berlinflyer

I have been upgraded to Presidentīs Club in Germany after renting about 50 cars in 10 months. I have written to "my" customer agent at Avis headquarter and she had completed the application process within 2 weeks. Ever since, I get a very, very good treatment from Avis in Germany, also most stations tell me they hardly ever see PC members over here. Maybe not too common for Avis in Europe.

Anyhow, I always book a mid-size (company rate) and always get at least a double-upgrade (once even got a tripple upgrade), plus very attentive service.

Until now, I have not tried the delivery service, as the Avis station is in the same office building as my office, so there is really nothing to "deliver" .
But I certainly would like to try that out....

ezmonee

To be honest with you, I dont know about the gas issue with CHM. I NEVER charged my chm gas unless I picked up the car from their hotel. If they picked up the car at the airport, I always looked the other way, so I really dont know.

I do know alot of CHM accounts have negotiated gas rates, so they actually only pay real world gas prices insted of inflated prices. If any CHM member has an CHM car contract, check the gas price and see if its less than 3 dollars a gallon. If it is..its better to drive it in "as is" as usually CHM's time is worth more than a couple of bucks.

mbflyflyaway

Well I'll be darned! I went ahead and paid for the gas (about 1/2 a tank on the Caddy DTS) but just checked my contract and sure enough, it reads "Fuel Svc: .1482/MI 2.669/GAL" Amazing (this is in California)...checked an old one (different station but still California) and it reads "Fuel Svc: .3190/MI 6.699/GAL"

So absolutely another great benefit to being CHM!

-Mike

jgoodm

It says this on the original contract? Received when you picked up the car?

Thanks.

N9MD

I just received an unexpected invitation by mail to become a Chairman's Club member.

I've been a Preferred Select for a few years. Most of my travel is for pleasure. But I always rent at the Premier or Luxury level --- to assure enough trunk space for two sets of golf clubs and two large peices of luggage. Thus, I don't usually get an upgrade. I estimate my yearly rentals from Avis to average around 60+ days --- because many of my rentals are 7 to 10 days (vacation, not business).

My main vocation is a physician in a group gastroenterology practice. However, I am the president and CEO of a medium sized medical software company which I founded in 1984 --- certainly not at the level of a Fortune 500 Company (more like a Misfortune 500,000 Company). Our employees do not use Avis. Only I do. So how did I get so lucky as to receive this "invite"?

Incidentally, the deal is $250 for the first year and then an automatic annual renewal at $350. The stated benefits are:

• When you fly into a major US or Canadian airport, an Avis representative will meet you at that location and escort you directly to your waiting car.
• Whe you return to our facility, and signal us by placing your rental folder on the dashboard, an Avis representative will whisk you to your terminal.
• We'll always hav a car available for you, even if you arrive without a reservation.
• We'll automatically upgrade you to the best available car at participating locations when you reserve an intermediate-level car or larger.
• We'll bring your car to your doorstep --- or within 25 miles of a participating Avis location throughout the US and Canada.

From a cost effective prospective, at 60 rental days per year with the $350 annual fee, I would be paying about $5.83 extra per day on top of the daily rental fee. So if I reserve an intermediate-size vehicle, enrolling in the CC would appear worthwhile given the almost 100% odds of getting upgraded to a Cadillac or higher.

[Don't shoot me. I drive a Cadillac; I like Cadillacs. I know --- I'm an old fogey. My younger partners wouldn't be caught dead (or worse) in a Cadillac.]

So, is my reasoning for signing up logical?

rwinn

Heck, I'd sign up - I'd also try my luck at renting below intermediate. I have a feeling you'd still get upgraded quite a bit. I'd love to qualify for this.

How do they want you to respond? Call and give credit card info? Send a check? If they want a check mailed, where would you be mailing it to?

I'm halfway tempted to send them a check myself!

ezmonee

in most locations, CHM members who reserve a compact can usually get into a full size. If they reserve a mid size, you will almost always get a cadi or better.

gleff

Apparently Avis has just had a push to invite a bunch of people to CHM status, sending out this $250 the first year offer. I had never heard of paying for CHM status. I wonder how many they sent this too, and whether this will dilute the value of the status? Nevertheless, an interesting development!

For frequent renters it's very much worthwhile, for the service as much as the upgrades IMHO.

Acrossenger

Chairman Club is very much overrated or it is very much dependent on location. My friend whom is a chairman club booked a Full size car at YOW. Got a 6500 miles old Crown Victoria (while there are plenty of other cars available). Asked for the car to be delivered and the airport responses is: are you sure you can't pick it up? After much begging, they finally agreed. Upon returning the car, got grilled about why she got an upgrade at first place.

N9MD

I must call the Avis Chairman's Club Desk at a TF# --- the initial year $250 rate kicks in if I call before Feb 9; otherwise, $350. The letter indicates that they will bill my "on file" credit card automatically each year unless I call to cancel. And I can cancel at anytime, resulting in a prorated refund. I'm totally tempted!

Pontificating, it would appear to be a win-win for me and a lose-lose for AVIS. I will still give them the same amount of business --- and I have always been loyal to AVIS, almost never ever using any other company. With CC privileges, I will spend much less for each rental (requesting a lower car class) while getting a more expensive vehicle. Am I missing a hidden "gotcha"?

ezmonee

the "pay your way into CHM" is an entirely new concept, one which happened after I left. I can check my sources, but I do believe if this is the wave of the future, there is another "top level" above CHM coming, and the current CHM benefits will migrate down slightly.

If I had a roadmap of what are things to come, I would suggest...

Preferred (account)
10 rents a year (select 1 car class)
Presidents club (30 rents or 100 dollar annual fee)
CHM 30 rents, plus pay into service for executive service, or 70 rents per year, no fee (minus delivery) auto upgrade to H with mid size service, full size pricing for upgrade to specialty vehicles (van/suv/convt) CHM comp'ed as president club rentals are currently given out like president club memberships are.
Executive (theorized-invitation only, no way to buy into it) future level, includes all CHM benefits of today, plus delivery. Full size car rental gets you any car on the lot, including specialty cars. standard gas pricing on all returns (market average, not inflated)


EVeryone has been clamoring for better "perk" for levels, I think this is the direction they are heading. But given you can "buy" into certain classes, the rules for upgrades as provided will be more strict, meaning presidents club renters will guarantee upgrades "more often." How often "more often" is, ultimately, is dependent on multiple issues. But since Avis is no longer Cendant (now Avis Budget Group) and traded on NYSE as "CAR" symbol, they have more freedom.



I think this is the roadmap of the future...all speculation, i stress that, but I will ask around.

ezmonee

always trust ezmonee. Ezmonee knows!


When you go to your car, the hangtag or the contract inside the car in the CHM envelope that the avis agent gives you at arrival, it will have a fuel service price. just as mike said, it will give you a "per mile" price if you didnt fill up gas at all during your stay, and a per gallon price if you DID fill up gas on your stay.

incidentally, CHM are not the only guys who get this benefit.

The following companies at specific locations also get the same benefit(at specific locations, so check at EACH location you go to).

Boeing
Lockheed Martin
Abbot Labs
GM

The bigger the company, the greater likelyhood of negotiated gas.

ezmonee

bring your friend to my attention, or to some of the posts I have in here.

1> CHM get ultimate service. If they do NOT get that service, or feel like they were not treated right, complain. at airport locations, he should be getting kick ... service on every rental. They should complain if its not what he expected.

2> YOW is not in the US. Outside the US, rules differ by country, although most canadian locations are corporate. Each international division has a different set of standards.

ezmonee

No, you guys have been complaining long and hard for a "more perk laden" perferred system, this is probably a migration into that. Building brand loyalty and the renter level instead of just at the corporate (big business) level.

gleff

Ahh, tell it to the folks at SMF. In spite of 3x/month rentals for 6 months or so, service there is just terrible. Well, it's worse than terrible if you aren't CHM. One time asked for a smaller car, was told the one I was assigned "isn't that big" Only got an upgrade about 3/18 times. Complaints to the CHM desk elicit an apology and a handful of combinable $25 off coupons each time. So I'm generally making money renting there. But they don't do anything to fix it.