Hertz Presidents Club or Europcar #1 Club

[burnt]

Hi,
I have received a complimentary invitation from Velocity as a Platinum freebie to join one of either Hertz Presidents Club OR Europcar #1 Club, Is any one better than the other, your thoughts please.

 

[awilcockson]

It's President's Circle

And from my one use of it, it added no value whatsoever. Sure I picked my car up from under a big shiny "President's Circle" sign, but I reckon it was the oldest car in the lot, no upgrade, and it hadn't been washed for weeks.

 

[Robert K]

It depends what cars you want to rent.

 

[markis10]

I would go for the Europcar Offer and did, Presidents Circle is not worth much these days and with Hertz's systems, a PIA. With the discount from Europcar I am finding around $10-20 a day cheaper rates through them, and the free weekend rental is very handy!

 

[Alanslegal]

Just wanted to add my $0.02 and I opted into the Hertz President's Circle membership via VA WP.

I rented my first Hertz car this past weekend, it was a Group H car ie. Toyota Corolla Hatch Automatic for a three day weekend. Cost of car was $112.xx for 3 days with unlimited kms - cheap as chips in my book. I presented at the Hertz Office at ADL for check-in, which is for Gold Club #1 members. As the non status members check in in the airport counters.

The lady in the Office asks if I am Gold Club. I reply back saying "I think I am" as I'm really not quite sure what my status is Anyway, she proceeds and asks if I had rented from them before. "No, its my first time" is my reply. So at this stage, she pulls up my details and booking on her computer screen, and voila, she's a bit surprised - in a good way of course - to see that my member status is 'president's circle' and I am a first time renter!

Anyway, she upgrades me to a Group P car ie. Ford Falcon G6E, which is like a three or four category upgrade And she double checks with her colleague, and no hesitation, a very nice upgrade. A Ford Falcon G6E for 3 days, unlimited kms, for $112.xx all inclusive. Win!

 

[Alanslegal]

Just a couple of more data points, using Presidents Circle membership.

My last two reservations:-

Booked a Toyota Corolla, upgraded to a Ford Falcon G6E
Booked a Toyota Corolla, upgraded to a Toyota Camry

I will be using car rentals on a regular basis following the recent demise of my Alfa Romeo and because I live in City, I really do not need to have a car anyway except on the weekends where I may go driving around just for kicks, visit family, friends etc. I have been getting weekend rates of less than $40 per day inclusive, so $80 for Saturday morning to Monday morning is a bargain really. Even if I rent a car every week of the year, that's $4,080 per annum. [Owning a car has their fixed cost eg $1,000 in comprehensive insurance, $350 registration, $500 CTP so that's $1,850 per annum, let alone the cost of maintenance, servicing, replacing usual wear items, car washing etc]. I think by paying an extra $2k per year I do get to drive a newly washed car every week, that I do not need to worry about cleaning, washing, or worrying about the cost to service or maintain it

My next four reservations are renting the cheapest category available, a Toyota Yaris or equivalent, so we'll see how the PC status helps on that

 

[simongr]

Interesting idea - do you live close to the rental place? Just wondering how much of a hassle it would be to do this each week - my weekends are a blur from about 6AM Saturday to getting on the train on Monday morning...

 

[Alanslegal]

Interesting idea - do you live close to the rental place? Just wondering how much of a hassle it would be to do this each week - my weekends are a blur from about 6AM Saturday to getting on the train on Monday morning...

I'm about 2.5kms away from the rental place at Riley & William Streets, so I can walk (~30minutes) or catch the bus and walk, might take 15minutes all up. Any further and I probably won't do it. I was thinking of carshare types but then it didn't look too good of a value. Now I can hire, create a mess, and return it without a worry. On Monday mornings, I drop the car off and walk to work ~12 minutes away.

 

[ozmille]

I took the Europcar offer and must say have not received a single upgrade... Booked a Passat CC in FRA in a couple of months so will see what I get

 

[TonyHancock]

I took the Europcar offer and must say have not received a single upgrade... Booked a Passat CC in FRA in a couple of months so will see what I get

I have had one upgrade. It was in NZ and the upgrade was a Santa Fe :shock: 51 days of rentals so far this year.

 

[markis10]

I took the Europcar offer and must say have not received a single upgrade... Booked a Passat CC in FRA in a couple of months so will see what I get

I have got one every time, then again I have just requalified Elite with them, the same week I got this email:

We are pleased to advise that your current Hertz #1 Club Gold President’s Circle Status has been renewed. Please continue to use your current membership card.

 

[beardoc]

First two rentals after achieving Hertz PC aren't too crash hot:

Rented Toyota Corolla Auto Hatch, received Toyota Corolla Auto Hatch
Rented Toyota Corolla Auto Hatch, received Nissan Pulsar ST Auto Sedan.

Neither of them felt like a guaranteed upgrade at all. Both of these were from a major city airport location.

