Pre-Booking Car Hire: any point in it?

SleeplessinScandinavia

Hi

I'm an Englishman living in Sweden, and make frequent visits to UK and use a hire car from the destination airport (& back).

I've always booked in advance over the internet (involving giving my credit card details) thinking that its better to know you will have the vehicle you want, waiting for you.

However, the last couple of occasions I've come across problems. Once I arrived an hour earlier than the time I said I would be there, and the woman at the car hire desk told me I'd "have to come back later".

Another time, I waited well over an hour and a half, for the type of vehicle I'd pre-ordered (or indeed ANY vehicle) to be available - and ended up being offered a van, as there was "nothing else available"

I really don't want to 'kick my heels' at an airport, once I've arrived - yet at the same time, I've already given my credit cards details to a hire company who have basically messed me about

My question - is there really any advantage in pre-booking a hire car? Might you not be better off going to whichever car hire desk has the car that you want available? (once you arrive at the airport)

Any constructive thoughts, comments would be appreciated:)

mcfisco

I've never compared prices but for business trips I walk straight up the first desk that doesn't have a queue and use them.

It may be different if I were picking up the bill though

Takecareofthepennies

Pre-booked rates are usually a bit cheaper.

If you rent frequently, you may want to look at the frequent traveler programmes of Hertz (No. 1 Club), Europcar (Privilege), or Avis (sorry, name escapes me at the moment). Main advantages are occasional upgrades and a speedy service with all paperwork ready and waiting for you.

Personally, I pre-book whenever I can. That way, I know how much I'll be paying and that there will be a vehicle for me (try walking up to the desk at Munich or Zürich during the ski season!).

SleeplessinScandinavia

Thanks for the replies folks!

Must admit, even with a pre-booked reservation, I always seem to have lengthy wait at the desk at Stansted and Gatwick - with lots of 'faffing' around, when you get to the desk, providing details which have already been provided on-line (why can't they refer to the booking reference?:mad:)

Anyway - rant over! At the end of the day, I suppose if you use some of the better hire companies this is less likely to happen. Since I retired from my UK-based job, price has always been the major factor in what company to go with.

And yes - I know what McFisco means about business trips using a hire car. I really relish the days when I could just phone and order a hire car to be delivered to my drive - travel wherever I needed to go - and then phone and tell the company where I'd left the car. All paid for by the company:D

Takecareofthepennies

Do try Hertz #1 Club (my personal favourite). At most airports (excluding, however, those small middle-of-nowhere Ryanair destinations) and certainly at Gatwick / Stansted, you bypass the counter and go straight to your car, check it over, show your driving licence at the exit barrier and off you go.

Also, Hertz's rates tend to be fairly competitive.

joerugby

Takecareofthepennies wrote: »

Do try Hertz #1 Club (my personal favourite). At most airports (excluding, however, those small middle-of-nowhere Ryanair destinations) and certainly at Gatwick / Stansted, you bypass the counter and go straight to your car, check it over, show your driving licence at the exit barrier and off you go.

Also, Hertz's rates tend to be fairly competitive.

That's my experience too. All you need to do is show your driving licence and you are away - works all over the world too!

Obviously_the_best

For london airports, in my experiance, it doesn't get better than https://www.easirent.com

benjus

The only time I've ever considered hiring a car without prebooking was one time when I flew to Alicante airport, and my ex-wife had gone to meet me... at Valencia airport. The price they quoted me was just ridiculous - several times more expensive than if I had pre-booked. So I didn't bother on that occasion.

SleeplessinScandinavia

To be honest, I thought you had to collect car keys from the desk at Gatwick or Stansted, and that meant some kind of wait anyway

Will try Hertz No 1 Club and give it a 'whirl' . Thanks all:)