2023 Upgrades
Jan 8, 2023, 3:39 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ATL/TLV/SDF
Programs: AA EXP, UA LT Ag, Marriott LT Ti, Hyatt Glob, Avis PC, Busted-Knuckles Club Grand Poobah.
Posts: 2,612
2023 Upgrades
Status: PP
Location: EWR
Booked: Intermediate
Offered: Chevy Malibu
Received: same
EWR seems to be broken in terms of automation. The app wouldn't work (really, does it ever lately?). Car assignment is whatever one of the lot rats brings up. Offered this car and was told there were no other options. The sole exit was clogged with cars and the QR code thing didn't work. All told it was about 45 minutes from entry to exit.
It's not awful, around 10K miles, not all banged up like my last rental, and seems to lack all the safety nannies I hate, so there's something to be said for a car that has never been updated and probably never will be updated as it's the last GM sedan sold in the US, aside from Cadillac.
Location: EWR
Booked: Intermediate
Offered: Chevy Malibu
Received: same
EWR seems to be broken in terms of automation. The app wouldn't work (really, does it ever lately?). Car assignment is whatever one of the lot rats brings up. Offered this car and was told there were no other options. The sole exit was clogged with cars and the QR code thing didn't work. All told it was about 45 minutes from entry to exit.
It's not awful, around 10K miles, not all banged up like my last rental, and seems to lack all the safety nannies I hate, so there's something to be said for a car that has never been updated and probably never will be updated as it's the last GM sedan sold in the US, aside from Cadillac.
Jan 8, 2023, 5:59 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 2
Status: Presidents Club
Location: OGG
Booked: Midsize SUV
Offered: Buick Enclave
Received: 2019 Ford Escape w/ 30k miles
Booked this hoping for an upgrade to a Wrangler which I saw in the forum earlier, but they said none were available. I didn't need an enormous SUV, especially for driving around Hana, so I asked them to give me something in the category I booked. Car was fine, but definitely did not benefit much from my status here.
Location: OGG
Booked: Midsize SUV
Offered: Buick Enclave
Received: 2019 Ford Escape w/ 30k miles
Booked this hoping for an upgrade to a Wrangler which I saw in the forum earlier, but they said none were available. I didn't need an enormous SUV, especially for driving around Hana, so I asked them to give me something in the category I booked. Car was fine, but definitely did not benefit much from my status here.
Jan 13, 2023, 12:26 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Status: Presidents Club
Location: IAD
Booked: Full size
Offered: Cadillac CT4
Accepted: Cadillac CT4
Asked the app for something else but nothing offered - and I wasn't willing to do wait in el line to do battle.
Not FL plates.
David
Location: IAD
Booked: Full size
Offered: Cadillac CT4
Accepted: Cadillac CT4
Asked the app for something else but nothing offered - and I wasn't willing to do wait in el line to do battle.
Not FL plates.
David
Last edited by DELee; Jan 13, 2023 at 12:31 pm
Jan 20, 2023, 11:09 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: IND PHL SLC
Programs: Delta Diamond, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC, CLEAR
Posts: 107
Status: Presidents Club
Location: SLC
Booked: Full size
Offered: Nothing in App
Accepted: Chevy Tahoe w/60k miles
Second week in a row where the app just didn’t work at SLC. Had very good upgrades out of here last year but the ski season seems to have really disrupted their ops. 0 premium options on the lot. Basically choice of Chevy or Ford large SUVs.
Location: SLC
Booked: Full size
Offered: Nothing in App
Accepted: Chevy Tahoe w/60k miles
Second week in a row where the app just didn’t work at SLC. Had very good upgrades out of here last year but the ski season seems to have really disrupted their ops. 0 premium options on the lot. Basically choice of Chevy or Ford large SUVs.
Jan 20, 2023, 1:47 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Status: Presidents Club
Location: BWI
Booked: Full size
Offered: Lexus GX 460
Accepted: Lexus GX 460
Couldn't get the app to work and just took what was offered.
This time TN wins!
David
Location: BWI
Booked: Full size
Offered: Lexus GX 460
Accepted: Lexus GX 460
Couldn't get the app to work and just took what was offered.
This time TN wins!
David
Jan 22, 2023, 12:33 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,234
Hmm. Maybe not originally from TN. The left trunk has a sticker from Oceanside Auto Center. I doubt TN is near an ocean. But don't the used purchases tend to have FL plates?
Jan 22, 2023, 2:35 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Jan 22, 2023, 9:11 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,807
There is (or maybe was) some county/counties in Tennessee which don't have a registration tax and don't require the owner to present the vehicle in state.
Jan 23, 2023, 12:53 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Jan 24, 2023, 12:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 6
Status: Presidents Club
Location: DEN
Booked: Standard SUV
Offered: 2023 GMC Yukon Denali AWD
Accepted: 2023 GMC Yukon Denali AWD
A very nice upgrade and certainly beats the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport that Avis SLC offered me last year during ski season! App also offered a 2022 Yukon XL.
---
Status: Presidents Club
Location: New Orlenas Downtown (MS1)
Booked: Full size
Offered: Not an airport location - app didn't offer anything
Accepted: Lexus NX300
I've always have bad luck with Avis downtown locations so the Lexus is definitely appreciated.
Location: DEN
Booked: Standard SUV
Offered: 2023 GMC Yukon Denali AWD
Accepted: 2023 GMC Yukon Denali AWD
A very nice upgrade and certainly beats the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport that Avis SLC offered me last year during ski season! App also offered a 2022 Yukon XL.
---
Status: Presidents Club
Location: New Orlenas Downtown (MS1)
Booked: Full size
Offered: Not an airport location - app didn't offer anything
Accepted: Lexus NX300
I've always have bad luck with Avis downtown locations so the Lexus is definitely appreciated.
Jan 29, 2023, 8:43 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ATL/TLV/SDF
Programs: AA EXP, UA LT Ag, Marriott LT Ti, Hyatt Glob, Avis PC, Busted-Knuckles Club Grand Poobah.
Posts: 2,612
Status: PP
Location: ORD
Booked: Intermediate
Offered: Hyundai Palisade
Received: same, 35K miles
For once, the app worked. Checked other options vs this really ugly blob but it was the best on offer. Unfortunately the scan n go thing at the exit was broken so there was a decent wait, but otherwise pretty painless now that the train goes to the rental car facility, so no waiting in the cold for a nasty bus.
Location: ORD
Booked: Intermediate
Offered: Hyundai Palisade
Received: same, 35K miles
For once, the app worked. Checked other options vs this really ugly blob but it was the best on offer. Unfortunately the scan n go thing at the exit was broken so there was a decent wait, but otherwise pretty painless now that the train goes to the rental car facility, so no waiting in the cold for a nasty bus.
Feb 3, 2023, 4:17 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 12
Status: PP
Location: SJC
Booked: Full Size
Offered: Dodge Charger
Received: 2023 Ford Edge
other options were outlander and a 2019 ford edge that smelled terrible
Location: SJC
Booked: Full Size
Offered: Dodge Charger
Received: 2023 Ford Edge
other options were outlander and a 2019 ford edge that smelled terrible
Feb 3, 2023, 11:47 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: AUS
Posts: 281
Status: PP
Location: SAN
Booked: Midsize
Received: Cadillac CT5 350t
Annoyingly the app acted like I'd already left with the vehicle and so didn't offer me the option to switch vehicles, but with 9k miles it's a pretty nice upgrade so didn't bother me too much.
Location: SAN
Booked: Midsize
Received: Cadillac CT5 350t
Annoyingly the app acted like I'd already left with the vehicle and so didn't offer me the option to switch vehicles, but with 9k miles it's a pretty nice upgrade so didn't bother me too much.
Feb 4, 2023, 9:55 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 47
Status: PC
Location: FLL
Booked: Signature Series - Jaguar F-Pace
Offered: 2017 Acura MDX w/ 50k miles...
Received: 2023 Cadillac CTX 4 (changed booked vehicle to full size)
Location: FLL
Booked: Signature Series - Jaguar F-Pace
Offered: 2017 Acura MDX w/ 50k miles...
Received: 2023 Cadillac CTX 4 (changed booked vehicle to full size)
Feb 5, 2023, 9:32 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA
Posts: 178
Status: Preferred
Location: San Diego (One of the Downtown offices)
Booked: Group G Premium - VW Passat or Similar
Received: Group S 7 Seat SUV - Toyota Highlander
Didn't mind the change however with it being an entry level Toyota it didn't have Sat Nav or Android Auto, so I guess if they had given the group booked the car would have had more toys. Nothing else available, next time I think I will stick to airport locations, especially somewhere like San Diego being so close. The rental was a few days after the flight, hence collection location.
Location: San Diego (One of the Downtown offices)
Booked: Group G Premium - VW Passat or Similar
Received: Group S 7 Seat SUV - Toyota Highlander
Didn't mind the change however with it being an entry level Toyota it didn't have Sat Nav or Android Auto, so I guess if they had given the group booked the car would have had more toys. Nothing else available, next time I think I will stick to airport locations, especially somewhere like San Diego being so close. The rental was a few days after the flight, hence collection location.