Car hire in USA through Airline Network

We generally use Airline Network to book Dollar car hire as they're always MUCH less than booking through Dollar themselves. For our car hire this May (collect at LAS & return to LAX)I've noticed that they now offer Thrifty as well as Dollar, with Thrifty coming out 75 less for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Incidentally booking direct with Dollar would cost a whopping extra 239 over the price Airline Network are offering Thrifty! All rates are 'fully inclusive' so I am comparing apples with apples.

We've not used Thrifty before....any views?

Cheers
James

Hi James
Is the Thrifty quote inclusive of the one way rental fee? I know from personal experience Dollar don't charge for one way rentals between LAS and LAX but not sure about Thrifty.
DL

quote:Originally posted by Vegascrazy
We generally use Airline Network to book Dollar car hire as they're always MUCH less than booking through Dollar themselves.
We've not used Thrifty before....any views?


You 're brave using airline network, netflights or what ever they call themselves now. 'Nettoflights' [V]

Those idiots, ruined a family holiday of ours a good few years back: missed booked 2 flights (one a connection),
booked a 10wk old baby on a flight without her parents (eventually ending up flying standby to get the cpt VS flight which we nearly missed). [:(!]
Cocked up the hotel bookings.
Sent half a dozen invoices through, generally wrong to the tune of a factor of 20 upwards.
Three trips to their HQ in Preston didn't even get a satisfactory result.

Our mission in life being to dissuade anyone from giving that circus of inept call centre monkeys any business.

Rant over..

Thrifty in my opinion... [y]

NH [:D]

[buns]

Up to now Airline Network / Netflights have been my choice for booking Dollar as they have always been the cheapest and I have never encountered a problem.

However, I thought I would see what it was cost using the Virgin Atlantic site and it worked out 10 cheaper.

Only few times had i had duff cars from Dollar, so I am happy to stay with them as they are much cheaper in the US usually

buns

[preiffer]

Hmmm. Sorry you had a bad experience, northernhenry but I've never had any problem whatsoever with them. Car hire always great (and good value), flights booked fine, even packages in the past. Obviously there will be ups and downs with any company, but I can say nothing negative about them.

As for choice of rental company, I've used dollar a lot and they've always been fine. Including for one-ways. Thrifty, never used myself but friends have in the past and they had problems.... Personally, I'd go with dollar.

[Neil]

Thrifty often are off airport and that is why their rates are cheaper (certainly the case in MCO), but I have read some positive reviews on various sites when looking myself last year. I am a Dollar fan personally but that is purely because we have had excellent dealings with them on every occasion.

Another site we have booked through this time is usrentacar, might be worth a look as they were the cheapest by far for us this time.

Neil

[preiffer]

Also try simplycarhire.com

As long as you're booking one of the rental company's all-in packages, you're unlikely to have a problem as it's all in their hands once you've actually got the car.

Always use Alamo or Enterprise and never had a problem.

[Scrooge]

Just to point out, everyone is now off airport at LAS.

And I would go with Avis.

Just another example of why I love this site (apart from the socials of course!) is the great advice churned out week on week, month on month [:)]

Taking all your hints & tips into account we're going to stick with Dollar (as opposed to Thrifty) - through Airline Network. Still loads less than direct with Dollar and a tried & tested formula.

Also thanks HL for the point re one way drop offs...we've never paid a one way drop off with Dollar between NV & CA or AZ for that matter! I've been on to other sites and a warning pops up saying you 'may' be charged locally for a one way drop off...not putting up with that!

Cheers
James

quote:Originally posted by Vegascrazy

Also thanks HL for the point re one way drop offs...we've never paid a one way drop off with Dollar between NV & CA or AZ for that matter! I've been on to other sites and a warning pops up saying you 'may' be charged locally for a one way drop off...not putting up with that!

Cheers
James


HL [:D]??
DL

quote:Originally posted by DragonLady
[quote]Originally posted by Vegascrazy

Also thanks HL for the point re one way drop offs...we've never paid a one way drop off with Dollar between NV & CA or AZ for that matter! I've been on to other sites and a warning pops up saying you 'may' be charged locally for a one way drop off...not putting up with that!

Cheers
James


HL [:D]??
DL


My apologies DL!! No excuse....not as though D is next to H on the keyboard [;)]

[Darren Wheeler]

Thanks for the tip James. Will have to look at one for the 4 days in May. Makes Wal-Mart easier and heading out towards 375 possible.

quote:Originally posted by Vegascrazy
My apologies DL!! No excuse....not as though D is next to H on the keyboard [;)]

Forgiven[:)].I've just booked the car hire for our trip and booking via the VS website (for an 8 seater luxury SUV) was (strangely) lots cheaper than Netflights. usrentacar, uscarhire etc. VH also gave me a price that was 150 more than the VS website which was a bit bizarre[:?]. I did have a look and the VS website won't quote you for a one way rental but it might be worth giving them a ring to get a price.
DL

Used to use Airline Network all the time with no problems but was tempted to book direct with Virgin for some promotion or other.

Since then have 'discovered' that with my plat Amex, don't need to book all the extra insurance (where is the smilely for banging your head against the wall !!) and now notice substantial savings with my car hire. (also signed up for Dollar express, so actually get my miles now with my car hire)

May 08 8 day hire 300m (not using amex) $601

Sept 08 12 day hire mid suv (using amex) $420

Feb 09 9 day hire mid suv (using amex) $340

All of the above booked directly with Dollar express.

