the behavior of the rent-a-car-people at the airport locations in SJU Puerto Rico is really bad. I had AVIS and the other time Hertz - no difference. (Hertz finally did credit me $30, without asking me for any reimbursement - I did just report - Hertz also said/admitted that they are not happy with their licence-partner there).

Now I take the Bus to Old San Juan, and have the Hertz-rental car waiting at the Hilton, just before the bus enters Old San Juan. The bus, which helps to get you the local feeling at once, costs about 50 cents.

With a lot of luggage, buy a taxi-voucher at the kiosque before leaving the baggage area on arrival (depending on people#, baggage#, and destination the taxi to Old San Juan costs about $ 12-20).

Don't get too discouraged by rental car staff that couldn't land a job taking out the trash at McDonald's. I would vent my anger at the company itself, which designs and provides service so poor that people are encouraged to pay $50 a year for service that should be free.

The hotels I frequent and my travel agent set up profiles for me because it saves them time and money. Why do rental car companies believe you should have to pay for it?

I've gotten the screw enough times that unless there is a specific penalty attached to cancellations, I book two different reservations for important trips.

FIRST: PLEASE GIVE US A CAR RENTAL FORUM!!!

I do not rent a car much (My reasons are explained in past forums) but from what I read about Hertz's attitude I will probably ask my company to consider another car service.

No one has mentioned ALAMO. Check the old forums about my friend's experiences with them.



------------------
:) CATMAN :)

Tino - I guess your $50 refers to Hertz#1 membership-costs?

I (and, as I learned here on FlyerTalk, I am in good company with many others here) never had to pay that fee - I got a free invitation to join from UA/Hertz, when I was a simple Premier some years ago - and now I get free renewals from Hertz every year without asking.

After several months I have not received a single statement from Hertz. The Hertz web site shows the Hertz #1 points but there is no breakdown of individual activity. I found out recently that I was not given triple points (given only regular points) during their last promotion, because the code for triple points was not entered in the reservation.

Sometimes I wonder whether the points offered for car rentals are worth the hassle of getting them properly credited. Things have improved for me over the last year but you have to give your member number at least twice (when you pick and drop off the car) to be guaranteed of a fairly hassle free posting of points.

Hertz and Avis tend to be OK and Budget not far behind. The worst are Alamo and Thrifty (consistently bad)--I can't complain too loudly as some were for $10-15/day rentals. Even for those cheap rentals, the agents did each time fill in my membership number or filled out the appropriate mileage form but I still haven't received my points.

I must say Hertz has been better on average quality wise although I found some of their U.S. locations and vehicles to be substandard to Canadian ones.

AVIS has consistently been good. When they stood me up (only once) at Yellowknife at midnight in the Northwest Territories, they compensated me with $100 in car rental vouchers which I used for an Australian trip.

I have had good luck with some of the "no miles" and no frills cheapo rental outfits like Payless in Europe and U.S, Resort in southwestern U.S. The most hassle free pickups (lack of lineups, car close by) have been with Hertz and Avis, closely followed by Budget.


[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 03-04-99).]

Catman:

Alamo is not bad, but not great. Their biggest problems seem that all aspects of their operation have become painfully slow, even for QuickSilver members. The second biggest problem is if you want to change something about the rental when you pick it up -- i.e. car class, return city, etc. If you just take what you have booked in advance, they have pretty decent rates. But soon as you want to change something, all the rates change to the "walk up" rate, which is usually a lot higher.

As for Hertz, I'm reminded of an old Lily Tomlin spoof commercial on Saturday Night Live (back when it was funny.) As a spokesman for "The Phone Company" (pre-baby Bell days) her motto was "We don't care. We don't have to. We're the phone company." I think that pretty much sums up Hertz' attitude as the biggest car rental outfit.

Ken


[This message has been edited by KenHamer (edited 03-04-99).]

[This message has been edited by KenHamer (edited 03-04-99).]

I might be showing my age, but that spoof started with Laugh-In in the late 1960s.

I belong to Avis, Hertz, National premiere clubs - Hertz is getting on my nerves - the last three times I rented - no car was available to me on the #1 Gold lane and it took a lot of time, energy, etc... to get a car. Avis has always been good and quite frankly, I've had a few good experiences with Alamo - nice people, free upgrades.

arturo lik rint a reck. alweighs a car for arturo, alweighs cheep, knot hav arturo's nam in lites, thet guud. arturo knot hapy wiff hurts eether. rint a reck cars not ben recked, butt mite yuse oil.

Avis is our company's preferred agency, so I guess I log 60+ rentals a year...never an issue with thier Preferred Select service. Car is there in or above the class I reserved. Flash license to security on the way out of the lot (except after 10pm @ CMH - no one seems to care). Onepass bonus miles post 30-60 days behind, but always show.