How do Hertz treat you as an Elite?

[Deleted member 29185]

Received a rather unusual upgrade in SYD this week from one of the smallest cars (Toyota Yaris) to one of the biggest non-prestige in Hertz AU fleet (Nissan Pathfinder).

I ordered a base model Volvo S60 Manual. I was given a Merc C180 wagon that is brand new with just 13km showing.

If I keep hearing these stories, I might have to jump ship........again! Europcar is giving the very minimum upgrade lately and their prices seem to have increased a tad!

 

[boomy]

If I keep hearing these stories, I might have to jump ship........again! Europcar is giving the very minimum upgrade lately and their prices seem to have increased a tad!

Ummm, not really. I rent 2-3 times a week with Hertz and mostly get the minimum upgrade with normal cars and almost never with prestige. It is nice to get an outstanding upgrade occasionally (like Toyota 86 in Perth for a long weekend) but they are too rare and far between these days.

 

[prozac]

If I keep hearing these stories, I might have to jump ship........again! Europcar is giving the very minimum upgrade lately and their prices seem to have increased a tad!

Photos and brief run-down here - http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/car-hire-taxis-and-limos/hertz-europe-gold-plus-rewards-70237.html

Just heading out in it now for a country drive.

 

[amaroo]

Guess which one I just booked! Wonder how the Audi Q7 will handle those small Tuscan roads?

Image #1 ... price quoted as a HGP member...



Image #2 ... price quoted as a Neville nobody..

 

[TheRealTMA]

Guess which one I just booked! Wonder how the Audi Q7 will handle those small Tuscan roads?

Amaroo, if you seriously think of hiring a Q7 for Tuscany, the word "pazzo" springs to mind.

or at least "buona fortuna"

can't you you leave a few children behind?

 

[amaroo]

Amaroo, if you seriously think of hiring a Q7 for Tuscany, the word "pazzo" springs to mind.

or at least "buona fortuna"

can't you you leave a few children behind?

Had to look that up Symptom of traveling in a family pack with way more >100kg's of luggage.

Forgot to mention that it's cheaper to park the car in a VCE parking bay for three days than split the booking... might go for a drive.

 

[coriander]

Guess which one I just booked! Wonder how the Audi Q7 will handle those small Tuscan roads?
Image #1 ... price quoted as a HGP member... 3027 Euro
Image #2 ... price quoted as a Neville nobody.. 857 EURO

So slap me over the head with a raw fish but, if I'm reading that correctly, you are being invited pay almost 4 times as much for being a Hurtz Gold Status person?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So slap me over the head with a raw fish but, if I'm reading that correctly, you are being invited pay almost 4 times as much for being a Hurtz Gold Status person?

Wrong thread I know, but Europcar did a similar shonky to me. I was wondering why the prices had seemed to have crept up, and when I checked my account (after reading this Hertz thread about a similar trick), I noticed Europcar had added a disc. code to my account. I've never in my life added a sticky discount code but I did recently inquire about corporate rates (which I rejected as a bad joke). The disc code overrides any other offer (it seems) and since deleting the code, I'm getting old pricing back again by using codes like Accor.

Seems these car hire shonks think we should feel privileged when they blatantly rip us off!

 

[amaroo]

So slap me over the head with a raw fish but, if I'm reading that correctly, you are being invited pay almost 4 times as much for being a Hurtz Gold Status person?

Yeah, crazy stuff! Have just made another booking for an Audi A6 ... concerned about the Q7 suitability on those tight cobbled lanes. Hopefully, I'll remember to cancel one of them...

Again, membership saw the price rise like a bandit.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Yeah, crazy stuff! Have just made another booking for an Audi A6 ... concerned about the Q7 suitability on those tight cobbled lanes. Hopefully, I'll remember to cancel one of them...

Again, membership saw the price rise like a bandit.

If you are condemned to such a large vehicle, given the likelihood of snow and ice, and rain, at that time of the year, the 4x4 would be better. Check if they supply winter tyres as well. You won't be happy driving in small hill towns in either, but then again you can't do that anyway given ZLTs. The highways will be fine.

 

[prozac]

jsoprano, in a post on preceding pages advised me to make sure my profile selections were correct as my dummy bookings had elicited high rental fees. When I did this, making sure things like CDW and Theft check boxes were ticked, then my quoted rate came back to normal less the discount.

 

[amaroo]

If you are condemned to such a large vehicle, given the likelihood of snow and ice, and rain, at that time of the year, the 4x4 would be better. Check if they supply winter tyres as well. You won't be happy driving in small hill towns in either, but then again you can't do that anyway given ZLTs. The highways will be fine.

Excellent points. Have checked and they've confirmed winter tyres are included.

