Avis - Downgrading yourself @ the counter?

I've reserved a "premium" car for a one way from San Francisco (Post Street). I'm just afraid of getting a Grand Marquis or something equally awful. If they aren't able to accommodate that request, is it simple enough to switch to a full size? Actually, I'd love a G8 over most premium cars anyway. Crossing my fingers. Anyway, they'll process the downgrade cost with the same AWD code I used to book, right?

I don't know about the downgrade, as I've never done it. Can you make 2 reservations (or 1 for you & 1 for someone traveling with you)? One for full size & 1 for premium. Tell them you want the premium, as long as they can offer you something toher than the GM. If that's all they have, tell them to cancel and give you the full-size reservation. Just make sure the reservation(s) aren't pre-paid or carry a cancellation penalty.

As far as the price is concerned, I'm not sure if you'd be able to get them to change the price to whatever you wind up taking. Prices do change all the time, and also rate guarantees are seen as a two-way street. The agency won't charge you more if they sell out of your reserved class and have to upgrade you to something worth more. At the same time, there's nothing saying the agency has to honour a lower rate because you decided to take a smaller car. Some will do it as a courtesy, but YMMV.

Secondly, the trouble with city locations - generally speaking - is that they only tend to carry exactly what they need due to space constraints, being that they don't have the ability to house 800 cars like an airport. So they probably had your Premium car brought in from another location, and the fullsize car you'd rather have might be reserved to someone else. IAH Traveller's idea would probably work, however you may have made the agency's staff fetch two cars when they only needed to get one.

My idea would be to try the following. I'm not sure how feasible it is...maybe someone more experienced can weigh in: Book the Premium car and phone Post St. a few days ahead to put in a request (Since they might be fetching your car specifically and therefore can know what to ask the bigger location/airprot for). Then go on the day of booking and see what they give you. If it's not up to snuff, then try exchanging the car at SFO where there would be more selection. Just be nice and explain to them that you've got a long drive ahead, you're not entirely comfortable with the Grand Merc and you'd rather have an XYZ, as it would make your trip that much better. If you do manage to get the car you want, make sure to pass a note of commendation along to corporate so that the staff members who assisted you are properly recognized.

however you may have made the agency's staff fetch two cars when they only needed to get one.


After all of the crap we've all put up with on Avis's end, I hope nobody ever feels sorry about making them do a bit of 'work' and then cancelling a reservation. I can't even remember how many times I've frozen in ORD or CLE or (insert city here) waiting for a bus, or how many times I've had to transfer to the third or fourth car until I get one with function lights, no check engine/tire warnings, properly inflated/treaded tires, etc. This doesn't even begin to address how often I have a confirmed reservation and I've been walked or had to wait forever for a car.

Oops....didn't mean to touch a nerve there. You have a point I guess, but having worked on the other side of the counter (not at Avis) I know how much of a struggle it can be operationally to get cars where they need to go, only to find out one wasn't necessary, and deliberately so. I believe in teaching lessons to corporations too however, but I'm not sure that punishing a city location that has never wronged you is the right approach when the problem is with the company as a whole.