How do I AVOID upgrades?
 

When I rent a car, I want the smallest most compact vehicle available. I drive alone, I'm short, I want the gas savings, and don't want to worry about fitting into small parking spots.

I sometimes get upgraded to larger vehicles, which is the opposite of what I want.

What's the best way of contacting a rental outlet to communicate my preference? Is there a way to indicate my preference in my Hertz Gold Account? Or do I just have to call/email every time I rent?

The least painful way may to be to just go to the counter and ask for the smallest car they have. If it's a smaller HLE calling that morning may help, but at a location that does thousands of cars a day like a large airport, I don't think they would even see any notes.

I don't rent a ton - so bear with me if this is a basic question: The last couple of times I rented, I've been under the impression that the agents had set aside my car and had my keys and rental agreement on hand before my arrival. I'm a USAA and (no status) Hertz Gold member. I was under the impression that one of those affiliations came with this privlidge.

I know you used to be able to call Hertz and have them set a "do not upgrade" flag on your account. Maybe still true? Give them a call...I know back in the day it was not on the website. You had to call them.

Right when they launched Prestige Collection (2000-ish), they were giving all sorts of nice upgrades out to promote the new cars. I was renting cars on client trips...it crossed my mind to have the flag set on my account so I didn't get something *too* nice. Sort of hard to roll up to a client's office in a Jaguar... :o

Alas, those upgrades were short-lived and I'm no longer "concerned" ;) that Hertz will put a Jag in my stall.

Hertz can put comments on your record, which in theory are read by the staff when allocating cars. About a year ago they added a comment to mine saying that I didn't like Nissan Sentras, and overnight I went from getting Sentras about half to time to never receiving one again, so it does seem to work.

For me this was added at an airport location, but I'm guessing anywhere (including over the phone) could add a comment saying that you want the type of car you reserved and nothing bigger.

Of course, it's possible that they won't have any of what you booked - especially HLEs which normally have smaller numbers of cars - in which case you're still going to be stuck with something larger.

trade with me :)

They dont.... I have "no mini van" at least 10x in my comments... yet I still get assigned them now and again.

As a Gold member they will in many cases have the paperwork printed and car already assigned for you, yes. In a large enough Gold location (most sizable airports, some large city locations) they will have Gold Canopy service with the name boards where you walk directly to your already assigned car. And although many frequent renters will dismay at this ;) there are a few cases still, especially at a small location, when just being Gold may mean they will assign you the larger car before someone else (who might just be getting an insurance replacement or whatever.)

Obviously start by booking Economy, the smallest class.

At a small location, call them a few hours before, or the night before if you have an early AM, and see if they will set aside whatever most favored (to you) small car they have on hand.

If you rent from the SAME smaller location a lot, go further by introducing yourself to the manager/staff and letting them know your preferences directly. This probably won't work as well in a larger location as too many different people will be involved in assigning the cars, but in a small office they'll recognize your name.

At a large location calling probably won't be of much use. When you have Gold Canopy, you may have to settle for going to see what car is there first, then going back to the counter to see if they'll put you in a smaller one if you don't like what is there. There should be a separate Gold counter to help you; you don't have to go through the regular counter. The notes in your Hertz record can work some of the time but not all the time. It can't hurt really I suppose.

When I want to switch out of something already assigned to me that is an upgrade or just whatever vehicle the folks in the office think is the nicer car (lower miles, has the sat radio active, whatever), I always thank them for thinking of me and just note that such and such other car seems more appealing today or whatever. In your case you just tell them that although you appreciate the upgrade you really prefer the car to be as small as possible.

Just tell them, whoever you come in contact with. Your preferences will be noted. Soon you'll be getting put in a Fiat 500, Volvo C30, or Mazda 2.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...SynUGUuJ9xMK8Q https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...bEV-6PFgVgFQGc https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...fFjrKm99vevzCA

There are others you may like. So study the http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz...t-you-get.html and familiarize yourself with the models.

Hertz Gold agents who pre-assign vehicles do check customer notes, and many take great pride in learning favorite models of customers. It is very helpful to them if you can identify a specific model as your favorite.

I like the Toyota Corolla myself. It is my current favorite in the fleet, for all the reasons you mentioned.

I have rarely had any issues NOT getting an UG at Hertz.. It's the opposite that seems to ne the issue at a lot of locations....:D