I've been 5* for 2 years and find it completely worthless. I don't even understand why they spend the money to send out the cards. I've been upgraded 1 class maybe 20% of the time (about the same as before 5*), and have seen *no* other benefit to the status. I rent from Hertz because I like their product, not because of their loyalty program. If I were them I'd either improve the 5* program to make it worth something, or drop it to save the administrative cost. Just my 2 cents...

Ok, question for the group - as a 5* or PC member, how often are you *not* upgraded? Looks like MikeBOS is around 80% not-upgraded.

I'm at something more like 5% - last time I didn't get upgraded from mid-size was in March 2004, and I was just in a hurry and didn't want to go back to the desk to request a better car.

Most of the times I did get the upgrade it was from a mid-size; usually I reserve a full-size, which may have something to do with my lack of upgrade success.

I received a letter from Hertz last week that due to my rental frequency, I was “demoted” from 5* to whatever.
My first reaction....and every reaction after that....was “So What??”.
I’ve never noticed the slightest improvement for upgrades, location or whatever as a result of 5*.

Less than worthless to me
 

After 5 years as 5 star with a 50% upgrade rate, my PC card arrived a couple of weeks ago. On Thursday I arrived at Florence airport where I had reserved my usual Mercedes A Class automatic. In the last year my upgrades have included a BMW 320 Station Wagon, a Renault Espace and sundry upscale Opels.

I asked what they had for me & was told a Citroen C3 Pluriel, when I asked was this an upgrade I was told that it was actually one class lower but that I would not be charged for the class I originally booked (wow..........thanks) When I asked as to why there were none of the cars I had booked I was told that they had rented them all. I asked if all the other renters were also PC and so had priority over me. He looked at me quizically and said that the cars go to the first person who turns up.

By the way, when I asked if there was anything other than the Pluriel I was told that they also had a Ford Fiesta, should I want it.

So, to answer the question is PC worth anything; my answer is "Not in Florence, it isn't".

Keep the faith.........keep flying
N

My biggest gripe is that since I hit PC again this year, my car was ready one out of twelve rentals so far this year at my Manhattan location when they were supposed to be ready due to the gold service! Half of the times they have to bring something downstairs on their elevator, then clean the car, and it generally takes about 15-20 minutes. It is very frustrating to say the least. To top it off, I have only been offered an upgrade when they were out of full size cars and were trying to stick me with a stupid Buick (no thanks!), and I voluntarily downgrade to a mid-size car. Also, four times this year, the car has had less than 6/8 of a tank when it was supposed to be full. I had excellent service until this year and unfortunately, my regular employee who knew me and took care of me when I was only 5 Star last year, switched to a new location. Unfortunately the new employee at this location is terrible! In my experience, at least at my local edition, it is all dependent on the employees and not the level of status.