I am a Presidents club member renting for the first time in Germany at FRA, I have reserved a group D, can I expect an upgrade, what car can I expect?

The same question but at Verona Italy? Reserved a group F?

Should I cancel either booking and pay for a higher group on either booking before arriving?

Thanks all

As a Chairman, I rented in Frankfurt airport several times and have received the best cars on two occassions. Porsche and a BMW 730d.

Sorry for not seeing this earlier: I'd say there are 2 very different questions in your post:

1. Should I expect an upgrade: No. The Chairman's Club & Pres. Club benefits are states as US & Canada. However, that doesn't mean you won't get an upgrade, but don't expect one. On my most recent European rentals, I've had great experience. In DUB, I reserved the smallest/cheapest manual possible and kindly asked about an upgrade as a Chairman ("preferrably a mid or full size"). They gave me a Camry-equivalent and asked if I wanted auto or manual! In VCE, I reserved a mid-size sedan and was upgraded (without asking) to a BMW 5 series wagon.

2. Should you pay for a higher group?: That really depends on your needs. If you need a luxury car or something very large, I'd suggest you book that. If you can make do in something cheaper, but an upgrade would be "nice", then go that route. In DUB, my wife & I would have been just fine on a tiny car, but the bigger car was nice to have. In VCE, there were 3 of us, so we couldn't survive on an econobox if they didn't give us an upgrade, so I booked what we needed (4-doors) and was upgraded to a premium.

IAH - couldn't have put it better myself.

Well I have just handed in the keys, I received an "upgrade" to an Opel. Quite a let down, especially as walking to the car I passed a whole lot of Porsches one of which I wouldve been happy to take care of. Driving on the Authobahn in a car that battles to go past 160 is not fun, especially when it takes so long to get there from 120.

Next time will rent a higher group.

Thanks for all the input.

Did you have any discussion with the agent? I have found the FRA staff to be excellent in the past. Last time I was there I arrived in a large snowstorm, had a C group car reserved - she handed me the keys to a brand new BMW X5

The Presidents Club is avail. in Germany as well. Benefits should be the same as in the US. Chairmans Club is available too, but reserved for real Chairmans / managers of very big companies. (There are just two within my state...)

Not sure where you got your information from but those two levels are available in a lot more countries than just the US. Maybe the US PC limits the official perks to US locations but I can't see anything in our T&Cs about those limitations.

I have rented cars in Germany several times as a PC and always got upgrades. But never to anything which I would consider to be a nice car.