Typical Avis.

Worthless company.
Worthless service.
Worthless cars.
Worthless frequent renter program.

Easily the bottom of the barrel as rental companies go.

The number of points I get from Avis is paltry. I just went to their site to see how I can stop getting them, but I can't find it.

I actually use my weekends to visit my daughter at school so it is helpful to have the rentals, but this is very short sighted of Avis.

This absolutely blows. This is my first year as an Avis First, and it will be my last.

Delta and Avis run huge promos for miles; I've probably amassed 50,000 miles this year alone. I think I am going to attack this through Delta as well as complaining to Avis, as it seems they want to attack their corporate partners, not just the renters, by insisting that no frequent flyer miles be accrued.

I was just starting to think that Avis cared about me after having gotten decent upgrades my last several rentals, but now I'm bummed. My corporate rate doesn't provide FF miles as part of the contract, so I wonder if that means Avis will double-ding me (no miles per contract, and no free weekend credit because I otherwise would have gotten miles). Also count me among those with many expired weekends. I might use one as a local run-around car if only they had a semi-close location. Hertz is only a mile away from my house!

Sooo glad I switched over to Hertz Platinum from Avis CHM. Eat it Avis.

I have been an avis renter for 15 years and they continually peeesss my off. This is another example of how they care less about the frequent renters. They think the coporate contracts ties us in, NO WAY. I moved 25+ rentals a year to National. I only rent from AVIS when they have a blow out deal, with my 20 rentals a year with them I still seem to always have a car that is at the end of the parking lot and has 30k miles on it. Looks like more exec elite from national for me.....

Boo Avis- Man, I didn't think they could suck any worse, but they have hit a new low. Unfortunately, the only other rental company through my company is Enterprise, so I have to pick the lesser of two evils.

Ha! And I was actually hoping we would go back to iTunes certificates instead of the worthless e-music. Anyone have the status match number for Hertz?

Can someone outline the basics of the Hertz program. 1 point per dollar, and 500 points per weekend day doesn't sound great. Plus, why does hertz.com show 2000 points for a free weekend rental when free weekend days are 500 points?

I realize I can learn more at that forum, but was hoping someone could give a quick primer for those of us seriously thinking of the switch.

These "enhancements" never get rescinded unless the affected parties start to write in and complain. Writing here is not enough. My suggestion: here you go, from their website---

Ronald L. Nelson, Chairman and CEO
F. Robert Salerno, President and COO
David B. Wyshner, Chief Financial Officer
Larry De Shon, Executive VP, Operations
Scott Deaver, Executive VP, Strategy

Becky Alseth, Senior VP, Marketing
Avis Budget Group, Inc.
6 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ 07054
(973) 496-3500

My letter's already in....
If they don't want my business, they couldn't have said so better than effectively yanking what benefits I got from them. AND there'll be no more gas-charge screwups to boot--- I'm sick of arguing with them over their <75 mile policy, when I always refuel the tank. No, goodbye to Avis won't be a full heartbreaker.

Agree this bites the big one. It was already very hard to use the weekend coupons, what with agents not understanding them, blackouts, no use on one way rentals etc.

I must use Avis for work rentals but will now go with the cheapest for personal rentals, no value in retaining Avis Last status.

just got my notice

I switched over from Budget sometime late winter/early spring this past year (08) and was happy with the program/promos

Unfortunately for me my choice for work which is the bulk of my rentals is either Avis or budget and Budget already burned their bridges with me and there is no going back

What I'll have to do is rethink a strategy

I can give up the miles which are pretty much useless anyway unless its one of those 5K promos DL was using then I'll take those over Avis wkd credit anyday.. every four I can see.. and its not biggie to me as I'll still earn more than I can use anyway.

I will say on personal rentals though, it will most likely be price based and I'll use almost any company rather than steering my stuff to Avis

Did some executives from US Air migrated to Avis and took their hare-brain ideas with them? Let's just do some quick math:

Assuming 4 weekly rentals, which equates to 500 miles for most programs:

at 1.5c per mile (and they probably pay less): 500 x 1.5c x 4 = $30

is $30 really worth it to lose one of your most loyal customers in the long run?

Based on the reaction here, I think they would have done better to cancel AvisFirst than to dillute it. I can't imagine it being worse!

Gee, thanks Avis. While I can't promise I'll be switching my preferred car rental provider, I will be carefully weighing my options from here on in.