Avis First, President's Club & Chairman's Club
Jul 25, 2016, 9:04 am
#183
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,032
Been assigned nice upgrades before arrival (Lux or Specialty class). When I try to swap with the app, it gives much lesser options for free exchanges (midsize car or small SUV). To upgrade to the same model as I'm in (just a different car), it tries to charge for it. So it'snot optimized for CC in my experience.
Jul 29, 2016, 12:51 pm
#184
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, SPG Plat100, Hyatt Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 129
Been assigned nice upgrades before arrival (Lux or Specialty class). When I try to swap with the app, it gives much lesser options for free exchanges (midsize car or small SUV). To upgrade to the same model as I'm in (just a different car), it tries to charge for it. So it'snot optimized for CC in my experience.
Sep 1, 2016, 4:24 pm
#186
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Avis Chairman
Posts: 1,286
PSA: The PHX airport location is a stingy miser when it comes to CHM upgrades. They had probably 20+ BMW/Mercedes cars available but would only give me a Taurus, even after going in to talk to nicely ask for an upgrade. I've rented from probably 30+ locations and this is the only one that has ever given me issues (actually, BOS gave me trouble ONE time out of the 40+ times I rented from there). Wonder what's going on over at PHX.
Sep 2, 2016, 9:15 am
#187
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ORD, MKE
Programs: Bonvoy LT Gold, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 710
We rented in PHX for over a decade but first noticed this in Mar 2015. Rented a minivan, they bluntly refused to give us one of the many large SUV's in their lot. Was usually pre-assigned one (or some other worthy upgrade) at most other AVIS locations.
Sep 2, 2016, 6:43 pm
#188
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,032
PSA: The PHX airport location is a stingy miser when it comes to CHM upgrades. They had probably 20+ BMW/Mercedes cars available but would only give me a Taurus, even after going in to talk to nicely ask for an upgrade. I've rented from probably 30+ locations and this is the only one that has ever given me issues (actually, BOS gave me trouble ONE time out of the 40+ times I rented from there). Wonder what's going on over at PHX.
Sep 21, 2016, 2:52 pm
#189
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: DL MM, Marriott LT Titanium, AA EXP, Avis Chairmans
Posts: 1,399
My company just enrolled me in a Chairman's pilot program. I had been a former Hertz guy. But from the benefits that my travel manager sent, this looks like a great program. Anything beyond the stated benefits that I should expect? I read PHX is stingy...any other stingy cities?
Sep 27, 2016, 11:25 am
#190
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 403
Any PC experiences out of MSP? Renting weekly and just got PC status. I've been getting such terrible cars up until now... hopefully the grass is greener on the PC side.
Oct 5, 2016, 7:21 am
#191
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta Skymile DM, Marriott Platinum, PC Gold, Avis Chairman's Club, National EE
Posts: 728
They found a Lincoln MKZ.
Oct 12, 2016, 1:30 pm
#192
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 403
Then again, I got a VW Beetle (which I refused) and a Toyota Corolla before I got PC status, even on a full size reservation... so I'll take what I can get I suppose.
Oct 15, 2016, 8:19 am
#193
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: DL MM, Marriott LT Titanium, AA EXP, Avis Chairmans
Posts: 1,399
I got the chance to try out my first rental as a chairman. First, the bus driver asked if anyone was a Chairman. I identified myself. Another passenger said he rents at LAX all the time and has never seen a chairman. :-) They had my Cadillac waiting for me right where the bus dropped me off.
Upon return, it was a bit more confusing. I dropped off the car, and the guy that checked me in said to wait for someone to drive me to the terminal. But he asked several red shirt people to take me, all of them declined. Two even said they weren't sure what to do with a Chairman. I felt like a Unicorn. A couple of minutes later someone finally knew what to do with me, and drove me to my terminal.
Except for the return situation, I was quite pleased with how I was treated. Chairman seem to be so rare that many of that staff don't know what to do with us.
Upon return, it was a bit more confusing. I dropped off the car, and the guy that checked me in said to wait for someone to drive me to the terminal. But he asked several red shirt people to take me, all of them declined. Two even said they weren't sure what to do with a Chairman. I felt like a Unicorn. A couple of minutes later someone finally knew what to do with me, and drove me to my terminal.
Except for the return situation, I was quite pleased with how I was treated. Chairman seem to be so rare that many of that staff don't know what to do with us.
Oct 15, 2016, 9:37 am
#194
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,032
Upon return, it was a bit more confusing. I dropped off the car, and the guy that checked me in said to wait for someone to drive me to the terminal. But he asked several red shirt people to take me, all of them declined. Two even said they weren't sure what to do with a Chairman. I felt like a Unicorn. A couple of minutes later someone finally knew what to do with me, and drove me to my terminal.
Honestly, I think they need a better return policy for CHM. My idea is to use the 4-way flashers upon arrival. The agents can spot you easier and waive you to the proper spot to await a receipt/ride to the terminal. Otherwise, you're often dealing with a flagger that gets very annoyed when you don't get in the middle of a row of returned cars because they cannot see the folder on your dash (not their fault, in dark garages with headlights pointing their way, nobody would readily see the folder). Unless they all adopt the DFW/SFO phone number system.
Oct 17, 2016, 3:47 pm
#195
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,860
I got the chance to try out my first rental as a chairman. First, the bus driver asked if anyone was a Chairman. I identified myself. Another passenger said he rents at LAX all the time and has never seen a chairman. :-) They had my Cadillac waiting for me right where the bus dropped me off.
Upon return, it was a bit more confusing. I dropped off the car, and the guy that checked me in said to wait for someone to drive me to the terminal. But he asked several red shirt people to take me, all of them declined. Two even said they weren't sure what to do with a Chairman. I felt like a Unicorn. A couple of minutes later someone finally knew what to do with me, and drove me to my terminal.
Except for the return situation, I was quite pleased with how I was treated. Chairman seem to be so rare that many of that staff don't know what to do with us.
Upon return, it was a bit more confusing. I dropped off the car, and the guy that checked me in said to wait for someone to drive me to the terminal. But he asked several red shirt people to take me, all of them declined. Two even said they weren't sure what to do with a Chairman. I felt like a Unicorn. A couple of minutes later someone finally knew what to do with me, and drove me to my terminal.
Except for the return situation, I was quite pleased with how I was treated. Chairman seem to be so rare that many of that staff don't know what to do with us.
I just ask for a driver when I pull up to drop off the car, and that seems to get the process started easily.
The problem is more on the pickup side where there is inevitably a Caddy or Lincoln waiting for me, and I have to negotiate for something better.
David