Comments on: Fighting travel companies that fudge the numbers

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:04:43 +0000

But, Kelley, these people are employed by the company for the purpose of carrying out the company’s policies. The person you deal with directly is not the one setting the rules; it really is the company that is at fault unless the agent has made a mistake in applying the company’s rules, which can happen.

I do agree with the necessity of reading rules, asking questions, getting clarification if something isn’t clear, and documenting everything.

By: kelley

kelley — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:25:11 +0000

Really, Chris? This is why people are staying home? Because of the 11AM check-out times? Or is it because some guy somewhere didn’t read his contract or listen well, then wanted it to be someone else’s fault? After all, isn’t it the responsibility of the service provider to protect us from our own shortcomings? The nerve of them to act like we actually read and/or listen! Don’t they know I’m never wrong and anyone who even implies that is “out to get me”? A small detail that seems to often be overlooked is that it’s rarely “Avis” or “United” or “Carnival”, it’s the person you are dealing with. And that person is just someone’s son or daughter. Afterward, you go home and complain about “Avis”, but it was actually just that person. And they go home and complain about “customers”, when in reality, it was just you. I wonder if their version of events would make you look less like the “victim”? I fail to see how this type of attack can benefit anyone. It’s obviously an incredibly weak story when it has to be supported by an event that happened at least 10 year ago: “I wish I could say this was a new problem, but it isn’t. A decade ago, one of my readers caught American Airlines closing its cabin doors early and refusing to allow him on the plane.” One, out of how many tens of millions passengers? Maybe it happened twice in that time, or even three times. Any chance they might have held a door longer than required to accommodate someone? Once? Maybe twice? Maybe many, many times? And don’t the rules, which are clearly stated, require you to be at the gate well before take-off, to avoid cancellation of your reservation? If he had met the terms of the agreement, there would have been no issue. But why hold a customer accountable – let’s just blame a company.

By: nadabrainiac

nadabrainiac — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:18:58 +0000

Mike, it was late. If you said one time, and the actual time you returned was later, well, that’s the definition of late. Look it up. If you didn’t agree to a 24-hour rental, why would you expect them to re-write the contract after the fact? You neglected to mention the rate for you would have paid for a 24-hour agreement. Was it actually less than the hourly rate you asked for, or were you still further ahead, even including the late fee? Most people don’t plan for cancelled flights, illness, accidents, change of plans, etc, but is that really a burden for the rental car company to bear for every one of its customers? Penalties for early returns already exist with a lot of companies, as they should. You created extra work for them, or tried to pull a clever trick to avoid paying a higher rate, so you should be held financially accountable for that.

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:57:15 +0000

Mike,

You obviously haven’t renteed form Almo in the last few years. They’ve had a Early returns policy for a while “an Early Return fee is charged at a rate of $15 per rental when a vehicle is returned at least one calendar day early and total daily/weekly charges is less than the initial charged amount. “

By: Tom Walsh

Tom Walsh — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:46:05 +0000

The Hertz at AUS Airport is unlike any other. They are so bad, the lines, the lack of service…

This does not surprise me at al.

By: mike

mike — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:37:01 +0000

Avis has a new charge that hit me for I think it was $12 for returning a car late even though your not really late. Amazing thing was I had a 6 am flight that was canceled and rebooked on a later flight. While the 24 hour clock didn’t expire as I picked up at 3 pm my original drop off time was 6 am. Sorry we charge you extra! I was told book the reservation a full 24 hour time limit and then I would not be charged. Gee I had never planned for canceled flights with my rental car. Now I reserve the entire 24 hours if I use it or not. Funny I’m waiting for an early drop off fee now. Am I just cynical or is this a logical human mindset?

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:33:44 +0000

I have been out of the travel business for a while now, but for a non-refundable airline ticket, the usual rule was it had to be re-issued 1 year from the date the ticket was purchased, not the travel date.
As a travel professional and part of my fee, I would remind my clients when an unused ticket that I had issued for them was due to expire.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:56:16 +0000

Re: Hertz. The terms also say “Rental days are based on 24 hour periods commencing at time of pickup.” Doesn’t sound like it to me.