Thrifty - Blue Chip Membership Results in Higher Rental Cost

I checked on a Jeep Wrangler for our Hawaii trip using the Thrifty website and code 2150, resulting in a $240 base rate quote. I thought great and then signed up for the Blue Chip program. Big mistake, now the Wrangler is $298 base rate. I have emailed Thrifty to see if I can rent without using my Blue Chip membership or if they can drop me from the program but no reply so far. Has anyone else found that signing up for Blue Chip raises their rental rate?

Thank You

Nope, doesn't affect the rate at all.

Are you sure you got the code in there the second time around?

Or perhaps in the short delay between your first rate quote and the time you spent signing up for the Blue Chip program, the price went up.

There is no penalty to change or cancel the reservation, so you might try clearing your browser cache and cookies (just in case) and starting from scratch. Try booking another reservation with your Blue Chip number and ensuring you get the promo code entered and see if you can secure the lower rate. If that doesn't work, then clear your cache and cookies again and book without a Blue Chip number. If you *can* get the rate that way, then book it and either just do it without your BC number or call and have your BC number added to the reservation.

(Either way, if you book a new reservation, be sure to cancel the old ones to avoid confusion.)

I've NEVER seen this be the case, however. I'd expect it has something to do with the promo code not being carried through when you re-attempted the booking.

You didn't happen to have them input a corporate code to your BC profile, did you?

Yes I put in a Corporate Code. I bet that is it as only the Wrangler went up. All the other vehicles that I don't want are far cheaper after signing up for Blue Chip. So I will just make a new reservation without the Blue Chip code and be happy.

Yes I put in a Corporate Code. I bet that is it as only the Wrangler went up. All the other vehicles that I don't want are far cheaper after signing up for Blue Chip. So I will just make a new reservation without the Blue Chip code and be happy.

The website doesn't make it easy to not use your corporate code when there is one saved in your Blue Chip profile. Even if you don't actually enter the CD#, it still loads it.

You can still check non-corporate rates, though, by proceeding to the vehicle class selection screen (the first one you see after inputting your dates and times, assuming you've selected "Show All Vehicles") and then looking for a button above the list of cars that says "See Standard rates." Click that, and the list of rates will change to the normal retail rates. (You can flip back to your corporate rates by clicking "See Corporate rates.")

This way, you'll still get express Blue Chip service, the Blue Chip satisfaction guarantee (one free rental day if you're not satisfied), and your Blue Chip Rewards credits (unless you chose to get airline miles).

Alternatively, you can book the reservation without your Blue Chip number and then call and have it added. Sometimes it won't show up in the location's computers as a Blue Chip rental if you do it that way, though.