5* downgrade?
 

Arrived tonight at BOS in the rain. Originally I had a V70 XC reserved using the Ammeniti CDP but switched it last week to a F rental in order to get the 300 bonus ZE1 points -- given the high cost of rentals in BOS, the difference between the V70 and the F is $15 for my 4-day rental. My experience with upgrades at BOS as a 5* have mixed; sometimes I've ended up in an SUV, other times a Premium, other times a Taurus.

In my spot was a Grand Prix, not one of my favourite cars, so I walked to the gold counter and asked what else they had available, noting my preference for foreign cars. The lot was PACKED with cars -- I'm guessing that Sunday must be a rare overnight keep -- so I know they had very many available. She typed away at her computer and said they didn't have anything for me. I noted that as a 5* I should be entitled to an upgrade, and the agent offered me the dreaded Grand Marquis. I said no thanks, she typed some more, and offered me a Hundai Sonata. I questioned if this was a full size, as I'd reserved, and she said that yes, it was a full size, in fact a special full size and therefore an upgrade.

I opted for the Sonata (as regular readers of this forum will know, I got one BTV-BOS in February and liked the ride), and drove it off the lot. Having now arrived at my hotel, I realize that the Sonata is actually a YC -- so a standard car.

I'm not too unhappy with the car, the Sonata is a decent ride, but I don't think I should have to pay F rates for it. Should I just wait until my return and talk to the station manager at BOS? As a regular 5* renter at Logan, I also think it is a little bogus to say "we have no cars for you unless you pay for an upgrade" (yes, they wanted to charge me for an "upgrade" to an SUV or Subaru).

Suggestions welcome.

An incorrect assumption....As a 5* you're not entitled to an upgrade. The text of the T&C's read that as a 5* you have a benefit ofa complimentary one-car class
upgrade based upon availability (To put it in plain English, if the location decides they want to upgrade you...

They could have had a number of cars slated to be given out to President's Circle arrivals on Monday morning, seeing how BOS probably has a lot of business traffic...Although highly unlikely.

If Sonata is a YC, then close out the contract at the counter and mention you were downgraded. They'll probably either give you the YC rate, or offer to give you a voucher for a future rental.

Sonata is a YC, which is a specialty midsize, not a standard. So, yes, you were downgraded, and should get a rate reduction.

That said, when I was 5* I never expected an upgrade, simply because of the "based on availability" language. I simply expected to get at least what I reserved, and if I did better than that then I treated it as a bonus. If you were PC, then yes, you would be able to demand an upgrade.

Yes, you are correct. Bad assumption (and acting entitled rarely helps though fwiw I was very nice about it and didn't demand anything). I guess they didn't really feel like upgrading me.