Upgrading to a Prius
 

My preferred rental car is a Prius, but it is never worth it to me to reserve one directly -- the price is often $100+. So my technique is to rent in a cheaper class, and pray that my Presidential Club two class upgrade will qualify me for an upgrade. It almost always seems to come to down to desk agent discretion. I'd like to eliminate this crapshoot.

Does anyone know what class I must book so that a 2 class upgrade will qualify me for a Prius? Thanks!

If you want a Prius. Book one and pay for it.
Anything else involves variables beyond your control: availability for double-upgrade coupon (not necessarily into a Prius); agent discretion; availability of a Prius at the location to start with.

Prius is (ironically?) considered a 'cool car' - I was under the impression that you couldn't be upgraded into a 'cool car' in the traditional sense (although I once had an agent at SFO unwittingly move me from a Malibu into an Altima Hybrid).

What everyone else said. The Prius is a Specialty car and you can't get upgraded into it, unless the desk agent does you a favor.

Last time I saw a Prius at the Exchange aisle, it was available for $20/day extra.

What are you doing here UAPremExecFlyer? Finally defected from Hertz? :)

I have been getting the Prius a few times being a Chairman, but I had to ask for it at the beginning. After the agents leaned of my preference, I have been getting each time a Prius is available.

I usually request the 2013 ford cmax instead of the prius. Same upgrade fee (unless you're chm) but much better optioned, with leather and upgraded sony audio.

I've been given a Prius twice, no added charges. Avis First member, so maybe that's why. Surprisingly comfy, but not a barnstormer, obviously...but still delivered 50 mpg despite my ahem, "driving".

Thanks all! I've been to SFO about eight times now and would say that half of the times I asked for a Prius, pointing out my President status, they gave it to me free.

In one hilarious exchange, the agent stated an upgrade fee of $30 / day, then offered $20, and then offered $8. I felt like I was bargaining in a 3rd world country.