Originally Posted by
BearX220
3000+ miles in 40 hours, driving Washington DC to Seattle after 9/11. Avis gave us an unlimited-miles deal before figuring out that stranded businesspeople represented a huge, exploitable business opportunity. By the time we got back to Seattle folks trying to get home were being shafted right and left with insane drop-off or mileage fees.
I was in PA on 9/11, actually landing as it was happening and about an hour away from PHL in a rental car (Lincoln Towncar, thankfully) when I started to hear the news of what happened.
Hertz announced pretty quickly that anybody that had a rental car could drive it home with no drop off or mileage charges added. Home for me was Atlanta so not too extreme. But Hertz, at least, was very accommodating to all of their customers.
I hate Avis. Have only rented from them two or three times and had bad experiences repeatedly. Had an Avis car with a flat tire once 10 minutes from the airport in BUF and Avis told me "sorry, you are on your own". 10 minutes from the airport! I drove that baby about 5 miles down the shoulder of the NY Throughway to the next exit, shredding tire and grinding the rim. The only thing I can say in Avis's favor is that they did not charge me for the rental when I got back. I appreciate that but sending somebody out to give me a usable car and handle the flat would have only taken 30 minutes and I would have appreciate that a lot more.
Most miles I've done on one rental was about 2400 in a 3 week rental.
Shortest is probably about 5 miles. I have a customer location that is less than a mile from the RCF at BWI, the hotel is less than a mile from either, a restaurant is adjacent to the hotel. I've spent 2-3 days there and returned the car with the gauge still saying full.