Consolidated "Renting at ITO (Hilo, HI); What Kind of Cars to Expect?" Thread
Mar 15, 2019 | 9:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ Black, QF Gold, Marriott Titanium, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,918
Consolidated "Renting at ITO (Hilo, HI); What Kind of Cars to Expect?" Thread
I’ve got a full size booked at Hilo Airport (am a PC member). Does if you still have to visit the desk here and what sort of upgrades they generally do?
Mar 15, 2019 | 11:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: HA, UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,799
In all my years of interisland flying, I have always had to visit the desk. They should have a separate line for elite members.
Mar 23, 2019 | 12:07 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ Black, QF Gold, Marriott Titanium, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,918
Rented a CCAR (Ford Focus) at ITO for 4 days from today and just received Carfirmation for a Chevrolet Impala PCAR. My first time renting as PC in the USA so I’m pretty happy - especially as I saved USD$45 not renting a FCAR which is what I originally chose.
Sep 23, 2021 | 10:48 am
#4
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: 18,692
+1 and I popped over to Hilo for a day trip to hit the Wednesday farmers market and other errands. I rented a C Class and was given an F 2020 Chevy Malibu LT with 26,000 miles on the odometer. Basically, it was the same car that I've been driving in HNL for the past two weeks. In the lot, I saw another Malibu, a few Kia Optimas, two Ford Edges, and a Chevy Suburban.
ITO is such an easy location; the rental counters are across the street from the terminal and there is a dedicated line for Gold members (not that it matters; I was the only one renting). At return, you just park the car in the same lot as pickup, note the mileage and fuel, and give the details and keys back to the desk.
ITO is such an easy location; the rental counters are across the street from the terminal and there is a dedicated line for Gold members (not that it matters; I was the only one renting). At return, you just park the car in the same lot as pickup, note the mileage and fuel, and give the details and keys back to the desk.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Sep 23, 2021 at 10:10 pm
Jan 8, 2023 | 2:33 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 128
Rented from here recently. Reserved class B and was given a pretty new 2022 Nissan Sentra. Did not push for an upgrade as gas is expensive and we did end up getting 35mpg on average. However, the CVT in the car is terrible and the engine is very underpowered. Could not accelerate up to the speed limit on the Hawaii Belt road going uphill. Transmission started overheating as we drove up to the Mauna Kea visitor center.
May 30, 2024 | 12:12 am
#6
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: 18,692
We did a day trip to Hilo today.
Status: PC
Reserved: C
Received: Q4 2024 Mazda CX-30 AWD S (base trim) with 1,280 miles on the odometer.
Decent car for the two of us with no luggage; fun to drive and 30 mpg on an island where gas is $4.80 a gallon for regular. However, the base trim only has 2 USB-C ports and no 12V port (which I use for my GPS). There's no touchscreen either and I found the entertainment system impossible to easily navigate.
As an FYI, my backup reservation at Avis for the same class car and equivalant status resulted in a Chrysler 300, which I had no interest in driving.
Status: PC
Reserved: C
Received: Q4 2024 Mazda CX-30 AWD S (base trim) with 1,280 miles on the odometer.
Decent car for the two of us with no luggage; fun to drive and 30 mpg on an island where gas is $4.80 a gallon for regular. However, the base trim only has 2 USB-C ports and no 12V port (which I use for my GPS). There's no touchscreen either and I found the entertainment system impossible to easily navigate.
As an FYI, my backup reservation at Avis for the same class car and equivalant status resulted in a Chrysler 300, which I had no interest in driving.