Car Seat Rental At Avis - Warning

[dijid]

We are flying on Friday and had planned on renting two carseats from Avis to get us to/from port. Not only have they raised their rates from $5/day to $8/day on carseats - but they're now charging an additional $15/day/seat for not dropping off in the same location. It will cost me $92!!!!!! to rent two carseats for two days. This from a company that says they're committed to child safety! I have called and complained, but it didn't do any good. Wanted to warn others that may be considering doing the same thing. I feel fortunate that I accidentally found this out while trying to find my DH's Wizard number. They never told me about it when I called to confirm that carseats were part of our rental.

We have so much baby stuff to bring that are taking up room (including a nebulizer, stroller, breast pump) that we really can't spare the space for two car seats in the room also. We leave on Friday so now I'm going to have to scramble to come up with other options.

 

[skuba]

I was wondering if you are renting the car in both directions, could you possibly arrange for a refund of the "drop-off" fee if you could show proof of two one-way rentals. It might be worth asking.

I think it is amusing that they don't charge a "drop-off" fee for their cars but do for their car seats. I guess the cars are more likely to get back to the airport rather than the car seats.

I have a trick with my toddler carseat. I strap my diaper bag which happened to be a backpack upside down in the car seat and then was able to use the backpack straps to carry both the bag and the carseat. I was traveling alone with my toddler and a baby so I also had 2 seats.

Good Luck!

DG

 

[dijid]

Ok. I have now talked to three people and think I've straightened this out and I will not be charged the additional $60 because I am eventually returning the seats to the same location. The Orlando Airport and Cocoa Beach locations are considered part of the same fleet and the one-way fees should NOT apply. However, I had to speak directly to a manager at the airport rental location to get this cleared up. Moral of the story: Don't deal with the operators at the 1-800#. (one of them tried to tell me I wasn't allowed to rent carseats!)