I'm starting (or continuing) to question the value or the Hertz 'premium' membership programs. I've qualified for 5* or PC every year for the last 4 years and have found that:

- The customer service is no better then standard Gold.
- The 'advantage' to having parking 'upfront' is minimal at best (as it seems that my car is always one of the last in the PC row of spaces).
- The upgrades are no more than I would get via standard gold and my companys contract.
- I have to call every year to have my status changed and new cards (that are never used) issued.
- The 'guaranteed vehicle availability' is BS as I've been put in sold out situations in TPA, DTW and PHX in the past 2 years with no appology or no 'special treatment' to get my 'guaranteed vehicle'.

Bottom line.. does anyone else think that the Hertz program needs an overhaul / redesign? What would you change ?

I too have found little benefit from 5-Star or PC, but then I usually rent Premium or Prestige so...

I'm pleased enough with Hertz they get all my business, but I wouldn't kill myself to renew as a PC if I found myself 5-10 rentals short at the end of the year.

This is an interesting topic for me because I was thinking about coming back to Hertz from National. I was 5* for about 3 years and then made the switch to National. One advantage is that most of my rentals are for longer periods and National awards status based on days rented and not number of rentals. However with my increased number of rental days I was considering using Hertz to build up status toward PC, however there doesn't seem to be a big jump from 5* to PC - on paper or in reality.

Can't comment on the last 12 months as I changed jobs and don't travel as much but PC got me some pretty good upgrades and when the electricity blackout happened in the North East a few years ago when I was stranded I was able to get a car at YYZ when they said they were sold out (for obvious reasons). Told them I was PC and a car appeared at my corporate rate, not some sky high gouging rate either ^

I have to agree, I am unsure what I really get as a PC. Most of it is directed by the airport, some are good and some are bad, but the service between gold and PC seems the same for each airport. I have only been two places that where sold out and they got me a car so I can not complain about that. I do wish they would change the redemption rules to combine awards. I have a ton of free weekend, day and points, but want two weeks for vacation or a one way drop.
Troy

I couldn't agree more and I've noticed very little difference between standard Gold, 5*, and PC. I get my so-called "guaranteed" PC upgrade about a third of the time and I get a car parked in a PC space about a third of the time. I'd say 20% of the time I get a car that's not even under a canopy, and I can think of only one occasion recently when the trunk was open and the car was running as I stepped off the bus. It's pathetic.

You would think that Hertz would clue into the importance of these status levels, given that most of the people who qualify for them are business flyers who are accustomed to promises reigiously kept by airlines who have similar recognition programs.

At the very least, one would think Hertz would put some kind of notation on rental agreements (as airlines do on boarding passes) to let renters know Hertz hadn't forgotten about their elite status.

I usually rent 1-2 times a week. Usually in CLE, IAH, BWI, and EWR.

I can't remember the last time I did not find my car in the PC section and didn't get more than a one class upgrade. I usually reserve a mid-size and get a premium or H class. I like the G35 and after they moved it to H class, don't get it as often, but have been getting an Avalon or Kia. Sometimes I get a premium like a Buick La Sabre, or Grand Marquis. In those instances I usually go back and ask for something smaller. I haven't seen a Ford Taurus in a long time.

My coworkers who are #1 Gold, but have no status don't get any upgrades and their cars are in the normal section. After they added their car preference to their profiles though, they have consistently been getting what they requested in that class.

When reserving cars on "sold out" days, I was able to reserve a car on Hertz.com where my coworkers weren't able to.

I have never just shown up at the station without a reservation though. When arriving at an airport without a reservation, as soon as I land, I will usually call and the car has always been ready for me by the time I get to the rental station.

This winter in Cleveland, my car was always ready with the engine running and the heat on. That was very nice.

Wow, I've never had the car running when I get there, but then again, I'm just a 5*, so maybe that's only the PC level of service. The trunk is usually open, though.

I can't complain about the upgrades, although it does seem that this year, I'm usually getting the bare minimum upgrade. For instance, if I rent a full-size, I get a full-size with leather seats, or something like that (YF, I think is what the class is). In 2004, I had a few instances of renting a full-size and getting a G35 or Avalon. Not so far this year. But, again, I can't complain. My rentals are always under the canopy, and freqently in the PC section at O'Hare and STL.

One thing I do notice, is that when I have a one-way rental, it seems like I get a car the airport or HLE wants to get rid of, like a Taurus with 20,000+ miles on it, or with a stain on the floor mat, for instance.

I arrived at CLE last night after a 1.5 hour delay. It was snowing with several inches of accumulation. The roads were still unplowed. Someone must be looking out for me since I reserved a mid-size and got a brand new Ford Explorer with 400 miles on the odo. The engine was running and it was nice and toasty inside. Unfortunately, since it was idling for so long, it only had 3/4 of a tank of gas left.

About a buck and a buck and a half respectively.

I will be honest and say since I have been PC, I see more "extras" than before. I have my fat ... in a Jag, G35, Links, etc..... more and more since being named one of the chosen ones.

Not much...BUT.....

I just had a triple upgrade on a 1-week award out of KOA.

Well, I picked up my first rental as a 5* yesterday at BOS, and was pleasantly surprised to find a G35, sitting under the canopy with the trunk open, when I had rented a midsize. But from the sounds of this thread, maybe I shouldn't expect this kind of treat all the time? As long as BDL quite giving me Chevy Classics, I think I'll be happy!

I think the value goes up as well if you're known at the location and you don't have a "I'm a VIP, gimme gimme gimme" attitude. After chatting with the people at the counter on a regular basis I've been very fortunate ^

Maybe that's my problem, I haven't talked to anyone at a counter in years!

Absolutely. For a while, I was in SYR just about every other week (which has counter service only). They usually don't have much in the way of Infiniti vehicles there, but on my standard mid-size corporate rental, I've never got anything less than a YF vehicle. And, from December-April, I've never failed to get a 4WD comped, which is handy given that my destination out of SYR is just off the Tug Hill plateau, where the average annual snowfall is ~250".

All it takes is a decent attitude, and knowing when to stop pushing - coming back to the desk because they stuck you in a Taurus after you had "no Taurus/Sable" in your profile is fine. Coming back because they only comped you to an Escape? Overkill.