalcar@mailca.custhelp.com>

It is just their standard customer help e-mail - but you might try it.

By the way, I don't consider her answer "silly" (simply because it is the answer I wanted). Also, I don't believe the weekly rates were meant to penalize anyone. If you take this as a given, you can understand Jill's comments.

You're probably correct that "silly" is the wrong word. Her answer is not consistent with industry practice. You can find lots of places where 4 day rentals cost more than 5 day (or 7 day) rentals. I think that result is exactly what National intended -- longer rentals are generally leisure rentals that do not garner the premiums that shorter-term, typically business rentals command. That is also why the Entertainment coupon that you're trying to use on a weekly rental is not supposed to work on a 4 day rental -- they are willing to discount for leisure rentals but not for business rentals.

As far as I know, you got lucky and got a CSR to give you an answer that is not really correct. However, you have two e-mails to back you up and National will (I expect) do what Jill has promised. Please let us know what happens after you complete the rental.

Enjoy KOA.

Thank you for contacting National Car Rental
Right, you would still be charged the amount on your reservation

Sorry, but her clarification is still somewhat murky to me. She says you will still be charged the amount on your reservation, which may mean charging you the full weekly (5 day) rate with no refund for returning a day early.

I would ask her how much the bill would be if you return early, a concrete number.

I still think you're going to get charged more, and if the KOA location is a franchise and not company-owned they may not give a rip what Jill says.

Best also to confirm when you pick up the car with the folks at the counter.

Sorry, but her clarification is still somewhat murky to me. She says you will still be charged the amount on your reservation, which may mean charging you the full weekly (5 day) rate with no refund for returning a day early.



Being charged for the 5 day rental is exactly what I do want. It is much cheaper than the 4 day rental. The 5 day rental is $246 (total) whereas the 4 day rental increases to $336 (total). A savings of $90 for keeping the car one more day.