Originally Posted by
austin_modern
Uhm - if I rent a hybrid collection - which group do I pick from at SJC?
You'll be assigned a specific car.
If you book anything other than economy thorugh fullsize, you'll be assigned a specific stall.
If you book compact, the board will tell you to go to the compact section. If you book fullsize, the board will tell you to go to the fullsize section. If you book midsize, the board will tell you to go to the [Midsize/]Gold/5*/PC sections, depending on your status level (midsize would be for non-Gold members but of course wouldn't show on the Gold board). If you book anything else, the board will have a specific stall assigned; I believe, though, that as long as whatever you've booked is higher than Group C, you can also choose from the Midsize/Gold/5*/PC sections (depending on your status level) as well.
At least that's my current understanding and assumption.
Originally Posted by
cestmoi123
These quirks happen with some frequency. Pre-UC, I can see how they would make sense, in certain cases (i.e. if they're closer to sold out for midsize than fullsize, then fullsize could rationally be cheaper), but in a UC world, really doesn't make sense.
Also, the D category (standard) basically doesn't exist anymore - if you're booking that at a non-UC location, you're almost certainly getting a fullsize. It's really a legacy of there being two-door hardtops in the fleet.
"Never attribute to malice that which can be attributed to incompetence." -Robert Hanlon on the rental car industry
Most oddities like this are much better explained by rate management departments that have incorrectly programmed their computer systems than by any intentional discrepancies. It's hard-baked into the rental industry's mindset that "bigger is always a more desireable upgrade." After 1.5 decades of experience in and with the industry, I have never once heard anyone in management or rate management or any of the rate management consulting companies or anything ever indicate that pricing a smaller car class higher is ever intentional.