return of rental: airport versus off-airport
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Programs: UA Lifetime 1K (3.52MM BIS miles) AA EXP (3.64MM)
Posts: 1,097
return of rental: airport versus off-airport
The company I work for is in Atlanta and whenever I can I try to not rent at the airport due to the killer concession (and etc.) fees.
So this week I rented at the perimeter marriott which is easily reached by Marta...but when returning the car my brain fogged and I returned to the airport rather than the renting location...I figured that I would get nailed for the extra fees but no...I paid the original rental price which was non-ATL pickup and dropoff...so my question is...are the killer fees only related to where you pickup the car or was I just lucky this time.
So this week I rented at the perimeter marriott which is easily reached by Marta...but when returning the car my brain fogged and I returned to the airport rather than the renting location...I figured that I would get nailed for the extra fees but no...I paid the original rental price which was non-ATL pickup and dropoff...so my question is...are the killer fees only related to where you pickup the car or was I just lucky this time.
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: (insert city name here) hotel
Programs: AA - ExPlat 1MM Marriott - Platinum, Hertz - Presidents Circle
Posts: 483
looking at a couple recent receipts and one pickup at GSP and returned to ATL shows the fees are from the pickup point and not the return. Understand the off airport pickups but sometimes convenience overrules the $ saved by having to run further to get the pickup, even if by Marta.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,625
Hertz at SFO appears to add a $17 transportation fee for rentals that I pick up at SFO. If I pick up at a HLE and return to SFO, they don't charge that fee.
I've been wondering if I can talk them into not charging that fee since I don't use airport transportation (train) to get to the airport rental location (I live in the Bay Area and have someone drop me off). I know I had this argument with another rental company a few years ago when the fee was around $10 and a manager agreed to waive it.
I've been wondering if I can talk them into not charging that fee since I don't use airport transportation (train) to get to the airport rental location (I live in the Bay Area and have someone drop me off). I know I had this argument with another rental company a few years ago when the fee was around $10 and a manager agreed to waive it.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: PDX
Programs: DL Plat, UA Plat 1MM, AS MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, Avis Presidents Club, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,938
The fee is based where you pick-up the car and it has long been a trick to use a nearby HLE to beat the airport fees and return the car to the airport
However, many of the best deals require you to return the car to the original location rather than a one-way rental to the airport so make sure you compare prices.
However, many of the best deals require you to return the car to the original location rather than a one-way rental to the airport so make sure you compare prices.
#5
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold
Posts: 3,640
The fee is based where you pick-up the car and it has long been a trick to use a nearby HLE to beat the airport fees and return the car to the airport
However, many of the best deals require you to return the car to the original location rather than a one-way rental to the airport so make sure you compare prices.
However, many of the best deals require you to return the car to the original location rather than a one-way rental to the airport so make sure you compare prices.
But in most cases, taxes are based on pickup location... and many rates (not involving coupons) allow intra-city drop off at no cost. For example, I rent frequently from ORD and various HLEs in the Chicago area, and while the rate and tax varies by where I pick up, I find that drop off location doesn't change the rate as long as it's in the Chicago zone. I was once told by my HLE that I could even change my drop off HLE after pickup at no cost... but I'm sure this doesn't apply to all rates or coupons.
#6
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAS - I'm All In!
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott PP
Posts: 3,639
I have aranged with SBP AVIS to do that for me. I "rent" from the Embassy Suites in town, and since they share cars with the airport I just pick up my car at the airport when I arrive. Not only do I not get hit will all the fees, the rental is usually 10-15 dollars less per day. So my total for a 3 day weekend rental is only about $75 instead of $160.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: CLE/CAK
Programs: DL Gold (2.5MM program miles), Airtran A+ Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 593
#8
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAS - I'm All In!
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott PP
Posts: 3,639
Agreed, however my above example was talking about SBP... I have seen the same thing as HLEs are less than the airport (by at least 50%) at SFO as well.
