What a dreadul experience. I had reserved and prepaid via Hotwire but all these folks do is PUSH PUSH PUSH for extras and more money. I could hear it all around me. My agent took the cake (think her name was Angela). I was in Phoenix for a little over a day, and was running late (good old USAirways, landed early but the gate was not free and we were stuck on the runway for almost an hour) for a tight business deadline.
Would I like an upgrade - "we have a really nice BMW for you" - how much is that? An extra $99 per day on top of what I had paid - no thanks. Well I can get you something more comfortable, or fun like a Jeep Wrangler. NO thanks, I just want what I paid for. How about an SUV - No thanks. I just want the car I reserved (mid-size). Well sorry - it will be a long wait - the ONLY car available (I was in a hurry) was the darned Wrangler (noisy POS that I totally did NOT want but she was determined to put me in) and then talked me into insurance before she would let me go - with taxes etc $85 for 28 hours. Never again - I guess I'll book directly with Avis next time in Phoenix. I never want to use Budget there again. Thanks Angela