2020 upgrades
 

Y'all know the drill:

Status: PPlus
Location: LGA
Reserved: Intermediate
Assigned: not assigned, "SEE PREF DESK" on board
Received: Gigantic wallowing Nissan Titan pickup that I hate but not enough to return from mid-Long Island, and it was either that or an aged Dodge Caravan.

Back again, glutton for punishment I guess.

Status: PPlus
Location: LGA
Reserved: Compact (my mistake in letting CWT complete this last-minute booking otherwise I reserve intermediate)
Assigned: not assigned, I got a Mazda 3 that REEKED of fresh marijuana smoke.I didn't even get in it.
Received: After some back and forth, a Ford Ranger which perplexingly handles and rides worse than the Titan I had last week and gets the same (terrible) fuel economy at 17mpg as the V8-equipped and much heavier Titan. This is what happens when you strap turbos to little engines and expect them to perform as well as a naturally-aspirated large engine: they can't, and fuel consumption rises drastically over the EPA fantasy numbers. I thought Ford was busted for grossly inflating the fuel economy of their so-called Eco Boost engines but they're apparently still at it. The 10-speed (ten!) automatic never knows what gear to use and shifts with a neck-snapping slam when cold.



Should've taken the contact high in the Mazda.

Status: PC
Location: NTE
Reserved: Intermediate IDMR - Qasqai or similar
Assigned: Intermediate IDMR: Opel/Vauxhall Grandland X, had some engine issue and had to exchange it at another station
Received (after exchanging it elsewhere a few days later): Citroen C5 aircross

Status: PC
Location: Cypress, CA (CQ6) (one-way to LAX)
Reserved: Compact
Assigned & received: Full-size 2019 Toyota Camry LE (31,000 miles and 1/4 tank of gas)

I was instructed to return it with the same amount of gas :rolleyes: but I did appreciate the upgrade.

UPDATE: I actually returned it with just over 1/4 tank of gas! Yay me :D

-J.

Status: PPlus
Location: YQB
Reserved: Intermediate
Assigned: not assigned
Received: 2019 VW Golf which while it's hardly an intermediate, I've grown to enjoy driving as it handles well, the drivetrain is snappy and responsive (for an automatic; I only own manuals, and the little 1.4L turbo engine feels bigger with little turbo lag) and on the 3+-hour drive from Quebec City I didn't get achy or cramped. I'll take a Golf easily going forward.

Status: Fastbreak
Location: JFK, one-way to the suburbs
Reserved: Compact with a free upgrade coupon to midsize
Assigned: 2019 Toyota Prius, 10.1k mi, MA plates

Status: PPlus
Location: SFO, one-way to LAX
Reserved: Full-size
Assigned: 2019 VW Passat Wolfsburg Edition, 24k miles (Premium class vehicle). Nice vehicle with sunroof and beige leather seats, although I doubt it was better than the sparkling new 'standard' Ford Fusion that also was available.

Status: PPlus
Location: YYZ
Reserved: Full sized sedan
Assigned: 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Lux AWD
Received: 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Lux AWD -- while this is a decent vehicle and I am doing a lot of highway driving in the snow on this trip; its very beaten up. It has over 66k on it, the dash is saying its overdue for service by 1300km. Interior could use a better cleaning but overall its ok. Really bugs me when these SUVs don't have the luggage cover too. It's a big SUV for a 4 banger -- mileage is not great to say the least. (No, I wouldn't say this is an upgrade at all.)

Status: Preferred Plus
Location: MDW
Reserved: Intermediate
Assigned and Received: Intermediate - 2020 Kia Forte with 13,000 miles. It was that or a 12 passenger van via the app. Went in to speak to the agent to see if anything else was available but there was nothing at that time. Car wasn't in the best shape and made a ringing sound when accelerating.

Status: PPlus
Location: PHL
Reserved: Intermediate
Assigned: Dodge Journey, the worst car still being manufactured.
Received: 2019 Impala 4-cyl. Decent car but underpowered and no way to shut off the stop-start other than popping the PRNDL into N at stoplights.

At least now the app works at PHL; every time prior the board would be blank and there's 20+ in line at the Preferred building...

Status: PPlus
Location: PHL
Reserved: Intermediate
Assigned: Camry with 35,000+ miles that reeked of cigarette smoke
Received: Ford Fusion Hybrid after being offered assorted lame low-end SUVs as "upgrades" :rolleyes: I like the Fusion/Mondeo and it's too bad Ford has stopped producing them for the US market.

Status: Preferred Plus
Location: MDW
Reserved: Standard
Assigned - nothing, chose a 2019 Chevy Tahoe with 4500 miles via the app. All of the choices were 7 passenger SUV's. Not a bad upgrade but the thing is a tank.

Status: Presidents club
Location: CAG airport (Sardinia)
Reserved: Standard - Alfa Romeo Giulia or similar
Assigned - Alfa Romeo Stelvio
For 50€ for 2 days, can't complain about the upgrade. The Stelvio is awesome to drive on those Sardinian roads. 27000 km on the odometer

Status: PPlus
Location: ORD
Reserved: Intermediate
Assigned: Nothing, used the app
Received: Chose a 2020 VW Passat from the longest list of available (mostly meh) cars I've seen so far.

Status: PC
Location: Berlin Tegel TXL Airport, Germany
Reserved: Intermediate manual - group D (Skoda Octavia or similar)
Assigned: Full size wagon automatic - group N (M-B C class T-model or similar)
Received: as assigned, Skoda Kodiaq 4x4 Diesel Automatic

Was happy with the assigned vehicle and decent upgrade so didn't ask for alternatives. Lots of VW Tiguan (group E) in the garage, other than that some minivans and compact cars.

