Avis First - Does any EVER receive an automatic upgrade?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SAT
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold (LT), Nat EL Exec, Hertz PC
Posts: 625
Avis First - Does any EVER receive an automatic upgrade?
I've been Avis First for well over 6 months, and in that time - which represents about 20 rentals - I've never shown up at an airport with an upgraded vehicle. I reserve Intermediate and receive Intermediate.
The rental card in the vehicle says Avis First, so I know it's in their system.
Is the process supposed to be this difficult? (With Hertz there was nearly always an upgraded vehicle so I'm really wondering why I moved my allegiance...)
Edited to add: I'm not ranting, I'm really asking if there is something going on... As in, is this designed to reduced the number of upgrades / is something wrong with my profile / etc.?
The rental card in the vehicle says Avis First, so I know it's in their system.
Is the process supposed to be this difficult? (With Hertz there was nearly always an upgraded vehicle so I'm really wondering why I moved my allegiance...)
Edited to add: I'm not ranting, I'm really asking if there is something going on... As in, is this designed to reduced the number of upgrades / is something wrong with my profile / etc.?
Last edited by brkandjfk; Jun 16, 2012 at 1:54 pm Reason: added that last part...
#3
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,033
Avis can be stingy with upgrades at some locations. It's obviously not due to your profile if it says it on the rental card. Probably a function of time (do you show up on Tuesday/Wednesdays when they are low on vehicles) or the station (is it the same location or different ones)?
And are you sure you're getting Intermediates and not a full/other? Many cars that I'd consider intermediate (Camry, etc) are full size by Avis standards.
And are you sure you're getting Intermediates and not a full/other? Many cars that I'd consider intermediate (Camry, etc) are full size by Avis standards.
#4
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Edison, NJ
Programs: Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Hyatt Platnium, National Executive Elite
Posts: 128
I guess it depends on locations a lot. I rent from both corporate and franchise locations. At corporate locations I always see previous Avis First members left their contract in the cars I get. I have seen full size class got upgraded to luxury class before, not sure if they negotiated.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: OHIO - CVG,DAY
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, DL DM MM. National Exec... and my CC qualified for Plat. Status!
Posts: 469
I moved from Avis to National and couldn't be happier. You get to choose the car you want, granted some of the selections are minimal at certain places.
The only upgrades that Avis wanted to give me was a fullsize car to a stinkin Lincoln or Grand Marquis.
The only upgrades that Avis wanted to give me was a fullsize car to a stinkin Lincoln or Grand Marquis.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SAT
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold (LT), Nat EL Exec, Hertz PC
Posts: 625
Yep, I go back and ask for an upgrade (usually). And yes I am sure of the vehicle type I'm receiving... (Boarding card lists both the "reserved" and "rented" groups)
Usually when I ask to switch cars there is no issue (and there has never been a supply issue), but twice I've been quoted a price to upgrade (resulting in me asking "isn't that a benefit I'm supposed to receive")
Usually when I ask to switch cars there is no issue (and there has never been a supply issue), but twice I've been quoted a price to upgrade (resulting in me asking "isn't that a benefit I'm supposed to receive")
#7
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYR
Programs: US/AA-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, AVIS-Presidents Club, National-Executive Elite
Posts: 2,755
When I was AVIS First, I usually got upgrades from Intermediate to Full. Mostly to Malibus or other equally horrible cars.
I dont think AVIS really thinks of their "first" program as much of a loyalty program.
Once I was part of the PC program, upgrades became very automatic. CC obviously would be even better.
I dont think AVIS really thinks of their "first" program as much of a loyalty program.
Once I was part of the PC program, upgrades became very automatic. CC obviously would be even better.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
As such, I have no problem getting upgrades from Compact to Intermediate most of the time, and Economy to Compact basically all of the time, when First (even sometimes when only Preferred, but it's not a publsihed benefit for Preferreed any more).
Since I'm price-conscious and always booking on my own dime, I only tend to book either Economy or Compact, and thus don't have any personal experience with upgrades from higher car classes. However, in my many years of reading the Avis forum on FT, I've noticed that the number of compallints about no upgrades goes up the higher the car class booked, while I never hear complaints about people not getting upgraded from the lowest car classes. So I do think that higher car classes may be harder to upgrade, at least at certain stations...
