Originally Posted by
jackal
Well, yes, what you said is true, but I would classify run-away changes by automated rate management systems resulting in a price discrepancy like this to be a mistake. Maybe mistake is too harsh of a word—unintended consequence that the system isn’t coded to really handle might be a better way to say it.
The one area where under-pricing expensive cars would make sense is when there is a big corporate event or conference, etc. but relatively low demand otherwise. My travel policy says we have to rent a compact and should turn down upgrades due to the potential for increased fuel costs.
If Hertz knows about that, or anticipates that kind of rule, it wants the non-corproate travellers in big cars so it doesn't have to swap the (numerous) corporate travellers; meanwhlie, they're all paying a pre-agreed rate per day so the fact that the walk-up rate for a compact is high won't bother them.