Status: Preferred Plus

Location: Newcastle Airport NCL, 1 June
Reserved: Cheapest group A - Fiat 500 or similar
Assigned: Group B - Vauxhall Corsa
Unexpectedly fun to drive, and came with Car Play/ Android Auto which was very welcome at this price. Perfectly happy with it for running around. Didn't look like it had been touched since before COVID lockdown.

Status: PP
Location: ATL
Reserved: Intermediate
Assigned: not assigned anything
Checked the Avis app after landing and all that showed up were Chevy Traverse SUV's. Kept refreshing from the gate to the rental car center and nothing else popped up. Ended up taking a 2020 Traverse with 235 miles since the line at the Preferred desk was 15 people deep.

Status: PP
Location: PHF
Reserved: Fullsize
Received: 2020 Jeep Gladiator. This was for a one way to PIT. I was very surprised that they had Gladiators -- it was either that or an anemic Dodge Journey.

Status: PPlus
Location: DCA
Reserved: Intermediate
Assigned: None
Received: Picked a brand-new Honda Accord from the app. Nice car! But it looked like it had been sitting in a parking lot for months, very dirty windows and tons of leaves in the valley between hood and windshield.

Status: PPlus
Location: DFW
Reserved: Intermediate
Assigned: I forget. Something dull.
Received: Picked a Camry from the app, but it stank of cigarettes, took an Optima. I hate smokers!

Status: PP
Location: BOS
Reserved: Intermediate
Assigned: Ford Ecosport 4WD SUV
Kept checking the app and all of the options coming up were older SUV's with 30-40k miles. I've usually had decent luck with getting better options on the app, but I wonder if because I was dropping off the car at another location I was getting higher mileage options. The Ecosport only had 2,000 miles and has good features so it hasn't been bad, but trying to get up to speed on the interstate is a bit of a challenge.

Status: Preferred
Location: NCE - Nice
Reserved: Group D - Nissan Qashqai or similar
Assigned: Nothing - used the app
Received: Mercedes E220D
It was nicer than a Nissan and I was very grateful for the upgrade with my lack of status, but Mercedes are not what they were. Much prefer an Audi or BMW.

Status: PC
Location: EMA
Reserved: Group I - Golf automatic or similar
Assigned: n/a
Received: Mercedes A200d AMG (not sure of the group for this but was told it was an upgraded one).

Great car to drive and definitely an improvement on the Golf.

Status: PP
Location: BNA
Reserved: Intermediate
Assigned: Assigned 2020 Mazda CX-5
Checked the Avis app after landing - had a 2020 4Runner and a 2019 Traverse. Kept the Mazda since I'm a big fan of them.

Status: PP
Location: MSY
Reserved: Compact
Assigned: no assignment in app - went to Preferred Desk
Location barely had any cars in the lot - was assigned a 2019 Nissan Rogue at the desk. Didn't ask about any other options because the lot was empty at the time.

FLL
 

Status: PC
Location: FLL (one way to PGD)
Booked: Full Size
Assigned: Mazda 6
Received: 2020 Yukon Denali XL

Other swap options were two Tahoes. The assigned vehicle was laughable but surprised it gave me an option for this.

Status: PC
Location: CF8 Niort, France
Booked: Midsize group D (Nissan Quashqai manual)
Assigned: Group E Nissan Quashqai automatic
Received: Same

Small location and during lockdown had a limited number of cars available (the other 2 cars on the lot were a Toyoha C-HR and a Renault Twingo), so I was pleasantly surprised that they managed to get me an upgrade. Stellar service at this location, and the car was perfect for my needs.

Status: PC
Location: OGG
Booked: Full Size
Assigned: N/A (must show pink COVID slip to be assigned a car)
Received: 2018 GLE350 RWD with 20k

Inside operations were moved to preferred desk outside due to COVID I believe. Had to wait 30min after UA and AA were nice enough to send a 77W/77E to OGG at the same time while Preferred desk was used for all pax. :mad:

The MB was a really nice SUV, was great for exploring Maui.

Status: PC
Location: SFO
Reserved: Luxury
Assigned: Mercedes C300
Received: 2020 Range Rover Velar with 11.5k miles on the clock!

Pretty much a walk-up to the counter after National had nothing. Hertz would not let me book (Sold out). Agent initially offered a C300 after luxury was sold out. Ask for something bigger (saw a Range Rover) and asked if I could take that, but counter agent said no. Was then offered a Pathfinder (said no), was then offered a Velar (same car I asked initially). Was confused, but no rate change so took the contract before she decided to change her mind. Car had 12 PSI on one tire and a missing exterior door handle piece. Pumped up air and car was good to go! Pretty much my only upgrade ever at SFO.

Status: PC
Location: Berlin, Germany (downtown location)
Reserved: Intermediate (group D) - e.g. Skoda Octavia
Assigned: Full size wagon (group N) - Volvo XC60 (automatic, Diesel, navigation) with 8 km on the clock
Received: Same. Did not ask for other options, although they had at least a dozen other cars in the garage at the time.

Status: PC
Location: Berlin, Germany (downtown location)
Reserved: Intermediate (group D) - e.g. Skoda Octavia
Assigned: Nothing assigned on arrival.
Received: Premium special (group F) - Volvo V90

Status: PC
Location: Dubai, DXB
Reserved: Intermediate - (Mazda 3)
Assigned: Nothing assigned on arrival.
Received: Intermediate - (Nissan Sunny) :mad: