Will this work for getting a minivan rental?

[n2mm]

Are you talking about National or Dollar?

National

 

[lawsonsontour]

That would be your opinion. I heard you the first time.

No, thank you.

its a shame because i have just had to book 2 minivans for oct and the best price i can get this year is around $650 each for two weeks . alot more than i have paid before and i cant help but think that things like this is what is pushing up the price so quickly.i am all for people getting a bargin but think doing it this way is really quite selfish

 

[Inkmahm]

When we have used the minivan aisle or found a minivan on the aisle, they have been either the Grand Caravan or the Town & Country w/sto and go (this is what we had a couple of weeks ago -- my choice).

Yes, I've seen the Town and Country vans, too. But any Caravan that is there is a Grand Caravan so it would be guaranteed to have room for 7 people, not just 6.

 

[Inkmahm]

its a shame because i have just had to book 2 minivans for oct and the best price i can get this year is around $650 each for two weeks . alot more than i have paid before and i cant help but think that things like this is what is pushing up the price so quickly.i am all for people getting a bargin but think doing it this way is really quite selfish

And I believe that it has no effect on the price because the car rental companies have statistics for no shows so they overbook, just like airlines.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

And I believe that it has no effect on the price because the car rental companies have statistics for no shows so they overbook, just like airlines.

Again, I don't think anyone is disagreeing that they factor in a no-show percentage, in the past when fleet inventories were high, a 5% factor of no shows really didn't impact pricing as much as today.

Today fleet inventories are the lowest they have ever been (and probably should have been) which is resulting in prices being where they always should have been (sorry a minivan rental for $200 a week doesn't pay the bills), so a 5% no show factor really eats into the limited inventory, thus is why rates are jumping even higher then the already increased rates.

If you want to compare car rentals to airfare, thats a perfect way, then maybe you can see the impact of people buying airfare that don't show up has on inventory issues. Yes, every day people miss their flights (intentionally or unintentionally), cancel, etc, even if it means they lose money, however depending on the airfare they booked, they took away a lower cost seat from someone else. The good news is in most cases the person is penalized for this in the form of a change fee (or they booked a refundable airfare at a rate almost equal to a restricted first class ticket). Unfortunately car rental agencies haven't full implemented the fee for cancellation policy yet, although in some markets and on some fleets, this is starting to happen (which is a GREAT think IMO). So people book multiple reservations, taking up lower priced fare classes, resulting in others being unable to book lower rates, but people who do this seem to be out for themselves and no one else, shear lack of consumer responsibility.

 

[Inkmahm]

Again, I don't think anyone is disagreeing that they factor in a no-show percentage, in the past when fleet inventories were high, a 5% factor of no shows really didn't impact pricing as much as today.

If they factor in a correct no-show percentage, it doesn't impact pricing. Period.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

If they factor in a correct no-show percentage, it doesn't impact pricing. Period.

So you're putting the responsibility in guessing how many customers will think for themselves versus for the general populus. Keep in mind, the percentage is a constantly moving rate, it varies by market and what may have been correct a year ago, will most certainly be different now.

 

[Inkmahm]

So you're putting the responsibility in guessing how many customers will think for themselves versus for the general populus. Keep in mind, the percentage is a constantly moving rate, it varies by market and what may have been correct a year ago, will most certainly be different now.

Not sure your first sentence makes any sense but I agree that I am putting responsibility for estimating correctly on National. That is their business.

 

[Inkmahm]

We're getting in late morning on a THursday so I actually have hope that there could be a minivan on the EA. I just can't chance not having one though.

I read through the Dollar site and can't find anything in the policies about a cancellation fee. I doubt National has one, either, but I'm checking.

I got a response from National today: There will be no charge for a cancellation, even within the 24 hour period. If you do have to cancel, you can do so on our web site or through email.

Please contact us again if we can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,
Customer Care
National Car Rental