Changes to NetFlights

[file51]

FYI

Having been a fan of using Netflights.com for my car rental needs in the U.S. to date this year (9 rentals so far) I was unhappy to note as of early this week you can no longer get rates or book cars via the internet.

You now have to call a UK phone number or send an email to there customer service dept.

Personally I did not find one competitor out there that came close to offering the same rates or inclusions (if somebody knows of one, please share)

 

[pblackm]

What a pity. Based on Serfty's recommendation, I used them for the first time to rent a car in El Paso to get to/from New Mexico last month. They were not only the cheapest by a long shot, but really efficient and the surprise was that I was told to bring it back empty! Looks like a skype call to the UK next time.

FYI

Having been a fan of using Netflights.com for my car rental needs in the U.S. to date this year (9 rentals so far) I was unhappy to note as of early this week you can no longer get rates or book cars via the internet.

You now have to call a UK phone number or send an email to there customer service dept.

Personally I did not find one competitor out there that came close to offering the same rates or inclusions (if somebody knows of one, please share)

 

[straitman]

Agreed. I had recently had use and tried the new email process and did not get any response. Needless to say I went elsewhere.

 

[Mal]

You now have to call a UK phone number or send an email to there customer service dept.

And (at least for locals in the UK), it isn't really a local UK number. Yet another 0844 type number which costs a fortune to call from a home phone or mobile.

The 2 numbers suggested instead by SAYNOTO0870.COM - Non-Geographical Alternative Telephone Numbers are :
01772 550192 (Comment: Ask for netflights) and
0800 747000 (UK local freephone).

 

[file51]

Agreed. I had recently had use and tried the new email process and did not get any response. Needless to say I went elsewhere.

Care to share who you ended up going with. I have just looked at a couple of wholesalers and other online booking services and the rates were 50% more than what I have paid in past few weeks and months

 

[serfty]

Dang! I intended to use them for some CA one-way rentals, LAX-ONT vv where I could hire for an all up total of around AUD55 (including insurance and fuel).

(Not using Supershuttle ever again).

Maybe I'll need to go via DFW again

 

[auriga]

That's a pity. I have used them a couple of times in the past.

 

[odysseus]

Wonder why they've done that? Problems with their pricing engine?

 

[straitman]

Care to share who you ended up going with. I have just looked at a couple of wholesalers and other online booking services and the rates were 50% more than what I have paid in past few weeks and months

I used Argus Car Hire last time and wandering_fred has booked them again for next week. The big difference is you do not know who the actual provider is until the booking is confirmed.

 

[serfty]

I used Argus Car Hire last time and wandering_fred has booked them again for next week. ...

The following is my main problem - it can double the rental. With netflights it represented and additional £9 (which was included in my $55 cost quoted earlier) Considering I need to travel no more than 120km, it's a PITA.

Fuel Policy

Pick up full, return empty.

Fuel charges are payable at the rental counter.

Your vehicle will be supplied with a full tank of fuel and must be returned empty. No refunds will be given for unused fuel. (Suppliers fuel policies change from time to time, please confirm at rental counter)

Fuel charges are payable at the rental desk unless otherwise stated in the top section of rate details.

 

[straitman]

This is my problem - it can double the renatl. Cosidering I need to travell no more than 110km, it's a PITA.

serfty,

I'm not sure of what you are referring to here.

 

[Maca44]

Serfty might be referring to the cost of a tank of gas when the vehicle is supposed to be returned empty, and he is only driving a short distance which is most likely to use less than a quarter of a tank.

I just went onto the site to book a vehicle from Seattle airport, but there was nothing available and SEA is a busy airport, so it looks like its back to www.driveaway.com.au for me.

 

[notzac]

(Not using Supershuttle ever again).

Is there a story here? I used Supershuttle to get from ONT to LAX, seemed reasonable (if you ignore the fact that the driver complained about his job to another pax for a good 15 minutes). Total price including tip was USD $60 - so more expensive than the car rental price, but only just.

