ElmhurstNick

Welcome back Pam! And I have a question for you:

One thing I noticed for my 4 day rental in PHX using 4 regular free days (not coupons) this December, the 11% "Concession Recovery Fee" is on the pre-adjustment amount. This is the first time I've seen a percentage fee charged on the base daily rate - for some luxury/SUV weekend rentals, this could be more expensive than just getting the last-minute deal. My two day $199/day one-way Expedition rental at DC Union Station in May would have been hit with $22/day more using this tactic. It had a percentage-based "Concession Recovery Fee" as well, and it was $0.00.

Is this a recent change? The DC rental cost me literally $0, except for an extra driver charge and the taxes on that. My PHX rental is going to cost me $70 for four days, all in taxes and "taxes."

FlyerTalker93851

Every time I've seen anyone use FREE Days on anythng in PHX you always have to still pay the Taxes and Fees based on the base rate of whatever you were getting for FREE. So to me this doesn't seem "strange nor unusual."
Could be a city/state thing? When I worked in Hawaii in Dec/Jan I never saw anyone have enough free days for an entire rental so there were still Taxes and Fees and theirs (as I was working Alamo there) are so minimal it barely amounts to much of anything so it wasn't a big deal.
I know when I have a coup for something else here...not car rental I'm still obligated to pay the taxes on it here...it's never truely "free." Like I said...maybe it's a City/State thing.
I've been doing this for over 11 years here in PHX and that's How I've Always Seen It. That's as much info as I can share with you.

ElmhurstNick

Thanks, Pam - it probably is a city state thing. It's just sad that it's applied to a pseudo-tax like "Concession Recovery Fee" which should be embedded in the per-day rate to begin with (and thus covered by the free day).

Considering that and gasoline is the only travel expense I will have (airfare is a WN award and hotel is a Starwood award), I have too much positive karma for this trip to worry about it! I'll just have to spend some time at Casino Arizona winning it back at the poker table.

FlyerTalker93851

Nick...There will always be something we all don't like about "the system" be it planes, trains, or automobiles, so we just have to learn to live with the hand we are dealt, and try to smile along the way at the roses we find along our path.
Now if that ain't a Ball Player interview/answer...I don't know what is! Had to toss that in cos the D'backs are doing so bad this season. But it fit the moment.
Now...getting back to that Casino AZ statement. They've been good to my household...you should be able to win MORE than enough to counter the excess taxes and fees you still "out of pocket" and your less than tank of gas you are gonna have to fork over for this trip to PHX.
Be sure to come by and say Hello Again!

dcchi

Have a week-long reservation in mid-October. Family of 4, but parents joining for part of the time (so will need 6). What's the likelihood of EA/EE having something that fits 6? For this trip, not really hung up on having a top-notch car, more something that can fit us. Are there Mazda5, 3-row SUVs, minivans, etc. in the EA or EE selections at PHX or is it solely 5-seat sedans generally?

Alternatively, if I had a SUV rental, what are the chances that I'd be able to get a 3-row SUV as opposed to a purely 2-row SUV?

Thanks in advance?

FlyerTalker93851

Hmmm....Lots of variables. And are you an EE or not? You show both in your question but are you actually an EE member? My answer will have lots of maybees...and "depends"...and I 'm not talkin' adult diapers.

Depends on the day of the week of your arrival...what you might find. We do have some Mazda 5's but once you put that third row up you have almost no luggage room really. It sits pretty close to the back door. Definitely not enough luggage room left for six ppl.

Would there be a three row SUV...I wouldn't count on it. Could you get one for extra $$'s...probably. Again that depends on the day of the week...but with it being fall and the time when the new cars are coming in I'd say it's pretty likely you could get one for extra $$ but at no extra $$...probably not. Fall is a high demand time for the larger vehicles and they don't give them away so readily as in the off season.

Minivan...again...it depends on day of the week and our demand for vehicles. Could you get one for more $$ ...again that's a probably....but you would have to ask.

Where to ask...? We have plenty of Emerald Aisle specialists right when you come into the garage level at the Phx Rental Center and they can direct you into the Emerald Customer Service Kiosk to assist you with anything you need. A larger car, child seats, directions...anything at all. Just ask!

Sorry my answers were so vague. If I can help further I'll do my best. But if you really need something to seat 6 ppl my best advice is to book something that fits to make sure you have what you need...rather than to hope you get something for your needs at your EA pricing on the fly. I've seen way too many ppl end up disappointed because there ended up being a HUGE convention or sporting event going on in town and we were sold out on everything and everyone Got what they booked and that WAS IT. Best not to be surprised...in a bad way....as they say.

3Cforme

PHX Exec Select today: Two (black, even) Chevy Tahoe SUVs, one Toyota Sienna minivan, one Nissan Frontier 4-dr compact pickup. That's it. Truly pathetic.

Emerald Aisle: 4 Dodge minivans.

I did not see an attendant with a name tag Pam, whose miracle work clearly is needed at this station.

FlyerTalker93851

I believe they were banking on cars that didn't arrive, hence the lack of abundant cars today in Phx, gang.
As to the final comment...I work UPSTAIRS...and I was working the night shift today. My turn in the rotation.
Not my place to apologize for what Others can't/didn't deliver to us but I sincerely apologize. As long as you got some wheels to take you to your destination...which I think IS the Ultimate goal...I hope that will suffice.