#9
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Programs: OZ Diamond, nobody everywhere else
Posts: 164
My experiences tell me that Hertz usually treat airport locations and nearby (<10 miles maybe?) locations as the same for drop-off. Some examples:
1. When making reservations (pick up from both airport and HLE), the quoted rates were always the same whether I pick PIT or an HLE as drop-off location.
2. Reserved HLE-1 pick-up / HLE-2 drop-off. The contract indicates the drop-off location as PIT. Drop-off HLE (HLE-2) says nothing and I was charged the quoted rate.
1. When making reservations (pick up from both airport and HLE), the quoted rates were always the same whether I pick PIT or an HLE as drop-off location.
2. Reserved HLE-1 pick-up / HLE-2 drop-off. The contract indicates the drop-off location as PIT. Drop-off HLE (HLE-2) says nothing and I was charged the quoted rate.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: IAH
Posts: 242
One Way Rental from HLE to Airport
I have a related question.
I am trying to rent a car from HLE in the Des Moines area to drive around for the weekend then return it at the DSM airport as I am flying out of town on Monday. This way I won't have to pay for the cab ride to the airport.
The only problem is that if I select DSM as the return location, I get the rate of $154.49 for 3 days and can't use the $35 off weekend rental coupon. On the other hand, if I return at the HLE, I get the rate of $29.61 (w/ the $35 coupon) for 3 days. Can I just pick the HLE as the return location when I reserve and return the car to the airport anyway w/o incurring extra charges? Both locations are corporate, if that matters.
Thanks for your help!
I am trying to rent a car from HLE in the Des Moines area to drive around for the weekend then return it at the DSM airport as I am flying out of town on Monday. This way I won't have to pay for the cab ride to the airport.
The only problem is that if I select DSM as the return location, I get the rate of $154.49 for 3 days and can't use the $35 off weekend rental coupon. On the other hand, if I return at the HLE, I get the rate of $29.61 (w/ the $35 coupon) for 3 days. Can I just pick the HLE as the return location when I reserve and return the car to the airport anyway w/o incurring extra charges? Both locations are corporate, if that matters.
Thanks for your help!
#11
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: Hertz PC, QF Plat, Velocity Gold, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,802
I have a related question.
I am trying to rent a car from HLE in the Des Moines area to drive around for the weekend then return it at the DSM airport as I am flying out of town on Monday. This way I won't have to pay for the cab ride to the airport.
The only problem is that if I select DSM as the return location, I get the rate of $154.49 for 3 days and can't use the $35 off weekend rental coupon. On the other hand, if I return at the HLE, I get the rate of $29.61 (w/ the $35 coupon) for 3 days. Can I just pick the HLE as the return location when I reserve and return the car to the airport anyway w/o incurring extra charges? Both locations are corporate, if that matters.
Thanks for your help!
I am trying to rent a car from HLE in the Des Moines area to drive around for the weekend then return it at the DSM airport as I am flying out of town on Monday. This way I won't have to pay for the cab ride to the airport.
The only problem is that if I select DSM as the return location, I get the rate of $154.49 for 3 days and can't use the $35 off weekend rental coupon. On the other hand, if I return at the HLE, I get the rate of $29.61 (w/ the $35 coupon) for 3 days. Can I just pick the HLE as the return location when I reserve and return the car to the airport anyway w/o incurring extra charges? Both locations are corporate, if that matters.
Thanks for your help!
#13
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: PDX
Programs: DL Plat, UA Plat 1MM, AS MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, Avis Presidents Club, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,938
#14
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: IAH
Posts: 242
Update
I was able to return the car to the airport just fine. The HLE assured me that I would be charged the same rate whether I returned it there or to the airport. At the airport, when the guy w/ the express checkout scanner (or whatever it is called) did the checkout in the parking lot, it gave me the rate of $195. But when I went to the desk inside, the lady was able to adjust it to $46. ^
So I suppose this depends on the area. If anyone is considering doing something like this, I recommend calling the location beforehand and making sure.
So I suppose this depends on the area. If anyone is considering doing something like this, I recommend calling the location beforehand and making sure.