Upgrading to a Prius
Jan 31, 2013 | 7:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Starwood Platinum, Amex Centurion
Posts: 40
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!
Does anyone know what class I must book so that a 2 class upgrade will qualify me for a Prius? Thanks!
Jan 31, 2013 | 10:42 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
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.
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.
Jan 31, 2013 | 11:55 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Between EWR & PHL
Programs: UA MileagePlus dirt (former hard-way Silver); AS Mileage Plan MVP; Hilton Honors Silver
Posts: 1,586
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).
Jan 31, 2013 | 12:30 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
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?
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?
Last edited by drzoidberg; Jan 31, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Feb 7, 2013 | 7:52 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, UA Gold/MM, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Diamond/Ambassador, Hyatt Explor
Posts: 2,172
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.
May 2, 2013 | 10:12 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Starwood Platinum, Amex Centurion
Posts: 40
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.
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.