Does AVIS First actually exist?
 

Last night I reserved a Full-Size in FLL. I had been upgraded to a Ford Escape (old style). I do not like SUVs so I looked in the Select + Go Aisle. They had Camry's 6's and SUVs. I went to the counter to try and get a premium, luxury, or cool car. The agent really was really reluctant to do anything, tried offering a number of full-size. I ended upsettling on a 300. A few miles down the road I discovered the air-bag light was on (emty passenger seat, my seatbelt was on). After driving a few times today it remained on. I went and exchanged it at PBI. The agent offered an Escape (new style), mentioned a Gradn Marquis knowing I would not like it, then a few full-size cars. Seeing that I was getting absolutly no-where I settled on a Maxima (no leather, no Sat radio).

Does AVIS First actually exist, because it seems the only upgrades I can actually get are for small SUVs that I don't want. In fact knowing what I have now I would have kept the 300 with the airbag light. Am I just going to the wrong airports at the wrong times? The lots are full of Mustangs, Challengers, a Cadillac here and there. Can I send a complaint to AVIS and get anything out of it?

Did you try doing a search?
"Avis First" produces multiple threads, including this one http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avis/...highlight=Avis, none of which are hugely complimentary.

I know it exists I am just seeing 0 benifits over preffered at the moment (ooo free weekend rentals based on number of rentals [10 day rentals shoud be worth 2 at least])

I've been Avis First most of this year - I tend to request intermediates/standards and almost always get assigned full size/premium vehicles or small SUVs. So yes, I'd say the program exists.

I'd argue that an "upgrade" to an impala or captiva from intermediate is nothing of the sort unless you see higher fuel consumption as a benefit. Any upgrades I have received are outliers to the norm.

To the OP. I had no success complaining to FLL but more power to you if you get anything like a response let alone an apology.

You know what would be a reasonable garentee for FIRST, free satellite radio garenteed. I what do other companies offer?

Well, considering that I always decline the Impala in favor of Ford products (or, lately, the VW CC 2.0, which I like quite a lot), I call moving from a Fusion to a Taurus or '13 Escape a definite upgrade.

Upgrading from a full size to a premium (300, Maxima) technically does fulfill the rules of "Avis First" one class upgrades... it's the preferred booth's discretion if they upgrade you beyond 1class to your desired Luxury/Cool car choices.

When I was Avis first, I had much better success reserving a premium, getting luxury, or reserving luxury and getting a cool car (such as Mustang GT, Camaro SS, Challenger RT etc) for the most desired car models. I could often count on a multi-class upgrade when reserving a intermediate and getting a premium.

Unfortunately it sounds like the new Avis select and go has eroded the Avis elite upgrade success rates... luckily most of my rentals have been at non select&go locations!

Avis First really exists, but how well it works depends on which car class you reserve, and also you need to know if you're reserving at a Select & Go locaiton or not because the strategy may need to be different.

Avis First works fine for reserving an economy and being bumped up to a compact almost always, or for reserving a compact and usually getting bumped up to an intermeidiary. But I bet it works a lot worse for reserving full size, because what's above that? They probably think "even fuller size", which is SUV!

(OTOH, I've gotten some useless SUV upgrades, even before I became First ie when I was just Preferred, from even Economy! :eek:)

However, as documented in this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avis/...o-service.html

the strategy at Select & Go locations may be different. You get the same Exchange area whether you reserve a Full Size or an Economy car, so why not save money and reserve Economy and then you won't feel so underwhelmed by the Exchange area. Plus, then if you want to use the Upgrade area, it's an added cost relative to a much lower initial rate.

(Of course, if your employer is paying for the rental, but won't pay for the Upgrade area, I can't help you there. Select & Go works best when you're paying for the rental yourself, as then it allows you to reserve the lowest class and yet still have a choice of several classes above that for free Exchange or use the savings on the rate to "fund" the Upgrade.)