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Post by johnb on Apr 7, 2023 9:11:47 GMT -5
I usually book our rental car shortly after booking the hotel and airfare, then check the rental price periodically, rebooking when the price drops. While I understand that prices fluctuate based upon the company's algorithm and supply/demand, what is odd is how on the same day, using two different platforms (logged into the app; website, not logged into account) the price will be different. Today, the app price was higher than my current reservation and the website was lower.  |
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Apr 7, 2023 9:20:37 GMT -5
That is funny.
I found it equally bizarre last year, using my wife's corporate code, not only was the price insanely low, it didn't change one bit over nearly a year.
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Post by Eeyorelover22 on Apr 7, 2023 9:27:14 GMT -5
That is funny. I found it equally bizarre last year, using my wife's corporate code, not only was the price insanely low, it didn't change one bit over nearly a year. My hubby’s never does either. I did just lower mine by $20 for my May trip to the cornfields of Iowa. |
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Apr 7, 2023 9:33:09 GMT -5
I did just lower mine by $20 for my May trip to the cornfields of Iowa. New incentives from the Iowa Tourism Board. |
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Post by johnb on Apr 7, 2023 9:41:17 GMT -5
That is funny. I found it equally bizarre last year, using my wife's corporate code, not only was the price insanely low, it didn't change one bit over nearly a year. Contract rate not renegotiated?? Following up my first post, I rebooked the car via the website, since the price was lower by a few dollars, and because I have an account/membership (Alamo), after I enter my email address on the website booing, the reservation appears in the app. And FWIW, the discount I'm getting when I use the AP discount code (860292) is better than the Alamo Insiders price. |
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Apr 7, 2023 9:57:58 GMT -5
Contract rate not renegotiated?? Something. That was last year; I am now looking at one for this year for a similar length of time and the price has gone up slightly, although it's a more travel-y time of year so that could have something to do with it. Or it's a new calendar year and they have a new negotiation. Or now that I think about it, we are going for two extra days. Either way, it's still crazy low, last year I got a full-size for two full weeks for $305. With taxes it ended up being closer to $500. This year I think it said like $330 or something. I also noticed, regarding the corporate code, that there is no payment required until we return the car and there is no cancellation fee. |
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Post by Eeyorelover22 on Apr 7, 2023 10:56:53 GMT -5
I did just lower mine by $20 for my May trip to the cornfields of Iowa. New incentives from the Iowa Tourism Board. I’m going with….no one goes there except me |
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Post by zafiro on Apr 7, 2023 11:03:29 GMT -5
I've had great success with Turo in Oahu, Maui and Orlando. The price is significantly lower than all traditional rental companies and all discount codes and pick-up and drop-off is easy.
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Post by ItsMe on Apr 7, 2023 11:58:18 GMT -5
That is funny. I found it equally bizarre last year, using my wife's corporate code, not only was the price insanely low, it didn't change one bit over nearly a year. My corp code does the same thing. I just thought it was because that’s a negotiated rate between the car rental agency and our employer. I know for hotel discounts that’s how it works for my firm, so thought car rental was the same. |
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Apr 7, 2023 17:31:51 GMT -5
New incentives from the Iowa Tourism Board. I’m going with….no one goes there except me We will occasionally go there on a road trip, just for fun. We are in southern MN probably 45 minute drive to the border. I hit a liquor store one time and found a locally-made bottle of something like 170-proof corn whiskey. Just for fun. |
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Post by brp on Apr 9, 2023 10:36:42 GMT -5
That is funny. I found it equally bizarre last year, using my wife's corporate code, not only was the price insanely low, it didn't change one bit over nearly a year. My corp code does the same thing. I just thought it was because that’s a negotiated rate between the car rental agency and our employer. I know for hotel discounts that’s how it works for my firm, so thought car rental was the same.
Same here. Although, in a few cases, I have seen it go up close in due to availability limits. But usually unchanged.
For those who are using fluctuating price rentals, I suggest Autoslash.com. I've seen mixed results here (mine versus others) about how their initial prices compare to other portals). But there is no reason, after booking, not to track with them as they will monitor for drops based on whatever rate you currently have.
Cheers.
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Post by johnb on Apr 9, 2023 10:42:13 GMT -5
My corp code does the same thing. I just thought it was because that’s a negotiated rate between the car rental agency and our employer. I know for hotel discounts that’s how it works for my firm, so thought car rental was the same.
Same here. Although, in a few cases, I have seen it go up close in due to availability limits. But usually unchanged.
For those who are using fluctuating price rentals, I suggest Autoslash.com. I've seen mixed results here (mine versus others) about how their initial prices compare to other portals). But there is no reason, after booking, not to track with them as they will monitor for drops based on whatever rate you currently have.
Cheers.
If I book via Autoslash, can I access the reservation in the rental car company's app and can I bypass the counter? I don't comparison shop between companies because Alamo has always been so easy to use when bypassing the counter. |
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Post by brp on Apr 9, 2023 10:50:19 GMT -5
If I book via Autoslash, can I access the reservation in the rental car company's app and can I bypass the counter? I don't comparison shop between companies because Alamo has always been so easy to use when bypassing the counter. This is supposed to work. I've had it work most of the time. We've not used them in a while, so maybe it has gotten more reliable. Certainly no risk as it can be cancelled. Also, they usually lead to Priceline for the actual,booking. They're partnered somehow. But, when I've gone to Priceline on my own, I've often not found the same rate I do through their link.
You can also specify companies with Autoslash and they will only book or report drops for those companies. When I did use them, for example, I only wanted the 8 or so first-tier companies.
Cheers.
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