Returning Avis Rental early; QANTAS Booking

[PaulyB]

I am looking for any experiences regarding changing return dates for my Avis rental car. The back story is that I booked an Avis car from LHR (returning into GLA) through QANTAS, for 29 days. No problems with that.

However, as it turns out, I wanted to return the car a few days earlier. I had an incredibly helpful operator at LHR who managed to reduce the booking by one day but was unable to do it longer without me incurring an extra fee at a higher rate. Apparently, having booked through a 3rd party (i.e. QANTAS) reduces the flexibility and they seem to be allowed to charge more.

I asked if I could just return the car a couple of days early but nothing that simple! It costs more!

So does anyone have any experience of how I could return the car a day early without any drama?

Thanks!

 

[Must...Fly!]

There's usually some kind of early return fee. Check the T&C's displayed (presumably.....) on the Qantas booking.

 

[Steady]

They have lower rates per day on 1 week bookings, it then drops more for 4 week bookings - I suspect dropping 1 day back to 28 days kept your daily rate low, the extra day back to 27 put it back into the higher weekly day rate

 

[PaulyB]

Sorry for the delayed responses. Too much fun traveling. Your points are well made of course and I have re-arranged things so we maintain the original (and cheaper) booking schedule. It is a trap for young players tho. If you are going to require flexibility, book direct.

 

[Cynicor]

Sorry for the delayed responses. Too much fun traveling. Your points are well made of course and I have re-arranged things so we maintain the original (and cheaper) booking schedule. It is a trap for young players tho. If you are going to require flexibility, book direct.

Booking direct has the same problems. Not unique to 3rd party bookings.

 

[CaptJCool]

An interesting question

It was along time ago when I hired a 180 day Peugeot in France through a travel agent because it was cheaper than say the 170 days (cheaper daily rate)

Paid
On the 170th day, I dropped the car off at Calais and took the ferry to Dover

Result
No request ever made to pay more
Obviously my credit card wasn’t on the booking and the agent doesn’t have the authority to charge up any extra than I’d paid them nor pass over my credit card details (although I do think back then probably paid with cash)

In this case, all worked in my favour

PS kinda seems like a hidden ticket kinda of deal.