I've just had a most unusual experience with a difference in rates between the website and phoning Avis reservations. This might be unique to my location (Denmark), but I wondered if anyone else compares the two.

I have a President's Club card (based on AmEx Centurion) so I entered my Wizard number for a two-week rental at MCO -- queried for a Group E, since I can get a two-class upgrade to Luxury based on availability. The rate was $691 with no insurances included.

I thought it was odd because when renting via Avis.dk we usually get a special all-inclusive rate with ALI, LDW, all taxes and surcharges. So I tried the query with no Wizard number and it returned the rate of $619, including ALI, LDW, etc.

Great - I wanted to book that rate but I also wanted my President's Club Wizard number noted for the upgrade possibilities. I called Avis.dk reservations and told them I was having trouble getting the all-inclusive rate when using my Wizard number, so she did it on her computer, and tells me the best rate she can give me is $502, all-inclusive of LDW, ALI, tax and surcharges!

That's for a full-size four-door, with the possibility of an upgrade to Premium or Luxury on arrival (last time we were given a Town Car, the time prior a Premium).

In future, even if the website returns a good all-inclusive rate with my Presiden't Club Wizard number, I'm going to double-check by phoning Avis reservations to see if they can beat the rate.

Susan