Car Rental Companies
 

I'm wondering if there is anyone here that would consider themselves a "frequent driver," and whether or not their car rental company recognizes them the way an airline elite level program would. Please contact me via email for lenghty responses.

Avis has "Preferred Select" which gives an automatic double car upgrade.

I am a frequent driver. Hertz does not treat their frequent customers like the airlines do.

The Amex Centurion Card offers guaranteed vehicle availability with both Hertz and Avis. I would consider that to be an elite-type perk, albeit "comped" elite.

Hertz #1 sends coupons to members, although I think that everyone gets the same coupons whether they rent frequently or not.

And I am also one of the (few?) remaining members of the original National Car Rental Emerald Club, and I earn Emerald Club points for my rentals in addition to miles. Since you can no longer enroll in the points program, I guess the program qualifies as "elite."

The only thing I've noted as a frequent Avis renter is that one person who checks in my car at SMF has seen me so often that she knows me now (Always be nice!!), so she never asks to see a gas receipt, instead taking my word for it. I've never burned her on this and never would.

I'm Hertz Gold, and other than the advertised services I do get upgrades from my reserved class (mid-size normally) very often. However, I never rented as a regular with Hertz so I don't know if this is more of an inventory problem. I use them to get Marriott Rewards points since thsoe aren't taxed (yet) and as long as they give me good cars with a full tank of gas and quick in and out (including fast shuttle bus!! very important), I don't ask/want anything more.

Hmmm I have to agree.... I have to say a car, quick service, (CLEAN CAR ACTUALLY), and no hassles....

I enjoy both Avis and Hertz.. depends on the property. I know the people at Portland (avis), actually they have a new person, but after some weeks, you start geting Park Avenues for the midsize rate.. (not everytime.. but always a clean, NEW CAR).

I think the perks (beyond the advertised, program perks) are given by the properties when you develop a nice relationship.. they get to know you.. and you get upgrades, better cars,etc...

I am Hertz Gold, Avis Preferred and do get the odd upgrade. However, unlike on airlines where I do want to be upgraded at any time, I don't necessarily want a gas guzzling big hog of a car for some trips.

I have rented everything from super econo 2 door manual trannys (for ease of parking in crowded urban areas) to Lincoln Continentals (when I wanted long distance comfort for 4 people and all their luggage).

I generally order what I want and do not always like to be "pleasantly surprised" to get an upgraded car. A different perspective?

The one thing that is offered "elites" is a better parking spot (usually closer to the terminal etc.) but this is usually not a big deal. AVIS gives a free paper, but you probably just read one on the plane.

The other thing you get is fast check in and check out but that is also available in some other programs that I don't consider "elite", e.g. Alamo Quicksilver, Budget Fastbreak.

I keep gravitating back to National Emerald as my favorite.

I'm also Hertz Gold, Alamo Q'silver, Dollar Fastlane member, but the best & most consistent service has been with National for me. Emerald Club since 1990.

Hertz prices are HIGH in comparison, and the few times I've tried to use Avis, they seem to be high also. Used Hertz in MCO in Sept.
'cuz they had the best price, but the car wasn't ready in the Gold location!

Emerald Club service at most locations I use is steadily consistent. On a trip last spring to PHL, I was the last of 6 Emer Club off the bus, and all that was left on the Aisle was a Pontiac Grand Am. I asked one of the attendants if any more cars were coming out soon. He said, "Let me go get you something nicer than that", and came back 2 minutes later with a Cadillac Sedan de Ville! I was expecting a Bonneville or maybe a Le Sabre.

I've had that happen 4-5 times in the last couple years, mainly in Las Vegas.



[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 01-08-2000).]

I am a very frequent renter at SJC.

Unless there is a really good frequent flyer tie-in special with a rental car company, I usually rent from budget or hertz.

I do not get any special treatment from the rental car companies as I try to use the quick check out services (Hertz gold, Alamo Quicksilver etc.).

Back in beginning of 1999 when I use to rent ALOT from Dollar at the counter(they were the cheapest), I would ocassionaly get an upgrade, but this was more a function of inventory availability, not due to frequent rentals.

I don't drive a lot on trips, but am a Hertz #1 Gold member and always use them when I do. I like the speedy check-in and out which can save huge amounts of time in busy airports. No paper work, no hassel, no wasted time. Just a flash of your driver's license and you're on your way.

I also appreciate the map/direction printing machines that have recently been showing up at selected Hertz locations. Makes arriving at an unknown destination much easier. Have not yet tried the "smart car" feature (don't remember the name of it) that tells you where to go.

