It's the same thing with any 'special rate' with any car rental, hotel room or even airline tickets. You have to read the 'fine print' and do some research. It's also what you know that even may give you an advantage. All specials regardless if it is for car, hotel or airline, are limited to a number. Also, you always get that agent that says 'you can hold it' even you you're not sure, why? Simple, the less cars they have to rent, the higher they charge for the few they have.

It happen to me this weekend. Got a rate for 2 weekend days (friday 9 PM to sunday 9 PM) a few weeks back at $21.99 a day but checked rates on Friday morning, it was now $14.99. Canx first reservations and then rebooked, got new lower rate. Guess they had a flood of cars left over but when I picked up the car there weren't many left.

I even got the double AA miles since I had first checked the rate using the codes provided on AA.com but that gave me a rate of $63. I backed up on the web page and did a new search using 'lowest rate' but I left the double miles code (was too lazy to blank it out and thougt it would be ignored. When I returned the car back yesterday, I notice I got the double miles (got charge for the FF miles at the double mile rate).

I had a problem with the car so I had to visit the counter after returning the car. The agent corrected my bill (got credit and a voucher for next rental) plus she even told me to ask at the counter next time if there is a lower rate (she mention something about 'location/manager special' that are not advertised). I've had this happen before in MCO when my son was quoted a cheaper rate than I had gotten on the web (avis.com) which was cheaper than the phone rate. Guess the agent thought he was a cute little boy!