if you can avoid the dreaded Malibu, PS status is OK, but often I end up with old ratty "full-size" cars that look like they were rented by the "Jackass" movie crew. for the past few months every initial car has been a freakin Malibu, and every time I gripe my way into a Century, which is nothing special but at least those all have cassette decks which let me listen to my iPod with an adapter.

in Greensboro a few months ago they tried to give me a Malibu with over 30K miles on it, that wouldn't start, and the door went "screeeeeeeeeeeek" when I opened it then it sagged like it was going to fall off. the bored Mall-Chyk at the counter rolled her eyes and made a huge deal out of my dissatisfaction with lots of sighs and such. ugh.

it certainly varies by location: at MCI there's nearly always a large Buick waiting for me, running, AC on if necessary, WSJ on the seat (if I had a bird it'd be useful for something but I'd rather have the NYT). but that's about the only location where the PS status recognition is consistent for me. elsewhere it's almost always a trip to the office to get a better car.

I can't say that I see any difference between my experience as a standard Preferred and a Select member. It's funny. Before I was awarded Select status, my midsize rentals were usually upgraded to the Century or that weird Buick Rendezvous thing. Now that I have a Select card I'm 5 for 5 on the dreaded Malibu, and it's starting to feel like they're transporting the same car--a red one with about 20,000 miles on it--to wherever I happen to be and switching the license plates. It's downright spooky!

Avis PS sucks because it has become so popular, and the locations lose money when they give out upgrades...

I'm not sure if it was my PS status or my high # of rentals for the year, but I was able to talk the agent into upgrading me from my normal intermediate rate upgradeable to full into a white convertible mustang. I went back to the same agent the following two weeks and got a black convertible, then the next week a yellow convertible mustang. Each time I had the top down before I left the lot.

outoftown
Where were you at?

If the avis employee likes you, or feels like being generous, they can technicly give you any car in the lot, i and my freinds have been upraded many times from compact to cadillac! at a location in the USA because we were freindly to the women at the counter

How effective (and how much) would a really good tip get you?

Being "friendly" at the counter doesn't help me much. It's rare that I ever go to a counter.

i only use avis as it is my company's policy. if i had a choice i woudlnt be renting avis, their cars suck and prefered gives no real benefits except being able to waltz right to ur car. these days i try to make it more enjoyable by squealing the cavalier's tires on every turn

I have found preferred select to be pretty useless. I rent almost exclusively at BOS and LAX and I have never received an upgrade without walking to the counter and asking for it. I get Malibu's more often than not when I reserve a (C) car and when I reserve a full size I usually get an impala which is in my opinion a marginal full size car. I don't know if it is related to the locations where I rent or AVIS in general but preferred select is a joke. I have more or less decided that I am going to rent from Hertz after six AVIS rentals each year (so I can get the BA loyalty bonus). Hertz has problems too but I have found that as a simple Club Gold they treat me better than Avis preferred select.

Called this weekend on getting PS status. Criteria is 18 rentals in one year or 9 in 6 months. But they only review this every 3 months. I have 18 rentals so far this year so I'll see if they up me soon.

I get upgraded most of the time from SJC but when I was renting from MCI earlier this year I never did.

Rented from IAD the last three times, I was given Alero, Alero and Monte Carlo. Reserved Economy on all three times. So far AVIS Select is treating me well.

rest assured...you're not missing much.

I've found that Avis has the most consistent and highest average level of customer service out there. True, the cars of the GM line are not tops, but you also roll the dice with other companies. They will usually give you your pick of cars if you ask the agent waiting for you at the bus. It takes a few minutes for them to swap you. I belive you can also add some hints to your profile such as "no malibus". Its not guaranteed, but most locations seem pretty willing to please.

I've tried the Hertz thing, but their customer service has become horrible, and their cars below full size seem to usually suck. If you can rent from the Prestige Collection, Hertz is tops, for the rest of us? Not me as least.

I'd be happy if the threshhold was 9 rentals in 6 months. Some people have previously mentioned 10 rentals in a rolling 6-month period. A number of times this year, I've hit 9 rentals, only to have one "roll off" just as I was about to rent another car.

If this 9 rentals/3 months, but they only check every 3 months is the case, my next question would be when do they check? At the end of each quarter? I had 9 rentals in the first half of the year, but have not gotten bumped to PS.

Avis would really do themselves a favor if they advertised this program and published explicit criteria. There's a reason air and hotel companies don't say, "Guess how many flights/stays you need to become an elite member!"