Like BlondeBomber, I too, do not appreciate unsolicited upgrades. When our whole family travels (Joe usually drives), we get a large car or van to accommodate bodies and luggage, but when I am alone, I rarely drive more than 40 or 50 miles in a rental car and prefer the smallest car I can get. Not only to I avoid wasting precious resources (we Washingtonian Greeners worry a lot about that), but I can also then take advantage of any parking space that happens to pop up before me.




[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 01-08-2000).]

Last year 1999 I rented about 200 days from Avis. They never did anything special for me except when I read on FT that they have a Select program. I called Avis and they sent me out a card showing my "Select" status, but they never would have unless I had asked.

Some locations treat me better than others (I only rent from Avis) which depends more upon how well the location is managed. I often get a free upgrade. Sometimes they are super nice, like the time in Ft Lauderdale when I had reserved the very cheapest $139 per week special (it was for family vacation) and they upgraded me without my asking to a brand new Camry.

Some locations, in the summer, will have the car waiting for me with engine on, air conditioning already running. In winter, sometimes the heat is on.

Rental car business is never very profitable, while airlines can occasionally make quite a bit of money, but it is my feeling that Avis is fine, so I've stuck with them.

I am an Avis Preferred Select. My rental agreement is always waiting, just have to show a credit card for verification, and the car is always close to the counter. I get the infrequent upgrade, usually when there are no cars left in the class that I rented. I also get a price break (most times) and always get unlimited miles.

I get the same treatment with Thrifty Quicksilver although I do not use them as often (maybe 10% of the time).

I'm a member of:

Hertz: Service was acceptable the few times I used them before I became a Gold, but has been horrible ever since. Frequent renter benefits are 5% discount, and a pre-assigned cars waiting, for fast checkout.

Avis: Just joined, to take advantage of Starwood promos. So far so good. 5% discount, fast checkout.

Alamo: Serveral years, service generally good, but sometimes very slow. Good rates, QuickSilver service works well most of the time.

Thrifty: Sucks big time (in Canada.) Abandoned. No real benefits.

National: My favourte! Never a wait making reservations on the Emerald line, and very competent service and advice. 20% discount off most rates. Lot's of non-smoking cars, complete with no ashtray or lighter (just a "power outlet" for my GPS.) Ultra fast checkout and checkin. Still 500 CP points per rental, even for a single day, and they always post within a few days of return. Consistently very good service. When they occaisionally overcharge me upon return (who checks, right?) a simple phone call always results in a refund without argument, and a promptly faxed updated receipt.

Like most other renters (I suspect) my favourite National frequent renter benefit is pay for a mid-size, and take whatever car you want, be it a sporty, compact Grand Am, for me and winding roads, a large, comfortable Buick for me "and the gang" on a long freeway drive, or a 4x4 for snowy backroads. Like Punki and BlondeBomber, I always get precisely what I want, including a CD player. And like shadow, I've had the attendant haul my luggage over to the holding area so I can have a better choice of vehicles, when the Emerald Aisle was almost empty.

BTW, I've been upgraded, without asking in all of the programs, most of the time. In my experience, this seems to occur when they have lots of cars on the lot.

[This message has been edited by KenHamer (edited 01-08-2000).]

My previous employer had a discount exclusively with National, and we got Emerald Club for free, so I have some experience with that. I also like the ability to pick your car, although sometimes (especially in Chicago) I have detested the mad rush off the bus to run and grab the "best car". If they ALL had CD players, or they were all non-smoking, then it would be better because you could choose based on external looks, but they don't. I was always happy with National service, including the one time a unlicensed driver side-swiped me and crashed the fender.

My current employer has 10-20% off deals with Avis and Hertz, including membership in Preferred and #1 Gold, and I've had a chance to experience both of those. Avis sometimes has "your name in lights" (like SFO, where they have a new sign that I couldn't find last time I was there, until I was directed to it) like Hertz, which is nice. Avis in ORD usually has the car running, while Hertz has the car under a cover. I have been getting Camrys from both of those in ORD lately, which is good from a fuel efficiency point of view but it's not the most powerful car for I-294 passing.

National has continued to extend my Emerald Club membership, even last year when I didn't rent from them. If it's a leisure rental, what I normally do now is to go to each of these three web sites, put in my dates, and pick based on price. As far as I'm concerned, they're equivalent for what I want. (I'm not particularly picky about the type of car, as long as it's intermediate or better, and I'm assured of that by all 3 programs).