Consolidated "Renting at ATL; What Kind of Cars to Expect?" Thread
#61
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 124
Well, i'm convinced the ATL location is horrible as a 5star. I picked up car Sunday after paying an upgrade charge for a 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T. There was nothing but Sentras, low end Kias, I think a Soul.. I mean nothing. The 2019 R/T appealed to me because i'm thinking of getting a Hellcat and wanted to see what the 2019 at least offered. I just don't get Hertz. PC had 1 300 and some other what I consider "normal" cars I could get a National without a sweat.
Note I did have a Sixt reservation as well. I haven't picked up a Sixt car in a long time. I had a reservation for a mid size, Malibu. I'm platinum and asked about the double upgrade. I was not eligible due to not renting enough. They could have upgraded me to a S90 Volvo or XTS Cadillac. They wanted something like a 1000 hold and a nice upgrade fee. I don't know what happened to Sixt but they have gone all the way down (in my opinion). At one time I was a HUGE fan of theirs. I was getting Mercedes, BMXs, CTS with HUD...all for what I could get a "normal" car from any other rental agency. Also the holds were much less. I guess they got "Americanized"..haha
Note I did have a Sixt reservation as well. I haven't picked up a Sixt car in a long time. I had a reservation for a mid size, Malibu. I'm platinum and asked about the double upgrade. I was not eligible due to not renting enough. They could have upgraded me to a S90 Volvo or XTS Cadillac. They wanted something like a 1000 hold and a nice upgrade fee. I don't know what happened to Sixt but they have gone all the way down (in my opinion). At one time I was a HUGE fan of theirs. I was getting Mercedes, BMXs, CTS with HUD...all for what I could get a "normal" car from any other rental agency. Also the holds were much less. I guess they got "Americanized"..haha
#62
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: GEG/DEN/ATL
Programs: UA 1K, TK E+, AS MVPG, SPG&Marriott Plat, HHD, Hertz PC
Posts: 404
Well, i'm convinced the ATL location is horrible as a 5star. I picked up car Sunday after paying an upgrade charge for a 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T. There was nothing but Sentras, low end Kias, I think a Soul.. I mean nothing. The 2019 R/T appealed to me because i'm thinking of getting a Hellcat and wanted to see what the 2019 at least offered. I just don't get Hertz. PC had 1 300 and some other what I consider "normal" cars I could get a National without a sweat.
Note I did have a Sixt reservation as well. I haven't picked up a Sixt car in a long time. I had a reservation for a mid size, Malibu. I'm platinum and asked about the double upgrade. I was not eligible due to not renting enough. They could have upgraded me to a S90 Volvo or XTS Cadillac. They wanted something like a 1000 hold and a nice upgrade fee. I don't know what happened to Sixt but they have gone all the way down (in my opinion). At one time I was a HUGE fan of theirs. I was getting Mercedes, BMXs, CTS with HUD...all for what I could get a "normal" car from any other rental agency. Also the holds were much less. I guess they got "Americanized"..haha
Note I did have a Sixt reservation as well. I haven't picked up a Sixt car in a long time. I had a reservation for a mid size, Malibu. I'm platinum and asked about the double upgrade. I was not eligible due to not renting enough. They could have upgraded me to a S90 Volvo or XTS Cadillac. They wanted something like a 1000 hold and a nice upgrade fee. I don't know what happened to Sixt but they have gone all the way down (in my opinion). At one time I was a HUGE fan of theirs. I was getting Mercedes, BMXs, CTS with HUD...all for what I could get a "normal" car from any other rental agency. Also the holds were much less. I guess they got "Americanized"..haha
#63
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 124
Great point. I didn't even think of that. I'll continue to make multiple reservations that include Hertz. I'll see what the future holds.
#66
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Went by last night at 7:45 PM to find a pitiful selection. PC had a few already claimed cars, two minivans and several people standing around waiting on more cars. Also, while taking these pictures I lost my chance at the lone Jeep Cherokee
I didn't want to wait on a return in the cold so I slunk over to Five Star and pilfered a Chevy Malibu. It had 21,000 miles on it but the Sirius XM still worked.
I didn't want to wait on a return in the cold so I slunk over to Five Star and pilfered a Chevy Malibu. It had 21,000 miles on it but the Sirius XM still worked.
