Thrifty Locations to Avoid
Jan 29, 2006, 6:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Greenville SC - GSP/AVL/CLT
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Delta Platinum, American Platinum, Air Canada 25K
Posts: 325
Thrifty Locations to Avoid
Thrifty seems to be consistently cheaper than the other companies, but in some cities, especially larger ones, you can forget about a speedy shuttle and check in. I never use Thrifty at DCA, IAD and especially SJU. Id rather pay 50$ more than to waste 2 hours on either side of my flight waiting for processing even with a Blue Chip membership.
Any other locations to avoid?
Any other locations to avoid?
Jan 30, 2006, 3:04 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
MCO!!!
Its been a corp place for the past few yrs. But you sure can fool me, still get the same LOUSY service, as when it was a Franchise
The worst part is they now have an additional Parking lot for Airport Parking, so the Shuttle will 1st drop off the people who have parked their cars before dropping off the Renters, same on the way back to the airport, if there are people who entered the parking lot then the Shuttle Van will leave the Rental Facility and go to the parking lot before heading to the Airport.
thats besides the fact that they NEVER have your Contract ready even when the driver calls it in to the Blue Chp Counter.
When it happened weeks in a row , I simply told the guy no problem , Then I get my 1st ady free as per Blue Chip, he wasnt happy and basically told me Never to come back again. The previous week CS sent me a $25 off Voucher
Its been a corp place for the past few yrs. But you sure can fool me, still get the same LOUSY service, as when it was a Franchise
The worst part is they now have an additional Parking lot for Airport Parking, so the Shuttle will 1st drop off the people who have parked their cars before dropping off the Renters, same on the way back to the airport, if there are people who entered the parking lot then the Shuttle Van will leave the Rental Facility and go to the parking lot before heading to the Airport.
thats besides the fact that they NEVER have your Contract ready even when the driver calls it in to the Blue Chp Counter.
When it happened weeks in a row , I simply told the guy no problem , Then I get my 1st ady free as per Blue Chip, he wasnt happy and basically told me Never to come back again. The previous week CS sent me a $25 off Voucher
Jan 31, 2006, 5:56 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Greenville SC - GSP/AVL/CLT
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Delta Platinum, American Platinum, Air Canada 25K
Posts: 325
I waited 2 hours at SJU once and there was no one else in line. Told me that they were attending to the cars
Jan 31, 2006, 3:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS, FLL
Programs: AA, B6, CO, DL, FL, UA, US Gold (only took 10k miles), WN, Amtrak
Posts: 1,299
DCA. What a bunch of morons; they couldn't find their rearend holes with a roadmap. Both times I have rented their it took them close to an hour to get the vehicle ready; without a line in front of me. I would never rent from them again except for the fact that they have the GWU contract.
Feb 3, 2006, 2:57 pm
#5
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
Kansas City if the price of alternative is anywhere close. Which sometimes it is not. Its off airport and more of a parking business than a car rental, and it shows in who is served with priority. Allow much time for return.
Feb 3, 2006, 3:16 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Suffern, New York
Programs: NW Gold, CO, DL, US
Posts: 144
ANC downtown in the winter as they park the ready vehicles with the drivers' doors against the piles of plowed snow. 
Feb 4, 2006, 7:35 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
Originally Posted by jayer
Kansas City if the price of alternative is anywhere close. Which sometimes it is not. Its off airport and more of a parking business than a car rental, and it shows in who is served with priority. Allow much time for return.
Feb 4, 2006, 7:37 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
I wouldn't rent from the ORD location. I used to park my car there, and they treated renters really badly, including a good amount of bait and switch. Their parking jockeys could never find my car, so eventually I moved my business to Avistar across the street.
Feb 6, 2006, 12:29 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 706
my treatment at SAN was not up to the standard as I expected. Returned car at 6:30am, no one in the return lot; went into the booth; the agent just didn't want to work and asked me to wait in the return lot. 
