Hotwire not pre charging on car rentals
Jan 14, 2011, 11:03 am
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Hotwire not pre charging on car rentals
I've used Hotwire (and PL) for years for rental cars. On Hotwire, it has always been a pre pay. This time I reserved a car for next weekend in Miami and was not charged up front. It was a typical Hotwire rate but the reservation said pay the car rental agency directly at pick up time. I was not even asked for a credit card to guarantee the reservation.
Is this something new?
Is this something new?
Jan 14, 2011, 12:14 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
I've used Hotwire (and PL) for years for rental cars. On Hotwire, it has always been a pre pay. This time I reserved a car for next weekend in Miami and was not charged up front. It was a typical Hotwire rate but the reservation said pay the car rental agency directly at pick up time. I was not even asked for a credit card to guarantee the reservation.
Is this something new?
Is this something new?
Jan 14, 2011, 12:47 pm
#5
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Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
It was a grey color selection and yes the agency was disclosed once I clicked on the icon. $11 plus taxes per day for a compact out of MIA is very typically for a pre pay Hotwire/PL rate. In fact, for this time of year it would be even a very low rate for Hotwire/PL.
Jan 16, 2011, 5:02 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
It was a grey color selection and yes the agency was disclosed once I clicked on the icon. $11 plus taxes per day for a compact out of MIA is very typically for a pre pay Hotwire/PL rate. In fact, for this time of year it would be even a very low rate for Hotwire/PL.
Jan 16, 2011, 9:29 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 85
Hotwire car rental listings in red are "opaque". You don't learn which rental company it is until after puchase. Red listing rentals are noncancellable and nonrefundable.
Hotwire car rental listings in gray are retail. If you click through you can view the name of the rental company prior to purchase. Gray listing rentals are NOT prepaid and are cancellable. Gray listings aren't discounted. The rates are the same as you'll find on other websites.
Hotwire offers a retail (gray) listing when no rental company has given them discounted opaque inventory for your desired dates and car class.
Hotwire car rental listings in gray are retail. If you click through you can view the name of the rental company prior to purchase. Gray listing rentals are NOT prepaid and are cancellable. Gray listings aren't discounted. The rates are the same as you'll find on other websites.
Hotwire offers a retail (gray) listing when no rental company has given them discounted opaque inventory for your desired dates and car class.