Boy, am I mad now. I just got off of the phone with a Preferred Select rep and I almost wish I hadn't called. For a little background, I rent a car almost every week, and always with Avis, starting back about 18 months ago. At the time, I chose Avis because of a promotion they were running that promised a free weekend rental and an airline companion ticket if you rent 31+ times. I knew that I would easily be able to do that, especially since I sometimes have two rentals per week. Anyway, I signed up and rented and rented and rented. I never really worried about the promotion because I just assumed that something would happen automatically whenever I qualified. Well, I rarely rent on the weekend but THIS weekend it turns out that I need a rental. I have some business in Dallas on Friday and then I'm going to visit friends over the weekend before flying out to New York on Monday. So, I thought.....hey.....I should surely have that "free weekend" by now, so I should call and see what they can do for me. I called on Monday and then found out about the new Avis First program. So, I signed up, but it turns out that the initial "free weekend" is in the form of a paper coupon that will be mailed in 4-6 weeks. Bummer, because I'm renting this weekend. So, I called and talked to a CSR and she was able to knock one day off of my rental and also upgrade me at the same time. I thanked her and asked her about the old Preferred Select program and my "free airline companion ticket". She said that she didn't know, but could transfer me to another person who could answer my questions.

Here�s the good part. I told this girl my story and she told me �The Preferred Select Program is over; it has changed to the Avis First Program�. Okay, I knew that. What I wanted to know is what happened to my companion ticket, because I knew (or was pretty sure) that I had qualified before everything changed. Again she told me �it�s over�. I said AGAIN that I knew, but that I was pretty sure that I had qualified and wanted to know why I didn�t get my companion ticket. Now, she said �We�re not doing that anymore�. GRRRRRRRR. �I KNOW you are not doing it anymore. I just want to know about when you WERE doing it. I think I quialfied�. �Okay,� she says. Then she proceeds to tell me how the process wasn�t an automatic process, meaning that Avis periodically evaluated their PS members (every 18 months) and then mailed out the appropriate certs. Okay, that�s nice to know. So, I wanted to know what my progress was. She took me wizard number and then told me that she could see 30 rentals in the past 12 months, and couldn�t see any further back. I know for a fact that I had numerous rentals further back than 12 months, so in my mind I then knew that I had easily qualified (31+ rentals in 18 months, according to her). So, I asked her again why I didn�t get my companion ticket. Here�s the beautiful part. She told me that they only did this �evaluation of members� every 18 months and the last evaluation period was 18 months ago. So, I surmised that there must have been an evaluation period recently. When I asked her this, she told that the shortly before this evaluation period the marketing department decided to �go another direction� with the frequent renter program.

WOW!!!!!!!! Isn�t that effing convenient????? So, let me get this straight...I sign up with Avis, and rent and rent and rent�trying to qualify for this promotion (Yes, I know the certs are probably worthless) and just as they are about to evaluate the members and (presumably) mail out lots of companion ticket certificates, lo and behold they decide to CHANGE PROGRAMS. That�s so freaking convenient. At this point, I�m furious and I start to ask this girl �Why should I rent from AVIS??� �Why shouldn�t I be furious?�. There�s nothing but silence on the other end. Not a word. Finally she says, �I can document your concerns�. Yeah, that always makes me feel better.

I think this is a total nasty trick. Offer a promotion and then just before you�re about to pay it off you cancel the program and now everybody starts over. I asked, �Why should I give a sh*t about AvisFirst considering what happened just now? To be honest I thought it was just a computer glitch that caused me to miss my ticket mailing. Now I know that I totally got screwed? Again, Why should I rent with Avis?� "I�m renting tonight, and next week, and the next. Why should I do it? Give me a reason!!� Nothing but silence, long silence. Ultimately she knocked a days rental off of this weekend�s reservation, but that�s NOTHING.

Does everybody understand what just happened? Am I wrong to be totally pissed. I don�t even WANT the companion ticket. I have nearly 900,000 Continental miles and over 200,000 on American. But, I want them to deliver what they promised?

Does anybody have any experience with Hertz doing a status match? I�m ready to GTFO.

Tell me if I�m wrong here?

Randidliyo

Doesn't sound right, the way they did this. You are right for being upset. They should honor what they promised. I hope you dont just give up.

