Mar 29, 2017, 6:02 am
Last edit by: FlyinHawaiian
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Overview of Service and List of Existing and Future Airport Locations: https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/produ...ate_choice.jsp
Am I Eligible? Is My Vehicle Eligible?
Q. Who can use Ultimate Choice?
Any member of the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is eligible to use Ultimate Choice. The areas you can select from depend on your status in the program (President's Circle, Five Star, or Gold).
Q. What is the minimum booking class to be eligible to freely select cars from Ultimate Choice?
A. You can book anything other than an Economy (A), Compact (B), or Manager's Special (EXAR) vehicle, and be eligible for Ultimate Choice.
Q. What if I book a lower class such as Economy or Compact or Manager's Special?
A. You will be assigned a car from that class (or higher, as a complimentary upgrade) in a marked space.
Q. What happens if I book a Economy or Compact but pick a higher-class car from Ultimate Choice?
A. You will likely be asked to pay the midsize rental rate by the gate agent.
Q. What if I book a Fullsize car but find a lower class car in Ultimate Choice that I like better?
A. You may chose to take it, but you will pay the originally-booked Fullsize rate.
Q. What if I book a Adrenaline/Electric/Hybrid/Luxury/Prestige car or a Minivan/Truck/SUV?
A. You will be assigned a car from that class in a marked space. You can either accept it or chose a car from Ultimate Choice.
Q. Can I use Ultimate Choice for one-way rentals?
A. Yes.
Q. Can I use Ultimate Choice for award rentals?
A. Yes, provided the reservation is for a mid-size car or higher.
Overview of Service and List of Existing and Future Airport Locations: https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/produ...ate_choice.jsp
Am I Eligible? Is My Vehicle Eligible?
Q. Who can use Ultimate Choice?
Any member of the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is eligible to use Ultimate Choice. The areas you can select from depend on your status in the program (President's Circle, Five Star, or Gold).
Q. What is the minimum booking class to be eligible to freely select cars from Ultimate Choice?
A. You can book anything other than an Economy (A), Compact (B), or Manager's Special (EXAR) vehicle, and be eligible for Ultimate Choice.
Q. What if I book a lower class such as Economy or Compact or Manager's Special?
A. You will be assigned a car from that class (or higher, as a complimentary upgrade) in a marked space.
Q. What happens if I book a Economy or Compact but pick a higher-class car from Ultimate Choice?
A. You will likely be asked to pay the midsize rental rate by the gate agent.
Q. What if I book a Fullsize car but find a lower class car in Ultimate Choice that I like better?
A. You may chose to take it, but you will pay the originally-booked Fullsize rate.
Q. What if I book a Adrenaline/Electric/Hybrid/Luxury/Prestige car or a Minivan/Truck/SUV?
A. You will be assigned a car from that class in a marked space. You can either accept it or chose a car from Ultimate Choice.
Q. Can I use Ultimate Choice for one-way rentals?
A. Yes.
Q. Can I use Ultimate Choice for award rentals?
A. Yes, provided the reservation is for a mid-size car or higher.
Questions/Discussion About Hertz Ultimate Choice Service
May 20, 2019, 4:03 pm
#676
Company Representative - AutoSlash and HotelSlash
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: autoslash.com | hotelslash.com
Posts: 5,665
I've recently reached the PC tier, however my experience of renting at an Ultimate Choice locations are next to none.
For my upcoming MCO rental I have a L4 (FRAR) 7 Passenger Standard SUV booked . Whit Ultimate Choice option, can I just stroll up to the PC section and choose any available SUV or car at my own leisure without any extra charges instead of going to my assigned parking spot for my L4, FRAR vehicle?
How to I deal with the paperwork in this case?
Any give day, could I expect to find anything better than my already booked L4, FRAR in the PC section of Ultimate Choice, I need a 7 seater?
EK
For my upcoming MCO rental I have a L4 (FRAR) 7 Passenger Standard SUV booked . Whit Ultimate Choice option, can I just stroll up to the PC section and choose any available SUV or car at my own leisure without any extra charges instead of going to my assigned parking spot for my L4, FRAR vehicle?
How to I deal with the paperwork in this case?
Any give day, could I expect to find anything better than my already booked L4, FRAR in the PC section of Ultimate Choice, I need a 7 seater?
EK
What you cannot do, even with an a L4 (FRAR) reservation is just walk over to a section full of SUVs and pick whatever you like. You need to choose from the PC section only. If you have an L4 (FRAR) you will be assigned a vehicle from that class in a designated space. You can feel free to browse the PC section to see if there is anything more appealing there. If so, just get in and drive to the exit gate. Everything will be handled automatically by the exit booth agent. If you don't find anything you like in the PC section, just take what you were assigned and drive out.
May 20, 2019, 4:06 pm
#677
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold, CM Presidential / *A Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 1,648
There is no paperwork at all (presuming you already have a CC on file and have rented before). You simply drive up to the exit gate in whatever car you choose, they scan the car, they will take your DL & CC and automatically assign your booking (and rate) to whatever car you are in. There are no additional charges, so long as the car was in PC lot (you can also take a car from the 5* or Gold lot)
I am only a 5*, but last time I was in MCO, it appeared that my selection was a lot better than the PC area
No idea about 7 seaters SUVs, there are quite often minivans though
May 20, 2019, 4:25 pm
#678
Join Date: May 2017
Location: GOT
Programs: Eurobonus Gold [*AG], Finnair Gold [OWS] HHonors Diamond, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 256
You can choose anything you want from the PC section. If there are SUVs there, have at it. You don't even need an SUV reservation for that. You can simply reserve an intermediate car or higher. The flip side to this though is that you are limited to what is available in the PC section when you arrive. It could be anything from a Ford Escape to a Chevy Suburban to a Range Rover (probably not) to an Explorer or anything in-between. It's a bit of a crap shoot though and depends more on timing, location, and just luck in general.
