PDX Car rental
Sep 10, 2012, 7:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: London
Programs: DL FO, BA Bronze, Avis Preferred
Posts: 851
PDX Car rental
In all my years of flying out of PDX, I never rented a car at the airport. I'll be renting a car for a week in November, and wondered if any of my fellow DL FlyerTalkers had any tips regarding good/bad agencies.
It's hard to tell which companies are on site, and which require a shuttle bus to a remote location.
I typically rent with Hertz, but I've had two very bad experiences with them in Europe in the past week, and am hesitant to book with them again until they sort out my current complaints. It's quite a bummer, since they're generally pretty good, and I get a good deal with them, plus the SkyMiles.
It's hard to tell which companies are on site, and which require a shuttle bus to a remote location.
I typically rent with Hertz, but I've had two very bad experiences with them in Europe in the past week, and am hesitant to book with them again until they sort out my current complaints. It's quite a bummer, since they're generally pretty good, and I get a good deal with them, plus the SkyMiles.
Sep 10, 2012, 7:53 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ATL
Programs: IHG-Spire, DL-Gold, MR-Platinum, HH-Gold, SPG-Gold, Hyatt-Diamond, BA-Silver
Posts: 277
In all my years of flying out of PDX, I never rented a car at the airport. I'll be renting a car for a week in November, and wondered if any of my fellow DL FlyerTalkers had any tips regarding good/bad agencies.
It's hard to tell which companies are on site, and which require a shuttle bus to a remote location.
I typically rent with Hertz, but I've had two very bad experiences with them in Europe in the past week, and am hesitant to book with them again until they sort out my current complaints. It's quite a bummer, since they're generally pretty good, and I get a good deal with them, plus the SkyMiles.
It's hard to tell which companies are on site, and which require a shuttle bus to a remote location.
I typically rent with Hertz, but I've had two very bad experiences with them in Europe in the past week, and am hesitant to book with them again until they sort out my current complaints. It's quite a bummer, since they're generally pretty good, and I get a good deal with them, plus the SkyMiles.
Also, not sure about onsite/ offsite on PDX airport - but if you want a great deal on a rental car, this is what I've found to be the cheapest deal:
Book your airline ticket on priceline (you also get cashback through fatwallet). Just buy the normal flight tickets, not consolidator fares since it may not earn you miles.
On checkout, priceline will give you an option to add a rental car for $xx, DO NOT chose to add it. Just book the flight. After your airline booking is done, in the confirmation email you receive - there would be a linked offer to book a rental car. Those prices would be the bottom line for priceline. Book using that link.
Sep 10, 2012, 8:05 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Pikes Peak COS
Programs: 3 Month Delta Plat, UA PP 2.4mm, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HH Lifetime Diamond, National EE
Posts: 426
Don't book Budget there, they moved it off airport some time ago, unless you like another shuttle bus ride in your life.
Sep 10, 2012, 8:05 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DTW/FNT
Programs: Delta (nee NW), Hilton Diamond. IHG (PT)
Posts: 4,823
To keep thread, Delta related you can now use sky pesos to rent cars and I've done a 8,000 points for a rental car that would have cost $300 for one day rental out of EWR. Mrs Bob H and I were going to a funeral and didn't have time to shop around.
Bob H
Sep 10, 2012, 8:33 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Hilton, United, Gold DL
Posts: 993
Port of Portland has a website giving you the contact info of on airport or off airport rental agencies.
http://www.portofportland.com/PDX_Grnd_Trnsprtn.aspx
http://www.portofportland.com/PDX_Grnd_Trnsprtn.aspx
Sep 10, 2012, 8:35 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: JFK/LGA
Posts: 1,423
If you do a search on Travelocity it will tell you which companies have on airport facilities either with or without a shuttle and which don't. Of the ones that are in the terminal I have found that Dollar tends to have the best prices and usually they will let you choose which rental car you want (from the class) as opposed to assigning you one. I like that because as a car buff I can usually tell which are newer models (or I will look at the registration to see what model year it is). I also like that Dollar's "midsize" cars are actually midsize cars versus other companies where they offer cars that not long ago would have been considered "compact." Just remember if you book through Dollar's site to click the tab in the middle of the price list for city specials as that cuts the prices down a bit
Sep 10, 2012, 3:54 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: London
Programs: DL FO, BA Bronze, Avis Preferred
Posts: 851
Also, good to know about Budget--after flying for 12 hours, the last thing I want to do is get on a bus.
Sep 10, 2012, 8:21 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 959
I just completed a Budget rental at PDX over Labor Day wknd. Yes, there is a shuttle ride but if you are a FastBreak member you can pick any car in the lot and bypass the counter.
Sep 10, 2012, 9:15 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DAL/DFW
Programs: US Silver, WN, Marriott Silver, Hyatt
Posts: 110
Be aware that there aren't really any places around PDX to fill up on gas so while I would normally never purchase the fuel option PDX might be one of the only places to consider if you are going to be short on time when returning.
Sep 11, 2012, 1:26 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL MM Gold
Posts: 1,676
There is no lower cost fuel in existence than the gas you burn from your last fillup (if it's close) back to the rental return stall.
Sep 11, 2012, 3:53 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Hilton, United, Gold DL
Posts: 993
There is no lower cost fuel in existence than the gas you burn from your last fillup (if it's close) back to the rental return stall.
Sep 11, 2012, 6:48 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: WN peon (was A+), IHG Plat Hilton HHonors Gold DL SkyPesos PM (still a peon) US Chmn, Hawaiian Haole
Posts: 1,166
Been a couple years since I rented there, but at that time Alamo was off-airport and required a shuttle ride. I also remember that there were no gas stations conveniently located near PDX, for filling up prior to returning. As always, YMMV.