Executive upgrade without renting in 2019?
Apr 1, 2019, 1:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 3
Executive upgrade without renting in 2019?
I have a trip coming up that would be a lot better if I got to pull from the executive aisle. I'm a "car guy" and getting the right car for the trip REALLY means a lot to me.
The amount of travel I do has plummeted in the last 3 years, so there's no way I'll qualify for exec in the month and a half I have before this trip. Does anyone know any tips or tricks to get upgraded outside of renting?
I've seen the Amex Platinum card, but it looks like that offer may have expired at the end of January?
The amount of travel I do has plummeted in the last 3 years, so there's no way I'll qualify for exec in the month and a half I have before this trip. Does anyone know any tips or tricks to get upgraded outside of renting?
I've seen the Amex Platinum card, but it looks like that offer may have expired at the end of January?
Apr 1, 2019, 8:38 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
Apr 1, 2019, 10:25 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: National Exec, HA Pualani Gold
Posts: 599
I have a trip coming up that would be a lot better if I got to pull from the executive aisle. I'm a "car guy" and getting the right car for the trip REALLY means a lot to me.
The amount of travel I do has plummeted in the last 3 years, so there's no way I'll qualify for exec in the month and a half I have before this trip. Does anyone know any tips or tricks to get upgraded outside of renting?
The amount of travel I do has plummeted in the last 3 years, so there's no way I'll qualify for exec in the month and a half I have before this trip. Does anyone know any tips or tricks to get upgraded outside of renting?
When I didn’t have Executive status, if I reserved at least a Premium class car, the attendants at locations I frequented were generally very helpful accommodating me.
Apr 2, 2019, 2:12 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,703
I think this one is a big YMMV depending on the location, time of day, whether they are strapped for cars, etc.
When I didn’t have Executive status, if I reserved at least a Premium class car, the attendants at locations I frequented were generally very helpful accommodating me.
Apr 2, 2019, 5:08 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 3
Not anymore. For a while, I was traveling at least once a month for work. I've found a ton of efficiencies and now travel once a year. Everything has reverted to newb status.
I've had some luck with this. Typically in non-aisle cities I'll walk the lot and pick out a few. When I get to the window I'll enthusiastically say something like "Hello (name on name tag), That (make, model) would really make this trip awesome. Is there any chance I can get it at my company's rate?" They tap away at their computer and usually tell me "sure thing!". Occasionally they can't get that particular car, I tell them thanks for trying and they'll list off 3 or 4 similar cars they can get me into. It's rare that I've ended up with a basic car. I could only think of twice, and both times were in cities with major events and nearly empty rental lots.
I'm a car guy, A fun or interesting rental car really does make a business trip better. The time I got stuck with a dodge avenger in JAX was miserable. It was all they had. The last trip I had a brand new 4 door wrangler. I've had something like 14 jeeps over the years and was thrilled to get to drive the new one. It made the trip fun.
I'm a car guy, A fun or interesting rental car really does make a business trip better. The time I got stuck with a dodge avenger in JAX was miserable. It was all they had. The last trip I had a brand new 4 door wrangler. I've had something like 14 jeeps over the years and was thrilled to get to drive the new one. It made the trip fun.
Apr 2, 2019, 2:49 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,884
I picked up a 2019 Wrangler Sport Unlimited at ATL today, with 7 miles on the odometer. It still has some of the white crayon marks on the window. I would never own one, but they are fun to bounce around in for a couple of days!