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-   -   New fee for different local return? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avis-preferred-budget-fastbreak/2062365-new-fee-different-local-return.html)

born sleepy Dec 16, 2021 10:50 pm

New fee for different local return?
 
Didn't Avis consider for example the LA region to be one general pickup/return?

Maybe to be more clear: I picked up a car at LAX last weekend. I checked in the app to see about returning it to SNA thx to a better flight option but Avis wants $140 or so to change that return. I thought we could return cars anywhere within the greater LA area e.g. pickup at LAX, return to LAX/LGB/SNA/ONT/BUR and possibly SBA, without any additional fees.

Was I wrong about that or did it change recently? The app wanted to charge me some absurd amount to return a SFO pickup to STS, something like $4500 last summer.

DELee Dec 17, 2021 10:45 am


Originally Posted by born sleepy (Post 33819857)
Didn't Avis consider for example the LA region to be one general pickup/return?

Maybe to be more clear: I picked up a car at LAX last weekend. I checked in the app to see about returning it to SNA thx to a better flight option but Avis wants $140 or so to change that return. I thought we could return cars anywhere within the greater LA area e.g. pickup at LAX, return to LAX/LGB/SNA/ONT/BUR and possibly SBA, without any additional fees.

Was I wrong about that or did it change recently? The app wanted to charge me some absurd amount to return a SFO pickup to STS, something like $4500 last summer.

Nope. LAX-SNA or LAX-XXX is a one way.

David

guv1976 Dec 17, 2021 11:02 am


Originally Posted by DELee (Post 33821193)
Nope. LAX-SNA or LAX-XXX is a one way.

David

Yes, it's a one-way, but the pricing depends on the AWD.

With some AWDs, LAX-SNA prices the same as LAX-LAX. With other AWDs (or no AWD), the one-way costs more.

DELee Dec 17, 2021 11:03 am


Originally Posted by guv1976 (Post 33821247)
It depends.

With some AWDs, LAX-SNA prices the same as LAX-LAX. With other AWDs (or no AWD), the one-way costs more.

Ok. My AWDs always priced one-ways higher.

David

IAHtraveler Dec 17, 2021 5:43 pm

I've done LAX-SNA and it's always been priced as a 1-way. LAX-BUR is not 1-way, IMO.

guv1976 Dec 17, 2021 5:59 pm


Originally Posted by IAHtraveler (Post 33822267)
I've done LAX-SNA and it's always been priced as a 1-way. LAX-BUR is not 1-way, IMO.

Pricing a one-day rental on a random day next week with no AWD, LAX-BUR prices about 2X the cost of LAX-LAX.
​​​​​​

DELee Dec 17, 2021 6:21 pm


Originally Posted by guv1976 (Post 33822295)
Pricing a one-day rental on a random day next week with no AWD, LAX-BUR prices about 2X the cost of LAX-LAX.
​​​​​​

Yowch!

David

Auto Enthusiast Dec 17, 2021 7:20 pm

With fewer cars available, it's likely there's much less flexibility for cars to randomly circulate. Hence the higher prices for one-ways that used to be the same as roundtrip.

jimdarcy Dec 18, 2021 7:06 am

[QUOTE=guv1976;33821247]Yes, it's a one-way, but the pricing depends on the AWD.

With some AWDs, LAX-SNA prices the same as LAX-LAX.

can you share the AWD that prices the same?

guv1976 Dec 18, 2021 10:52 am

[QUOTE=jimdarcy;33823335]

Originally Posted by guv1976 (Post 33821247)
Yes, it's a one-way, but the pricing depends on the AWD.

With some AWDs, LAX-SNA prices the same as LAX-LAX.

can you share the AWD that prices the same?

Sorry, no. It's my alma mater's contract code (which alumni are permitted to use), and I do not want to facilitate misuse of it. But in these days of very high rental-car rates, I encourage FTers who are college/university graduates to investigate whether their schools have beneficial rental-car contracts, and whether alumni are entitled to use them. A simple Google search should reveal whether your alma mater has such a contract; a call or email to your school's Purchasing Department and/or the car-rental company's manager assigned to the particular contract might be needed to ascertain whether alumni may avail themselves of the contract rate. The savings can be substantial.

If alumni may use your alma mater's contract, I recommend getting a certified copy of your transcript so that you can prove that you are an alumnus at the rental-car counter.

59Impala Dec 19, 2021 8:42 am

Because rates are massively lower, I booked a one way out of Culver City in stead of LAX. Return is in S.F. downtown.

Any experience, if returning the booked and prepaid car to Culver City again would mean a higher rate since it is sort of a change in reservation?

I am a PC member if that is of any meaning.

TIA


btw… Culver City does not allow oneway rentals at this time any longer…. Seems I was lucky…


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