Mar 29, 2017, 6:02 am
Last edit by: FlyinHawaiian
Questions regarding specific locations (eg, "I am Renting From XXX; What Might I Get?") may be moved to specific/dedicated threads for that location. All major airport codes may be searched using FlyerTalk's search engine; otherwise, words in " " quotation marks will bypass the character limit filter.
Overview of Service and List of Existing and Future Airport Locations: https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/produ...ate_choice.jsp
Am I Eligible? Is My Vehicle Eligible?
Q. Who can use Ultimate Choice?
Any member of the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is eligible to use Ultimate Choice. The areas you can select from depend on your status in the program (President's Circle, Five Star, or Gold).
Q. What is the minimum booking class to be eligible to freely select cars from Ultimate Choice?
A. You can book anything other than an Economy (A), Compact (B), or Manager's Special (EXAR) vehicle, and be eligible for Ultimate Choice.
Q. What if I book a lower class such as Economy or Compact or Manager's Special?
A. You will be assigned a car from that class (or higher, as a complimentary upgrade) in a marked space.
Q. What happens if I book a Economy or Compact but pick a higher-class car from Ultimate Choice?
A. You will likely be asked to pay the midsize rental rate by the gate agent.
Q. What if I book a Fullsize car but find a lower class car in Ultimate Choice that I like better?
A. You may chose to take it, but you will pay the originally-booked Fullsize rate.
Q. What if I book a Adrenaline/Electric/Hybrid/Luxury/Prestige car or a Minivan/Truck/SUV?
A. You will be assigned a car from that class in a marked space. You can either accept it or chose a car from Ultimate Choice. Note that reports vary about Electric Vehicle reservations being eligible for Ultimate Choice; this seems to be a location-by-location policy. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hert...e-choice.html?
Q. Can I use Ultimate Choice for one-way rentals?
A. Yes.
Q. Can I use Ultimate Choice for award rentals?
A. Yes, provided the reservation is for a mid-size car or higher.
Overview of Service and List of Existing and Future Airport Locations: https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/produ...ate_choice.jsp
Am I Eligible? Is My Vehicle Eligible?
Q. Who can use Ultimate Choice?
Any member of the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is eligible to use Ultimate Choice. The areas you can select from depend on your status in the program (President's Circle, Five Star, or Gold).
Q. What is the minimum booking class to be eligible to freely select cars from Ultimate Choice?
A. You can book anything other than an Economy (A), Compact (B), or Manager's Special (EXAR) vehicle, and be eligible for Ultimate Choice.
Q. What if I book a lower class such as Economy or Compact or Manager's Special?
A. You will be assigned a car from that class (or higher, as a complimentary upgrade) in a marked space.
Q. What happens if I book a Economy or Compact but pick a higher-class car from Ultimate Choice?
A. You will likely be asked to pay the midsize rental rate by the gate agent.
Q. What if I book a Fullsize car but find a lower class car in Ultimate Choice that I like better?
A. You may chose to take it, but you will pay the originally-booked Fullsize rate.
Q. What if I book a Adrenaline/Electric/Hybrid/Luxury/Prestige car or a Minivan/Truck/SUV?
A. You will be assigned a car from that class in a marked space. You can either accept it or chose a car from Ultimate Choice. Note that reports vary about Electric Vehicle reservations being eligible for Ultimate Choice; this seems to be a location-by-location policy. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hert...e-choice.html?
Q. Can I use Ultimate Choice for one-way rentals?
A. Yes.
Q. Can I use Ultimate Choice for award rentals?
A. Yes, provided the reservation is for a mid-size car or higher.
Questions/Discussion About Hertz Ultimate Choice Service
Oct 6, 2016 | 1:04 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold, CM Presidential / *A Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 1,754
Oct 6, 2016 | 1:24 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 3,579
Oct 21, 2016 | 3:18 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 148
Pro tip... even at non-Ultimate locations, you can usually just grab any car you want as long as you're not upgrading at locations where a hertz employee scans you out at the gate. The assignment means nothing. They'll align the car with your reservation when they scan you out.
Oct 22, 2016 | 12:38 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA, BA, Accor, Honors Diamond, IHG Diamond Elite and lots more....
Posts: 3,310
Pro tip... even at non-Ultimate locations, you can usually just grab any car you want as long as you're not upgrading at locations where a hertz employee scans you out at the gate. The assignment means nothing. They'll align the car with your reservation when they scan you out.
Not really sure how it might work at other locations as the keys would not be in the vehicle and without hertz knowing which vehicle you take would cause big issues.
Or am I missing something obvious here?
Oct 26, 2016 | 7:36 am
#21
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 188
Some of us are bound by company policy to book only intermediate class cars... National thus far has provided be the BEST car selection at major airports and I usually grab a full-size or SUV, depending on how I am feeling. I am never stuck in anything smaller. Once I had an Audi Q7...
Nov 3, 2016 | 3:50 pm
#23
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,688
I've already answered the "cost" of this service upthread; please review it.
Nov 3, 2016 | 4:19 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA, BA, Accor, Honors Diamond, IHG Diamond Elite and lots more....
Posts: 3,310
Nov 6, 2016 | 12:31 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S+, Choice Platinum
Posts: 23,314
Nov 14, 2016 | 12:36 am
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA, BA, Accor, Honors Diamond, IHG Diamond Elite and lots more....
Posts: 3,310
Great feedback, thanks.
So having booked a luxury Chrysler 300, I assume that there is no supplement for anything in the luxury area?
Sounds like I could have paid for a premium and got the same car!
I do not really want an infinity as these are not as good as the Chrysler in comfort / features having had to drive one in the summer so will not be happy if my booked class is not available. I think I had a Q56 or something like that. You can tell I am not an expert on cars lol.
I am due to collect around 9am on a Tuesday before Christmas, so fingers crossed!
So having booked a luxury Chrysler 300, I assume that there is no supplement for anything in the luxury area?
Sounds like I could have paid for a premium and got the same car!
I do not really want an infinity as these are not as good as the Chrysler in comfort / features having had to drive one in the summer so will not be happy if my booked class is not available. I think I had a Q56 or something like that. You can tell I am not an expert on cars lol.
I am due to collect around 9am on a Tuesday before Christmas, so fingers crossed!
Nov 21, 2016 | 3:51 pm
#29
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,990
Ultimate Choice Requires "Mid-Size" Car That Doesn't Exist?
Several posts in this thread reference the requirement to have a mid-size vehicle reserved to take advantage of the Ultimate Choice President's Circle benefit. I don't see that a mid-size vehicle class exists. There is Intermediate, Standard and Full-Size but no mid-size and that's even in the sticky in the Hertz forum. So I have an Intermediate reserved, does that count as mid-sized? I'm flying into FLL and while on business trips I really don't care about the car I get (which is good since Hertz cars have degraded for me over the past several years), but this is a long personal trip with drives between the Keys and I'd like the nicest car I can get. Should I change my reservation to full-size now?