Huge Rate Difference
 

I'm traveling to Westchester Co. Airport (HPN) in January, then driving to Philadelphia (PHL) to leave one week later. If I rent a Standard SUV at HPN and return to HPN the rate is $287 for the week. If I change it to return to PHL the rate goes to $449/week!

I'm #1 Club Gold and use the AAA CDP (Florida) FWIW. Does anyone know a way to lower the rate with a return to PHL closer to the $287 I was quoted? Coupons, specific PC code, etc.?

If I can't get it down, I'm going to have to use Avis and the thought of getting stuck with an Aztec scares me.

One-ways often raise the price a great deal, especially if the two locations are some distance apart (as they have to truck the car back, send a car and driver, or swap inventories).

One strategy is to split the rental. In cases where you're paying a higher base rate for the duration of the rental due to a remote dropoff, it may pay to rent one week for a straight return, then a separate one day rental for the one-way.

Of course this would only work if you knew exactly when you're going to do the drive over, and you'd have to be able to fit the car exchange into your schedule.

This would also allow you to use coupons on the weekly rental that would otherwise not work on a one-way, since it's now a traditional rental. ;)

When recently booking two rentals for early next year (out of LAX and another out of FLL), I discovered just how expensive it is to drop off in a different location - especially given then want to charge you mileage as well as a recovery fee ($500 I think it was !!). Given we will be driving quite some distance - it was going to be very very expensive.

I actually worked out it was going to be cheaper to hold on to the car for the week or so we didn't need it (I'm attending some conferences) and then drive back to where we picked it up ... the cost of parking and the extra weeks rental was still far cheaper than the recovery cost and the mileage costs.

I definately understand the logistics of the one-way. Was wondering if there were any fringe benefits I could cash in on from say Amex Platinum, #1 Club Gold, etc.

Its a shame. I really only rent from Hertz.