Still have a need to rent on a frequent basis? I would write up a compliant and send it in detailing your past loyalty, future needs (which may or may not include Avis at this point) and the fact they are slighting you.

I would pursue this, it is the principle of the matter, not the ticket (as you clearly state).

All of this said, and I do not follow Avis, were the changes communicated?

Hertz? Give 'em a call, worst they can say is no (and if you dont like the answer, call back again to a different rep )

You got hosed, I would be ticked too.

I also have had an issue with Avis on this recently. I rent quite often for long periods of time and when I really needed those certs for a free rental - they were no where to be found. Hertz might charge you higher rates - but there customer service is pretty good.

I'm also in the same situation. I got the same promo ~18 months ago, and I detail every rental of mine. I've had 35 rentals for 98 days in the past 18 months. Do you have all of the paperwork when the originally sent you the information? I'm sure it said they have the right to change the program at any time, but they never sent out an updated packet of info before the 18 month period was up. I'll look for my packet tonight and call them tomorrow. If I don't get anywhere, I'll write a letter (usually works better than calling) and also might write to the Better Business Bureau, which sometimes works when a company scams you like this.

Based on my experience with the "rewards" of frequent renting at Avis, you didn't lose much! The free companion airfare certificate from PS was just like the kind lots of businesses use to lure you in at little cost to them, and little real value to you.

The certificate is only valid if you book your flights through a designated travel agent at certain rates. We all know what that usually means. You have to deal with people who have lots of profit motive to sell you what you don't need while "you save half." I let my certificate expire.

At this point I am looking forward to all those free weekends!

First, let me say that communication is not an Avis strong suit. The rollout of Avis First is a good example.

Second, it looks like a better program in some ways than Preferred Select. 8 free weekends a year is 5 more than I've ever received.

Third, if you are a conspiracy theorist, you came to the right place. FT is full of people that believe that travel providers are constantly scheming to screw them out of the benefits that they have earned. I am not one. I tend to subscribe to the incompetence theory and I can't think of a better forum to propose it.

Is Avis still "trying harder"?

hardly trying.

I feel your pain, but honestly, it's not worth getting your blood pressure up over.

As others have said, the companion airfare certificate was near totally worthless. I honestly wonder if anyone has actually ever used one.

Also, to be fair to Avis, the Preferred Select program always seemed to be a nearly secret program, as the benefits were hardly ever advertised or and certainly not promoted very much. Nothing like the airline programs or hotel programs who plaster ads for their programs all over the place.

I just always assumed that Avis did this to make it seem like a bonus or a surprise when a customer actually got the perks instead of an entitlement.

Funny the person stated the Avis First free weekend cert would be paper because I got an ecert the other day. It came after my first rental was completed, which was about a week after I discovered Avis First from Flyertalk (as opposed to Avis, but maybe i just filtered it out with other FF program garbage).

This sounds insane to me? You rent 31 times just to get free weekend, and a companion cert that's probably mostly worthless (and more to the point available for very little through other means)?

Come to the light. You rent from Hertz 31 times and you'll get a hell of a lot more than a free weekend and maybe saving 100-200 on a plane ticket. Depends on how much you spend on rentals but you'll get a nice yellow STACK of free things from hertz (via #1 awards, earned free days, etc) if you rent that much. Painful to read this.

Haha, yeah. I always assumed everyone in this forum rented from Avis because they got a cheap car using one of the magic codes or were forced to use Avis by their employers. My only other option domestically is Enterprise which personally gets me even less than an Avis rental.

From Hertz, 31 rentals (I typically spend $200 / rental over 3-4 days) gets me approximately 15 free full size individual days using points (or 31 free Weekend days during promo period), plus 3 earned free rental days for up to Premium size. More "days" if renting weekly using points as well, or fewer days if redeeming for luxury / exotic cars. Basically 1 free day for every $400 spent.

So I sent Avis two online communications asking about the free airline tix/weekend rental coupon under the old Avis Preferred Select. I never got any replies from them, even they post they will reply within 48 hours. Tuesday I mailed a letter explaining that I expected the PS benefits and asked when they would be mailed. If they reply within ~10 business days, I'll post the results. If not, I'll forward it to the BBB. I know I promised this earlier, but I've been too busy to fight it.

And I know the airline cert is probably worthless to almost everyone, but it's the fact they promised it and didn't come through that chaps me.