#10
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SW WA
Posts: 3,888
I think it's really station dependent. I rented at AUS and got upgraded from a full size car to a standard SUV. I used to rent from Avis at PDX about 10-12x a year and last year I think I got 2 upgrades. I was told by the station manager that they do not recognize Avis First there. I switched to National and have been pretty happy.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Monterey
Programs: HH Dia, Avis First, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, AS
Posts: 188
I get consistently upgraded. Either from Intermediate to Luxury, or Intermediate to Full Size, or sometimes even a Mustang.
Generally I rent from the same 2 or 3 locations, and they've come to know me, so that might be part of it. But even before they really started to recognize me, I was still being treated well.
Generally I rent from the same 2 or 3 locations, and they've come to know me, so that might be part of it. But even before they really started to recognize me, I was still being treated well.
#12
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: STL
Programs: HHONORS, AA, Delta, Southwest, Avis, Emerald Club
Posts: 120
When I rent avis domestically I've received an upgrade nearly half the time I've rented.
One time in C-Springs I was upgraded from an intermediate to a Hummer (strange right?)
My last trip, to Tampa I was upgraded from an intermediate to a Brand New Mustang GT (cool cars!).
One time in C-Springs I was upgraded from an intermediate to a Hummer (strange right?)
My last trip, to Tampa I was upgraded from an intermediate to a Brand New Mustang GT (cool cars!).
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
An upgrade to a mini-SUV from even a compact can be common in some more-rural stations, such as JAC (Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the only commercial airport in the US located inside a national park!), because of the expectations of road conditions there (at least at some times of the year, but whatever vehicles they choose because of road conditions in winter are there to be rented in the summer too!).
#14
Used to be bulldoggolfer05
Join Date: May 2007
Location: São Paulo, BR/Miami Beach, FL/NYC/DXB
Programs: HGP DMD, HHonors DMD, SPG PLT, MR PLT
Posts: 2,295
Perhaps not the correct thread for this, so moderators feel free to split and merge to the proper thread if need be, but while I know this thread is in regards to vehicle upgrades with Avis First, has anyone received an automatic complimentary upgrade to Avis First?
I signed up on Tuesday for the Avis Preferred program and made my first rental ever through Avis on Wednesday. On Thursday, I logged in and saw that my account was showing as upgraded to Avis First, so I wrote the online chat agent who confirmed that my account is a First account, but the Avis First website does not recognize my account as such, and when I picked up a second reservation yesterday, it still noted Preferred (will this automatically update or do you have to call in to have all current reservations refreshed?). Certainly not expecting something for nothing, but a little confused .
I signed up on Tuesday for the Avis Preferred program and made my first rental ever through Avis on Wednesday. On Thursday, I logged in and saw that my account was showing as upgraded to Avis First, so I wrote the online chat agent who confirmed that my account is a First account, but the Avis First website does not recognize my account as such, and when I picked up a second reservation yesterday, it still noted Preferred (will this automatically update or do you have to call in to have all current reservations refreshed?). Certainly not expecting something for nothing, but a little confused .
#15
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 20
It really depends on the agent handling you
I rent weekly from the same location and have been doing so for well over a 18 months. I usually reserve a compact or intermediate and leave with no less than a full size class or premium class vehicle every time. In most cases my make and model preferences have been waiting without needing to go to the Preferred counter at all. But this unfortunately can be attributed to the relationships I've developed with several members of the Avis Preferred staff rather than Avis First status. These individuals normally work daytime during the week and the generous and appreciative attitude they exhibit is not shared by those attending that counter during any other shifts. On one occasion a member of what I affectionately refer to as the JV squad was unrelenting about a double upgrade request in the absence of any vehicles one class above my reservation. Not that it was one of my best moments, but she eventually granted the double upgrade after I commented that the double upgrade vehicle was available, not her personal vehicle, impacted her life in no negative manner to let me drive it, and digging in her heels would imply the company motto might be more appropriately changed to "We try harder to do the minimum it takes to prevent a cancellation." I'm not particularly proud of that but that particular agent and I are now very friendly and she even apologized for being difficult with a discretionary coupon the staff keep on hand to apologize for hiccups in the process. So as the old adage goes, ultimately it's all about relationships.