#67
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 347
Picked up this past Monday (12/17) afternoon.
Gold and 5-star were both very full, but nothing too exciting. Choose your color of Kia Souls, Chevy Cruzes, Chevy Malibus, Kia Optimas. Also several very new Toyota Corollas and a few Nissan Altimas. One Chrysler Pacifica and a few Dodge Caravans. Very little in the way of SUVs or crossovers - one Buick Encore and one Chevy Trax. The mix was very similiar between the Gold and 5-star areas.
PC was a little less full, but with a similar mix of cars. They had a few more with leather, as well as a couple Hyundai crossovers as well.
The paid upgrade area was almost entirely Infiniti Q50s, your choice of color, all with the 3.0T motor. One Cadillac XTS in really rough shape.
I got an Altima with leather and working XM, which was plenty to make me happy on a reservation for only $17 a day.
I also tried the Clear / Fast Lane exit, and put my experience in the thread on that topic.
Gold and 5-star were both very full, but nothing too exciting. Choose your color of Kia Souls, Chevy Cruzes, Chevy Malibus, Kia Optimas. Also several very new Toyota Corollas and a few Nissan Altimas. One Chrysler Pacifica and a few Dodge Caravans. Very little in the way of SUVs or crossovers - one Buick Encore and one Chevy Trax. The mix was very similiar between the Gold and 5-star areas.
PC was a little less full, but with a similar mix of cars. They had a few more with leather, as well as a couple Hyundai crossovers as well.
The paid upgrade area was almost entirely Infiniti Q50s, your choice of color, all with the 3.0T motor. One Cadillac XTS in really rough shape.
I got an Altima with leather and working XM, which was plenty to make me happy on a reservation for only $17 a day.
I also tried the Clear / Fast Lane exit, and put my experience in the thread on that topic.
#68
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: YYZ
Programs: Skymiles GM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, National EE, Hertz 5*
Posts: 383
Was at ATL due to misconnect yesterday morning. (Dec 22, 2018)
5 star lane had a lot of Chevrolet Cruzes, Kia Fortes and a Corolla. There was also a Ford Fusion Hybrid which i tried to take but we couldn't find the key in the car (the car started and moved though....) .and a Chevy Cruze hatch that was marked for maintenance so i had to drive back up from the exit and find a new car.... leaving the original car as i found it for the next renter to take for a parking lot spin.
Edit:
They also had Kia Optima(s?) after reviewing my pics in the 5 star zone.
5 star lane had a lot of Chevrolet Cruzes, Kia Fortes and a Corolla. There was also a Ford Fusion Hybrid which i tried to take but we couldn't find the key in the car (the car started and moved though....) .and a Chevy Cruze hatch that was marked for maintenance so i had to drive back up from the exit and find a new car.... leaving the original car as i found it for the next renter to take for a parking lot spin.
Edit:
They also had Kia Optima(s?) after reviewing my pics in the 5 star zone.
Last edited by SoroSuub1; Jan 2, 2019 at 1:07 pm
#69
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: GEG/DEN/ATL
Programs: UA 1K, TK E+, AS MVPG, SPG&Marriott Plat, HHD, Hertz PC
Posts: 404
12/26 around 9a, pick your color 300s, lone Buick Encore. Picked the lone Q50 with 17k miles.
12/27 around 10a, almost empty lot, 3 Malibus, 2 Impalas. Picked the lone XTS with 1k miles. Hertz employees were bringing two Ram 1500s as I was driving out.
12/27 around 10a, almost empty lot, 3 Malibus, 2 Impalas. Picked the lone XTS with 1k miles. Hertz employees were bringing two Ram 1500s as I was driving out.
#70
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Ambassador, AA Platinum, Avis Pres Club, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 546
ATL
Any feedback or experience for a PC member using UC at ATL?
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Jan 24, 2019 at 4:23 am Reason: moved from Ultimate Choice thread; more topical here
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,742
Picked up 2 weeks ago. PC member.
Lots of 300s and I think Altimas. A couple buicks. One Infiniti sedan with 20k miles on it that felt worn. A Tahoe.
I waited around for 10 min or so and then drove off in an XTS with 200 miles on it.
