Avis has a new service that lets you skip the bus to and from the airport rental center entirely, a concierge that delivers your car to you and that drives you back in the vehicle to the airport when you return it.
Avis First is the name of their offering for drop off at the airport or in-city, which is a bit confusing because Avis First was the name of their elite status level in their loyalty program (now known as Preferred Plus). I recall that Avis First as an elite name was 2007 – 2015.
Under this new program an employee meets you curbside instead of heading to the lot. And they meet you at the departures level to pick up the car.
- Initial airports: Denver, Honolulu, Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale
- City locations: Manhattan, Hoboken, Jersey City, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, Orlando, Washington, D.C., and Seattle.
The offering is supposed to be available for Premium SUV, Premium Large SUV, Luxury Sedan and Luxury SUV vehicles although here’s a buy up offer at the Denver airport for curbside drop off post-rental on an intermediate vehicle for $50 (not an ‘Avis First’ buy up per se).
For about 8 years I had Avis’s Chairmans Club status, which was incredible. It came with vehicle dropoff and drive back to the terminal, as well as real upgrades and market rate for gas (no need to prepay the full tank). I received a referral that was supposed to last one year, but they didn’t take it away for quite some time. That was nearly 13 years ago and I still miss it.
When I’m traveling with my family – a one year old and a six year old and baggage on a long holiday! – I’d pay to avoid schlepping bags onto the bus, driving to the lot, getting everything and everyone off. And since they’re offering this I’d even choose them over competitors. But I don’t usually pay for the car classes needed to be eligible for this add-on.
I’m an Avis Presidents Club member via American Airlines, but they do also offer status matches. This page says it’s not available to residents of the U.S. and Canada, but in fact they do status match by sending an email for instance with screenshots of your status from National or Hertz to profile.update -at- avisbudget.com and making the request.
@ Gary — Do you also receive an MRI report when they give you the car?
It’s a nice idea; I prefer airports with cars in the terminal, just to avoid the shuttle buses. For instance, TPA has a great rental car car center and train. However, if they don’t have transportation like that, this Avis concept is a nice amenity, if they’re offering it. Gotta rent from Avis at least once a year to use that $120 Citi AA Exec card credit!
@ 1990 — Gotta? I forgot the CitiExec card offered this.
@Gene — I was going to say this as well — what if they do the imaging and then ding it up on the way to you!?
@Gene — I keep a spreadsheet and try my best to never leave money on the table. If I don’t at least ‘breakeven’ on the cards, you’ll be happy to hear that I do close ‘em. So, yeah, I do use the silly $120 credit for Avis (prepaid rentals, calendar year). Also, the $10/mo dining credits with Grubhub, and, the $10/mo after 3x Lyft credits (no car, NYC, actually use ride-shares). So, that’s $360 of the $595 AF. On the Admirals Club access, one-day passes are $79/person, and I do fly AA, visit ACs more than 3x/year. Finally, these days, I do partially rely on that 10K LP bonus at 50K and 90K to get to 125K for Platinum Pro. So, that card works for me for now; but might not work for everyone. I was pleased with the 100K sign up bonus when I got that card, too. To me, this is how to ‘play the game.’
@1990 — Category 5 winner! (Zoidberg reference) Spreadsheet and milking every benefit to its fullest is the way to go.
@1990 @Gene – Be warned that for cardholders who applied after 7/15/24, the $120 credit is for prepaid rentals only. For cardholders who applied prior to 7/15/24, both post-paid and prepaid rentals qualify for 2025 but that ends 1/1/26 where the credit is for prepaid only.
I can see this being a big time saver in Manhattan if they will meet you at your apartment with the car — I’ve always had to wait at least an hour to get a car in any Manhattan Avis location (too few people working the desk and too many people who never seem to have ever rented a car in front of me). Also, this way you don’t need to either schlep your luggage in a cab/uber to Avis or go to Avis and then drive back to your apartment to pick up your luggage.
It’s not clear how returns work in Manhattan — do you meet them at the rental location and they drive you home, or do you meet them at your apartment and give them the keys?
Also seems that the Avis First pricing works with discount codes.
@TheJetsFan — Correct! Made sure to follow that fine-print, and have not been let down so far. Sometimes Citi takes a while to post, but it does work in the end. I’ve found Avis to be fairly generous with their status, too. Have rented several entry-level SUVs and have ended up with Premium SUVs. Like, at SLC, expected a Rav4, got a Suburban. Maybe it was a gas-cost equation for them. Idk, but was nice!
Very nice. I remember years ago, Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam had this for regular customers. A man would drive your car to the curb after you checked in at the counter.
I’m not sure many busy airports are going to like it, as this service will increase traffic around airports. I have a feeling that this idea will be killed before too long.
@1990 – “I prefer airports with cars in the terminal, just to avoid the shuttle buses.” Or in the case of DIA, avoiding shuttle-bus crashes (two in just over the past month, one with fatalities).
Back in the day pre Flyertalk, I had an Avis angel at LAX. Morris. I’d dtop the car and he’d drop me at T-7. I was a regular.
@Denver Refugee — That’s awful. I can see how though, specifically E 78th Ave (the street by all the rental cars), because folks go super fast, and it’s kinda hard to turn in or pull out of those lots. I nearly got hit last weekend. Sheesh!
@derek — Huge fan of Schiphol, generally, and specifically for the rental car companies that are in-terminal. It’s been a few years, but, before the pandemic I rented from Alamo at AMS, didn’t have to take a shuttle, just a long-walk (like, past the Sheraton there), and they had unique cars available, like a Volvo V40, which, at the time, I enjoyed driving, very much. Safe, efficient, reliable, comfortable.
I distinctly remember that Avis had something similar on offer something like 20 years ago where they’d (supposedly) drive you to the terminal from the Avis lot for an extra fee, but it was drop-off only. I tried using it several times at DFW but it never worked because there was never once anyone actually available to do the drive. Hopefully they will be able to staff this new service adequately.
@Mike Hunt — Sounds like Avis should do some more hiring. Jobs! Jobs!
Why pay more??
When traveling with kids in the US I take an Uber/Lyft to the hotel and then rent a car from there (maybe even the next day) paying in-city rates, which are lower (and maybe for a day less). It pays for the Uber/Lyft and the experience is so so much better!
@ 1990 — Never used GrubHub or DoorDash, nor do I plan to use them. Those services are for obese Americans who are too lazy to walk/drive to obtain their feeding.
They desperately need this at DEN – glad it’s one of the airports. Last week I rented a car from Budget and it took more than an hour from the time I walked out of the terminal until I was driving away in my car. (waiting for the bus, waiting in line to process the rental, then bizarrely waiting in another line to get assigned a car, then waiting to leave the parking lot with only one gate operational). I told my husband on Thursday “I’ll never rent a car at DEN again…” and now the universe has provided a way.
The City of Denver would very much prefer you didn’t drive a car at all.
Shuttle buses are difficult for lots of people. especially those with heavy baggage. Here’’s one solution for families: Adult #1 goes and rents the car while the rest of the family waits near baggage claim until Adult #1 has the rental car, loops back to the terminal and picks them up.
@Gene — Depends where you live. Those services are prevalent in NYC, and quite helpful. Still, I walk plenty. Don’t own a car either. Rideshares, delivery services, trains, etc. It is ‘different.’
@Lynn — Well, if you do ever end up in DEN again, and need a car, try Sixt next time; they’re pretty decent. Better, modern, luxurious cars. Many shuttle buses. Like one every 5 minutes.
@WaterGirl — Now that’s creative!