What you cannot do, even with an a L4 (FRAR) reservation is just walk over to a section full of SUVs and pick whatever you like. You need to choose from the PC section only. If you have an L4 (FRAR) you will be assigned a vehicle from that class in a designated space. You can feel free to browse the PC section to see if there is anything more appealing there. If so, just get in and drive to the exit gate. Everything will be handled automatically by the exit booth agent. If you don't find anything you like in the PC section, just take what you were assigned and drive out.
What you cannot do, even with an a L4 (FRAR) reservation is just walk over to a section full of SUVs and pick whatever you like. You need to choose from the PC section only. If you have an L4 (FRAR) you will be assigned a vehicle from that class in a designated space. You can feel free to browse the PC section to see if there is anything more appealing there. If so, just get in and drive to the exit gate. Everything will be handled automatically by the exit booth agent. If you don't find anything you like in the PC section, just take what you were assigned and drive out.
Yes, you have 2 choices. Either go to the PC area or go to your assigned spot. You can take any car from the PC lot that suits you - and if nothing there then take your assigned car
There is no paperwork at all (presuming you already have a CC on file and have rented before). You simply drive up to the exit gate in whatever car you choose, they scan the car, they will take your DL & CC and automatically assign your booking (and rate) to whatever car you are in. There are no additional charges, so long as the car was in PC lot (you can also take a car from the 5* or Gold lot)
I am only a 5*, but last time I was in MCO, it appeared that my selection was a lot better than the PC area
No idea about 7 seaters SUVs, there are quite often minivans though
Now I feel confident about the Ultimate Choice set-up, finger cross I'll score big at the PC section when we arrive @MCO. However, a L4, FRAR is the "smallest" car I need so it feels good to have that one secured if PC lot turns up empty handed for a bigger SUV (or the rare 6 seater truck).
i'll make sure to scout the 5* area as well,
Yes, my DL and CC are on file with Hertz, however I just realized I need t update my primary CC since I got a new one sent out by AMEX recently since I made my reservation a few months ago.
EK
May 27, 2019, 3:46 am
#680
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: AUS
Posts: 281
May 27, 2019, 7:40 am
#681
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: London / Amsterdam
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 223
Seems to be only US and Toronto: https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/produ...ate_choice.jsp
Jun 16, 2019, 6:35 am
#682
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 2
Change rental
Im a Pc and took a car from UC at Tampa airport last week. I got a week left of my rental and found out that i need a different car due to change of travel plans. If i bring back my car now, would they let me choose from UC again or do they assign me the original booking «midsize» car?
Jun 16, 2019, 12:14 pm
#683
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,703
Im a Pc and took a car from UC at Tampa airport last week. I got a week left of my rental and found out that i need a different car due to change of travel plans. If i bring back my car now, would they let me choose from UC again or do they assign me the original booking «midsize» car?
Jun 19, 2019, 7:16 pm
#684
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,703
I'm helping a family member with an upcoming reservation. I had her join Gold so she could use Ultimate Choice. My question is whether they will make her go to the counter and take a preassigned car since it's her first rental, or if she can just choose a car from UC as normal.
Jul 10, 2019, 2:35 pm
#685
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 6
So I'm a 5* member. Booked a full-size through our corporate travel website (Concur). Does that qualify me for UC? On the reservation confirmation page, it does say "Service Type: Standard Counter". Location will be San Diego. Thanks all.
Jul 10, 2019, 2:41 pm
#686
Company Representative - AutoSlash and HotelSlash
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: autoslash.com | hotelslash.com
Posts: 5,665
Yes, if your Hertz Gold member number was attached to the reservation, then you should be able to use Ultimate Choice. If it shows up under your pending reservations when you login to your account at Hertz.com, you are good-to-go.
Jul 18, 2019, 11:05 am
#688
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 67
The last time I picked up a car at BNA, the gold lot was completely empty and I was prompted to choose from the 5-Star lot. Next week I may face a similar situation, but may wind up with the last car in the gold lot.
Jul 18, 2019, 11:19 am
#689
Company Representative - AutoSlash and HotelSlash
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: autoslash.com | hotelslash.com
Posts: 5,665
I have a similar question. I'm just a gold member. If I'm unhappy with the car I get from the gold lot, will they allow me to exchange the car later in the week? I'm renting for 2 weeks so I'm guessing that the selections will be much better on a Saturday morning compared to Monday evening.
The last time I picked up a car at BNA, the gold lot was completely empty and I was prompted to choose from the 5-Star lot. Next week I may face a similar situation, but may wind up with the last car in the gold lot.
The last time I picked up a car at BNA, the gold lot was completely empty and I was prompted to choose from the 5-Star lot. Next week I may face a similar situation, but may wind up with the last car in the gold lot.
Jul 18, 2019, 11:25 am
#690
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 67
There have been numerous reports of people being allowed to switch vehicles at Hertz as a Gold member, but it's very important to understand that this is not a right or a published benefit. It's very much at the discretion of the local staff/management. It probably helps to be friendly with the staff and have some sort of reasonable explanation as to why you'd like to swap vehicles. It's very much a YMMV situation, so to all the folks who keep looking for a definitive answer to this question, there really isn't one. Good luck though!