Have you been able to call Avis and request a different make car in the same class?
Aug 29, 2006, 9:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,964
Have you been able to call Avis and request a different make car in the same class?
I have rented a mini-van for a week. Avis uses Chevy Uplanders as their primary mini-van...but I understand that they have other mini-vans in the fleet ( ie Dodge). I went to a Chevy dealer and i hated what I saw in the Uplander.....Have you ever had any luck calling the rental center you are renting from a day or two before pick-up and requesting a different manufacturer car in the same class?
Sep 2, 2006, 8:17 am
#2
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Texas
Programs: Hyatt Glob (Barely); Marriott Plat Life; AA Up and Down Now Plat; Hilton, UA, BA, HA Peasant
Posts: 2,669
Yes, But Don't Count on It
They will note it on the reservation notes, but, at the renting station, somebody has to see it, the location has to have an alternative available, and an individual has to have time and care enough to fill the request. As opposed to a busy person filling reservations as fast as they can that never notices or there just isn't an alternative available.
You can always ask again at the desk, but don't consider your day ruined if it does not work. Kind of like last month I was assuming an Impala and measured the trunk to make sure a bicycle I had to drop off fit, only to be told since I was renting one-way it was a poorly-cleaned Hyundai that needed to go back to its base or nothing. The joke was on them because it was a bit less clean after I stuffed the bicyke in the back seat since it sould not go in the trunk, and it just happened it was my turn to get the e-mail customer satisfaction survey.
You can always ask again at the desk, but don't consider your day ruined if it does not work. Kind of like last month I was assuming an Impala and measured the trunk to make sure a bicycle I had to drop off fit, only to be told since I was renting one-way it was a poorly-cleaned Hyundai that needed to go back to its base or nothing. The joke was on them because it was a bit less clean after I stuffed the bicyke in the back seat since it sould not go in the trunk, and it just happened it was my turn to get the e-mail customer satisfaction survey.
Sep 21, 2006, 9:20 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: MR Gold, Hilton Gold, US Silver, WN No Luv
Posts: 100
I had a note added to my Wizard/Preferred profile: "Never, ever a Chevy Malibu". Either I'm really really lucky or the staff on the preferred side are really good because I haven't had a Malibu since the note was added. Always get a Pontiac or Olds instead!
Sep 24, 2006, 6:10 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: I fly whomever offers the best flight(s) where and when I want to go (with some exceptions...)
Posts: 329
Originally Posted by DTNF130L
I had a note added to my Wizard/Preferred profile: "Never, ever a Chevy Malibu". Either I'm really really lucky or the staff on the preferred side are really good because I haven't had a Malibu since the note was added. Always get a Pontiac or Olds instead!
I wonder if I could have them add a "don't upgrade me" notes to my Preferred record.
The last time I was in Denver they auto upgraded me from a subcompact to a Chevy Suburban. Being a single guy with no kids, I am used to small fuel efficeint cars... I was too scared to drive that Tank out of the parking space; it was _that_ big!
I marched right back into the Preferred Office and told them to find me something like what I requested. So, they swapped me out with some other poor schlep (who then, presumably, got the Tank).
Sep 24, 2006, 6:17 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,507
Originally Posted by HappyCoachFlyer
I wonder if I could have them add a "don't upgrade me" notes to my Preferred record.