Remember...sometimes when the car utilization is HIGH...the choices will be SLIM. I've spoken about this before. It's definitely HIGH right now. PHX is sold out right now...not just National/Alamo...it's everybody. But things are unusually busy for the first part of the week. We hate it when it's this tight...we don't like it when we can't see your pretty smiles.

Oh...and the colors...we don't get to pick those...you know that! Yes PHX gets Black cars. Good thing they have A/C, huh?

DWilliamson5002

All that was on the EA today was about 20 Dodge Caravans/Chrysler Town & Country's. There was also 1 brand newish F-150 Crew and 1 Chevy Silverado Extended Cab...

We took the F-150 Crew...4K miles, XLT trim, 4x4.

The ES had a Tundra a bunch or Siennas, A couple Tahoe's, an Expedition, A Wrangler Unlimited, and a PT Crusier/HHR or 2 over there too.


There was not one single sedan on the lot anywhere, even across the way at Thrifty I saw an empty lot...

Tuneman1984

Note to self: Bring collision coverage from my insurer when I come to PHX! My CC doesn't cover pick-up trucks so if I come with an ES booking it could either turn really expensive or have me behind the wheel of a minivan...

FlyerTalker93851

Utilization continues to be HIGH!

dcchi

follow up to my earlier post. fam had a nice vacation in the PHX area and I had asked about whether EA or ES (I am Exec Elite) had regular availability of 6+ seaters (minivans, mazda5s, etc.). turns out i was able to get what i needed, though not in the way I expected.

arrived to find a wide variety of sedans, but no minivans or mazda5-types. however, my "luck" was that there were 2 large SUVs: suburban and sequoia. chose the sequoia, which was fine for our use for the week (wasn't really driving any long distances) but was glad that i generally don't have to rent cars normally that big. drive tons of minivans and mid-size SUVs, but the sequoia was way beyond my preference. but glad nonetheless to get a car to fit the fam of 4 + parents.

Though i've been to PHX many times over the years, I now realize why the taxes/fees at PHX are so ridiculously high. must have been to pay for the rental car facility? it is a nice facility (reminds me some of the one as LAS). I particularly liked the fact that each terminal has its own bus, so that there are no intermediate stops at other terminals.

flew in on UA, so was at Terminal 2, which I have to say I prefer, because it is so much smaller than the main terminals and so close and easy to the parking lot literally across the street.

all in all, a great sunny 90degree days / 65 degree nights week!

FlyerTalker93851

Hey...nice to hear you lucked into what you needed. We've been SOO tight on cars it's nuts! And again, not just us...Everyone in the building. Inventories are still not up to par. Can't get the orders in from the automakers fast enough!
Ya the new consolidated facility is amazing...most everyone loves it. Yes, there are the Hard Core Old Schoolers who prefer the cars at the airport but that just isn't possible. There isn't enough room at the airport when you see how much space the rental center takes up...plus all the cars on the ground...and the area for car washes...maint. facilites...gas pumps...etc. There wouldn't be room for flight passengers!
The weather is Awesome in Phx in October! You picked WELL!
Hope to see you back again SOON! I hope we met your expectations and your rental was completely satisfactory or Better!

NoSleepTillMnhtn

Saddly, the facility recoup at PHX is just part of the charge (something like 11% just so National can rent their space in the garage). The city of Phoenix and county of Maricopa seem to consistently tack on taxes to pay for private-works projects. It's been a while since I lived in AZ, but I remember a rediculous stadium excise tax on car rentals to pay for the Cardinals new stadium. Why would a city so dependant on tourism heavily tax the very people that bring money to the city?

If you want to know something even more scary, I remember reading that PHX has the most taxed car rentals in the nation. If an average 40% of the rental bill is fees and taxes, it can be cheaper at times to rent a car in Las Vegas or LAX and drive it to Phoenix.

With that said, I can save litterally hundreds on taxes if I rent from an off-airport National. It is less convenient, however, and you don't get upgraded on the EA or EE.

FlyerTalker93851

Every once and a while I go over what the Taxes and Fees are specifically in Phx at the Consolidated Rental Center.
Facility Charge - $6.00 per rental day and yes that's taxed. That pays for the rental center upkeep.
Concession Recoup Fee -11.11% is the airport fee. Pays for convenience of having rental cars in close prox. to the airport and services involved. And that is taxed.
Arizona Surcharge - 5% is a state licencing fee.
Maricopa County Surcharge - 3.25% or $2.50 whichever is greater. Stadium fee or however allocated at the time.
Sales Tax - 10.3% Sales tax on Rental cars...not on everything you buy!
Phx does Not have the highest taxes and fees in the nation...we are Number Six according to Auto Rental News earlier this year.

Yes if you rent Off-Sight you may save the first two fees/taxes I listed, however you may end up paying more in the end paying for transportation to Get To & From the Off-Sight locations. Not to mention the extra time involved to do this.
I figure my Time is worth something when I'm on vacation. I don't like paying for things like this either when I go out of town somewhere but it's no diff than all the Add-Ons the Airlines and Hotels have. It's just one of those thing involved with travel that have been around for years.
They did just eliminate one of the fees in Phx. There used to be a Facility Fee that went away in June! A step in the right direction. There are lobbyists in every state plus all the "powers that be" within every car rental organization working continuously to reduce/eliminate fees across the country.

Every large or moderately large city with a decent rental car fleet has many car rental taxes and fees...not just Phx.