My first Avis experience
Aug 18, 2023 | 4:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cramerton, NC, USA
Programs: KLM Flying Blue Lifetime Platinum Elite, AA Gold, Delta MM Silver
Posts: 81
My first Avis experience
I rented a car from Avis Concord Padgett Airport. I showed up at noon, per my contract, and there was nobody there. Not just at the Avis desk... but at ANY desk. Not for any of the rental car companies. Not for the only airline that uses Concord Airport (Allegiant). Not at the police post. Not at the airport information desk. There were two other parties also searching for rental car personnel but the whole airport was deserted as if we were in some apocalyptic movie.
In the end I called the Airport Information line and was told that the airport was only staffed when there were commercial flights. I had rented the car from Avis from noon, but there was never any mention that the airport was simply not operational at that time.
So I called Avis. They asked me if I was OK to pick up from another location, for instance Charlotte Airport. I said that was OK as long as the price did not change. It did not. CLT Airport is actually much more convenient for me but when I booked the car it was cheaper from Concord. Anyway - I drive the 30 minutes back to CLT and get in line to pick up my car.
After a wait and service from a man that clearly wished he was anywhere else except behind the Avis counter servicing clients, he directs me to a parking bay that was... empty. So back I go in line and another staff member who is clearly not interested either directs me to yet another parking bay. There I find my car, and upon exiting the young lady at the parking exit checks my car and then she is the FIRST person to actually say "I am sorry about your troubles". None of the other Avis people ever uttered any form of sympathy or offered any kind of make good. Apparently this is how Avis works... The car was lovely.
In the end I called the Airport Information line and was told that the airport was only staffed when there were commercial flights. I had rented the car from Avis from noon, but there was never any mention that the airport was simply not operational at that time.
So I called Avis. They asked me if I was OK to pick up from another location, for instance Charlotte Airport. I said that was OK as long as the price did not change. It did not. CLT Airport is actually much more convenient for me but when I booked the car it was cheaper from Concord. Anyway - I drive the 30 minutes back to CLT and get in line to pick up my car.
After a wait and service from a man that clearly wished he was anywhere else except behind the Avis counter servicing clients, he directs me to a parking bay that was... empty. So back I go in line and another staff member who is clearly not interested either directs me to yet another parking bay. There I find my car, and upon exiting the young lady at the parking exit checks my car and then she is the FIRST person to actually say "I am sorry about your troubles". None of the other Avis people ever uttered any form of sympathy or offered any kind of make good. Apparently this is how Avis works... The car was lovely.
Last edited by malbarda; Aug 21, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Aug 18, 2023 | 5:00 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,998
I'm sorry for your misfortune, but the Avis location information for Concord Airport indicates the following:
"General Directions
"AIRLINE PASSENGERS: Proceed to the Avis counter in the baggage claim area. Courtesy bus service is available between the airport terminal (outside the baggage claim area) and the Avis car rental lot.
"WALK-UP RENTERS: Follow airport signs for Car Rental Return. The location is on Zephyr Pl at the terminal, between I-85 and Delta Rd, north of Concord Mills Blvd." (Emphasis added.)
I'm not sure why Avis does not post a sign at the in-terminal rental counter with this information.
It appears that Avis also has an-off airport location in nearby Kannapolis:
"Concord Car Rental & Nearby Locations1 Cloverleaf Plaza 3.26 miles awayAddress:
934 Cloverleaf Plaza
Phone:
(1) 704-792-9009
Location Type:
Corporate
Hours of Operation:
Sun 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM; Mon - Fri 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM"
Better luck next time.
Edited to add: Avis also has several off-airport locations in the Charlotte area, which might be more convenient for you -- unless you are trying to rent a vehicle type only available at airport locations.
"General Directions
"AIRLINE PASSENGERS: Proceed to the Avis counter in the baggage claim area. Courtesy bus service is available between the airport terminal (outside the baggage claim area) and the Avis car rental lot.
"WALK-UP RENTERS: Follow airport signs for Car Rental Return. The location is on Zephyr Pl at the terminal, between I-85 and Delta Rd, north of Concord Mills Blvd." (Emphasis added.)
I'm not sure why Avis does not post a sign at the in-terminal rental counter with this information.
It appears that Avis also has an-off airport location in nearby Kannapolis:
"Concord Car Rental & Nearby Locations1 Cloverleaf Plaza 3.26 miles awayAddress:
934 Cloverleaf Plaza
Phone:
(1) 704-792-9009
Location Type:
Corporate
Hours of Operation:
Sun 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM; Mon - Fri 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM"
Better luck next time.
Edited to add: Avis also has several off-airport locations in the Charlotte area, which might be more convenient for you -- unless you are trying to rent a vehicle type only available at airport locations.
Last edited by guv1976; Aug 18, 2023 at 5:22 pm
Aug 21, 2023 | 1:48 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cramerton, NC, USA
Programs: KLM Flying Blue Lifetime Platinum Elite, AA Gold, Delta MM Silver
Posts: 81
Thank you so much for that. I must have completely missed that important addition to my rental. Apparently Avis does not know about this either as they simply moved my rental from USA to CLT... Oh well, better luck next time.