It really causes pain when I see how much money I have been throwing away by not taking advantage of my Amex.[B)]

David

Dave will be able to confirm this but when I last went to LAX (albeit back in 03) DOllar were off airport.

My parents are Blue CHip holders with Thrifty and have always had excellent experiences. Oftne the transfer bus is sitting waiting for them and as soon as they board they go with just them on. In fact two separate friends of theirs flew out on the same flight, one booked with Thrifty and one with Dollar. The couple who booked with Thrifty were at my parents place by first by a good hour because they did not have to deal with the usual queue at Dollar once the VS flights arrive.

They are on airport at quite a few places (TPA for example) and even the off airport set up works well.

[Scrooge]

I do agree with that, there are some companies that really have it down pat when it comes to picking up a rental car, just as long as you have some status with them.

For me Avis has worked the best in this regards, except at Burbank where they hate me.

The other thing I am noticing is that after many years the VS rate is starting to get very competitive, I had pretty much given up on using the little code on the back of the FC card, but after checking rates last week it was coming up with the same rate as my Avis First code.

Of course with Avis first you get the auto 2 cat upgrade (except at Burbank where they hate me) but for the VS code to be the same as the Avis first is a big step in the right direction.

[preiffer]

quote:Originally posted by David
Used to use Airline Network all the time with no problems but was tempted to book direct with Virgin for some promotion or other.

Since then have 'discovered' that with my plat Amex, don't need to book all the extra insurance (where is the smilely for banging your head against the wall !!) and now notice substantial savings with my car hire. (also signed up for Dollar express, so actually get my miles now with my car hire)

May 08 8 day hire 300m (not using amex) $601

Sept 08 12 day hire mid suv (using amex) $420

Feb 09 9 day hire mid suv (using amex) $340

All of the above booked directly with Dollar express.

It really causes pain when I see how much money I have been throwing away by not taking advantage of my Amex.[B)]

David

Funny, we were talking about this the other week. Personally, I don't believe the Amex card actually saves you much at all.

For example, I don't know where your Feb 09 booking is for, but let's take Miami. 9 days SUV, in 3 weeks' time comes to (ALL INCLUSIVE):

Toyota Rav 4
or similar
4 dr
206.00
22.00/day*
Select Car


So, that'd be around $280 at the moment. And you paid $340 but 'saved on the insurance'. Ummm.... I may be missing something, but I fear the consolidators (simplycarhire/netflights/travelocity etc) all-in rate is STILL lower than the 'base' rate that booking direct with the rental company can give you. And yes, you have to book with the rental company in order to 'strip out' all the insurances.

So to me, that Amex fee would COST you $60 per rental based on that one example alone... [?]

quote:Originally posted by preiffer
[For example, I don't know where your Feb 09 booking is for, but let's take Miami. 9 days SUV, in 3 weeks' time comes to (ALL INCLUSIVE):

Toyota Rav 4
or similar
4 dr
206.00
22.00/day*
Select Car




Yeah, but when you add on the platinum insurance to that price (which i *think* would bring it up to the same standard of insurance as the amex deal) it takes the price above my rate and there is 1000 miles with my booking.

I suppose the moral is shop around and when you see a price and a company you are comfortable with - pay it.... now where have we heard that phrase before [:D]

David

( I still think all those extra fees are a ripoff, but i guess thats another thread [B)])

Prefer to rent with Avis, using my Wizard number allows me to go straight to the car and drive off.

Incidentally, the Virgin RED FC rate came out best at 117 for 5 days in Boston, Silver and Gold FC rates were 130 !

Something must be going on. I have just booked my car hire for MCO for 2 weeks time and :-

1) The VS car booking worked - previously the times would only show a.m. so not much good when the VS flights all arrive and depart p.m. !

2) I have used Airline network and USRentacar (and many others previously), but VS came out much cheaper this time. This was a first !

Spiceke

quote:Originally posted by spiceke
Something must be going on. I have just booked my car hire for MCO for 2 weeks time and :-

1) The VS car booking worked - previously the times would only show a.m. so not much good when the VS flights all arrive and depart p.m. !

2) I have used Airline network and USRentacar (and many others previously), but VS came out much cheaper this time. This was a first !

Spiceke


I have booked my car hire with VA this time due to this thread and, like yourself, have always used other agents before due to price.

I'd be interested to know where I should pick up in MCO. As the voucher is from Virgin Holidays I'm presuming I'll use their desk for collection rather than the Dollar one that I normally use for other Agent bookings but not certain.

As you're travelling before me, your experience on arrival would be appreciated.

Thanks
Jilly

does the va price inc insurance

[buns]

quote:Originally posted by alexb
does the va price inc insurance


When I recently booked using the VS site, the price of the Dollar Car Rental worked out 10 cheaper on a 'like for like' basis than using the Netflights Site - which I have used previously.

I always take out the 'Premium Package'as despite me ending up being the only driver usually, the full tank of gas means that is something else you don't have to worry about.

Always shop around before booking

buns

[Darren Wheeler]

I've just booked a car for May and VS was by far the cheapest. 120 for 4 days getting a full-sized (Dodge Charger etc.) including Platinum Package. [y]

Other were coming in at 150 to 190 for the same car. Plus I get bonus miles and Amex miles, so win-win for me.

Edit: Just noticed that one page says 'Triple miles' and another says 'Double miles' so am chasing that.