How do Hertz treat you as an Elite?

[JMFK]

Inspired by one of my favourite threads 'How do Hilton treat you as an Elite?', I thought it might be useful to explore what Hertz does for it's Gold Members, as in my experience it can vary wildly!

Suggested Format:

Status: (None/Five Star/Presidents Circle)
Date:
Location:
Car Booked:
Rate:
Car Received:

Notes: Anything other members might find useful, vehicle condition, performance, luggage space, fuel economy etc.

 

[markis10]

Good idea, as a Presidents Circle since 2008 I can confirm it varies greatly.

Status: PC
Date: 26/8
Location: Brisbane Downtown
Car Booked: Small SUV - Group I
Rate: 500 points 5 star award
Car Received: Near New RAV 4 - Group V

 

[JMFK]

I'll start things off with a couple of my most recent rentals.

Status: Presidents Circle
Date: June 23
Location: SYD Airport
Car Booked: XZAR - Hertz Mystery Vehicle
Rate: $80.82 incl Tolls
Car Received: Nissan X-Trail

Notes: Fairly underpowered, old shape, bout 30K on the clock.

Status: Presidents Circle
Date: July 21-23
Location: SYD Airport
Car Booked: CCAR - Toyota Corolla Hatch
Rate: $113.67 all fees but no tolls.
Car Received: Suzuki Grand Vitara

Notes: Totally gutless, rear seats don't fold flat, which is annoying for us as we travel with a lot of gear.

 

[jastel]

Status: #1 club Gold
Date: mid June
Location: BNE city
Car Booked: none walked in, only car they had...they said...
Rate: $300 for 2 days, full coverage
Car Received: BMW 118i nice car, but too fiddly for radio etc with joystick thingo
I was at Ipswich before I got any music, auto stop/start didn't like it and turned it off.

 

[Caversham04]

Status: President's Circle
Date: 10-20 June
Location: London Heathrow
Car Booked: Ford Focus (or similar!)
Rate: AU$247 for the full rental
Car Received: Fiat 500 diesel :evil:

Very dis-organised - claimed that the Fiat 500 was the only car available in its class, despite having a parking-lot full of cars. Arranged to go back the next day to swap it for something else. On arrival the following morning, they still claimed to have nothing available in that class - eventually had to insist on being given the petrol Ford Focus I'd originally booked.......

 

[JMFK]

Status: President's Circle
Date: 10-20 June
Location: London Heathrow
Car Booked: Ford Focus (or similar!)
Rate: AU$247 for the full rental
Car Received: Fiat 500 diesel :evil:

Very dis-organised - claimed that the Fiat 500 was the only car available in its class, despite having a parking-lot full of cars. Arranged to go back the next day to swap it for something else. On arrival the following morning, they still claimed to have nothing available in that class - eventually had to insist on being given the petrol Ford Focus I'd originally booked.......

I don't think I would of minded a little Fiat for London. Only if I didn't need something bigger of course....and it was the same cost! Doesn't sound like a one class upgrade though? Focus to Fiat?

 

[Caversham04]

I don't think I would of minded a little Fiat for London. Only if I didn't need something bigger of course....and it was the same cost! Doesn't sound like a one class upgrade though? Focus to Fiat?

I was surprised when I walked out to the bay (and not in a good way)..... I had to drive to Hereford and Bristol and back, hence switching back to the Focus. I checked, and they insisted the Fiat 500 was an upgrade!!

 

[JMFK]

I was surprised when I walked out to the bay (and not in a good way)..... I had to drive to Hereford and Bristol and back, hence switching back to the Focus. I checked, and they insisted the Fiat 500 was an upgrade!!

I assume it wasn't the Abarth version then

 

[Caversham04]

I assume it wasn't the Abarth version then

Er, no...... and they said that the Aston in the bay outside the office would be more than a one-class upgrade

 

[boomy]

Where should I start? Let's do last 7 days:
Status: PC
Location: PER airport
Booked: Mystery car
Received: Toyota Aurion SV6
One of my favourite non-prestige cars.
Status: PC
Location: BNE downtown
Booked: Economy SUV
Received: Nissan Dualis
Looks like I didn't get a proper upgrade with this one. Was too much in a hurry to check what else I can get but next time I will ask for something better.
Status: PC
Location: ADL airport
Booked: Toyota Camry
Received: Holden Commodore SV6
I'm not a Holden fan but this model is ok.
Status: PC
Location: SYD airport
Booked: Mystery car
Received: Toyota RAV 4
Could be better but could be worse. Can't really complain when booking mystery car.
All the cars above were relatively new, full of petrol and in perfect condition. They also came with rear-view camera. The SV6 and Dualis also had built-in sat nav, not that I used it.

 

[JMFK]

I think the new SV6 is a great car - and I'm not a holden fan either. I was very impressed with my upgrade to a SV6 wagon from a Hyundai at PER Airport a few months back.

 

[smithnicholas320]

Great idea !! I thin everyone have to follow this format!!

 

[N860CR]

Status: Presidents Circle
Date: Jun 14
Location: New Orleans MSY Airport
Car Booked: Corolla
Rate: $200/3 days inclusive of all insurances (prepaid)
Car Received: Hyundai Sonata (i45)

Bit "meh" getting a Hyundai in the states as I like my yank cars. It was fuel efficient though.

Name wasn't on the board on arrival however it only took 30 seconds to be directed to a parking bay

 

[AdMEL]

Status: 5 star
Date: 2/8 (today)
Location: Melbourne Downtown
Booked: Group D (Camry) with Virgin upgrade offer to group P (Commodore SV6)
Rate: $92 for two days
Received: offered Camry (refused) then took a dirty Passat Diesel (requested SV6, but told they had none) and then swapped for Commodore SV6 at MEL airport.

Booked for 8.30 am. Arrived about 9.30 - Absolute shambles! Paperwork and car not ready. Employees and cars everywhere (mainly Camrys and BMW's), but only one manning the gold desk, who was swamped. Second person came to help and served me - he noted paperwork not ready and when advised car was booked for 8.30, after asking when I booked it (several days ago), he apologised and said he would give me an upgrade and then came back with paperwork for a Camry! Refused and after several minutes of discussion with the other employee, firmly requested the dirty Passat ( was initially told it wasn't in the group I booked, despite PC code for upgrade being in booking and being offered upgrade for inconvenience). Printed agreement for Passat at 4 times the price (lucky I checked just as I was about to drive away) and after adjusting and finding out they had SV6's parked out the front (someone else was swapping BMW for one!) car had been blocked in with another! Finally got on my way after about 40 min. Terrible service! Won't be going back unless I have no other choice! To top it off tyre pressure sensor malfunctioned causing light on dash, then high pitched buzzing that could not be switched off while I was driving on the freeway! Checked air pressure at service station - ok - and reset sensor, but light remained on, so swapped it at the airport tonight for an SV6 with 30,000 and lots of rattles!

 

[dovey35]

Status: Presidents Circle

Date: August 23rd

Location: Brisbane Dom

Car Booked: Full Size- Camry

Rate: $309/3 days

Car Received: Toyota Camry

Booked full size expecting upgrade to premium as per usual.

Check in gave me keys to Camry, and advised car park number. Check in was rude.

Car park was right down the back, car was not cleaned well. Drive car out and questioned why no upgrade, was advised that upgrades do not apply from full size upwards anymore and had been apparently sent an email!

Did I miss this email??

Brisbane Domestic office is rubbish, no premium pick up, understand they have security issues but this was months ago! They do not seem to look after there elite status well. Maybe time for a change...

 

[boomy]

Got lucky with upgrades this week.
Booked 3 mystery cars (standard, not prestige) in PER, BNE, SYD and got twice BMWs, 316i and X3.

 

[jsoprano]

Status: President's Circle
Date: Dec 2014
Location: Ayers Rock Airport
Booked: Compact (Corolla or similar)
Received: Toyota FJ Cruiser 4WD

Comments: They were short on small cars and had plenty of 4WDs it seemed, so were generous with upgrades. Was glad I got it, not many better places to try this car than in the Outback. Downside was the fuel consumption: 16 ltrs/100km. With Unleaded 91 at $2.07, the fuel for our 2 day rental was almost as much as the rental itself.

 

[JMFK]

Status: President's Circle
Date: Dec 2014
Location: Ayers Rock Airport
Booked: Compact (Corolla or similar)
Received: Toyota FJ Cruiser 4WD

Comments: They were short on small cars and had plenty of 4WDs it seemed, so were generous with upgrades. Was glad I got it, not many better places to try this car than in the Outback. Downside was the fuel consumption: 16 ltrs/100km. With Unleaded 91 at $2.07, the fuel for our 2 day rental was almost as much as the rental itself.

Yikes. Nice upgrade but you'd think they woulda gone diesel!!!

 

[DeKa]

Yikes. Nice upgrade but you'd think they woulda gone diesel!!!

American market retro SUV, not made in diesel.

 

[JMFK]

American market retro SUV, not made in diesel.

I'm familiar with the FJ, had no idea it didn't come in a diesel flavour, seems crazy!!