WWTBAM Bored

... you might want to double check the pricing, especially with Hertz.

I learned through a Disney fan-related website that Hertz, who had a longstanding special rate with this group, has basically yanked the promised discounting pricing out of existing reservations and adjusted them upward without warning.

I have two future ones (one with Alamo in October, one with Budget over New Years) and double checked, and they appear to be ok - for now. But, considering there are only really three major car rental consortiums left (Enterprise/National/Alamo, Hertz/Thrifty/Dollar, and Avis/Budget), I fear that once one starts doing something, the others will follow suit.

This isn't a small thing -- the current market rate for my October rental is roughly double what I booked it for, and the New Years' one is about 25% higher currently.

Just keep an eye on things, folks.

Drivers didn't lease new cars last summer because they were not on the road as much, so the fleet of newish used cars that forms the rental corps was decimated.

But i didn't think they would raise prices once you'd made a reservation. That defeats the purpose of a reservation.

And, of course, whenever there is a scarcity, the scammers come out:

https://www.al.com/news/2021/07/rental- ... arcer.html

The article was originally from the Orlando Sentinel, but it's behind a paywall.

Here's all you need to know to realize it's a scam (and, BTW, never prepay for a car rental; it's difficult to get money back at best, and it limits your flexibility).

Looking to take advantage of record-high prices, fake websites are popping up, offering rental cars for cheap. The sites then ask the buyer to use a gift card or pre-paid debit card to pay for the vehicle.

Yep, the old "prepaid / gift card" trick. As soon as someone trots that out, run away from it.

Now I've hit an interesting snag with one of the rentals.

The airline for our New Year's Florida trip emailed me yesterday, saying the flights have changed their times slightly; simply put, they are moved back an hour. No real problem, get to the beach an hour earlier.

But then I tried to change the pickup time with my primary rental (Budget). Apparently they treat a time change as a brand new rental (I don't recall this being a problem in the past, but I might have just been inobservant). This caused my four-day rental to jump by 60%. Mrs. Spiff and I just decided we'll keep the current setup and wait the extra hour (or just show up a half hour early to the Budget county) and live with it.

It's just crazy right now in the world of car rental. Pay attention to every detail on these things, folks!

SpacemanSpiff wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 6:38 am

Now I've hit an interesting snag with one of the rentals.

The airline for our New Year's Florida trip emailed me yesterday, saying the flights have changed their times slightly; simply put, they are moved back an hour. No real problem, get to the beach an hour earlier.

But then I tried to change the pickup time with my primary rental (Budget). Apparently they treat a time change as a brand new rental (I don't recall this being a problem in the past, but I might have just been inobservant). This caused my four-day rental to jump by 60%. Mrs. Spiff and I just decided we'll keep the current setup and wait the extra hour (or just show up a half hour early to the Budget county) and live with it.

It's just crazy right now in the world of car rental. Pay attention to every detail on these things, folks!

Sadly, not limited to car rentals. People be trippin'.

I got this via email today:

Club 1 Hotels offers free direct access to wholesale car rental rates that are up to 60% off at over 142,000 global locations and 800+ car rental partners, including Hertz, Avis, Budget, and more. Their extensive portfolio of vehicles ranges from budget to premium and everything in between. Plus, members also have access to wholesale rates at over 1.5 million hotels and resorts.

Their site is at https://www.club1hotels.com/likemind

I don't intend to need an auto rental, but this might aid those here who do.

Trying to re-plan last year's postponed then cancelled Hawaii trip. Avis has no availability and all other are around $200/day for a compact on Kauai. I can pre-pay and say a few hundred but I'm nor pre-paying something I may not get to use (should Hawaii close again).

BackInTex wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:18 pm

Trying to re-plan last year's postponed then cancelled Hawaii trip. Avis has no availability and all other are around $200/day for a compact on Kauai. I can pre-pay and say a few hundred but I'm nor pre-paying something I may not get to use (should Hawaii close again).

What about a campervan? Then you have an additional option if lodging plans get screwed up.

BackInTex wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:18 pm

Trying to re-plan last year's postponed then canceled Hawaii trip. Avis has no availability and all other are around $200/day for a compact on Kauai. I can pre-pay and say a few hundred but I'm not pre-paying something I may not get to use (should Hawaii close again).

I read that due to the shortage of rental cars, people have been renting U-Haul trucks.

Bob Juch wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 09, 2021 6:51 am

BackInTex wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:18 pm

Trying to re-plan last year's postponed then canceled Hawaii trip. Avis has no availability and all other are around $200/day for a compact on Kauai. I can pre-pay and say a few hundred but I'm not pre-paying something I may not get to use (should Hawaii close again).

I read that due to the shortage of rental cars, people have been renting U-Haul trucks.

And you know U-Haul's motto: "No experience driving a large truck? Good luck!"

I always use Enterprise if possible. Good service and cheaper than the other companies. I'm now in a small town in Illinois and rented a car for two weeks. I planned to pick it up Wednesday morning but was delayed till Thursday just before closing. So I asked them to deduct one day's charge, and they took off two days. I also asked if I could keep the car a few days longer and return it in Pennsylvania. No problem - their rate with the drop-off charge is less than their competitors' for a local rental.