Consolidated "Renting at IAH; What Kind of Cars to Expect?" Thread
Jan 7, 2019, 3:42 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: YYZ
Programs: Skymiles GM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, National EE, Hertz 5*
Posts: 383
Was there on Dec 27 trying to exchange a car, and they were out of cars. They had 40 cars and 68 reservations - yikes!
Off the top of my head, PC section had lots of Cadillac sedans. Strangely, they all had their boot open...
I think I took pics on my real camera and not my phone, so I'll try to dig up what inventory they had left on that date. With so many reservations, I'm sure they pulled most of their prestige cars out to fill reservations.
Off the top of my head, PC section had lots of Cadillac sedans. Strangely, they all had their boot open...
I think I took pics on my real camera and not my phone, so I'll try to dig up what inventory they had left on that date. With so many reservations, I'm sure they pulled most of their prestige cars out to fill reservations.
Jan 7, 2019, 4:49 pm
#32
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 29
Was there on Dec 27 trying to exchange a car, and they were out of cars. They had 40 cars and 68 reservations - yikes!
Off the top of my head, PC section had lots of Cadillac sedans. Strangely, they all had their boot open...
I think I took pics on my real camera and not my phone, so I'll try to dig up what inventory they had left on that date. With so many reservations, I'm sure they pulled most of their prestige cars out to fill reservations.
Off the top of my head, PC section had lots of Cadillac sedans. Strangely, they all had their boot open...
I think I took pics on my real camera and not my phone, so I'll try to dig up what inventory they had left on that date. With so many reservations, I'm sure they pulled most of their prestige cars out to fill reservations.
Im wanting to do a prestige level vehicle but just wonder if I’ll actually get the one that I reserve if they have that many problems.
Jan 8, 2019, 7:49 am
#33
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: YYZ
Programs: Skymiles GM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, National EE, Hertz 5*
Posts: 383
Sorry, my mistake I had actually went to Houston Hobby airport (HOU) not IAH, upon review of the picture.
Last edited by SoroSuub1; Jan 8, 2019 at 7:56 am
Jan 8, 2019, 8:18 am
#34
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 29
I was was going to call and ask them a few questions but you can’t get connected to them directly
Jan 8, 2019, 8:38 am
#35
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: YYZ
Programs: Skymiles GM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, National EE, Hertz 5*
Posts: 383
When I was at HOU, they said that IAH has a much larger lot so # of cars shouldn't be an issue. I only didn't go to IAH to exchange cars afterwards, because it wasn't on the way (ended up going to AUS instead as part of my trip).
Feb 11, 2019, 7:13 pm
#36
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 33
I rented at this location on January, Sunday around 11:30 am. I only looked at the PC section because thats the status I have (earned it the hard way). I found 2 dodge chargers base model, few SUV's from chevy like Tahoe and other brands, lots of chryster 300 regular and 300s model and bunch of other boring sedans like avalon, malibu and impala.
I ended up taking the 2019 Dodge Charger base model with 3k miles because I wanted to try something new. Chrysler 300s is pretty at every airport PC section so kind of tired of that one. Other people have mentioned getting a V8 hemi challenger from this location. I guess my timing wasn't ideal.
I ended up taking the 2019 Dodge Charger base model with 3k miles because I wanted to try something new. Chrysler 300s is pretty at every airport PC section so kind of tired of that one. Other people have mentioned getting a V8 hemi challenger from this location. I guess my timing wasn't ideal.
Feb 22, 2019, 2:44 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Pretty boring selection today in PC just a ton of Impalas, things that look like Impalas, and a bunch of 300s. I spotted one real SUV, a 2019 4Runner with 800 miles. Ran away with that one! Only downside is the sat radio isn't activated.
Feb 24, 2019, 6:40 am
#39
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: 18,038
FYI.
Sometimes I've gotten a car with a satellite radio that didn't work, and until recently I always assumed it was deactivated because I didn't pay for it (I've never paid for it, just the occasional upgrade).
Well I should have known better to think Hertz's systems were so sophisticated.
If you ever get a car with non-working Sirius/XM here's what you do to activate the radio:
That's it. The radio should be functioning in 10 to 30 minutes.
It can take a while because the rep you talked to passes the info on to someone else at Hertz who then contacts Sirius to activate the account. And then the activation has to populate through the network.
I've done this three times though, and it works the same way each time.
Getting to like Sirius, I am.
Well I should have known better to think Hertz's systems were so sophisticated.
If you ever get a car with non-working Sirius/XM here's what you do to activate the radio:
- See if you can locate the radio ID. It's different on every model, but usually pretty easy to find in the process of trying to turn on the radio. If not, go ahead and call; they can help you find it.
- Call Hertz Roadside Assistance, 1-800-654-5060.
NOTE: DO NOT call Sirius/XM. They will have you set up a paying account with your credit card.
- The rep will take down your info, most importantly the radio ID (step 1).
That's it. The radio should be functioning in 10 to 30 minutes.
It can take a while because the rep you talked to passes the info on to someone else at Hertz who then contacts Sirius to activate the account. And then the activation has to populate through the network.
I've done this three times though, and it works the same way each time.
Getting to like Sirius, I am.
Mar 6, 2019, 3:24 pm
#40
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
IAH
President's Circle
Reserved: Intermediate
Received: Chrysler 300, fully loaded
Paid: Intermediate, with an extra 15% discount from my original reservation(!)
President's Circle
Reserved: Intermediate
Received: Chrysler 300, fully loaded
Paid: Intermediate, with an extra 15% discount from my original reservation(!)
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Mar 6, 2019 at 6:15 pm Reason: moved into dedicated thread for this location
Mar 27, 2019, 9:47 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
President's Circle
Reserved: Intermediate
Received: Chrysler 300, fully loaded
More or less quoting Diplomatico because it mirrored my experience a couple weeks ago. I arrived mid CERAweek, which is a huge energy conference, and the PC selection was like a strip club buffet at the end of a shift. There was one lonely minivan and a 300 still wet from the car wash. I took the 300. Still not sick of this car, which has been 3 of my last 4 Hertz rentals.
Reserved: Intermediate
Received: Chrysler 300, fully loaded
More or less quoting Diplomatico because it mirrored my experience a couple weeks ago. I arrived mid CERAweek, which is a huge energy conference, and the PC selection was like a strip club buffet at the end of a shift. There was one lonely minivan and a 300 still wet from the car wash. I took the 300. Still not sick of this car, which has been 3 of my last 4 Hertz rentals.
Apr 18, 2019, 11:44 am
#42
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
Picked up at about 9 AM yesterday (a Wednesday).
Selection was pretty good. Plenty of sedans (Imapalas, 300s), a Challenge RT, a number of smaller SUVs (Kia, Hyundai, Ford and Chevy) plus a GMC Yukon.Noticing the one Infiniti Q50 was claimed, I chose a Ford Taurus Platinum with 4,100 miles and XM. Their premium upgrade area had more of the Infiniti sedans that you'd hope to see in the PC aisle.
Selection was pretty good. Plenty of sedans (Imapalas, 300s), a Challenge RT, a number of smaller SUVs (Kia, Hyundai, Ford and Chevy) plus a GMC Yukon.Noticing the one Infiniti Q50 was claimed, I chose a Ford Taurus Platinum with 4,100 miles and XM. Their premium upgrade area had more of the Infiniti sedans that you'd hope to see in the PC aisle.
Jun 6, 2019, 3:05 am
#43
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Dallas
Programs: Avis PC AmexPL Hertz5str MarriottPlt NetJets NationalEE InspiratoMember
Posts: 26
I actually
When I went through IAH in January they gave me a new Range Rover Sport, not discovery or evoque. They had 7-8 of them all black sitting in the front near the Gold desk building. Had to have the manager take it off the ramp to the lot, but I agree they had nothing available in prestige or otherwise. I had originally booked a GLS, and the person never returned it and the manager said just take the Range Rover (C?) and I did. Thank God I was already working myself up since I specifically said when it was reserved I needed a big SUV. But I don't think they have anywhere near the fleet of Dallas. At least not compared to April when cars I'd never seen where parked all over including a G 550 and 9 BMW 740s and 5 series too.
Jul 14, 2019, 10:43 am
#45
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,200
I rented over Easter (Thu-Mon) and on the Thursday it was small SUVs (lots of Rogues, GMC Terrains, Chevy Equinoxes, quite a lot of Nissan Muranos, the single VW Tiguan I took from regular Gold) together with lots of 300s, Impalas, etc. When I returned there were a few Buick Enclaves and similar SUVs around the lot. So if stock is low they may prioritize your car but you should expect anything in that group.
