Carotthat

Still nothing on the market.
Hertz still the same price, Thrifty nothing at all.
AutoSlash w/ priceline a mere 961$ for lowest category.

I am desperate

AutoSlash

The best strategy is to book a pay-later reservation for the best deal you can find and track it with us. This way, you’ll be notified if/when the situation changes (which it likely will at some point).

m907

Why are you desperate 9 months out?

Carotthat

Because in my experience car rental prices tend to go up in the meantime.

Carotthat

Does anybody have the eMail from Hertz or Thrifty in ANC?

philemer

I use PL (priceline) and rates normally drop as you get closer to your travel date. That's my experience. On our last trip to Maui, in Nov., I grabbed a car the night before we left.

EDIT: I just checked for a one way rental from Fairbanks>Seward and it's not even bookable on PL. Good luck in your searching.

Carotthat

AutoSlash uses PC also, there it is possible to rent for about 1k$.
I tried also Alaskatravel.com, they provide SUVs and OW-rentals. A small SUV is about 1,5k$ for 4 days - they work together with thrifty and overcharge every single item

Carotthat

Called Hertz: They are quite astonished, as not even they can quote any car on any date in 2023 in Anchorage. Except this suspicious manager's special without any further information.
There's not even an eMail available for any of the two ANC stations.
They assume, the franchise is down.
But they gave me the phone number: +1-907-2434118 - did not yet call.

Carotthat

I still have this ominous PL booking with manager's special in the hidden closet - is there a possibility, the hertz franchise would deny it upon picking up the car and declaring it as not valid?
(Maybe this hertz franchise only has SUVs, so I could be happy)

Found also https://ineedacarrental.com/ - a little bit pricey, but very open in declaring all fees and looks like reliable. 4 days would be about 1,4k$

AutoSlash

The owner of the Hertz franchise in ANC is quite reputable so they will honor a confirmed reservation. Don't expect an SUV though.

Carotthat

He is as reputable as blocking all ways of renting any car during high season through any channel

AutoSlash

So it would be more reputable to take reservations for vehicles you don't have???

Carotthat

If you compare possible bookable cars during low season and high season, it ranges from 11 car sizes in low season to 1 car size in high season.
I don't assume, this reflects _not_ tackle and bait strategy.

AutoSlash

It reflects the fact that during high season vehicle availability is extremely limited so they are not willing to guarantee a specific vehicle type. This is a business decision on the part of the franchisee. If you need a specific vehicle type, then there are lots of other companies you can rent from that will let you choose.

We don't know what "tackle and bait" is but if you mean "bait and switch", it's the exact opposite of that. Bait and switch would be taking a reservation for one type of vehicle (the "bait" part) and then giving you something else (the "switch" part).

By not guaranteeing any specific vehicle type they are being as transparent as possible. You get what you get. If that doesn't work for you, then rent from someone else. Nobody is forcing anybody to rent from them.

Carotthat

As you told me several months ago - and I was happy about that - there are only Hertz and Thrifty in the ANC and Seward area. So, not much options here.
Tackle and bait should refer to: you have no other option as to pick an option which is blinded for the customer.
They can give the customers any car they want. This is neither transparent nor customer friendly.
Thrifty eg rents their cars (with the one way option) through travel agencies for sky high prices.

But, btt: No need for us to crush our heads together.
AutoSlash until now does not have a better price for me, unfortunately.
I'd be happy with the PL quote, but am truly afraid we'd end up with a 2door economy (and 2 kids and 4 bags). Not sure, whether they honor the Hertz PC status either...