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About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. Its not speed that we need to worry about based on our present technology but Cosmic Radiation and other forms of Radiation we are exposed to in a normal commercial flight.

    Most of our Astronauts are victims of Cancer most likely due to the high levels they have been exposed to in Space.

    My discussions with Aircraft crew on long flights indicates long term work on all Airlines indicates a major impact on their health.

    This is an interesting article.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/health-32786537

  2. Hertz is still #1 to me. 2,750 United miles per rental and with the same rate offered directly via Hertz website. Doesn’t hurt that being United Plat I get free Presidents Circle. Came in handy last year arriving late at an airport with no clean Hertz cars and 30+ people in line, they shuffled 3 pres circle members off to the side and got us a car within 3 minutes.

    I guess maybe I just proved your point with that story, but seriously what do you need from a rental car company other than a seamless pickup/dropoff and good selection of cars?

    (Posted via United WiFi connection somewhere over Canada, Gary! )

  3. I do about 40 car rentals a year and Hertz is definitely my last choice among the big players. They have the worst cars, worst service and the most service screw ups. They are living off their established reputation. Last week, I had to sign out of my loyalty profile to get a lower rate (in other words, they sometimes try to charge their loyal customers more to rent). Still, National keeps getting more expensive and sometimes I have to pick Hertz based on price. BTW, if you “prepay” for your Hertz rental, your points don’t generally post. You have to call. This will be more important now to infrequent renters.

  4. @chopsticks

    I guess I’m asking…when you say “worst service and most service screw ups”…what exactly is happening? I rent my car online, get to the Hertz lot, pick my car, drive up to the window, show them my driver’s license and I’m on my way. When I come back I park my car and walk away. I barely talk to one person and it’s amazing. What part of that process is getting screwed up or how is it getting complicated? Do they suck at last minute changes to reservations? Do they accidentally bill you for gas or insurance after you decline it?

    I’m at 22 rentals last year so not as many as you but not an “infrequent renter” by any means, should be enough for me to have run into poor service at some point (different airports all over the US)

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