SIXT - Upgrades
#856
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA PP, DL PLT, Bonvoy LT Titanium, HH LT Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 13,367
Had a terrible experience with the Houston IAH/Airport location last week.
Status: Platinum
Location: Houston IAH Airport
Reserved: BMW 4 Series Coupe
Received: BMW 3 Series Sedan
Was informed no coupes were available, only vehicle presented besides the 3 Series sedan was a cheap upgrade to a Chrysler Pacifica (no thanks) or a $100/day upgrade all the way to an X6.
A couple days after dropoff, got hit with a damage claim for a wheel that was damaged before I received the vehicle. I've submitted all the pictures I took of the vehicle showing the damage at the time I picked it up, but it makes one wonder why they have the digital drive through scanner here if they won't reference it to prove the damage wasn't mine. Awaiting a response from their end hopefully soon.
Status: Platinum
Location: Houston IAH Airport
Reserved: BMW 4 Series Coupe
Received: BMW 3 Series Sedan
Was informed no coupes were available, only vehicle presented besides the 3 Series sedan was a cheap upgrade to a Chrysler Pacifica (no thanks) or a $100/day upgrade all the way to an X6.
A couple days after dropoff, got hit with a damage claim for a wheel that was damaged before I received the vehicle. I've submitted all the pictures I took of the vehicle showing the damage at the time I picked it up, but it makes one wonder why they have the digital drive through scanner here if they won't reference it to prove the damage wasn't mine. Awaiting a response from their end hopefully soon.
#858



Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: YQR
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Sixt Platinum, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 35
It also doesn't excuse a fraudulent damage claim that I'm waiting on their response on still, I can only think/hope this is a one-off isolated case on this rental specifically.
#859
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,274
Unfortunately, it is SIXT's business model. I rented with them a couple weeks ago at SFO, recognizing it is a total roll of the dice whether they would try to assess a bogus damage claim. They do have really nice vehicles. I reserved a BMW 2 series (at a great price); they didn't have any, so I was given a brand new X3 30i with M Sport package. It was hideously ugly but a really nice driver.
#860


Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 41
Status: Platinum (Matched from Hertz)
Location: GVA
Reserved: BMW X5
Received: BMW X7
Good experience at Geneva airport. Booked an X5 because we needed an AWD SUV with snow tires. Kindly upgraded to an X7 (rather large for French roads, but well equipped and appreciated). Cross border fee was ~28 CHF in addition to base rental price (standard practice for most rentals at GVA).
Location: GVA
Reserved: BMW X5
Received: BMW X7
Good experience at Geneva airport. Booked an X5 because we needed an AWD SUV with snow tires. Kindly upgraded to an X7 (rather large for French roads, but well equipped and appreciated). Cross border fee was ~28 CHF in addition to base rental price (standard practice for most rentals at GVA).
#862
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,274
#864
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA PP, DL PLT, Bonvoy LT Titanium, HH LT Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 13,367
#865
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,274
SFO
Booked: X3
Received: Choice (in App) between a 530i and an E350. I took the BMW. Nice car, hate the new touchscreen controls though.
There was a major snafu on return. The greeter called me by the wrong name, then said "I see you're returning 6 days early." Turns out Sixt had my vehicle checked out to someone else. I immediately started imagining all the different ways I could get screwed by Sixt here, from damage caused by someone else, to extra day charges, to who knows what else. Sixt on-site staff was not particularly helpful or sympathetic, seemed to feel it was my problem not theirs. There were several other customers in the booth complaining about system issues at the same time as me - one had received a "you damaged our vehicle" email while they were still in the rental!
I gave a terrible review in my post-rental survey. Sixt actually followed up with an apology and refunded 75% of the rental charge.
Booked: X3
Received: Choice (in App) between a 530i and an E350. I took the BMW. Nice car, hate the new touchscreen controls though.
There was a major snafu on return. The greeter called me by the wrong name, then said "I see you're returning 6 days early." Turns out Sixt had my vehicle checked out to someone else. I immediately started imagining all the different ways I could get screwed by Sixt here, from damage caused by someone else, to extra day charges, to who knows what else. Sixt on-site staff was not particularly helpful or sympathetic, seemed to feel it was my problem not theirs. There were several other customers in the booth complaining about system issues at the same time as me - one had received a "you damaged our vehicle" email while they were still in the rental!
I gave a terrible review in my post-rental survey. Sixt actually followed up with an apology and refunded 75% of the rental charge.
#866




Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Alhambra, CA
Programs: Hertz PC, National EE, SIXT Platinum
Posts: 22
Status: Platinum (Matched from National)
Location: LAX
Reserved: BMW X7
Received: BMW X7 with NY plates
The app never gave me a choice prior to my arrival. Maybe it was because I reserved an X7. For a vehicle that came from NY, it was mostly in very good condition and with surprisingly lower mileage at a little under 11k. What was very surprising was that it came equipped with DAPP and Climate Comfort Packages on top of the Premium Package. I now have the chance to try out BMW's autonomous driving function and then compare it to GM's Supercruise that my mom has in her Cadillac Vistiq. The ventilated seats are a huge plus given how hot it has been in LA. Given that SIXT's BMW fleet can have varying features in each individual vehicles, I will consider this X7 an upgrade in my books.
Location: LAX
Reserved: BMW X7
Received: BMW X7 with NY plates
The app never gave me a choice prior to my arrival. Maybe it was because I reserved an X7. For a vehicle that came from NY, it was mostly in very good condition and with surprisingly lower mileage at a little under 11k. What was very surprising was that it came equipped with DAPP and Climate Comfort Packages on top of the Premium Package. I now have the chance to try out BMW's autonomous driving function and then compare it to GM's Supercruise that my mom has in her Cadillac Vistiq. The ventilated seats are a huge plus given how hot it has been in LA. Given that SIXT's BMW fleet can have varying features in each individual vehicles, I will consider this X7 an upgrade in my books.
#867


Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,380
Wow. Sixt one-way prices tend to be highest among the competition, so to see someone did that across the country is unique. Plates from the opposite coasts are in contrast quite common among Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz families of companies.
#868




Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Alhambra, CA
Programs: Hertz PC, National EE, SIXT Platinum
Posts: 22
Not only Sixt have high one-way prices, but they also implement mileage limits on the X7. It would be one heck of a bill to pay for that rental across the country with all the additional mileage charge. I did ask one of the lot staff about how an X7 from NY made its way to LAX and she said that Sixt transports cars across the country all the time. It's kind of hard to imagine Sixt at JFK or LGA willing to give up a lower mileage X7. Maybe they don't rent too well over there?
#869
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,274
#870


Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,380
It's probably viewed the same as one-ways. Sixt won't buy thousands of new cars in CA while thousands sit under-used elsewhere. And that car may eventually wind up in still another region eventually.
The key difference is that, for some reason, Sixt seems to prefer to pay to reallocate cars itself, rather than lowering one-way rates, to incentivize customers to do it. There are some cases where Sixt one-ways are competitive, especially when they open a new station, but rarely.
The key difference is that, for some reason, Sixt seems to prefer to pay to reallocate cars itself, rather than lowering one-way rates, to incentivize customers to do it. There are some cases where Sixt one-ways are competitive, especially when they open a new station, but rarely.


