National fails vs. Hertz
#16
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: UA, AA, BA, National EE, Hertz President Circle, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriot Silver
Posts: 301
Hertz points system is better then National, but EVERYTHING else, Hertz fails.
old cars, No loyalty recognition at all, forget about upgrades, horrible customer service, can wait for hour + for a car, and National free days are good for one ways, that's a major plus!
old cars, No loyalty recognition at all, forget about upgrades, horrible customer service, can wait for hour + for a car, and National free days are good for one ways, that's a major plus!
#17
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
Not for short-term renters on good corporate rates... I rent 1-2 days at a time and PCAR or LCAR at ~$35-$45/day, so I earn free days much quicker at National than Hertz... and I'll just barely make Exec Elite this year, so those days will be much more valuable as well.
#18
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Whistler, BC
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, WS Gold, Hertz PC, NationalEE, Hyatt Explorist, IHGGold, BW Diamond
Posts: 199
I must be really spoiled. Hertz usually gives me a nice Volvo. But then again, 95% of my rentals are at two locations, so they know me well.
#19
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
What trim level does Hertz order Volvos at? At National, "Nice" and "Volvo" don't go together, especially when they try to pass them off as GXAR (non-reservable class equal to or above LCAR depending on who you ask).
#20
Moderator: National Car
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SE MI
Programs: Delta PM, National EE, Hertz PC, Hilton DM
Posts: 2,168
I don't think that's a fair criticism. EAN orders most of them in Premier or Premier Plus trim (leather, sunroof, SXM, etc.), and usually adds on the Climate package too. I'll take one of those over a stripper LCAR ATS any day.
#21
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
I'll take the ATS w/ RWD, OnStar Navigation, and an infotainment system that makes at least a little bit of sense (that may be the first time I've had anything good to say about CUE, but it's justified when compared to the Volvo's infotainment)... at least if I don't need to make use of the back seat. I'm not a huge ATS fan mainly because I don't think its size justifies it as an LCAR (along with the Audi A3 I've seen popping up lately) but I will gladly take even a 2.5L ATS over an S60, V60, or XC60... even as a PCAR I wouldn't chose an S60/V60 over anything other than a Maxima or maybe Avalon.
#22
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Whistler, BC
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, WS Gold, Hertz PC, NationalEE, Hyatt Explorist, IHGGold, BW Diamond
Posts: 199
I have tried National, Budget, Avis and have been disappointed with the cars.
But perhaps it's just a specific location. I get the best cars at YVR/YYZ, not as good in YEG.
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,501
This is a pretty well-known challenge that some have with the National program. If you're a monthly or biweekly renter - or perhaps even just have a ton of NYC or other high-dollar rentals - the revenue-based program at Hertz probably works out to your favor.
For someone with more of a mix of medium-to-short rentals, the per-rental system comes out ahead. These days I do a little bit of both programs, and I have no problems using National Free Days for 1-way SUV rentals whereas I seem to always run into glitches redeeming Hertz points, even when I'm not on a published peak date/location.
For someone with more of a mix of medium-to-short rentals, the per-rental system comes out ahead. These days I do a little bit of both programs, and I have no problems using National Free Days for 1-way SUV rentals whereas I seem to always run into glitches redeeming Hertz points, even when I'm not on a published peak date/location.
#24
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: AA EXP, UA Gold,Marriott PP,Hilton Diamond, National EX, Hertz PC
Posts: 114
I am in the same boat as some of the others, a lot of long rental but could not be happier with the switch from Hertz to National. A lot better selection of cars and when you do use your free days you can use them for nicer cars. Just used some old hertz points the other day, reserved a premium car, got a plan Maxima with 51k miles, and this is as a PC. Hertz also changed from a very few black out days to A LOT. Try getting a free day in FL, almost the whole year is blacked out.
#25
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,620
I am in the same boat as some of the others, a lot of long rental but could not be happier with the switch from Hertz to National. A lot better selection of cars and when you do use your free days you can use them for nicer cars. Just used some old hertz points the other day, reserved a premium car, got a plan Maxima with 51k miles, and this is as a PC. Hertz also changed from a very few black out days to A LOT. Try getting a free day in FL, almost the whole year is blacked out.
#26
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Southern California
Programs: UAL 1K 2MM
Posts: 118
I just had a horrid experience at LAS Hertz. I had to turn 3 cars around and checkout for various things such as them being tagged for maintenance and expired tags. Tough to believe that do not have a better system to catch what cars should not be sent up for checkout.
Not to mention I seem to be getting higher mileage dirtier cars lately.
UAL 1K gets me Hertz Presidents Club next year. No more need to grind Hertz status.
Heading to SLC right now. Will cancel my Hertz car and try out National.
Not to mention I seem to be getting higher mileage dirtier cars lately.
UAL 1K gets me Hertz Presidents Club next year. No more need to grind Hertz status.
Heading to SLC right now. Will cancel my Hertz car and try out National.
#27
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
You've got things backwards... National LAS is a top-notch stations that ACTUALLY OPERATES THEIR ER SECTIONS, while National SLC is a shady franchise that repeatedly charges people for the same vehicle damage over and over again.
#28
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Southern California
Programs: UAL 1K 2MM
Posts: 118
Would the goal be to try to keep to ISLE locations with National? How do I know the eh from the not so eh?
Also, not sure if you read my bad LAS experience was with Hertz. Not National. I walked up to LAS National after returning my Hertz car from my trip and they were great! Showed me around. Explained how the system worked, etc.
The warm fuzzy feeling did not feed over to SLC.
#29
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: National Exec, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 171
For what it's worth, it's been reported by GW McLintock over in the Hertz forum in the past that basically everyone in SLC is a franchise, and as such YMMV (but generally from bad to worse unless you're a local like he is), so that's hardly representative of National system-wide, franchises included.
#30
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,206
Hertz at SLC is corporate. Hence he got cars with CO, TX, TN, etc plates. Others have posted that in cities with a lot of independent licensees, ex CMH, MKE, SLC, DSM, etc., Hertz and Enterprise are usually corporate, and hence seem to be more reliable and consistent options.