Is this what I should expect as the norm?

 

[boomy]

I rent cars with hertz twice a week on average and as President Circle member I must say they treat me very well and I couldn't be more happy.

Their car fleet is the best and they always give me to test the new arrivals.
A few weeks ago I got the Toyota 86 when it just arrived. Fun car to drive!
Last weekend at Brisbane airport I was upgraded to BMW 320i. Got to enjoy it together with my missus on our weekend at the Gold Coast.

I always book the same type of car (Toyota Camry) and at least twice a month I get upgraded to a luxury car.
So far I got to try almost all their cars.
The only one they never give is the BMW X5.

In order to get many upgrades it's a good idea to get to know the local staff at every airport. It really helps!!

 

[beardoc]

I rent cars with hertz twice a week on average and as President Circle member I must say they treat me very well and I couldn't be more happy.

Their car fleet is the best and they always give me to test the new arrivals.
A few weeks ago I got the Toyota 86 when it just arrived. Fun car to drive!
Last weekend at Brisbane airport I was upgraded to BMW 320i. Got to enjoy it together with my missus on our weekend at the Gold Coast.

I always book the same type of car (Toyota Camry) and at least twice a month I get upgraded to a luxury car.
So far I got to try almost all their cars.
The only one they never give is the BMW X5.

In order to get many upgrades it's a good idea to get to know the local staff at every airport. It really helps!!

I'm doing the twice a week rental as well, although usually I'm booking the Corolla level vehicles. I wonder if moving to Camry level will result in decent upgrades? Will give it another week or so and then will try putting in for a slightly higher rental class on booking.

 

[markis10]

I am happy to book a Yaris and never receive one .

 

[vertisol]

I'm an AVIS man myself and while it's nice to get an upgrade, sometimes I really just want the Corolla I booked to do innercity running around/ parking etc instead of a lime green or sparkly purple Commodore/ Falcon SV6/ XR6 etc..

6 or so week ago I booked a medium car in Adelaide and got a white Pajero complete with full bullbar and fluoresecnt flag (a good 10ft high), must have been one they rent to the mines etc.

 

[boomy]

I'm doing the twice a week rental as well, although usually I'm booking the Corolla level vehicles. I wonder if moving to Camry level will result in decent upgrades? Will give it another week or so and then will try putting in for a slightly higher rental class on booking.

If you book the Corolla then you will probably get an upgrade to the next best thing which is Camry or XR6.

 

[boomy]

I'm an AVIS man myself and while it's nice to get an upgrade, sometimes I really just want the Corolla I booked to do innercity running around/ parking etc instead of a lime green or sparkly purple Commodore/ Falcon SV6/ XR6 etc..

It's funny to read your post and then to find a red XR6 waiting for me today

 

[oliverd]

Not sure if this is the right thread... but interested if anyone has experienced (or can explain) the issue below. For local (Australian) rentals the Hertz PC seems to provide favourable pricing: I've generally received a 1-2 car upgrade (I normally book a mid-size car) and the service is quick. My only gripe has been the fact if you pre-pay you don't get any points, and even now that I'm aware of this I can't see this stated anywhere if you select this option.

My issue: for overseas bookings, the pricing I get if I enter my PC number is, to put it bluntly, ridiculous. Like 497.66 GBP for a booking under my PC number versus 141.55 GBP if I do an "anonymous" booking. And less inclusions with the PC booking. Doesn't make any sense.

Based on these pricing issues - making PC useless for OS bookings - I'd shuold have selected Europcar (I seem to have the PC status via Amex Platinum card, but am also Velocity Platinum).

Ford Focus - 1 week ex LHR - 497.66 GBP with Presidents Circle


Ford Focus - 1 week - 141.55 GBP without entering any membership number (all details the same)

 

[markis10]

Not sure if this is the right thread... but interested if anyone has experienced (or can explain) the issue below. For local (Australian) rentals the Hertz PC seems to provide favourable pricing: I've generally received a 1-2 car upgrade (I normally book a mid-size car) and the service is quick. My only gripe has been the fact if you pre-pay you don't get any points, and even now that I'm aware of this I can't see this stated anywhere if you select this option.

My issue: for overseas bookings, the pricing I get if I enter my PC number is, to put it bluntly, ridiculous. Like 497.66 GBP for a booking under my PC number versus 141.55 GBP if I do an "anonymous" booking. And less inclusions with the PC booking. Doesn't make any sense.

Based on these pricing issues - making PC useless for OS bookings - I'd shuold have selected Europcar (I seem to have the PC status via Amex Platinum card, but am also Velocity Platinum).

Ford Focus - 1 week ex LHR - 497.66 GBP with Presidents Circle
View attachment 17640View attachment 17641

Ford Focus - 1 week - 141.55 GBP without entering any membership number (all details the same)
View attachment 17642View attachment 17643

Your getting the locals rate VS overseas licence I suspect, and click best rate, not your CDP.