Europcar or Hertz (virgin gold benefit)

[bladeau1981]

So it's been a while since I have had to do the rental car thing, I used to have Hertz platinum or whatever it was (the top level) years ago which was generally good and would get upgrades and free hires a bit. I have mostly been using uber and taxis for business trips in the last 5-6 years so not many car hires needed and when I did work was booking and paying and sorting out all that stuff.

Anyway, I am doing some personal travel and actually want to hire a car so thought I may as well use this benefit. Which would you chose or what is your experience with either? First hires would be in Darwin and then probably Gold Coast or Brisbane if that means much.

 

[Happy Dude]

I like both. I'd do a few dummy bookings to see availability/prices and then decide.

Here in CBR, I've had issues even getting a car with the majors let alone consider prices or any status benefits. About to go to the dance again but not expecting different music.

 

[bladeau1981]

I like both. I'd do a few dummy bookings to see availability/prices and then decide.

Here in CBR, I've had issues even getting a car with the majors let alone consider prices or any status benefits. About to go to the dance again but not expecting different music.

Getting cars turned to cough real quick didn't it? I was still getting a hire car maybe 50% of the time but just whatever was cheap and easy on the day until Covid, then couldn't get a thing so haven't even looked really in over a year. I'll see what they come back with for dummy bookings, I was more wandering that the likelihood of upgrades was and what other perks there are.

 

[Happy Dude]

Getting cars turned to cough real quick didn't it? I was still getting a hire car maybe 50% of the time but just whatever was cheap and easy on the day until Covid, then couldn't get a thing so haven't even looked really in over a year. I'll see what they come back with for dummy bookings, I was more wandering that the likelihood of upgrades was and what other perks there are.

On that, I can't really split the two. Both are pretty good in that regard IME.

However, I find I get better upgrades from different branches. For eg, based on the two or three times I've needed to rent from Europcar at the CBR airport, the upgrades were better at the city branch. Ditto Hertz when comparing the airport and the burbs (Mitchell).

When I'm travelling pickup is almost always from the airport and the upgrades were almost always as per status. I do prefer Hertz but not for any particular reason. Europcar have a neat perk of a free weekend rental after a few (?) rentals but I can't say I've been able to take full advantage.