Backup Car Rental Reservations

[Disneyfanatic108]

For those that usually do a backup rental reservation, what happened when you did not use it?? I see some companies do not keep cc on file so do they try to charge you?? Just wondering how this all worked. I can understand some may cancel as soon as they know that they will not use it, but some companies require 24 hour cancellation.

 

[nkereina]

Most of the major car rental companies do not require a CC when you make your reservation, so if you do not show up, nothing happens and they just discard your reservation. There is no way they can charge you if they don't have your credit card. You do need a credit card when you go get the car, however. I don't know what current policies are for this with each company but I can confirm that Hertz does not require a CC at the time of the reservation, I just used them recently.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Unless you are either hoping for an upgrade (in other words, booked a midsize and need a minivan and are hoping for a free upgrade) or are using a questionable code, there is very little reason to have a "back-up" reservation.

Duplicate reservations increase anticipated load factors, that although companies take into consideration in terms of no-shows, generally increase the costs for everyone because it shows more utilized inventory then will actually be used.