 

[straitman]

Agreed. I had recently had use and tried the new email process and did not get any response. Needless to say I went elsewhere.

I was actually wrong with this.

I did get an automated response that stated:

[FONT=&quot]Thank you for contacting Customer Services.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Your query is important to us, and we aim to respond within 48 hours during our busy time. Therefore please DO NOT reply to this email.
You may be able to check your booking online by following the 'Check my Booking' links from our homepage and entering your invoice number.
Our opening hours are
Monday - Friday - 08:45 - 6:00
Saturday - 08:45 - 5:00
Sunday - Closed
Yours Sincerely,
Customer Services[/FONT]

That was on Tuesday and there has been nothing since :!:

 

[serfty]

Is there a story here? I used Supershuttle to get from ONT to LAX, seemed reasonable (if you ignore the fact that the driver complained about his job to another pax for a good 15 minutes). Total price including tip was USD $60 - so more expensive than the car rental price, but only just.

ONT-LAX:

1. Booked Shuttle blew me off as I was the only passenger
2. Second shuttle called, I eventually departed 135 minutes after original booking time. I was only passenger.
3. Driver missed I-605 S free-way exit onto I-605 S, costing another 30 minutes while we toured the locales and traffic jams of Bellflower and Cerritos.
4. Total trip time including waiting time ONT-LAX was 4 hours,
5. Flat rate was USD69 with compulsory 15% tip added on in June gave a total cost to me of just over AUD100.

 

[serfty]

serfty,

I'm not sure of what you are referring to here.

Serfty might be referring to the cost of a tank of gas when the vehicle is supposed to be returned empty, and he is only driving a short distance which is most likely to use less than a quarter of a tank.

Exactly - the netflights online option was £19 with another £9 to include "an additional driver and a full tank of fuel".

Prepaid Gasoline for car hire CA is around UD$3.50 per gallon, so with around 12 gallons for a small car tank I was looking at £9 (~AUD17) to prepay fuel rather than USD42 (~AUD47).

£28 total was not over their top being around AUD50. With driveway holidays I am now looking at $48 for the rental plus another $50 or so as thay also have the "* Fuel prepaid at time of collection, return empty. No refund for unused fuel." clause.

 

[file51]

...and now the NetFlights site doesn't even have a car hire page.

The link is there, but the page no longer exists...

 

[notzac]

ONT-LAX:

1. Booked Shuttle blew me off as I was the only passenger
2. Second shuttle called, I eventually departed 135 minutes after original booking time. I was only passenger.
3. Driver missed I-605 S free-way exit onto I-605 S, costing another 30 minutes while we toured the locales and traffic jams of Bellflower and Cerritos.
4. Total trip time including waiting time ONT-LAX was 4 hours,
5. Flat rate was USD69 with compulsory 15% tip added on in June gave a total cost to me of just over AUD100.

OUCH! :shock: My experience was nothing like that, thankfully. I found a discount online, applied a 0% tip (I much prefer tipping for service actually rendered rather than anticipated), got to ONT and was on my way to LAX within about 10 minutes with only one other pax who was also going to LAX.

 

[clifford]

...and now the NetFlights site doesn't even have a car hire page.

The link is there, but the page no longer exists...

Well, it's back and it seems to work (itermittently).

I just made a booking for the USA, but it didn't want to work until I told it I lived in the UK and that I had a UK postcode (my mother's). The rest of my address was my Australian address, so the credit card worked fine. Go figure!

Seems like they still have some work to do with their website, but the price was great!

 

[straitman]

Well, it's back and it seems to work (itermittently).

I just made a booking for the USA, but it didn't want to work until I told it I lived in the UK and that I had a UK postcode (my mother's). The rest of my address was my Australian address, so the credit card worked fine. Go figure!

Seems like they still have some work to do with their website, but the price was great!

It is great news that it is back al be it a little flaky :!: