Avis Preferred Select
 

Hey Does anyone know exactly what benefits I get with Avis Preferred Select?

I was recently upgraded from Preferred to Preferred Select but haven't really seen any differences in the level of service/vehicles I get

<sarcasm on> Maybe you'll actually get the class of vehicle you reserve. After 25 rentals this year, I haven't in the past 8 or 9. Seems like there is a glut of minivans and SUV's out there.

Nothing really happens. Sometimes you get a Wall Street Journal on the dashboard. Why people obsess about making Preferred Select is way beyond me.

I usually get a one-class car upgrade - exactly one-class. I checked into the Preferred Counter at YYC last night (well, 1:30am, delayed flight) with an Intermediate reservation and drove off in a 4 door Sebring Sedan (full size, I guess). There were at least a dozen Chrysler 300's I wouldn't have minded driving off in, not to mention the Town Cars :)

You're supposed to get a one-class upgrade and a WSJ.

All very hit or miss.

FWIW I'm Chairman's and didn't get any upgrade on a rental last week, even though there were definitely plenty available on the lot. Varies by location, this one never gave me anything as Preferred Select either.

My upgrade frequency has improved recently. It usually does in the summer, and especially when gas prices spike.

I rent full size. The demand for SUVs has dropped. Therefore, the lots are full of them and that's what I have found myself in for the last couple months.

I've never seen a WSJ in 50+ rentals as a PS.

I get the WSJ in about a third of my rentals. It doesn't bother me because I rarely have time to read it anyway.

Avis Preferred
here is the link to the benefits

Thanks for the chart, however, in what timeframe does the chart refer to? 12 rolling months? 18 months? Calendar year?

And the day I see a Free Airline Companion Ticket (especially if I can actually use it)....well, that's the day I decide to always rent from Avis. Would be a nice benefit!

-Mike

Edited to add: Here's an older thread I just found giving more details about this chart for those that are wondering: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=547433

According to the info that I received with my welcome aboard letter

**New Prefferred Select. Nothing but blue shies ahead.**

Now you are really have something to drive towards. With every rental you make, you'll see more rewards on the horizon. You can rack up the great benefits such as free days, and free weekends rentals to prepare you for the road ahead.

Best of all, if you reach the cruising level of at least 31 rentals or 110 total rental days within 18 months, you can take off with a free airline companion ticket. Getting rewards is easy, too. The rewards you're eligible for will come to you automatically the next time we reissue your card.

We hope you take advantage of the new Preffered Select. Simply no other car rental company goes further (or higher) to reward your loyalty.

that is directly from the welcome aboard letter haahaa

\

Looks like I'm more than 3/4 the way there for the free companion ticket!
I guess the poor service and never getting the car I reserve might one day pay off!

Thanks for the info!

I already hit my free companion ticket haahaa

But I hate flying. I avoid it like the plague.

I worked for AA for 7 plus years and Flying and me didnt mesh well
when I have to fly i have to psych myself out to prepare for the flight.

Think it has to do with my experience in a turbo prop flight where a kid was sayign we going to DIE and screaming it in a snow storm LOL on my way to vermont

I prefer to Drive I can fly myself haahaa

:eek: :eek:

What did you reserve? Aren't you supposed to get pretty much whatever you want and they have?

I never have a problem getting my upgrade. I never worry about that. I guess if you know you Agt aith Avis as well as I do. He and his assistant take good care of me

Was just a function of the location, I'm pretty sure. And no doubt if I had pressed the issue with a call to Chairman's desk it would have been solved. But I was in no mood to deal with it.

Had a great experience last week -- rented a midsize at MIA, upgraded to a Cadillac, was ready in space #2 at the entrance. Turns out the car had an issue, screaching at acceleration on the freeway. Checked into my hotel (outside Miami) and called Avis. They swapped out my car at the hotel in an hour and gave me 3 free rental days for my trouble.

Hubby and I had a similar experience at Avis in FLL this week. Rented mid, got upgraded to a Cadillac, and it screeched on the highway. Ours was a DTS. Sounds like the car may have a problem.

Preferred benefits????
 

I used to rent Hertz cars all the time before my comapy made me switch to Avis only. I miss all the great perks at Hertz (Lincolns, Volvos, Mustangs) and earned a lot of free days and even weeks.

Avis's program is lousy.

Big deal...free iTunes and "free weekends" if you rent for an entire week. I rent in a different town for 5 days in a row and get nothing.

Really look great in those PT Cruisers...right!

Other tahn the counter agents at SFO, I have had outstanding service as an AVIS Preferred Select member. My compnay tries to get me in the small Pontiac G6's (me large man)...I usually get upgraded to the Monte Carlo's, which i like.

As for SFO, on of the counter agents, at the preferred counter no less, says that she doesn't care about the preferred select customers an that we whine about everything. Then I steped up and she was as red as an apple. And asking this particular person at the rental counter is like Oliver asking "may I have some more"

I use to Use Hertz and Enterprise. <<TALK ABOUT LOUSY>>>

I enjoy my statues with Avis the Service I get, upgrades the discounts

I rented a car for my sister. Of course she is a Authorize Driver.. Pick car up on Friday and return it back on Monday I got a price of $68.00 not bad for a spur of a moment.

I just signed up for preferred, after about a dozen rentals in the past 12 mos, seemed like a good idea. When I went into the booth at SNA to get directions, I found I had a Crown Vic, instead of the full-size I asked for. Nice upgrade, leather and all.

[QUOTE=tfmpa]The screeching at about 70mph is caused by the windshield rubber not being properly installed at the factory. It is a very easy fix, however if you do not get it fixed or let avis know you may end up with parts of a windsheld. Out of 7 DTS's so far 3 have had this issue. Call avis asap and get the car replaced.

Preferred Select
 

I contacted Avis Customer Service by e-mail regarding this program. I got this reply:

Thank you for contacting Avis.

For information regarding how many rentals you have on your account and if
you qualify for the Preferred Select status, please contact us at
1-800-331-1212, and ask for the Omni department. We will be able to pull
your account in regards to the number of qualifying rentals, and send the
necessary paperwork for this program.

If you have further questions, please let us know.

Thank you for using Avis.

I called them and spoke to a woman that didn't sound too happy to talk to me. I asked her about my qualifying for the Preferred Select program and her reply was " We only do that about every 18 months. The next time we will look at the program will be at the end of spring 2007." "Sorry...you don't qualify".


Looks like I'm stuck with the PT Cruisers and the like for the next year even with 40+ rentals in the past year.

The golden rule of customer service is "If you dont like the answer, hang up and call again". I just got promoted to Preferred Select last month and I didn't contact Avis or do anything other than rent cars. So...if they gave me Preferred Select last month, it sounds like Avis reviews client accounts more often than every 18 months.

I was also bumped up to Preferred Select about a month ago, I think.

The program essentially sucks! I am discontinuing my rentals with AVIS since my actual billed charges are always much higher than my initial quoted price. It results in having to go back inside and sort it out. Frustated overall! I'm going to Hertz!

I sent them an email after 22 rentals and got a reply saying that I had to wait until next year when they revise my account. I send a reply (or was it two), and after that I got Prefered Select status.

I use to rent exclusively with Hertz I worked with AA and hertz gave employees disounts and we had a corp discount. I rented with Hertz just as much as I did with avis. I commuted from DFW to SAT I worked 4 days a week and was home for 3 and let me tell you I was nto treated nearly as good as I was treated with Avis. I did this for 2 years and my rates were just out of this world.

One thing is for sure even if I had made Pref Select status I will still choose avis over Hertz any day

this is MY opinion. I look back at all my receipts . I must of been on crack to pay what i did.. that is the price some pay for the commute

Umm kay... step back from the bottle and clarify please. You will "choose" avis of Hertz??? I'm not sure who "Avis of Hertz" is but if you indicate you would have selected Avis over Hertz why? You say even if you made Pref Select but in your programs you list PS Status? Tell us why you made this decision.

First the comment about the bottle was not really needed

Tell You why I made my decision with Avis verse Hertz

Customer Service.
Car Selection
Availability
Rates
Promotions

Preferred Select perks free airline companion pass no big deal

Since I worked with the Airlines for a Long time I get to fly all I want
Upgrades and great.. no big deal as well Nice to have

Please excuse the Typos we all can't be all perfect

Sorry your original post didn't make much sense to me but that was harsh, I don't know why I worded it like that. Thanks for the clarification, I have found some airports to be good and some bad with Avis its a shame, I wish they had more consistent customer service.

TechGeek that is ok. Working the days I work My (spellcheck or grammar check) doesnt function the way it should haahaa

that is ok

But I totally agree with you on that aspect. You would never get me to go to a Avis in Corpus or Brownsville Texas. The Customer Service there really does SUCK. That is my techincal Term haahaa

I have found that the customer service at ORD is TERRIBLE!!!! In 8 rentals at ORD in the past 12 months, Only 1/8 times I had my name on the preferred board. I have to go in and ask for my space number and contract. The time my name was on the board, I hiked all the way to my car to find that there was no contract in the car, and I had to walk all the way back to the preferred counter to get a contract.

When you complain, they just looking at you like you must be completely stupid. "don't tell US how to run a car rental lot, WE know more than YOU!" The last lady said she would put me on "a special list for frequent renters" Yeah right! There is no such list. The employees at ORD are TERRIBLE!!!!!

My experience at ORD has been good
 

Although I only rent infrequently at ORD, the service I've received at the preferred booth there has been excellent. Special requests and upgrades granted routinely and without hassle. I do wish Avis had consistently better service at all their locations, but it seems to vary wildly from place to place.

location fleet size can vary from airport to airport. from a low of 700 to a high of well over 10,000. the larger the airport, the better the upgrade possibilites. and lets face it, most peeps complain about the car they get than any other aspect. Next comes price, then price issues. Price depends on fleet availability, price issues is 50/50 customer/employee causes.