Please note that from 15 Nov to 15 Apr many cities are required by law to restrict the circulation to only vehicles equipped with snow chains or winter tyres. For a summary of the orders, please visit www.poliziadistato.it.
To comply with the regulations, in the locations subject to this requirement, vehicles are equipped with snow chains - the price is included in the rental charges under the item “Winterisation Fee”.

Hertz offers vehicles equipped with in the following Italian regions: Valle D’Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Lazio (Rome excluded), Abruzzo, Molise, Campania (only Benevento and Avellino), Puglia (only Foggia) and Basilicata.

In these regions, all vehicles are automatically equipped with snow chains for an additional fee of EUR 1.83 (including tax) per day with a maximum of EUR 27.45 (including tax) per rental. This price is included in your rental charges under the item “Winterisation Fee”.

If the snow chains are not returned a fee of EUR 73.20 (including tax) will be applied.

At pick-up if you decide to bring your own snow chains or do not intend on driving on the roads subject to this requirement, you may decline the equipment by signing the appropriate release form.

Please note that if your rate includes the Winterisation you do NOT need to add the snow chains as extra as this equipment is already included in your reservation with the relevant fee. Please check your rate for all inclusions and charges.

I'll need to check on the ZLT restrictions as we're staying in a couple of hill towns... hotels included parking so I'm assuming access should be ok.

jsoprano, in a post on preceding pages advised me to make sure my profile selections were correct as my dummy bookings had elicited high rental fees. When I did this, making sure things like CDW and Theft check boxes were ticked, then my quoted rate came back to normal less the discount.

Cheers. I've ticked the boxes you've indicated and the price dropped like a school bag... not very impressed with their system.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Excellent. Just double check because Rome vehicles do not necessarily have them.

I've seen Europecar pull this trick when you enter your priority number first. Very naughty of them.

pm me with where your going if you wish and I can send you some restaurant and winery recommendations if you want them.

 

[amaroo]

Excellent. Just double check because Rome vehicles do not necessarily have them.

I've seen Europecar pull this trick when you enter your priority number first. Very naughty of them.

pm me with where your going if you wish and I can send you some restaurant and winery recommendations if you want them.

Great offer TheRealTMA Thanks!

* We have 16 nights all up ... Rome (5) Perugia (2) Florence (3) Venice (3) Bergamo (3)

+ 6 nights in Norway, 4 in Paris and 2 in Hong Kong ... if you've got some tips.

* hopefully no one complains about being OT

 

[prozac]

Just received status upgrade GPR to PC. Nice.

Also when I returned the car to Schiphol I was charged the rate without the GPR 10% discount. I only noticed as I was about to walk off. I turned back and pointed this out to them. They re-instated the discounted charge and then knocked an extra 16 euro off the top. Nice gesture.

 

[lovestotravel]

Presidents Circle member
Last rentals in Australia

Booked Corolla Hatch, received Corolla Sedan or Nissan Pulsar Sedan

Wow.................

 

[boomy]

Had a chat with one of the staff members at SYD airport when I complained about not getting much decent upgrades from Hertz SYD this year (other locations are a bit more generous). Was told Hertz AUS became very strict with PC upgrades, aiming to follow the guidelines of ONE level only and no more upgrades from standard to prestige.

While I do still get two-three level upgrades from time to time it's nothing exciting so I decided to book the cheapest option (Yaris) because anyway I'll end up with some type of Corolla or if I get "lucky" a larger Nissan...

 

[boomy]

So far good start for 2017.

Location: MEL airport
Booked: Toyota Camry
Received: Audi SQ5

Location: MEL airport
Booked: Toyota Camry
Received: Audi Q5

Location: BNE airport
Booked: Hyundai Elantra
Received: Toyota Camry

Location: BNE CBD
Booked: Toyota Camry
Received: Holden Calais

 

[boomy]

Hertz introduced starting today 'Gold Choice' in MEL airport. 5* and PC members can now book any car and select an upgrade from a range of higher category cars (I've missed the SQ5 by 10 min). The programme will be soon rolled out in BNE, SYD and later in all airports.

 

[QF WP]

Where has this thread been hiding?

I'm very similar to boomy, mostly same day rentals for work and 3/5 days for family holidays.

Have been a PC (thanks to upgrade from VA plat days) but now just a 5*.

Just booked one for Perth on Wed next week (Downtown to Airport) as I have one client to drive and see and then straight to airport to get on a plane. Only go to Perth once/year and I remember my issues finding a BP on the way to the airport last time - but at least I know where it is, unless I am time challenged.

I'll post my upgrade success (or otherwise) - who is up for a guess :

Location: Perth Downtown
Booked: Hyundai Elantra
Received: ?? TBC