Jun 3, 2019, 10:34 am
Last edit by: FlyinHawaiian
If you are a Costco member, the Kailua-Kona location has the cheapest gas on the Big Island and is close enough to KOA to fill up before returning your car. https://www.costco.com/warehouse-loc...na-hi-140.html
Consolidated "Renting at KOA; What Kind of Cars to Expect?" Thread
Mar 6, 2012, 8:12 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 91
Consolidated "Renting at KOA; What Kind of Cars to Expect?" Thread
I just booked a car at Kona airport and it says that Gold service is unavailable, however Mobile Gold Alerts are available. Does anyone know how it works there? Do I have to go to a counter to get keys or do I just go get in the car and drive away? Do the alerts just tell me which car I'll get, but not say anything about where it is?
Feb 5, 2013, 7:21 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL DM, UA Gold, WOH Glob, Hertz PC,
Posts: 213
I just booked a car at Kona airport and it says that Gold service is unavailable, however Mobile Gold Alerts are available. Does anyone know how it works there? Do I have to go to a counter to get keys or do I just go get in the car and drive away? Do the alerts just tell me which car I'll get, but not say anything about where it is?
Feb 5, 2013, 11:38 pm
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Wirelessly posted (beckoa's PWP wondrousdevice3.0: Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9810; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.11+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.1.0.694 Mobile Safari/534.11+)
Name on board and drive away- 5 minute walk to the terminal if you miss the shuttle and don't have too much you're carrying. I've had a great upgrade here before but most recently none over Xmas and NYE.
Name on board and drive away- 5 minute walk to the terminal if you miss the shuttle and don't have too much you're carrying. I've had a great upgrade here before but most recently none over Xmas and NYE.
Feb 9, 2013, 3:40 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Scotland
Programs: # Neodymium #
Posts: 968
Was there 2 weeks ago - shuttle from terminal over to the rental park; digital "Hertz Gold" display showed about 8 names each with parking bay number. Went straight over to the bay.. keys were in the ignition, and paperwork in the car. Drove to exit, where Hertz person scanned car and paperwork, and then we were on our way.
Super efficient...
Super efficient...
May 8, 2013, 3:24 am
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
May 10, 2013, 12:11 am
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Sep 5, 2017, 2:00 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 170
I'm looking for a 4wd vehicle to visit Big Island (Kona airport). Which category should I book?
Today, Midsize SUV (Q4) is 364$ for one week, Standard SUV (L) is 489$ and Large SUV 4wd/awd (T) is 629$.
We are two people and we don't need a large SUV.
I'm Gold and I use around 10 times per year Hertz.
Can I choose my vehicle on the parking (same category) ? In which category, I can expect a 4wd.
Today, Midsize SUV (Q4) is 364$ for one week, Standard SUV (L) is 489$ and Large SUV 4wd/awd (T) is 629$.
We are two people and we don't need a large SUV.
I'm Gold and I use around 10 times per year Hertz.
Can I choose my vehicle on the parking (same category) ? In which category, I can expect a 4wd.
Sep 5, 2017, 5:39 pm
#12
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,036
I would book a Q4 and expect a Nissan Rogue, with a Ford Escape or Toyota RAV4 less likely. That is more then enough car for two people and with gas prices the way they are on the neighbor islands, you don't want to spend your entire vacation budget filling up a gas guzzler.
KOA is not an Ultimate Choice location; you will be assigned an SUV and if you don't like it, you will have to nicely ask an agent for a comparable swap.
KOA is not an Ultimate Choice location; you will be assigned an SUV and if you don't like it, you will have to nicely ask an agent for a comparable swap.
Sep 6, 2017, 12:26 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 170
I would book a Q4 and expect a Nissan Rogue, with a Ford Escape or Toyota RAV4 less likely. That is more then enough car for two people and with gas prices the way they are on the neighbor islands, you don't want to spend your entire vacation budget filling up a gas guzzler.
KOA is not an Ultimate Choice location; you will be assigned an SUV and if you don't like it, you will have to nicely ask an agent for a comparable swap.
KOA is not an Ultimate Choice location; you will be assigned an SUV and if you don't like it, you will have to nicely ask an agent for a comparable swap.
Sep 25, 2017, 5:49 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 170
Q4 - Kona
I would book a Q4 and expect a Nissan Rogue, with a Ford Escape or Toyota RAV4 less likely. That is more then enough car for two people and with gas prices the way they are on the neighbor islands, you don't want to spend your entire vacation budget filling up a gas guzzler.
KOA is not an Ultimate Choice location; you will be assigned an SUV and if you don't like it, you will have to nicely ask an agent for a comparable swap.
KOA is not an Ultimate Choice location; you will be assigned an SUV and if you don't like it, you will have to nicely ask an agent for a comparable swap.
Nov 20, 2017, 4:57 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands
Programs: Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, ITA Elite+, Cathay S, Singapore S, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 3,149
Any more recent experiences at this location? Have a week long C Group rental the first week of December. How are the cars here?
Do they have Gold service, and do they do anything special for PC members or not really?
Do they have Gold service, and do they do anything special for PC members or not really?