Feb 9, 2006, 9:45 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: Aeroplan, Shebamiles, WorldPerks
Posts: 468
The guy at IAD told me "computers lie" when I showed him a printout stating that my reservation was for a standard car, and on the confirmation screen was printed "Dodge Stratus" in bold. He wanted to pass on an unwanted minivan, which I refused to take. Then gave me a convertible, which I did not know about until I got to the vehicle, and returned since the back seat room was not adequate enough for my party. More attitude and some 20 minutes later, same guy magically brings a Dodge Stratus from the back lot.
Also worth adding that Thrifty has agreements in place at IAD to bring in vehicles from National car rental next door if it's out of cars. Either way, will not rent from there anymore.
Also worth adding that Thrifty has agreements in place at IAD to bring in vehicles from National car rental next door if it's out of cars. Either way, will not rent from there anymore.
Feb 18, 2006, 6:02 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: BOS
Posts: 254
RDU & BOS... Avoid Avoid Avoid!!!
Feb 22, 2006, 7:47 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Gold (again), US/UA/DL non-elite, ZE Presidents Circle, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 1,449
Ditto!!!
Originally Posted by craz
MCO!!!
Its been a corp place for the past few yrs. But you sure can fool me, still get the same LOUSY service, as when it was a Franchise
The worst part is they now have an additional Parking lot for Airport Parking, so the Shuttle will 1st drop off the people who have parked their cars before dropping off the Renters, same on the way back to the airport, if there are people who entered the parking lot then the Shuttle Van will leave the Rental Facility and go to the parking lot before heading to the Airport.
thats besides the fact that they NEVER have your Contract ready even when the driver calls it in to the Blue Chp Counter.
When it happened weeks in a row , I simply told the guy no problem , Then I get my 1st ady free as per Blue Chip, he wasnt happy and basically told me Never to come back again. The previous week CS sent me a $25 off Voucher
Its been a corp place for the past few yrs. But you sure can fool me, still get the same LOUSY service, as when it was a Franchise
The worst part is they now have an additional Parking lot for Airport Parking, so the Shuttle will 1st drop off the people who have parked their cars before dropping off the Renters, same on the way back to the airport, if there are people who entered the parking lot then the Shuttle Van will leave the Rental Facility and go to the parking lot before heading to the Airport.
thats besides the fact that they NEVER have your Contract ready even when the driver calls it in to the Blue Chp Counter.
When it happened weeks in a row , I simply told the guy no problem , Then I get my 1st ady free as per Blue Chip, he wasnt happy and basically told me Never to come back again. The previous week CS sent me a $25 off Voucher
Orlando first came to mind when I checked this topic....
Last edited by jan_believes; Feb 22, 2006 at 7:49 pm Reason: message ended too early
Feb 22, 2006, 7:54 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Gold (again), US/UA/DL non-elite, ZE Presidents Circle, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 1,449
You're right about DCA, too
The poor military/govt people are stuck with it if it's cheapest.
Other places that are not so good include BWI, Houston, and even SAT where I hope to be moving to in the summer.
I should say where the good Thrifty locations are....
BNA (Nashville). Tulsa was ok except they took advantage of me in that they charged me a higher rate because I was maybe 3 hours early for pickup.
PVD is pretty good, too. They have improved over time.
BOS is way off site. Hard to get to from the airport.
Will add more later as I think about it.....
Other places that are not so good include BWI, Houston, and even SAT where I hope to be moving to in the summer.
I should say where the good Thrifty locations are....
BNA (Nashville). Tulsa was ok except they took advantage of me in that they charged me a higher rate because I was maybe 3 hours early for pickup.
PVD is pretty good, too. They have improved over time.
BOS is way off site. Hard to get to from the airport.
Will add more later as I think about it.....
Feb 24, 2006, 7:22 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Paris
Programs: HH Diamond, FB Plat
Posts: 309
saw the title and instantly thought of MCO. well at least they're consistent.
Feb 26, 2006, 9:00 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: CO Platt,Hilton Dmnd,Marriott Platt,Hertz Presidents Circle,Avis Preferred Select
Posts: 313
Wow....why does any one rent from Thrifty?