I'm AVIS First and always rent Intermediate through our business travel agency. Thing is, I always seem to get an SUV whereas I'd really like a car due the to distance I travel from the airport. Is there was to specify something along the lines of "Thanks for the SUV upgrade, but is there any way I could get a (nicer) car?"

I don't usually rent with Avis, but with Hertz if they assign me a SUV or something I don't really want, I just ask the gold booth agent (I'm not sure what the Avis equivalent is) and usually they can get me something more along the lines of what I'm looking for. On Saturday at SLC I booked a midsize car and although I was assigned a Sentra (two weeks ago I was assigned an Acadia @:-)) I asked for and received a 2013 Malibu.

Does Avis have profiles for its frequent renters? I asked the agent on Saturday to put a note in my profile stating "no Nissans"; I've asked for similar favors in the past (e.g. "no Corollas") and it has made a difference (haven't been offered a Corolla since October). To do that you have to ask an agent in person or call in; there's no way to do it yourself.

-J.

Yes, you walk up to the agent, open your mouth and speak the words, "Thanks for the SUV upgrade, but is there any way I could get a (nicer) car?"

We all seem to forget there was a way of doing things before all of these automated systems (and texting, emails, webforms, etc.) were in place... Its called talking.

I had Avis put "No SUV" in my profile. It seems to work. Ask an Avis agent (or phone customer service) and have them set it up for you.

Thanks for the novel advice - that's exactly what I normally do but didn't know if there was a way of adding this to my profile that would ya know, not defeat the purpose of having the ability to go straight to my car in the morning.