MojaveFlyer

I can only guess that this is why I got an email from Hertz yesterday saying that I'd qualified for five star. I was confused as I had not met the rental minimum. Maybe they just got on this real fast?

To answer a few questions:

No you don't need the UA CDP to get the elite status bonus miles.

Yes at least in early September I paid the FF surcharge fee to get the miles. $10.50 for 1750 miles.

No you choose between Hertz points and miles.

Now I've always taken miles, but on a recent rental in which the miles didn't credit, Hertz issued a credit, but I no longer could chose miles, only points. But this gets me thinking. Points are free. I can convert 600 points to 500 miles (I do not know if there is a charge for this). I'm wondering if points are a better deal. (I have not been able to find out how many points gets free rental days).

mahasamatman

Do you really have to denegrate anyone who doesn't agree with you? IME, National is usually 50% more expensive, has no local office, and has benefits that are totally irrelevant to me. I always want the car I reserve, so the "choose your own battleship" option is of no use to me. I have a really good relationship with the local Hertz office (who no longer "upgrade" me against my wishes), and that's something National simply cannot match.

You may consider that an upgrade - I consider it a massive downgrade and insist on the car I reserved.

JBord

Absolutely correct. If I booked National, I'd risk not being reimbursed. Our corporate contract is with Avis/Budget, and we're allowed to use Hertz as a backup.

Kacee

IME Hertz is usually the most expensive of all the major rental companies.

Now this is just sheer silliness. With National, you can pick whichever car you like. So feel free to grab the midsize, I'll grab the fullsize or better

Do you turn down hotel upgrades as well? "Keep your oceanview suite, I insist on the twin courtyard view."

mgcsinc

I didn't denigrate a single person. I simply said it was remarkable. In any case, up until your post, I don't think a single person has come out and disagreed with me outright. So I don't know who all these people I'm supposedly "denigrating" are.

The rest of your post simply demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of how the emerald aisle works. You're perception of how it works is exactly backward, and the fact that it works the opposite of the way you seem to think it does is exactly why it's so good.

JBord

I agree. I have been given some ridiculously large vehicles as "upgrades"' such as a Ford 150 or something like that, which I promptly refuse. I have no need to be driving a monster vehicle around by myself in a city I'm probably not that familiar with.

sbm12

The status benefit does not take effect until 1 Jan 2015.

TennisNoob

Im worried too. I wished they only made it for club card holders because then we PP holders have nothing exclusive.

CC already get 1.5X miles, while we get 1 mile per dollar

The FPQM was supposed to be exclusive

mgcsinc

Except that the bogeyman of having an unwanted upgrade thrust upon you is based on a misunderstand of how National works. The entire point is to not end up in a car you don't want. The whole idea of that being something to fear is foreign to me as a National renter.

CalItalian

This is not true. Hertz LAX is my home airport location. I've been renting there for over 25 years (since they were across the street on Airport Blvd.). I will be PC next month. I have only seen long lines at the gold counter three times, twice this year and once two years ago (It was a busy summer at all rental agencies at LAX this year with record tourism). Customer service in the Gold office has always been great. This year alone they upgraded me to a brand new, 5 miles, Maxima from a full size, a new fully loaded Chevy Impala with leather from a midsize (C), and a fully loaded Explorer from a Chevy Captiva when the keys could not be found in the vehicle.

For the most part, Hertz everywhere in the USA has gone downhill, though. BADLY. I've never seen cars with 40K, 50K, 60K or more miles as I have over the last year or two (including LAX) with LOTS of damage on them. And getting assigned to them as a 5* member!

Rates have gone way up over the last few weeks at Hertz. Now, I am finding them most times to be double or more than Avis or National. I suggest everyone compare.

I did have an incident about a week ago at Hertz LAX where a return agent accused me of damaging their car. I ALWAYS take extensive pictures of their rent-a-wreck cars these days. I showed it to her. She didn't care nor did her manager. She still wrote me up for an accident report that I refused to sign. I was livid and still am. Two words "what's this" as she pointed to damage (SO unprofessional) that was already on their car completely turned me off from Hertz in seconds. I will use my PC status and shop it around to National and Avis for a status match. After I use up my extensive points with Hertz (and a some low priced rentals I have reserved over the next year), I'm gone. Two words ruined a lifelong relationship with that company. They also deleted my post on the Hertz Facebook page without a word of response. Incredible.

My best advice is STAY AWAY FROM HERTZ. You won't be happy. This company has a lot of problems right now that are going to take YEARS to fix. As one agent at LAX told me recently, "I think we've lost our mojo". They sure have.

I ALWAYS rent at LAX on weekdays in the morning after sunrise but before noon (including Mondays). I always check the lines and the Gold Choice at return out of curiosity, too. I have NEVER waited more than 4 cars deep with all 5 lanes open except once when the computers were down and we didn't get contracts at the Exit gate.

Over the summer, the cars in Gold Choice were mostly F or lower. Lately, I've been seeing a few minivans and pick-up trucks. Certainly nothing higher than an F otherwise, though. Last winter, they had convertibles in Gold Choice (and available for no upgrade charge through the Carfirmation).

What really bugs me is Carfirmation. I get offered cars to change to for no upgrade charge but lately I've been renting SUV's and nothing in my class or higher is being offered AT ALL...only cars which if I wanted them, I'd reserve them. I don't want to see them for a Carfirmation change.

Until recently, Hertz busses would come along as often as other car rental firms at LAX. But recently, Hertz busses have been few and far between (and packed both going to the airport and picking up at the terminals) at LAX.

The high mileage, cleanliness (I find it hard to believe that they put cards in Hertz cars saying it was cleaned by whomever and it's still filthy) and the damage to the cars I've never seen before the last couple of years. Hertz has really gone downhill. Hertz needs a complete management overhaul.

oldgoldflyer

I have always taken the Hertz points, they are very valuable in lieu of high priced rentals. However, the increased mileage bonuses appear to be compelling. How much will the frequent flyer surcharge be on each rental if you select the miles?

dmurphynj

I'm completely thrilled with Avis. I book full size rentals and always get something VERY nice.

The least-impressive car I've had this year has been a Lincoln MKZ. I've had BMW 5-Series, Camaro SS, numerous Lincolns and Cadillacs ...

Very well treated indeed. No complaints here. Zero reason for me to look at Hertz PC.

sannmann

It's currently $.75/day.

UAzip

I will miss the Avis benefit from the Pres Plus card if it goes away, which it seems to be according to this link.

I use Avis a lot at a local location and always get a nice upgrade; hopefully the local office continues to like me and maybe will treat me to an upgrade anyway.

I use National for airport rentals and have done fine even with base-level Emerald Club level; I've arrived at BOS on a busy day and still been greeted by the station manager and invited to take any car from the regular Aisle or the Executive area because while they were busy, they had enough good cars for all the Emerald Club members with some to spare.

Hertz has closed the local edition office nearest me, then the next nearest one, then the one after that, leaving only a local edition location that's not local anymore or the airport for non-air-travel-related rentals--I had been very frequent with Hertz until then. Airport experience has been bad as well; everyone that was not Gold, never mind Five Star, got off the bus at CLT and was on their way while we waited and waited because the car wasn't in the stall with my name in lights like it was supposed to be. Similar problems in BOS. Even with a Hertz benefit, I'll stick with Avis and National, I think.

blug

Good deal, although I do hope it's any other rental car company, as Hertz is almost always my last choice. :-: