I've just had a most unusual experience with a difference in rates between the website and phoning Avis reservations. This might be unique to my location (Denmark), but I wondered if anyone else compares the two.

I have a President's Club card (based on AmEx Centurion) so I entered my Wizard number for a two-week rental at MCO -- queried for a Group E, since I can get a two-class upgrade to Luxury based on availability. The rate was $691 with no insurances included.

I thought it was odd because when renting via Avis.dk we usually get a special all-inclusive rate with ALI, LDW, all taxes and surcharges. So I tried the query with no Wizard number and it returned the rate of $619, including ALI, LDW, etc.

Great - I wanted to book that rate but I also wanted my President's Club Wizard number noted for the upgrade possibilities. I called Avis.dk reservations and told them I was having trouble getting the all-inclusive rate when using my Wizard number, so she did it on her computer, and tells me the best rate she can give me is $502, all-inclusive of LDW, ALI, tax and surcharges!

That's for a full-size four-door, with the possibility of an upgrade to Premium or Luxury on arrival (last time we were given a Town Car, the time prior a Premium).

In future, even if the website returns a good all-inclusive rate with my Presiden't Club Wizard number, I'm going to double-check by phoning Avis reservations to see if they can beat the rate.

Susan

There are cheaper rates if you do use the 800 numbers in the US. But it is not always the case.

When you rate shop online, the computer does a booking based on the best available information, utilizing the strict information that you put in.

Computers only give you one price because its 0's and 1's. there is no .5 in the computer world. Digital vs. analog.

The human brain is analog. it takes in all the information, looks at partial matches, utilizes existing specials that will be more expensive because "it doesnt match perfectly" but even with the increase in pricing it will be cheaper than the best computer rate posted.

About 30% of the time, when I look at a rate in my computer at work, there is more than one rate retrieved. The first one that pops up is the one that the computer thinks will be the most likely canditate to give the best rate given the current situation.

Then, as a human operator, I have the ability to look at all the other qualifying rates present and see if one of them will generate a better situation, therefore better pricing.

Example.....


These numbers are made up to demonstrate how susanDK's outcome could have happened.

Rate shop online for thursday through monday. it will generate for you a weekly rate based on the number of days. (greater than 99 hours, its usually to get the weekly rate) and it averages to 32.00 dollars a day.

For calculation, the weekly rate is 161 a week, and if you kept the car 7 days, it would average 23 dollars a day.

A human operator looking directly at the wizard rate shop will see this....

First code that will pop up is the weekly rate based on number of days(above).

Hit PA1 on the computer and the next page will show up. it will show a weekend rate where the customer qualifies for, but it will only bill daily for that rate,as long as the car is returned before 2359 on monday. This daily rate is for 23 dollars a day as long as the weekend stipulations are met. for the 5 days, it will be 115 per day. Thats 23 dollars a day based on 5 days.

Why does this happen?

Because the daily rate average is the SAME for both rentals (but one is based on weekly, one is based on daily) it doesnt know which one to give, so it gives them both in numerical order based on the rate code. (a default).

I imagine that happened with your reservation situation as well. This is why I advocate trying many different aspects when price is significantly an issue. There is no substitue for preparedness.

incidentally, SusanDK, there are cheaper options for traveling to the US.

for one, if you were to utilize the US website and telephone number for booking your car travel stating your country of origin is the US, you can get away from the all inclusive packages

But I dont suggest going it without some sort of insurance. For two weeks in the US, I found travel insurance for two people for $118. It includes.

Trip Cancellation 100% of the Trip Cost
Trip Interruption 150% of the Trip Cost
Travel Delay (Daily Limits Apply) $1000
Baggage and Personal Effects (Primary Coverage) $1500
Baggage Delay $500
Medical or Dental Expense $250,000
Emergency Assistance (Emergency Medical Transportation) $1,000,000
Travel Accident (AD&D) $50,000
Damage to Your Rental Car (Not available to residents of OR or TX) $50,000 Per Policy
Air Flight Accident* $200,000

So given that price, id suggest doing your homework on that as well. And for those who dont travel much, you know those insurance kiosks that are in the airport, i saw one the other day that offered LDW and ALI for 12 dollars a day. Avis at MCO charges 22 and 11 respectively. Sometimes a little digging means alot!

Thanks, ezmonee, it's always a pleasure and an education to read your posts!

With regard to the insurance, I actually wanted the all-inclusive rate from Denmark, with LDW/ALI included. My AmEx covers all the other types of cases you list (cancellation insurance, travel/baggage, medical/dental, etc.).

My AmEx could cover the LDW if I wanted to decline that with Avis, but not ALI which I believe is important when driving in the U.S. I have priced it in the past by contacting Avis U.S. to get the best available rate without insurance, and it has always been higher than the all-inclusive rate from Denmark. This has been both via Avis.com and via telephone. I've even commented about this to the Danish customer service agents and they tell me they hear this all the time, and they know they have fabulous rates on car rental in the U.S. when booked through Avis DK.

For peace of mind, I prefer to get the Avis LDW/ALI so that if anything happens, I don't have to muck about with my credit card company, trying to get them to cover it. I assume (hopefully not incorrectly), that my having Avis' own coverage on LDW/ALI, it will be hassle-free should something happen. Thank goodness, I've never needed to test this theory.

Is this a correct assumption?

Susan

P.S. For fun, I went to Avis.com and entered my dates, stating that I was a U.S. resident (which I am part of the time, so have a U.S. address). The rate that came up was $409 with no insurance vs. the $502 I've booked via Denmark with ALI/LDW. So for my 15-day rental, I'm paying $6.20 per day for ALI/LDW. I could, of course, take the cheaper one and waive LDW (covered by AmEx), but I'd still need ALI and I don't think I could get that for $6.20 per day.

Yes it is a good assumption.


There are times, though, that the prices simply dont pan out for you to do the all inclusive rates. There are times where the LDW and ALI are simply much cheaper elsewhere. I recently found a car rental insurance company that, for 3 dollars per trip plus 9 dollars per day, will provide LDW and ALI. that is staggeringly good.

Yup.... the travelguard.com insurance is a pretty good deal and a lot cheaper than getting insurance right through the rental companies in most cases. And after purchasing it you can print the policy right off the website, so you can show it at the rental agency if necessary.

I bought it a couple times before having a CC that included CDW. Never had to use it though......which i suppose is a good thing

-mike