Hertz website
 

What does Hertz know that none of us know yet???

I am trying to reserve a car for next week and the web site keeps on changing my arrival airline from Air Canada to Tango [even though it is Zip!!!] and changes the Frequent Flyer account from Aeroplan to Tango also.

I know. It's been bugging me too.

cattle - how do you find Hertz prices/service compared to Avis?

I'm not cattle, but I thought I'd contribute my experience with Hertz vrs Avis. I rent cars at YUL about twice a month, and find that Hertz almost never had the car class I booked (mid-size) available, no matter the time of day I picked it up. I always got stuck with a compact or a minivan. Avis, on the other hand, almost always has the car I booked, and on the few occassions they don't, I get an upgrade rather than a downgrade. I'm a member of Hertz #1 Club Gold and an Avis Preferred member.

My experience with other Canadian locations is less, but I generally find Hertz to be a bit more expensive. Service has been equally good at both companies.

The Hertz website has been acting up ever since the upgrade they did a few weeks ago. Apparently, Hertz also thinks that Tango is interchangeable with AC mainline flights. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

YYZC@ I used to avoided Hertz like the plague. I just came back to them after I was able to get someone to comp me 5* (and this still very hard to get). I am Preferred Select with Avis also.

I rented 64 times las year and estimate to rent about 90 to 100 times this year.

Avis

I found the service for the most part to be very good last year. Upgrades about 80% of the time from full to size to premium and luxury. I used to have great experiences at YUL as well but have not gotten an upgrade in the last 4 rentals. YYC where they know me by name has proven difficult as well this year even with 20 rentals last year.

I have my own small business rate for a full size at $48. I can get better rates in some cities with the Aeroplan number C144700 (but these do not count towards free rentals). Tied in with Preferred Select coupons you can really save some money. I earn 1 free rental for every 15 days and 50 Starpoints per day with them.

You can use up to 7 Avis free rentals coupons in a row for a free rental. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif


Hertz

Like I said I just got comped 5* but my first 5 rentals starting Feb 28th have been from - to:

YYC Full - Volvo S60
YYZ Full - Lincoln LS (gave me SUV but turned it down)
YWG Compact - Mid-Size Focus - yuk http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
YUL Mid-Size - Taurus with 2x u/g coupon(gave me SUV but took Taurus instead)
YYC Full - LeSabre

Something must have happend as the rate in Montreal gave me the mid size for $41/day which was $6 cheaper/day than Avis. My full size rate with Hertz is slightly higher at $51.99

I have been treated great as a 5* so far. I will have Presidents Circle by the second week in April. (hint: Canadians only need 20 rentals to become PC - not 40 like Americans -shhhh)

PC gives an automatic upgrade at time of booking which I am looking forward to. They also have various coupons available for #1 Gold Members and their BAPS members (Business Account Program) 1 Free day with 15 rental days.

Hertz free rentals are tied to having one paid day per free rental cert used up to a max of 5 certificates per rental. Not as good in my opinion http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsdown.gif

Comparison

Depending on what size you rent can make a difference. Hertz considers a mid size to be a Sunfire where Avis considers it a compact. BIG DIFFERENCE for about the same price. I almost always rent full size for the extra $1 or $2 and chance of a much better upgrade http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Overall I think I still like Avis because of the Starpoints (300 days = 15,000 starpoints) but am giving Hertz a real try for the time being.

I have given Hertz some business in the hopes that when I go to Germany this summer I can score a better upgrade as PC. My Avis PS doesn't apply in Europe http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif Also, it doesn't hurt to spread status around just in case.

I have rentals coming up in YVR,YYC,YYC,YLW,YWG,YYZ between now and April 11. I'm securing my PC with Hertz first and going to see how it goes from there. If you want me to let you know how it goes just let me know here.

It's just one person experience so far but hope it helps http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

cattle - WOW! Thanks for the indepth response. I knew you were a big Avis customer who was thinking of defecting. Interesting how the two programs stack up.

I'm a PS with Avis but I've had my eye on Hertz for a while. It seems like the car choices at the full-size level and above at Hertz are more appealing overall than the GM offerings at Avis. I usually rent compacts if travelling alone or full-size/SUVs if with others. If that put me in a Focus (which I really like) or an S60/Lincoln at Hertz versus an Alero or Century at Avis, at about the same price, I'd consider switching. The strings attached to the upgrades at Hertz sound kind of cheesy, though.

By all means, please let me know about your experiences at the Hertz PC level. If the upgrades are anywhere near consistent, I'll definitely give Hertz a try.

YYZc2. I hope I was clear. The first column was what I booked and the second were the upgrades. Volvo and Lincoln were upgrades given based on my 5* status.

I give you heads up as things go along. I am still a big Avis fan but they have dropped the ball lately. I'll still go back (I think http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif ) once I have tried PC but who knows. Having top levels in two companies gives you a choice and the chance to check specials and best pricing without having to worry.

Have a good week.

Cattle

YYZC2, just a quick follow up for the past 6 days:

YVR - Taraus to 300M
HNL - Hyndai to Focus (only drove 20 miles so didn't care either way)
YYC - Taraus to Volvo 40 Wagon (weekend - $78 taxes in with 3rd weekned day free from website)
YYC - Taruas to Volvo S60 (picked up today for 7 days - $190 taxes in with a free day coupon from the website)

I have been getting along well with the staff at the YYC location (I live here) but upgrades have been given at every location so far. One more rental next week to get PC. Giddy Up.

I'm still struggling with giving my business to Avis again as I had one rental with them last week in Nanaimo and they didn't offer an upgrade. I asked to change my car from the Grand Prix to a Century or something with a tape deck (I have a mini disc player with tape deck adapter) and was told there was only a 4x4 available or a Grand AM. They didn't offer the 4x4 even though she said it was available to rent. I would have turned it down anyway but not getting the offer after so many good experiences with Hertz is making it tough for me. Maybe when the Starwood promo's are over I might think about it again but not likely in YYC anytime soon.

The prices have actaully been the same or a little better with Hertz this last week which was almost scarry. I'm not complaining though http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

PERFECT choice. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Lets see what Ferrari has to say about this http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif