Consolidated "Renting at LHR; What Kind of Cars to Expect?" Thread
May 6, 2023, 9:01 pm
#76
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SNA
Programs: Sixt Platinum, Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz President's Circle, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,557
May 16, 2023, 8:04 am
#77
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 12
Upgrade options at LHR
I'm posting this question here as the "FlyerTalk internet forum police" told me not to clutter up the Ultimate Choice thread with my "question"
I have a prepaid rental out of London Heathrow for June, I rented a Full-Size, Special, Automatic, Electric (G1) Polestar 2 or similar.
I am PC but I'm not sure what to expect by way of upgrades that might be available to me at LHR.
Does LHR have a UC aisle?
Are EV's available in the UC aisle?
What would be a 1 class upgrade from G1?
Would I be able to upgrade to say a Tesla Model 3 or Y?
Thanks in advance for the advice.
I have a prepaid rental out of London Heathrow for June, I rented a Full-Size, Special, Automatic, Electric (G1) Polestar 2 or similar.
I am PC but I'm not sure what to expect by way of upgrades that might be available to me at LHR.
Does LHR have a UC aisle?
Are EV's available in the UC aisle?
What would be a 1 class upgrade from G1?
Would I be able to upgrade to say a Tesla Model 3 or Y?
Thanks in advance for the advice.
Last edited by Zeebrock; May 16, 2023 at 8:05 am Reason: typo
May 19, 2023, 10:06 am
#79
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: E14
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott, IHG, Sirius, Dusit, Thai, Virgin, Hyatt, BAA, AS, AA(both)
Posts: 1,240
There isn't any UC or PC choice, in fact I'm not sure that they have even moved away from counter service yet, but at least that way you can show disdain for the car they try and give you. You will almost certainly get a one or two class upgrade providing you don't rent a premium or an EV (very rare to get a manual to auto)
Jun 10, 2023, 7:09 am
#81
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: E14
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott, IHG, Sirius, Dusit, Thai, Virgin, Hyatt, BAA, AS, AA(both)
Posts: 1,240
You will probably end up with what you've booked ! Best expectation would be an auto L intermediate, given the fleet size (which is increasingly electric) you are unlikely to get any standard or luxury.
Jun 10, 2023, 7:24 am
#82
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 86
I'm posting this question here as the "FlyerTalk internet forum police" told me not to clutter up the Ultimate Choice thread with my "question"
I have a prepaid rental out of London Heathrow for June, I rented a Full-Size, Special, Automatic, Electric (G1) Polestar 2 or similar.
I am PC but I'm not sure what to expect by way of upgrades that might be available to me at LHR.
Does LHR have a UC aisle?
Are EV's available in the UC aisle?
What would be a 1 class upgrade from G1?
Would I be able to upgrade to say a Tesla Model 3 or Y?
Thanks in advance for the advice.
I have a prepaid rental out of London Heathrow for June, I rented a Full-Size, Special, Automatic, Electric (G1) Polestar 2 or similar.
I am PC but I'm not sure what to expect by way of upgrades that might be available to me at LHR.
Does LHR have a UC aisle?
Are EV's available in the UC aisle?
What would be a 1 class upgrade from G1?
Would I be able to upgrade to say a Tesla Model 3 or Y?
Thanks in advance for the advice.
PSA the Tesla supercharger near Hertz is open to Non Teslas and you can charge it there before return or Heston Services
Jun 10, 2023, 9:16 am
#83
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SNA
Programs: Sixt Platinum, Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz President's Circle, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,557
Jun 11, 2023, 2:15 am
#85
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: E14
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott, IHG, Sirius, Dusit, Thai, Virgin, Hyatt, BAA, AS, AA(both)
Posts: 1,240
Thanks for the update, if possible can you look at your agreement and see which model lexus you've gotten, which group it is in, what the mileage was - out of interest what was your daily for the PoleStar, just trying to get a baseline - thanks
Jun 12, 2023, 2:34 pm
#86
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SVG
Posts: 1,172
I turned down the Lexus, the Polestar was GBP60.68/day (15% discount).
Some thoughts on the Polestar and electric rental in the UK:
Some thoughts on the Polestar and electric rental in the UK:
- Very happy with the Polestar as a vehicle, great to drive. Remaining battery estimation via Google maps quite accurate.
- As a newbie, charging was a hassle though:
- did not realize the charging cable was under the hood (in the front) - took a while to figure out (this info should be provided to renters I think, and if it is, it needs to be more clear)
- some charging stations appear to require UK issued cards, luckily we were travelling with locals who had to pay for us
- some charging station require downloading an app - which cannot be installed since we are in the "wrong" region, according to Google Play and Apple App store
- some charging stations are slow, so you need to be picky or plan accordingly (onboard Google maps navigation helps with this)
- I "prepaid" for a charge and could return the car as low as 20% (as opposed to 80%) - probably quite expensive, but glad I did given all the issues we had with charging. Our final day was cut short on activities since we had to spend time getting adequate charge to get back to LHR
Jul 3, 2023, 8:53 pm
#88
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 65
LHR PC - What to expect
Hi folks. I’ve reserved a (T1) Tesla Model 3 when I arrive at LHR this coming Saturday afternoon from the US.
I’m a relatively inexperienced PC member having not that long gained access through Amex, and have only rented from neighborhood locations here in the US since gaining the status. So I don’t have the “hop skip and jump your way past the front desk and straight into the car if your choice” benchmark to measure against.
Do PC folk get any kind of preferential service at LHR? As the title suggests, what can I expect?
I’m a relatively inexperienced PC member having not that long gained access through Amex, and have only rented from neighborhood locations here in the US since gaining the status. So I don’t have the “hop skip and jump your way past the front desk and straight into the car if your choice” benchmark to measure against.
Do PC folk get any kind of preferential service at LHR? As the title suggests, what can I expect?
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Jul 4, 2023 at 4:10 pm Reason: moved into existing thread for this location
Jul 4, 2023, 3:17 pm
#89
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: E14
Programs: BA GGL, Marriott, IHG, Sirius, Dusit, Thai, Virgin, Hyatt, BAA, AS, AA(both)
Posts: 1,240
Hi folks. I’ve reserved a (T1) Tesla Model 3 when I arrive at LHR this coming Saturday afternoon from the US.
I’m a relatively inexperienced PC member having not that long gained access through Amex, and have only rented from neighborhood locations here in the US since gaining the status. So I don’t have the “hop skip and jump your way past the front desk and straight into the car if your choice” benchmark to measure against.
Do PC folk get any kind of preferential service at LHR? As the title suggests, what can I expect?
I’m a relatively inexperienced PC member having not that long gained access through Amex, and have only rented from neighborhood locations here in the US since gaining the status. So I don’t have the “hop skip and jump your way past the front desk and straight into the car if your choice” benchmark to measure against.
Do PC folk get any kind of preferential service at LHR? As the title suggests, what can I expect?
PC is recognised at LHR (I thought there was an LHR thread) but not for EVs
I’ve not rented from LHR recently (more dropping off) so am not sure if they still require everyone to queue
Jul 4, 2023, 3:25 pm
#90
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 65
Thanks. Btw did I post this in the wrong thread? I couldn’t find anything relating to LHR specifically.