Everyone should keep this in mind.

when your name is on the board and you get to your car and theres no contract, 90% of the time its cause another customer misread the board and went into your car and grabbed the contract and went to the preferred desk.

ORD has an auto print system. If your flight number is in the reservation, ORD will use a service that triggers auto assigning of cars when the status shows "landed". And that service is pretty accurate. I have visited airports when a plane landed and the machine just starts spitting contracts left and right. It even takes advantage of your status. If your select, if the class above is available it will give it to you. Its indescriminate, it assigns the first car in the class (lowest miles) every time, regardless of make or model or stall number.

So if your contract isnt printing, try checking three things.
1-your reservation has your wizard number in it. This is at least 1/3 of all problems with preferred contracts not ready.
2-your credit card information is updated and current before you make your reservation
3-your flight number is in your reservation. I suggest the 2x4 method. two letter designator and 4 digits. So if your on united flight 1, then it should be UA0001.

And Finally, if you walk in snotty, expect snot to fly back. Regardless of fault, remember they are people trying to do a job. If your going to fling crap around, ask for a manager. they get paid for that. Not the front line staff.

List
 

Jul 15, 06, 12:33 am #32
DLmedalliongold
I am sure you got put on a "special list". It just might be one you really wanted to be on. :rolleyes:

Is this a big problem? This doesn't explain why I get sent to spaces without a car, cars with someone else's contract, and spaces with a car many classes below my reserved car.

If your car isnt there, and the board says it should be, someone moved it. Often its customers who get into the wrong car. The system that puts your name up on the board is the same one that assigns you the car. At my location, ive got a good couple of hundred regulars that come weekly. The rest come to my location once, twice, maybe three times a year, or have never been here. Seasoned veterants like yourself are probably very good at knowing what to do and where to go. Others are feeling their way through it. There are times that I bring the car right to the customer open the door call the customers name, and someone else will jump into the car and drive off, only to be stopped at the gate guard. Believe me, it happens often enough. But 9 times out of 10, i dont think this explanation would be the cause for all of those errors, unless you have an extremely common last name. Once I had 4 Smith's off the same flight. I Intentionally put them in cars on the four corners of my preferred lot to avoid issues.

The car with someone elses contract, and your stall on the board is listed, then it could be the employee who was putting out the contracts put the wrong one in the wrong car. Since I am in the business, I would check the contract in the car and see if the car matched the contract. That is how I would diagnose things. I once caught three teenage boys who's father was busy arguing about a bill pulling contracts out of cars.

They most certainly don't have this system in LAX or SNA, 9 out of 10 times I fly in there they don't have a car ready for me. Last time I flew into LAX I was promptly offered a compact car on my midsize preferred select reservation for the SAME midsize price. I was told if I didn't like it they were expecting a midsize car within the next hour that I could wait for...

Actually the system was developed for LAX. Its one of the busiest rental car locations in the world. For one, if your offered a car that is lower than your reserved class, you should get a price break. Any agent is empowered to put you in the next size down and downgrade price two. So in your situation, a midsize car reservation (Preferred select or not) if you were offered a compact, you should have been charged the subcompact rate. RSA training 101. If you find yourself in this situation again, my suggestion would be to ask for a lead. Not a manager, at least not yet. Tell the lead what happened, and "i dont mind taking the downgrade, but at least do something on the price."


If there are no cars on the ready line, the system is effectively nullified. I think thats what was going on in LAX on the day in question. The system, or FAN, is available at EVERY Avis location that has listed "preferred" service. Not all locations use it though.

Yeah, and if the staff are idiots that couldn't get a job anywhere else expect them to work at Avis LAX.


Nothing constructive, just a vent statement, I wont comment other than to say I have met many people that could be labeled "idiots" in every busines I have worked at and been to as a customer. I do know LAX and SNA have their problems. Many have emailed me directly about those problems, and I have passed them on to the appropriate individuals. your situation is no different.

I'll admit to being an occasional idiot. At least once, I misread my paperwork and jumped in the wrong car. The gatekeeper spotted the problem and sent me back for the right car. I don't know that I put the wrong one back in the right place. It can happen late at night after a long day of work and travel. I try to go easy on the other occasional idiots myself. It's the permanent idiots that can push me over the edge.

I'm a preferred select mainly renting at LAX and BOS. I've never had a problem at LAX and always get nice upgrades. It might have to do with the time of the day as I usually depart and arrive late pm.

I am over 15 rentals (not sure the exact number though since only 14 are showing on Avis.com but I know I have at least 3 priors). I just e-mailed Avis customer Service to see about becoming Preferred Select. I don't think it really matters, but oh well. I'll see what they say.

Do I have to be over 25 years to be Preferred Select? I am in the preferred program because of my company's AWD, but Avis doesn't like to divulge any information about PS on the website so I can't really tell anything.