Plenty of Mercedes and a Range Rover in the upgrade pile. They wanted $75/day for the Range Rover.
Lots of 300s and I think Altimas. A couple buicks. One Infiniti sedan with 20k miles on it that felt worn. A Tahoe.
I waited around for 10 min or so and then drove off in an XTS with 200 miles on it.
Plenty of Mercedes and a Range Rover in the upgrade pile. They wanted $75/day for the Range Rover.
#72
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Ambassador, AA Platinum, Avis Pres Club, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 546
Picked up 2 weeks ago. PC member.
Lots of 300s and I think Altimas. A couple buicks. One Infiniti sedan with 20k miles on it that felt worn. A Tahoe.
I waited around for 10 min or so and then drove off in an XTS with 200 miles on it.
Plenty of Mercedes and a Range Rover in the upgrade pile. They wanted $75/day for the Range Rover.
Lots of 300s and I think Altimas. A couple buicks. One Infiniti sedan with 20k miles on it that felt worn. A Tahoe.
I waited around for 10 min or so and then drove off in an XTS with 200 miles on it.
Plenty of Mercedes and a Range Rover in the upgrade pile. They wanted $75/day for the Range Rover.
thanks for the feedback!
#73
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 347
Arrived to ATL Afternoon, Fri March 8th
I'm a 5*, FWIW. Booking online suggested wide availability, and a quick scan of the lot suggested the same - most spaces and categoies were well stocked.
My reservation was for a Luxury (Group I, LCAR). When I arrived my name wasn't on the board, (which has happened 4 of my last 5 ATL rentals)
Waited in line at the Gold Booth maybe 10 minutes. The agent was generally dismissive and uniterested, despite my being as courteous as I can reasonably imagine.
She said I should "go to Presidents Choice and take any Chrysler 300". I asked if they had anything else interesting. She said I could also take a Buick Regal if they had one. I asked about any Volvos. She said she had one Volvo (model unspecified) for $45/day. I replied that I'd probably just chooose from UC for that rate, and she said "well, I can do the Volvo for $35/day, then".
I ended up going out to PC. The vast majority was filled with 300s and Camaros, with a few random pickup trucks and compact SUVs. Nothing nicer or more notable. 5* and Gold, likewise, were the usual mix of Souls. Optimas, Cruzes, and Altimas.
All the 300s had something minor wrong with them - body wear, dirt, etc. I took a "young" one with working XM, but, as it turned out, really strong smell of ladies perfume.
I know the process was nominally fair. I rented an I, I got an I (in rough shape with no options).
I don't get it - if my only choices are Chyrsler 300, why make me wait a line to take a random one from the 2-dozen they had.
Anyway, just adding a bit of venting to my observation.
My reservation was for a Luxury (Group I, LCAR). When I arrived my name wasn't on the board, (which has happened 4 of my last 5 ATL rentals)
Waited in line at the Gold Booth maybe 10 minutes. The agent was generally dismissive and uniterested, despite my being as courteous as I can reasonably imagine.
She said I should "go to Presidents Choice and take any Chrysler 300". I asked if they had anything else interesting. She said I could also take a Buick Regal if they had one. I asked about any Volvos. She said she had one Volvo (model unspecified) for $45/day. I replied that I'd probably just chooose from UC for that rate, and she said "well, I can do the Volvo for $35/day, then".
I ended up going out to PC. The vast majority was filled with 300s and Camaros, with a few random pickup trucks and compact SUVs. Nothing nicer or more notable. 5* and Gold, likewise, were the usual mix of Souls. Optimas, Cruzes, and Altimas.
All the 300s had something minor wrong with them - body wear, dirt, etc. I took a "young" one with working XM, but, as it turned out, really strong smell of ladies perfume.
I know the process was nominally fair. I rented an I, I got an I (in rough shape with no options).
I don't get it - if my only choices are Chyrsler 300, why make me wait a line to take a random one from the 2-dozen they had.
Anyway, just adding a bit of venting to my observation.
#74
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
#75
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta
Programs: DL PM, Hertz PC, HH Dia
Posts: 246
I've got a rental next weekend for a mountain drive and was really hoping for a Camaro SS or Mustang GT, as those 2 are much, much faster (and better at going around corners) than a Challenger R/T.