2016-2017: The "What car/upgrade will I get at Avis?" thread
Feb 4, 2016, 2:57 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,507
2016-2017: The "What car/upgrade will I get at Avis?" thread
Starting this thread in hopes that these types of questions will be consolidated here. I'm hope those with experience at certain stations will share their experiences here.
Helpful info to include:
Let's call this a trial run ^
Helpful info to include:
- Your Avis status
- Car type/class reserved (and maybe method used to reserve)
- Location
- General timing (weekday/weekend, month, major holidays)
Let's call this a trial run ^
Feb 4, 2016, 9:12 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 60
Avis status : Preferred
Car type/class reserved : Premium
Location : LGA
General timing : Fri, Feb, 5
Car type/class reserved : Premium
Location : LGA
General timing : Fri, Feb, 5
Feb 5, 2016, 9:28 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, SPG Plat100, Hyatt Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 129
Status: PC
Car Type/Class Reserved: Premium
Location: IAH
General Timing: March 12-20 (Willing to adjust pickup day based on best car availability)
Car Type/Class Reserved: Premium
Location: IAH
General Timing: March 12-20 (Willing to adjust pickup day based on best car availability)
Feb 5, 2016, 2:27 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SFO/DTW
Programs: DL PM 0.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, Avis PC, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,988
Feb 5, 2016, 2:58 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,507
Feb 6, 2016, 10:54 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 2
Best car availability at IAH is Saturday Morning-Sunday Morning when the bulk of the business travelers don't have cars checked out. Premium at IAH is typically a Taurus Limited but the last time I got a Volvo V60 (base with no options). The exchange aisle is typically a bunch of intermediate SUVs and the occasional Nissan Frontier pickup truck. As PC you should be able to score a Lincoln MKZ/MKT/MKS if that's to your liking, I haven't heard of IAH upgrading people to BMWs but anything is possible. They normally reserve the newest Lincolns (MKX, MKC) for the Chairmen's club members to the left of the Preferred booth
Feb 6, 2016, 8:04 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVPG, DL KM, Bee Six, Bonvoy Plat, Avis PC, Natl Exec, Greyhound Road Rewards Z"L
Posts: 16,701
Avis status: PC
Car type/class reserved: Midsize
Location: MCO
General timing: Sunday 2/7 noon (one-day rental)
I would kill for a LaCrosse...
-J.
Car type/class reserved: Midsize
Location: MCO
General timing: Sunday 2/7 noon (one-day rental)
I would kill for a LaCrosse...
-J.
Feb 7, 2016, 5:02 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, SPG Plat100, Hyatt Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 129
Best car availability at IAH is Saturday Morning-Sunday Morning when the bulk of the business travelers don't have cars checked out. Premium at IAH is typically a Taurus Limited but the last time I got a Volvo V60 (base with no options). The exchange aisle is typically a bunch of intermediate SUVs and the occasional Nissan Frontier pickup truck. As PC you should be able to score a Lincoln MKZ/MKT/MKS if that's to your liking, I haven't heard of IAH upgrading people to BMWs but anything is possible. They normally reserve the newest Lincolns (MKX, MKC) for the Chairmen's club members to the left of the Preferred booth
I'm interested to see whether I would be able to score a Large SUV (Escalade?) on a Premium res.
Or would I be better off booking F, and then haggling the upgrade price?
Feb 8, 2016, 6:45 am
#10
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,032
As a PC, you might be able to get a large SUV on a premium, depends on their inventory. I'd be very surprised if you get an Escalade. As a CHM on premium reservations, I'm shot down most times on that.
Really depends on the full v premium haggling. Depends on who is in the booth and what the manager says.
Feb 8, 2016, 2:03 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, SPG Plat100, Hyatt Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 129
As a PC, you might be able to get a large SUV on a premium, depends on their inventory. I'd be very surprised if you get an Escalade. As a CHM on premium reservations, I'm shot down most times on that.
Really depends on the full v premium haggling. Depends on who is in the booth and what the manager says.
Really depends on the full v premium haggling. Depends on who is in the booth and what the manager says.
Would I be better off trying to rent a minivan?
Some background: My sister is getting married that week, and I'd like to have a "nicer" car to drive around in for both myself, and during the wedding, her. Trying to figure out how I can wrangle a Caddy (pref. Escalade or XTS) for the time period I'm renting short of outright booking it. I have a ton of Hertz points, but they don't allow Large SUVs on points rentals unfortunately.
Mar 31, 2016, 2:48 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 13
Status: Preferred (this will be my 1st rental as Preferred)
Car type/class reserved: Intermediate SUV (Ford Escape)
Location: LAS (select and go location)
Timing: Sat 930AM, (Non holidays/not Spring Break)
Rate: $199 all in for the 7 days
Booked online with SW code and $25 coupon code
This is a 30th wedding anniversary and 50th birthdays trip so
Hoping for well equipped and a comfortable ride.
Probably will add Sirius XM
Will be driving 1000+ miles loop through AZ and UT
Car type/class reserved: Intermediate SUV (Ford Escape)
Location: LAS (select and go location)
Timing: Sat 930AM, (Non holidays/not Spring Break)
Rate: $199 all in for the 7 days
Booked online with SW code and $25 coupon code
This is a 30th wedding anniversary and 50th birthdays trip so
Hoping for well equipped and a comfortable ride.
Probably will add Sirius XM
Will be driving 1000+ miles loop through AZ and UT
Apr 1, 2016, 6:34 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SJO - MAN - LAX
Programs: MileagePlus Gold, Avis PP, National EE, Lifemiles Silver, ConnectMiles Gold
Posts: 532
Status: Preferred (this will be my 1st rental as Preferred)
Car type/class reserved: Intermediate SUV (Ford Escape)
Location: LAS (select and go location)
Timing: Sat 930AM, (Non holidays/not Spring Break)
Rate: $199 all in for the 7 days
Booked online with SW code and $25 coupon code
This is a 30th wedding anniversary and 50th birthdays trip so
Hoping for well equipped and a comfortable ride.
Probably will add Sirius XM
Will be driving 1000+ miles loop through AZ and UT
Car type/class reserved: Intermediate SUV (Ford Escape)
Location: LAS (select and go location)
Timing: Sat 930AM, (Non holidays/not Spring Break)
Rate: $199 all in for the 7 days
Booked online with SW code and $25 coupon code
This is a 30th wedding anniversary and 50th birthdays trip so
Hoping for well equipped and a comfortable ride.
Probably will add Sirius XM
Will be driving 1000+ miles loop through AZ and UT
Apr 1, 2016, 6:37 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 458
Status: None
Car Class: H/Luxury
Location: YVR
I made the bizarre decision to pay $200 more for 'Chrysler 300S or other similar Group H car' instead of 'Chrysler 300 Limited or other similar Group G car' on the assumption that there might be something nicer than a 300 in H rather than G..
I just know I'll be rewarded with a 300 and that it'll be $200 extra to have bigger wheels and bucket seats over the Limited - this has to be the smallest class difference ever Avis
Car Class: H/Luxury
Location: YVR
I made the bizarre decision to pay $200 more for 'Chrysler 300S or other similar Group H car' instead of 'Chrysler 300 Limited or other similar Group G car' on the assumption that there might be something nicer than a 300 in H rather than G..
I just know I'll be rewarded with a 300 and that it'll be $200 extra to have bigger wheels and bucket seats over the Limited - this has to be the smallest class difference ever Avis
Apr 3, 2016, 12:21 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 5
Class H car
I have a reservation at LAS late May for Class H car. What will I expect? Any recent experience? Thanks