Hotwire Cars: Can Exclude Alamo 'Round Trip Ticket' BS
Aug 30, 2011, 6:07 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
When was either HW or PL cheaper than conventional bookings booked well in advance using various discount codes that one is eligible for? I have tried HW and PL multiple times for cars and have never (ever) found them cheaper than what I can get through other sources. And the other sources are fully refundable and cancellable for no charge. Even after booking, I check HW and PL on occasion and they are still always higher.
Sep 1, 2011, 9:25 am
#17
In memoriam
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 1,697
Of course there is a corollary. Now it's not so blind, because you can identify the rate as from Alamo.
Ex: At City X, Hotwire shows economy cars at $50 plus fees. Click the section for debit cards, local customer. The rate in the red box now goes to $60. The conclusion is the lower rate you saw was through Alamo.
Ex: At City X, Hotwire shows economy cars at $50 plus fees. Click the section for debit cards, local customer. The rate in the red box now goes to $60. The conclusion is the lower rate you saw was through Alamo.
When was either HW or PL cheaper than conventional bookings booked well in advance using various discount codes that one is eligible for? I have tried HW and PL multiple times for cars and have never (ever) found them cheaper than what I can get through other sources. And the other sources are fully refundable and cancellable for no charge. Even after booking, I check HW and PL on occasion and they are still always higher.
Sep 1, 2011, 12:10 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
When was either HW or PL cheaper than conventional bookings booked well in advance using various discount codes that one is eligible for? I have tried HW and PL multiple times for cars and have never (ever) found them cheaper than what I can get through other sources. And the other sources are fully refundable and cancellable for no charge. Even after booking, I check HW and PL on occasion and they are still always higher.
Sep 10, 2011, 8:07 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 971
While I am a proponent of PL (occasionally even for air travel), I have NEVER successfully bid for a car; they almost always seem to be at the same price as the major renters. Carrentals.com usually has a better price (but have to recheck often for changes); Hotwire often beats them in a same-day (of booking) comparison. But I hate to pay in advance when there is a possibility of a car type not being available, or times change due to airline issues (depending on the place, they can be inflexible).