“A Car Rental Apocalypse”
Mar 26, 2021, 5:39 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 1,174
My home base is LAS
Apr 2, 2021, 4:26 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,210
Similar question to one that was asked during the 2008 recession, but perhaps by now a different answer. What happens when cars are available to reserve, but retail rates are very high, and someone books with a flat rate corporate code? Is this person likely to be de-prioritized if the location turns out to be running short at pick up, and/or have to wait longer for a cheaper car while the prized inventory is given out to the customers with the highest rates?
Apr 3, 2021, 4:48 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,704
Similar question to one that was asked during the 2008 recession, but perhaps by now a different answer. What happens when cars are available to reserve, but retail rates are very high, and someone books with a flat rate corporate code? Is this person likely to be de-prioritized if the location turns out to be running short at pick up, and/or have to wait longer for a cheaper car while the prized inventory is given out to the customers with the highest rates?
Apr 3, 2021, 11:47 am
#19
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,032
Curious how posting the # of days for a rental and cheapest option is considered "posting the rental habits"?
Apr 4, 2021, 11:54 am
#20
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I've noticed it in recent weeks. I've traveled to some smaller markets (TUL, PNS, CLE) for weekend trips in the last month and on each trip found myself paying $65-75 a day for a car. As recently as last year weekend trips to smaller markets meant $40 rentals. Also at both PNS and TUL there were people walking to each counter asking for vehicles only to be told by each company they were sold out.
Apr 4, 2021, 4:59 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 1,174
Apr 12, 2021, 6:48 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: LAX, TIJ
Programs: UA, AS, Volaris, VivaAerobús
Posts: 204
Looks like this is true, I couldn't get my Enterprise rental swapped out for a minor issue. The Enterprise rep told me that they were 20% below what his San Jose, CA area location normally had and even admitted that he would be hard pressed to find a replacement for issues which affected the driveability of the rental. He pretty much told me that I would have to keep it.
Apr 12, 2021, 7:41 pm
#24
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: St Petersburg, FL, USA
Posts: 2,253
I am getting calls from friends and family headed to Tampa Bay and having trouble finding transportation. It's getting really bad - PIE and St Pete neighborhood locations are completely out of cars for the foreseeable future (Hertz is no longer at the airport), TPA is running $100+ a day for compacts, and Uber/Lyft are nowhere to be seen. I have yet to see a single car available over many rideshare searches this week.
Apr 14, 2021, 10:43 am
#25
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Last Thursday I went to make a reservation for this Tuesday to Friday here locally in Durham, NC
- Enterprise Durham Locations (2): Both sold out
- Hertz Local Edition Durham: Sold out
- Enterprise RDU: Sold out
- Hertz RDU: Sold out
Eventually I got a car for about $90 a day at National RDU. When I showed up to pick it up yesterday the entire Emerald and Executive Aisles were empty. I had to wait 5 minutes to get a car. The agent on duty gave me the usual COVID platitudes. I can tell you I never had trouble getting an Enterprise car locally before.
- Enterprise Durham Locations (2): Both sold out
- Hertz Local Edition Durham: Sold out
- Enterprise RDU: Sold out
- Hertz RDU: Sold out
Eventually I got a car for about $90 a day at National RDU. When I showed up to pick it up yesterday the entire Emerald and Executive Aisles were empty. I had to wait 5 minutes to get a car. The agent on duty gave me the usual COVID platitudes. I can tell you I never had trouble getting an Enterprise car locally before.
Apr 14, 2021, 5:02 pm
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 1,174
Few weeks ago after first doing the "Autoslash thingy", I went to the Alamo website and of course found crazy prices for a 4 day rental in "lovely" Des Moines, Iowa, prices equivalent to AutoSlash. I did notice, however, they had a Ford F150 that was (relatively) way, way cheaper than their passenger cars (which of course is what I wanted). But the price difference was sooooo much cheaper, and after a $50 coupon I had, I went for it, for a total of $217.00, a true bargain compared to my other choices. Just checked the Alamo site this evening, and I see all choices for a 4 day rental are now around $500, even the F150 is now $534.00 for 4 days (see below)!!! C R A Z Y...
Apr 15, 2021, 6:51 am
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 1,174
"Wait, Where Did All the Rental Cars Go? "
Wall Street Journal article, April 14, 2021
Apr 17, 2021, 1:36 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 200
I will be in Honolulu and Maui in 2 weeks. Saw the news about supply drying up and demand spiking. I was looking at $1,200 for 5 days in Honolulu and $1,000 for 3 days in Maui. Thankfully my company's corporate rate allowed me to snag $220 for the days in Honolulu and $176 for the days in Maui.
Still worried about getting there and no cars being available so will keep reservations with two rental car companies for now...
Still worried about getting there and no cars being available so will keep reservations with two rental car companies for now...