Avis - Upcoming Changes at ORD...Avis/Budget Merging Operations...

Was returning a car at ORD today and they totally changed the layout of the return lot.

I asked the agent and she said it is because they are merging Avis and Budget operations at ORD on September 30th.

I wonder if other places have merged. I wonder how it will work...

I've seen a few smaller locations with the lights off at the Budget counter with a sign stating, "If you have a reservation with Budget, please proceed to the Avis counter."

Maybe the combined larger locations will lead to more frequent buses, but I think it'll just be more crowded and even less frequent buses (if that's possible...).

I've seen a few smaller locations with the lights off at the Budget counter with a sign stating, "If you have a reservation with Budget, please proceed to the Avis counter."

Maybe the combined larger locations will lead to more frequent buses, but I think it'll just be more crowded and even less frequent buses (if that's possible...).

the airport i was at toyed with this for a while, frankly i like the idea of a combined "back of the house" operation. the only differences is the standards between the two for cleanliness which had been getting closer and closer every year. Cars are already shared between fleets, so why not return all cars to an "avis/budget" return location, so its not a far stretch to see avis and budget counters in the same location, combined avis/budget busses, and such.

But as with any "merger" of operations, its usually done for monetary reasons and dont expect there to be twice as many busses going around. they will probably down 25 percent of the bus fleet as duplication of services. sad but true. Frankly i think the merger between avis and budget killed both the same way the sprint/nextel merger killed both brands.

the airport i was at toyed with this for a while, frankly i like the idea of a combined "back of the house" operation. the only differences is the standards between the two for cleanliness which had been getting closer and closer every year. Cars are already shared between fleets, so why not return all cars to an "avis/budget" return location, so its not a far stretch to see avis and budget counters in the same location, combined avis/budget busses, and such.

But as with any "merger" of operations, its usually done for monetary reasons and dont expect there to be twice as many busses going around. they will probably down 25 percent of the bus fleet as duplication of services. sad but true. Frankly i think the merger between avis and budget killed both the same way the sprint/nextel merger killed both brands.

I agree that merging the two could be good for saving money and understand there won't be 2x as many buses. However, my *hope* would be that (in the simplest example is: Instead of 2 Avis and 2 Budget buses (4 total), they would do 3 buses. Still 33% less buses to pay for drivers/maintenance/insurance/etc, but an increase in buses by 50% in the customer's view.

I agree that merging the two could be good for saving money and understand there won't be 2x as many buses. However, my *hope* would be that (in the simplest example is: Instead of 2 Avis and 2 Budget buses (4 total), they would do 3 buses. Still 33% less buses to pay for drivers/maintenance/insurance/etc, but an increase in buses by 50% in the customer's view.

That would improve frequency for less busy times, but would increase crowdedness on the buses during busy times.

RIC is already a combined AvisBudget operation, works well.

Do they allow you to use Avis gift certificates on Budget rentals?

Do they allow you to use Avis gift certificates on Budget rentals?

don't think so, even in the locations with combined operations they have avis stations, and budget stations.