Mar 29, 2017, 6:02 am
Last edit by: FlyinHawaiian
Questions regarding specific locations (eg, "I am Renting From XXX; What Might I Get?") may be moved to specific/dedicated threads for that location. All major airport codes may be searched using FlyerTalk's search engine; otherwise, words in " " quotation marks will bypass the character limit filter.
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
Oct 22, 2019, 4:58 am
#751
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: 18,037
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.
Oct 22, 2019, 7:09 am
#752
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,162
At Tampa Int'l, I have seen them bring a car out then go to a device that looks similar to a time clock on the wall where they punch in a number or scan a barcode, presumably assigning a car to a space number (spaces in UC/Five Star/PC have numbers too). When I've left, my contracts usually have a space number up top. I'll investigate next time I'm out there and follow up!
Oct 23, 2019, 1:49 am
#753
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Greater Chicagoland Area
Programs: frontier Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,455
It may be time to update the Ultimate Choice eligibility chart. Twice now in the past six weeks, once at SFO and once at PDX, where I reserved O6 Intermediate Pickup (SFO) and S Fullsize Pickup (PDX) I have been told these are not eligible for Ultimate Choice and I cannot choose a vehicle in the Presidents Circle section. Instead was told I have to accept the pickup assigned.
If there is a chance this will be an issue, I'd probably pay the extra $20 for "Intermediate SUV" on a weekly rental.
The reason is Chase CSR CDW specifically prohibits coverage on pickups so there's no way I'd take the pickup if forced to take it.
I plan on getting anything from the PC lot (I suppose even 5* or UC) instead of the pickup. (I'm a PC).
Thanks.
Oct 23, 2019, 2:02 am
#754
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: AUS
Posts: 281
Anyone else have any recent experiences with this? Pickup truck is currently cheapest rate for a rental at LAS in Nov.
If there is a chance this will be an issue, I'd probably pay the extra $20 for "Intermediate SUV" on a weekly rental.
The reason is Chase CSR CDW specifically prohibits coverage on pickups so there's no way I'd take the pickup if forced to take it.
I plan on getting anything from the PC lot (I suppose even 5* or UC) instead of the pickup. (I'm a PC).
Thanks.
If there is a chance this will be an issue, I'd probably pay the extra $20 for "Intermediate SUV" on a weekly rental.
The reason is Chase CSR CDW specifically prohibits coverage on pickups so there's no way I'd take the pickup if forced to take it.
I plan on getting anything from the PC lot (I suppose even 5* or UC) instead of the pickup. (I'm a PC).
Thanks.
FWIW, I never talk to the gold booth, I simply pick my car and go to the exit.
You can always make a backup reservation for the SUV (maybe set it for 2 hours later) and cancel the pickup if they really won't rent something else to you.
Oct 23, 2019, 2:31 am
#755
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Greater Chicagoland Area
Programs: frontier Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,455
There's always a chance, but I've rented O6 and taken from UC/PC a half dozen times and never had an issue of any kind. 1-2 of those were at SFO.
FWIW, I never talk to the gold booth, I simply pick my car and go to the exit.
You can always make a backup reservation for the SUV (maybe set it for 2 hours later) and cancel the pickup if they really won't rent something else to you.
FWIW, I never talk to the gold booth, I simply pick my car and go to the exit.
You can always make a backup reservation for the SUV (maybe set it for 2 hours later) and cancel the pickup if they really won't rent something else to you.
Oct 27, 2019, 11:16 am
#756
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Greater Chicagoland Area
Programs: frontier Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,455
Hertz auto cancelled my cheaper truck reservation even though i put flight info in that one and not in the later SUV one. Not a big deal but remember to watch for that email if you do backup reservations.
Oct 29, 2019, 7:34 pm
#758
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 3
Hi. I reserved a full size at MIA for a couple of days around Christmas. This is the first time of renting a car at Hertz Ultimate Choice. I'm President's Circle matched from emerald club.
1. I'm wondering if I need to go to the counter first to pay the rent. The confirmation email says "what you pay at the counter".
2. I have my own insurance covering liability but not collision. I'm gonna buy the LDW and liability for this car rental. Do I need to go to the counter?
Thanks!
1. I'm wondering if I need to go to the counter first to pay the rent. The confirmation email says "what you pay at the counter".
2. I have my own insurance covering liability but not collision. I'm gonna buy the LDW and liability for this car rental. Do I need to go to the counter?
Thanks!
Oct 29, 2019, 9:39 pm
#759
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Greater Chicagoland Area
Programs: frontier Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,455
This was for Chase CSR. The pickup would only not be covered if I were off roading. Supposedly the Z06 would be covered as well as are those special Hertz Camaros but I'd verify again if I were to rent one.
Nov 1, 2019, 12:57 am
#760
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Greater Chicagoland Area
Programs: frontier Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,455
My flight was cancelled so I'm stuck in Vegas for another night. Uber was $30. I already returned car with I got notice.
Anyway, cheapest rate was a the truck for $35 something, standard was next at $38.
PC lot was no good but the Mustang GT I just returned was awaiting a lucky 5* member but I grabbed it first.
Too bad my Nov truck got cancelled but at least I know it still works in LAS if the situation arises.
Anyway, cheapest rate was a the truck for $35 something, standard was next at $38.
PC lot was no good but the Mustang GT I just returned was awaiting a lucky 5* member but I grabbed it first.
Too bad my Nov truck got cancelled but at least I know it still works in LAS if the situation arises.
Nov 10, 2019, 8:12 pm
#761
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 183
I asked about pickups and supposedly it would be covered even though the benefits say no "trucks" or "open beds". She said they meant moving trucks or cargo vans for prohibited vehicles.
This was for Chase CSR. The pickup would only not be covered if I were off roading.
This was for Chase CSR. The pickup would only not be covered if I were off roading.
Nov 10, 2019, 8:55 pm
#762
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Greater Chicagoland Area
Programs: frontier Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,455
Yeah me too. Same with them telling me those special Hertz Z06 or Camaros would be covered. I wouldn't take the pickup truck anyway since I know confirmed I can get from PC lot.
Nov 21, 2019, 5:04 am
#764
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: 18,037
This is answered in the wikipost:
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 Luxury/Prestige/Adrenaline 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. 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 Luxury/Prestige/Adrenaline 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.
Dec 5, 2019, 12:55 pm
#765
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 5
I'm reading this topic and see that Ultimate Choice sometimes offers Mustang GT and other cars with an age limit. I booked a standard sport (D2) as a PC member but first time renting with Hertz as a 20 year old.
Could they offer me to pick from the Ultimate Choice and would I be able to take a Mustang GT if I'm lucky enough that they have one even though I'm not 25?
Could they offer me to pick from the Ultimate Choice and would I be able to take a Mustang GT if I'm lucky enough that they have one even though I'm not 25?