Whats the best Rental Car Company?

[Spinn555]

Avis Preferred is just like Hertz Gold...Except Avis doesn't charge you $50 for the service. The system at Avis works pretty good, and the dozens of times I've used them, I've been pretty happy.

As far as wondering if this is a flighinfo.com worthy section, I'd say let the contributors decide. If they don't like it, they won't write in these threads.

I, for one, like it. It is very related to all forms of aviation. If you are flying somewhere, you're going to need to drive away from the airport somehow.

 

[fieldinsight]

My trick is to book a car at the best price I can find, and then go undercut it on Priceline. I have to rent in DTW on weekends a lot. We have an agreement with Avis, can book direct with them for $19-22/day for a compact on the weekends. Then I go to Priceline, get the same car for $11-12 day. With Priceline you have to pay for the car up front, and there are no refunds, so unless you are sure you'll be able to get there, it might not work for you. I've always gotten cars via Priceline thru Avis and National in DTW. Had Hertz elsewhere. But I've never gotten Priceline car thru what I call the "second tier" companies (Thrifty, Dollar, etc...)

 

[Wankel7]

I love advantage rental car...always been good to me.

 

[abxdx]

Kittyhawk1048, how is shuttle america working out for you.

 

[Andy]

For air carrier airports, I really like Hertz #1 Club Gold. For $50/year, you get on the bus (which is typically big and runs frequently) and are taken to a covered parking spot with a car waiting for you. Get in, drive off, and show your license to the security guard. No forms to fill out, no lines to stand in -saves a HUGE amount of time.

You can get Hertz #1 Club Gold for free. Here's a link describing how to get it free: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=518498
When I joined, I did it through USAirways' free deal - and I don't even have a FF account with USAirways!

I am both Hertz#1 Gold and Avis Preferred Select; recently switched from Avis. Both frequent renter programs are similar as far as hopping on the bus and having the car waiting for you. So far, I think that I prefer Avis because they give you a decent discount once you achieve status. I'll have to see how Hertz does.
My reason for switching is that I switched hotel chains from Starwood group to Marriott; Starwood's hooked in with Avis & Marriott's hooked in with Hertz.

Is this thread worthy of FI? Oh yeah. Pilots travel a lot and should think about how to get the most bang for their buck. I think that Avis or Hertz is the best way to go because of being able to get your car immediately. I am hoping that Hertz throws me a few decent discounts once I've been with them for a while. With Avis, I've rented a car for less than $11/day in Denver on a weekend - easily competitive with any other discount car rental company.

I would also recommend that all pilots look at which hotel chain that they go with. I chose to switch to Marriott because they offer lifetime Platinum status once you've met several criteria. I am currently a Marriott Gold; soon to be Platinum. As a Starwood Platinum, I have been upgraded to suites numerous times.
I think that it's important to try to put most of your business with the same company, because that's when the perks add up. Just like FF miles (Currently United Premiere, will be Premiere Exec at the end of Aug; hoping to be 1K before the end of 2006).

 

[dumbidea]

The best thing to do is pull up the parking brake when going 70+ kts. If you do it all the way to a stop, it makes a funny thumping sound when you start rolling again. Im a bad person.

 

[My name is EARL]

Try carrentals.com for good prices. I have found that the airline (if you are employed by one) discounts are not as good as they used to be. You are better off looking for an internet special. The only exception is if you pickup and drop off at a different location. There our airline has a agreement for no charge for different pickup and drop off. As one post had priceline works well. I have always paid less and it was a Hertz or Avis car. I have also just walked up to a counter and asked for the best price and got a Dodge Magnum for 27.00 per day.
No clear cut answer, it is best to shop around if you have the time.

 

[Narco-leftseat]

I always search through Orbitz.com for my car rentals.....even if you are only a few minutes away from the rental line at the airport !!!
Book it through Orbitz and save $$ every time !!

 

[sleepy]

Hertz Gold (my company pays), it's great.

 

[Alcatraz]

I've rented a bunch of cars in the last year, and I've found each company can vary from city to city. I've also found that the cheapest is NOT necessarily the best idea, but it MIGHT actually be better than the more premium brands.

LAS: Love Enterprise. Thrifty is good. Hate Alamo/National, Fox.
TPA: Thrifty is okay.
MDW: Thrifty and Enterprise are okay.
ORD: Thrifty isn't that good.
MKE: Love Thrifty and Enterprise. Hate Avis.
MCO: Love Thrifty.

Also, FYI, to those less experienced: there is no charge for one way rentals in Florida... could be useful for those misconnecting on a two leg commute.

Airline rates are usually more than internet rates. When booking online, I use Orbitz (especially if booking online via unsecured wireless) or SWA's website (SWA makes money from bookings, and the rates are the same).

This could probably be just a thread, or a sticky or something...

 

[PreContact]

Useful info

No one says you have to read this board. I like it in fact.

You have to be kidding me, "rental cars" deserves it own area on FI? I can understand a thread under general but its own area?

 

[torchred]

Enterprize at ILG terminal is like watching paint dry and always hosing up my bill with charges I didn't agree to i.e. damage waiver. Avis is good there.

 

[Hootie9750]

Perfect thread for me to vent. I HATE HERTZ. Just got done with them out of MCI. I saw every other companies shuttle 5 times before hertz came by. Dirty car with lipstick tubes and half an apple rolling out under the seat.
I waited 15 minutes in the heat to get checked back in at which point I was charged 33 dollars for returning the car 44 minutes late.

Never any problems with Avis or Enterprise.

 

[b757driver]

Can't Beat That!

If your paying for it....the cheapest

Talking about cheapest, I had occasion to rent a vehicle at LAX for 1 day. I found one of the independents, Midway Car Rental which is located at the Raddisson, LAX.
Believe it or not, the actual rental was CHEAPER than the gas refill on return: 1 day rental (with 10% internet discount) = $23; Gas @ $3.32 a gallon refill = $26!!
Very courteous and knowledgable staff and upgraded my vehicle without even asking for it.
Beats all the Hertz and Avis guys who would have cost at least TWICE as much. They even picked me up from my hotel!!!

 

[kingairyahoo]

hertz gold...hands down.

its free as per the above link.

no extra charges for one-way rentals.

no holds on cards.

and every rental is reimbursed by the company