Conference 7.286::digital

    some sort of problem prevented the previous note from being fully
    written... and also prevented me from replying to another note.
    
    I'll try again now.
    
    I've heard that there may be a "new" relationship with AVIS and
    DIGITAL... and that this results in an "automatic" upgrade in vehicles
    when we rent from them...
    
    Is this true?  
    
    tony

AVIS *has* been offering a free upgrade on all recent Digital rentals - but
an AVIS rep at an airport told me that it was a promo deal for a month or
so, kind of a "Welcome to AVIS" for Digital renters. I don't think it will
be a permanent feature.

In any case, their service has been just as good as National ever was (at
least for myself).  Preferred Service will make it even better.

	Al

RE:           <<< Note 1459.2 by GLORY::HULL "EIS Delivery - Motown" >>>

>In any case, their service has been just as good as National ever was (at
>least for myself).  Preferred Service will make it even better.

I too am glad that Avis is now the primary car vendor.  They give the
best service in the business {With the exception of the Miami airport
:-)}.  A few weeks ago an Avis bus gave me a lift from Continental to
the Digital gate a Logan.  The guy stopped to pick me up while I was
walking.

When at National I always felt the folks at the desk could not care one
way or another.  The change is worth the loss of the Continental
frequent flier miles!

    If you are a "PREFERRED" Avis renter, you are automatically upgraded
    to a higher class of automobile.  The complimentary Digital upgrade
    program is supposed to be in effect until 5/31/91, per an Avis agent.

>   <<< Note 1459.3 by KYOA::MIANO "John - NY Retail Banking Resource Cntr" >>>
>                -< We should thank someone for this decision! >-
>

>
>I too am glad that Avis is now the primary car vendor.  They give the
>best service in the business {With the exception of the Miami airport
>:-)}.  A few weeks ago an Avis bus gave me a lift from Continental to
>the Digital gate a Logan.  The guy stopped to pick me up while I was
>walking.

I have been a loyal AVIS fan ever since pulling into the lot in Houston with 
10 minutes to go to the flight.  I was in an obvious hurry and the guy coming
to get the car noticed... asked when my flight was, and upon hearing, told me 
to hop in...

I made my flight!!  

AVIS made a fan...

/mike

    I left home at 5 a.m., travelled across three timezones and arrived
    at 11 p.m pretty much whipped. When I got to my hotel, I discovered
    my drivers license had been left at the Avis counter at the airport (at
    least that's where I hoped I lost it!) I called Avis at 11:55 p.m.
    and the woman who answered the phone found my license and volunteered
    to bring it to my hotel some 20 miles from the airport after she
    got off work at midnight. I went to sleep and the next morning my
    license was at the front desk.
    
    See if I ever rent a car anyplace else.
    
    John H.

Good service.

But, ever the cynic, I point out that AVIS would have been responsible
for picking their car up from impoundment if you had been stopped.  They
were protecting themselves...

    I would have thought the right thing to do was wait up for the person
    to bring the lic...  Thats what I call service.
    
    
    Regrads
    
    Bob
    
    

    Lets see.
    
    There was the time the AVIS person in Frankfurt found a special deal
    that saved DEC $1000 on a rental.
    
    ANother time in London I had 30 minutes to catch an international
    flight and they got me to the terminal plus talked to an BA agent who
    basically ran me through check-in/passport control, etc. with 10
    minutes to spare.
    
    Avis has done stuff like this a bunch of times. 
    
    BTW hasn't Avis been primary for a number of years??
    
    yoseff
    

    In Europe it has been, but National had been the primary in the US.
    
    -Bruce

I recall as a Field Service ENgineer many years ago, when I covered a fairly
large Geographic area, that regular patronage, of Rental Car companies, Hotels
and Airlines was the best way to get guaranteed good service.  Then of course,
I can remember years later having a problem with accomodation, and having both
Amex Gold card, and Hyatt Platinum card people pointing fingers and ducking
for cover, when all I wanted was a nights accomodation...

q

I don't know why you think National was the primary.

When I first came to work for the company, we had agreements with Avis
and Hertz.  Hertz refused to provide low enough rates one year, and we
dropped our agreement with them.  A year or so later, we signed an
agreement with National, but there was no mention that they were primary
as opposed to AVIS.  I'm sure we did more business with AVIS than with
National during the life of the agreement with National.

/john

    well, i asked for an upgrade and they (AVIS) gave it to me.  
    
    i called AVIS, gave them my corporate number and they instantly knew
    who i was, and pulled up my profile.  when i got to Dallas, i asked for
    an upgrade, and was given a brand new Olds Calais... fully equipped,
    with unlimited mileage. 
    
    i drove it one week, put over 1300 miles on it, and it cost $100. 
    including tax.
    
    I've always preferred AVIS, and now, more than ever.
    
    
    tony

    I hope when this isall over someone bundles up the AVIS comments and
    sends them to AVIS and to Tom Peters...
    
    I wonder what Digital would be like if we were an employee owned
    company like AVIS is?  When it's *your* company you take personal
    interest in customer satisfaction.  That's why AVIS is so good.  That's
    why I like them.
    
    (Thanks for all the info re: upgrade... I have to try it on Wednesday
    now that I am a Preferred Extra Special Wizard Guru You-Are-My_Destiny
    AVIS customer.)
    
    Fred
    

Re:<<< Note 1459.14 by UFP::AVOLIO "I was ULTRIX when ULTRIX wasn't *cool*" >>>

>    I hope when this isall over someone bundles up the AVIS comments and
>    sends them to AVIS and to Tom Peters...

I hope noone sends anything to AVIS without obtaining each author's permission
first.  I believe that to do so would be against corporate policy. 

-  David

    Just so someone doesn't fall all over themselves praising Avis for the
    supposed upgrade, I just (Monday) arrived in Chicago and asked for the
    upgrade. They told me that the free upgrade was only good for one month
    after Digital and Avis signed the contract. That month is over. In
    short, I did *not* get the upgrade.
    
    	BD�

    The "Upgrade" is part of the Preferred Renmter program, not a special
    deal according to Avis's literature.  The idea is IF a car is available
    to upgrade you, you automatically get the next larger car.  AVIS folks
    are not all real clear on this program because it is new.
    
    I got great service from them yesterday with a problem I had.  They
    don't need to give me anything free of charge...I don't mind getting
    what I pay for.  It's nice to get good service, which they normally
    deliver.
    
    Remember -- the standard is for us to get Compact cars.  An upgrade
    gets you a Corsica or a Grand Am.
    
    Fred
    

How does one get to be a "preferred renter?" Is this program 
available in Europe?

Cheers,

Geoff

    re a few back, agreed, the program is not consistent in all locations. 
    Seems like I *always* get upgraded, for example, in Atlanta, but just
    last week was refused upgrades in both Wichita & Phoenix.
    
    Jon

In the U.S., all you have to do is send in a "Preferred Renter" application and
AVIS signs you up.  The U.S. DEC/AVIS agreement stipulates that we don't have to
pay any annual fee for this program, but each employee must still apply on an
individual basis. You receive a plastic card with a Wizard number and then
use that number when you make a reservation. It's not automatic.

An application was sent out to holders of Digital Business Credit Cards 
(Diners Club or American Express), but I'm sure there's a way to request an
application from AVIS is you need one.

I'm guessing this is largely a U.S. program; you'd have to check with Corporate 
Travel to find out if it applied in Europe or GIA.

	/Marvin

    RE: .19

    I'm not surprised that Phoenix refused the upgrade.  I rent about 80%
    of my cars there and that office is awful.  I've gotten dirty cars,
    cars with strategic pieces missing (mirrors, etc.).  One time they gave
    me a car so dirty I couldn't see out of the front window.  I asked them
    to clean it and the guy was rude and then wanted a TIP!  Needless to
    say, he didn't get it.

    Bottom line is that our impression of any company is completely
    dependent on the employees we interface with and the service they
    provide.... wonder if there is a message for Digital in here.

    Sandy

Talking to the AVIS office at Logan, while they rewrite the rental contract
from the Sheraton here in Nashua, I learned that about 50% of the AVIS
offices are franchises.  Theas offices do not need to participate in the
special upgrades, etc, but they still do give the preferred corporate rates.

Perhaps this is the "problem" in Phoenix ?

I was in Los Angeles last week and rented from AVIS at LAX. I asked about the 
"free upgrade" program for Digital employees. The AVIS guy spent about 15 
minutes calling some other AVIS people somewhere else. Finally after all this 
waiting he said the program expired. I didn't have time to ask about the 
Preferred renter program so I drove a Sunbird for two weeks (@$129/week).

I would also like to know how to become a Preferred renter. I have a 
Corporate Credit Card (Diner's Club) and didn't receive anything from AVIS.

Jim

Is there some kind of specific name or offer number for this? I too did
not receive anything about it. I'd like to call the local Avis office
but feel like I would get a big runaround if I'm not already armed with
some info...

Thanks-

Lee

    I will be traveling to the U.S. from Europe for vacation next month.
    I would like to rent a car in N.Y.C. when I arrive at JFK, but Avis
    at JFK has a surcharge of $6.00/day there.  Sence I will keep the
    car about 3 weeks, this surcharge will add up.  
    
    Where is the nearest Avis rental location that does not have the
    surcharge?  How can I reserve a car, and get cheap transportation
    from JFK to this Avis rental location?
    
    Any help will be appreciated.
    
    Ken
                                              

Yep, that will add up.  Something like $130 or so, including tax, for your
three weeks stay.

However, to avoid the $6 charge (which exists on both our AVIS and Budget
contracts), you'll have to get completely outside the New York City / Newark
area.  And you'll have to not only pick up, but also return your car to a
location outside the surcharge area to avoid a charge of $0.20 per mile
for a one-way rental.

You could probably arrange bus transportation to Westchester County airport
or to Princeton, NJ, but for two people you'll probably spend close to that
$130 to get there and back.

Seems the only way to avoid the charge would be to avoid New York City.

/john

RE: .26

This discussion probably belongs in HOLIDAY_TRAVEL, but, what the heck.

The answer is obvious:  don't rent a car in NYC!  For the life of me, I can't
imagine what advantage you could possibly hope to gain by having a car there.
If you're taking day/overnight trips out of the city, rent the car for the trip
and return it back to AVIS upon return to the city.  Meanwhile, parking is
phenomenally expensive, car thieves abound (OK, so it might not cost if you're
covered by insurance, but it's still a big hassle if you have to deal with
a stolen car), and public transport is generally easy and reliable.

In most U.S. cities, a car rental is clear-cut.  In NYC, it's almost NEVER
right.

Just MHO.

K.

    Do your plans for vacation in the states restrict you to NY? An
    alternative "port of entry" is Dulles (VA), BWI (MD), or Washington
    International (Between Balto. & VA). I presume you are visting multiple
    states to perhaps it's a matter of where you visit first and where you
    plan to end up.

    Thanks for your replies.
    
    Re. -2
    I have tried to open the COMCAD::HOILDAY_TRAVEL conference but I get
    a "error in device name or inappropriate device type for operation"
    message.  What am I doing wrong?
    
    Re. -1
    The basic problem is that I am coming to the U.S. by charter flight,
    and it seems that NYC. is the only hub that can support regular
    (3/wk) charter flights from Madrid. (about $800 return).  Internal 
    U.S. fares are expensive.  From Europe we can purchase in advance
    tickets for about $100 per flight (not destination) as long as they
    are all on the same air line company. I.E. flights N.Y./Boston cost
    the same as N.Y./L.A.
    
    I am planning to visit family in Okla. City and Ashville N.C.  As
    there is no direct flight between these three cities, I would need
    to buy 6 tickets ($600) per person going through hubs of Atlanta or
    Chicago .  Sence time is not a big factor, I was considering renting 
    a car in NYC. and drive through and back with some additional sight 
    seeing.
    
    Any more ideas out there?
    
    Ken 

	... get from your initial port of entry to Nashville, TN., you
will be on Interstate 40 that runs from Nashville west to OK. City, and
east to Ashville.  And a more gorgeous drive east of the Rockies is hard
to find.  Through the Smokey Mt. Park to Ashville, and the Arkansas hills
to OK. City.

	Ashville would be an easy day's drive, OK. City a tiring one!

	I know Nashville is an American Airline hub, but I'm not sure
if that translates into good fares or not!

	Good Luck!

While not on par with European trains (so I'm told), Amtrack might offer you
a better solution.  I don't know how close to the Oklahoma and North Carolina
destinations you can get by train, but, you might find the European purchased
train ticket very competitively priced.  You can usually rent a car at the
station in major cities/towns.  You might find short rentals for local
driving in combination with train travel an attractive alternative.

Keep in mind that:
-long distance train service in the US is sparse and books quickly -- you need
	reservations.
-driving from NYC to NC to OK and return is a long trip.  Without an accurate
	map to look at now, I'd estimate NY-NC at 750 miles, NC to OK at
	1000 miles, and OK to NY at 1300 miles.  Check an atlas for more
	accurate numbers.  I'll let you convert to Km.
-you see a lot from the train without the pain of 12 hour, 600 mile days.
-if you don't rent a car in at airport, do be careful in NY.  Don't let 
	strangers "carry your bags for you sir/madam?"  Use the express bus
	service from the airport to Manhattan -- taxis are expensive and the
	drivers prey on first time visitors.  

As a former New Yorker, my suggestion is that you see the city, without a car,
for a few days, and then enjoy the other parts of the US you'll see.

/dan

I'm not sure that taking the train is a very good recommendation.  There
are two trains a day from New York to Charlotte, the closest point on the
system to Asheville.  One leaves Penn. Station at 6:20a getting to Charlotte
at 8:11p (via Richmond/Raleigh).  The other leaves Penn. Station at 2:25p
and arrives in Charlotte at 2:50a the next morning (via Charlottesville).
(Actually, the night train gets a bit closer to Asheville, N.C., arriving
in Spartanburg, S.C. at 4:25a.)  The daytime return from Charlotte leaves
at 8:00a and gets to Penn. Sta. at 9:59p; the overnight train leaves
Spartanburg at 11:27p, Charlotte at 12:59a, and gets to NYC at 2:08p.

One advantage of the train is that it would allow an essentially free
stopover in Washington, D.C., which is much more worth visiting than
New York City.

There is no train service in Oklahoma at all, and there is no east-west
train service that even gets you close anywhere between Chicago and New
Orleans.  (That's right: from Washington there is one train line that
heads to Chicago and another to New Orleans and nothing in between.)

Driving from New York City to Asheville WITHOUT STOPPING AT ALL will take
about 12 hours, but you will go through much more scenic territory (down
the Shenandoah Valley) than the train goes.

I would suggest buying two round-trip tickets:  One from NYC to Nashville,
Charlotte, Knoxville, or Atlanta, and driving from there to Asheville, and
another from whichever city you choose to Oklahoma City and back.  This gets
you two round-trip fares, which will be much cheaper than three one-way fares.

If you really want to use the train, use it between New York and Charlotte
or Atlanta, and fly from Charlotte or Atlanta to Oklahoma City.  However, do
not expect to get on a train except between Boston and Washington without a
reservation.  The run between Washington and Atlanta (especially the day
train) might not be much of a problem; however, all trains through the
Rockies are completely sold out for the summer 9-11 months in advance, even
though the bedrooms on east-west trains cost around $350 each night for two
people!  (And that's in addition to the fare.)  Bedrooms must be hard to sell
between Washington and Atlanta, because there they only cost $159!

/john

    I agree with John, fly to Atlanta and go from there.  The drive to
    Asheville should be an relatively easy drive (about 6 hrs?) from
    Atlanta on decent roads.
    
    There may even be a direct flight from Madrid.
    
    David

    Two weeks ago I was traveling to Marlboro and it was my first trip
    since receiving the "preferred express" designation. When I made my
    reservations through Amex, however, I was told that the upgrade promo
    was over. Oh well....
    
    When I got on the Avis bus at Logan, I identified myself as a
    "preferred express" customer and told the driver my name. Imagine my
    reaction when we entered the lot and he announced, "Mr. Gray, your car
    is the Cadillac in spot #7". I took a look and there was this sparkling
    clean white cadillac with the door and trunk open, engine running and
    the A/C running! Welllll, I figured what does Amex know? *AMEX MAKES
    MISTAKES, AVIS DON'T*
    
    Wellll, I got into the Cadillac and it was comfy.....tooo comfy. So, I
    looked at the rental agreement. Yep, there it was....my full name. "Hot
    Dog!!! There is a God!!!" This was going to be a good trip! Then I
    thought, "What if I'm asked to drive to lunch?" No problemmmmm....I'll
    just explain about the neat upgrade Avis gives us. (As I went about
    adjusting the power leather seat and remote mirrors.) Then it hit me!!!
    
    "What was the address on the rental agreement? It didn't look
    familiar."
    
    So I checked again...:-(  Right name, wrong address!!!  
    
    Welcome back to the real world !! It took me a half hour to explain it
    to the people (it took three of them to figure out that they have more
    than one customer with a name like Gray), and get another car. 
    
    (It was a red chevy prism- no leather....no power anything.. seat belts 
    from h*ll...and as slow as the people that waited on me!!)
                                                     
    Thats life, I guess.
                                       

You should have taken the car...  and then demanded the standard rates when
you got back.  Or just drop the receipt in the express box.

'Course, the police might have been looking for a stolen car...

Last week I flew into Logan (Boston, MA) and rented a car at Avis. I asked if 
there were any special promos that might be less costly than the normal 
Digital rate (or allow me to get a better car for the same rate).

The AVIS woman said that there were no special promos, but as a Digital 
Preferred Renter I can get a free upgrade. She also said I could get another 
upgrade for $1.50 per day. I decided on the free upgrade and got a Grand Am 
instead of a small compact.

Regards,

Jim

    I was given a BMW (5000 series, I think?) last week in Copenhagen!
    
    When I returned it, the AVIS person said I had gotten 3 or 4 levels of
    upgrades.
    
    My reliable 4 year old Nissan Sentra at home is guaranteed to keep me
    humble for future rental cars, though ;-)
    
    Holly