I used to work in consulting, and rented from Budget weekly. Matter of factly, I think that I had Budget cars weekly for 3 consecutive years. One time, I rented an Explorer that had been rented by an Optimum member right before I had it. The previous renter left his Optimum pouch, which looked like a Gold envelope, in the Drivers pocket. I figured, what the heck... I will just use it for my documents. When I returned the car, you would have thought that the King of France himself had returned an Explorer. The counter guys asked me if I was Optimum club, and I obviously said YES, and they had the checkin guys drive me to the gate at the airport, in my car, and carry out my luggage for me! All of this just because I had this gold pouch. Well, be rest assured that I was now an Optimum member for as long as this Optimum member pouch looked as if it was in new condition.

I called Budget, wrote numerous letters, and even threatened to move business.... but could never get my own OPtimum club membership. It seems that it is designated for CEO's, and the people that set up the corporate accounts. Seems pretty ironic, considering that those people usually don't travel that much.