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Thrifty IAH experiences?

Thrifty IAH experiences?
Published by: webmaster 2009-01-08

US Airport car parking at over 60 US Airports::
US Airport car parking covering over 60 US Airports and Air Park IAH years experience in airport parking at Seattle Airport, Thrifty Airport Parking
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Did you ever get a resolution from Thrifty on the rate or just blow it off?

I just went one more quick round with them about unposted airline miles on Mrs. Jayer's last rental. Made one e-mail. About two weeks later it was suddenly fixed. A bit goofy at the location and I had to ask, but while not overnight it was fixed in a reasonable time on the first contact. Sort of the usual experience with Thrifty.

I was absent from these forums for sometime and only now saw your post. I did not pursue the matter with Thrifty. Legally speaking, by signing the rental agreement, I "accepted" the higher rate. So I don't feel I have a point now complaining.

Suggest you try e-mailing or phoning Thrifty Customer Service on principle before you throw in the towel. Have never tried the sort of issue as you bring up, but have gotten reasonably prompt response on mileage posting problems both by e-mail and phone. Should have not happeneded in the first place, but was fixed without any big hassel.

Rate Blog - BlogExplosion.com::
Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) $199 Kansas City, MO (MCI) $189 Thrifty Car Rental. Travel Guard Trip Insurance. Travelocity. Travelzoo Travel Deals
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After reading the SJC thread, I'm wondering how Thrifty does at IAH? I've got a car reserved with them there because it was cheapest, and am wondering if I should go with another company instead...

Any thoughts?

Wow, another chance to post....

I went to see Joel Osteen a couple of years back and rented from Thrifty.
I had the same experience as the other posters here regarding rate problem and generally not-so-good customer service. I remember that my son (11, at the time),to this day recalls that I had a bad experience, having to "push"
for the right rate and the back and forth about something else too difficult
to recall (guess I've surpressed it and don't wish to go to Thrifty-IAH just to update and raise my blood pressure). At least, Joel was great and the church is, too, so that is easy to recommend......ah, but I digress. :)

I recommend that unless you are close to a reward with your Blue Chip,
that you consider another rental company in Houston. I'm loyal, too,
but when a child remembers a "bad" experience, it might be better to
pursue another option.

By the way, I get great service in Richmond (a little laid back) and except
for a recent experience, good service in Nashville. Oh, yeah, pretty good
in PVD RI. Not as friendly, but when they take the time, they work things
out efficiently and that counts for something.

Make sure to ask them if you can return it to the on-airport location with no fee or change in rate or taxes to save on the return cab fare. It's doable at the Thrifty here in ANC--taxes are calculated by the renting location, not the return location--but YMMV.

jujj::
Double miles: Thrifty Car Rental is offering double miles on eight airlines for now available at ALB, ATL, BWI, BOS, ORD, CLE, CMH, DEN, DTW, FLL, RSW, IAH, LAX,
http://www.johnnyjet.com/folder/archive/letter08_21_02.htmlHOME

Thanks. Yep. I verified that. I can return it at the airport with no extra fee or change in rate.

Rented there two weeks ago Saturday. Sent us on outside to the BlueChip desk. The rate on the preprinted rental agreement was wrong, but we had the reservtion printout. Seems there is some kind of local manual rekeying from what is in the cental reservation system, which seems quite antiquated.

The clerk suggested I just sign the higher rate and deal with the manager when I got back since no manager was currently available and she was not authorized to make the correction. She seemed quite suprised when we used the words "not acceptable." I was not about to be trying to fix that after the return while trying to catch a plane, and was quite willing to go on to our airport hotel without their car. Somehow she called somewhere and got it fixed, and even threw in an unsolicited two-class upgrade, but by this time we had formed a significant line.

At IAH, its a central facility with everybody in the same building. Thrifty was as Thrifty often is a bit confused and quirky. There are days I wonder why I don't drop the Gold Card and pay the extra and go to Hertz, but its often much more. My last Hertz rental had its own issues anyway.

If you switch, I don't suggest my former favorite Alamo at this location. I was giving Thrifty a try because of my last two Alamo experiences there convinced me not to risk a third strike with Alamo.

Thanks. Yep. I verified that. I can return it at the airport with no extra fee or change in rate.
Cool! Good to know if I ever visit Houston. Rumor has it that Houston airport has some of the highest taxes/airport surcharges in the country, possibly exceeding 50%, which would account for the off-airport location being less than half the cost...

