I am a longstanding Hertz Gold customer and recently qualified for President's Circle, their highest tier. According to their website, I am guaranteed a car as well as a one car class upgrade.

In my experience though, nothing has changed between me being a Gold, a Gold 5* or a Gold President's Circle.

My last rental, they asked me if I was Gold to which, in frustration, I replied I was actually a president's circle member. The staff replied in amusement "I did not realize we had royalty in our presence" mockingly. They then told me there were no cars available even though I had booked a standard. When I informed them I was guaranteed a car, they eventually found a dirty, compact car for me to take.

It appears that Hertz's new loyalty program is useless. The only way the staff seems to see it is either you're gold or you're not. What then is the point of all these tiers. In my last 3 rentals as President's circle, I am yet to be upgraded once. Can anyone form Hertz weigh in on this please.

FYI most of my rentals are in Manhattan.