(If it matters to you, some vendors don't give points on "local" rentals; but I can't speak concerning Thrifty or this location).
None of the partnerships Thrifty has with airline loyalty programs requires a flight segment in conjunction with the rental, and there exists no policy (as far as I'm aware of) stating that any certain types of rentals do not qualify for airline mileage credit. All Thrifty locations in the U.S. and Canada should grant mileage equally--see here (http://www.thrifty.com/specials/4208.aspx) for details.)

To be sure the agent doesn't make a mistake and enter the wrong mileage number or anything (or refuse to put it in, though I don't know why they would), sign up for a Blue Chip account and put your preferred FF# in there. Make sure to put in your Blue Chip number when making a reservation, and all of that information will be pre-filled on their screen--they'd need to conscientiously delete the FF# (and if they did, for some strange reason, you could certainly then complain to the Blue Chip desk and get it resolved quickly, along with probably a coupon for a free day).

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I called them and they said they don't provide a shuttle.

Jayer--do you have any idea how much a cab fare would be from the airport to the IA2 location? The address of the IA2 location is

15845 JOHN F KENNEDY BLVD
LOCAL OFFICE NEAR IAH AIRPORT
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77032

The rate there is more than 1/2 off the rate from the airport. So I was just wondering if it'd be worth it to cab it over there.

Thanks!

Edited to Add

Actually never mind. I found this cool website (http://www.yellowcabhouston.com/mapquest/mapquest_ychouston.php) that allows me to calculate it.
Make sure to ask them if you can return it to the on-airport location with no fee or change in rate or taxes to save on the return cab fare. It's doable at the Thrifty here in ANC--taxes are calculated by the renting location, not the return location--but YMMV.

I rented from Thrifty's IAH location about two weeks ago. I have mixed feelings about recommeding them. On one hand, the car they gave me (a Ford Taurus) was in excellent condition, clean and exacly as I had requested. I didn't have to wait too long in the line and, after presenting my driver's license and credit card, was driving the car out of the lot in a few minutes. Very quick service. On the other hand, they did not honor my reservation, which I had done online. They charged me USD 7 more per day than the rate I had on my reservation confirmation printout. I didn't walk away because even with the extra charge, the rate was still cheaper than the competition.

Hi,

When I search for an IAH location, I see one at IAH (Thrifty #IAH) and one "near IAH" (Thrifty #IA2). The rates at IA2 are much cheaper than IAH, but I was wondering does the IA2 location have a free shuttle between the airport and the rental lot?

Thanks.

Terence

Sorry to have dominated this thread, but I think I can help you.

I'm not going to IAH these days, but I think your direct answer is no. IAH consolidated into a shiny new central facility. Most of the old lots are closed, but Thrifty had retained its former space on JFK as a local rental office. (I assume that is what you are seeing, but I would suggest you check. Its off-airport, so perhaps you miss all the airport taxes and fees).

Now if you are arriving during the day while the Thrifty remote office is open, AND are staying at the Doubletree or Sheraton or Hampton, you could take the hotel shuttle and walk to the Thrifty office.

I forgot one thing specific....

I got the impression "Blue Chip" means "so what! Big deal" to them....

Cool! Good to know if I ever visit Houston. Rumor has it that Houston airport has some of the highest taxes/airport surcharges in the country, possibly exceeding 50%, which would account for the off-airport location being less than half the cost...

I don't remember the percentage rate, but they are paying for new pro football, baseball, and basketball venues at the same time, which generally get financed by the rental car levies (not to mention the new central auto rental facility).

Really, what is being discussed is a viable beat-the-taxes strategy. If you are booked on JFK (or have the gumption to just get on the bus) any of the JFK hotels (OK the Holiday Inn would be a really long walk) are close enough to walk back north to the Thrifty local-rental office. (If it matters to you, some vendors don't give points on "local" rentals; but I can't speak concerning Thrifty or this location).

well my flight ended up being delayed, and I didn't make it to the IA2 location down on JFk before the location closed (they close at 9PM). But in the end, it worked out. The airport Thrifty was offering a last minute special, and I was able to snag a rate only $20 more than the IA2 location, and about $25 less than the original IAH rate that I first saw.