Help with LAX car rental 7/21-7/27

[laurelw]

Help! I've been having trouble winning a Priceline car rental out of LAX for 7/21-7/27. Current rate on Hotwire is $62 a day for a full-size and not much less for an economy car. I have a cancelable reservation w/National for full-size at $412 ($528 w//tax), works out to $69/day for 6 days. I've bid numerous sizes from compact to full-size to SUV, starting Thursday through today. Bids of $37-48 rejected. Suggestions?

I did win a hotel and was offered the chance to buy the full-size car through Priceline at $60/day in the confirmation email. Would save me about $100 bucks over my reservation. Is this the best I can do this close to travel date?

[thereuare]

I would try another bid at $55... if successful you've saved a few extra dollars over the $60 PRICELINE confirmation email rate (if that is even still available)... if not try to take the $60 from the confirmation email.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[laurelw]

I would try another bid at $55... if successful you've saved a few extra dollars over the $60 PRICELINE confirmation email rate (if that is even still available)... if not try to take the $60 from the confirmation email.

I have gotten my cancellable reservation with Alamo down to $60/day by rebooking with a coupon. Not sure I want to lock in non-refundable for $5/day savings so I bid $25 today for a full-size, rejected. I saw a recent full-size win in that range for LAX in August so I know they'll take it under some circumstances.

Is Priceline's window "Recent Winning Rental Car Bids" by city legit? They had wins from Economy to Full-size for $24-32 and more for the higher end as of yesterday, don't know travel dates obviously.

One more try tomorrow. Using the link. Any suggestion? (I know I didn't take your last one.) :)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Colfax]

Sorry PRICELINE didn't work this time.

Conditions and pricing vary by market so I'm generalizing but overall it's tougher to get good Priceline deals on car rentals than it was a few years ago. Car rental rates have gone up in general, for starters. And pricing is very day sensitive now. A bid of $15 might be accepted on Fri, Sat, Sun, and the same car needs $65 or $70 on Mon-Thurs. It used to be easier to win the $65 days for $15 or $20 on Priceline.

So the low advertised rates are available if you're bidding the right days. If your dates are a mix of high and low, on Priceline you have to bid high enough to cover the most expensive days. Hotwire averages high and low rates, so Hotwire can be cheaper if your stay is a mix of expensive and cheap.

A mod might move this thread to the Car Rental section if you're looking for it.

[laurelw]

I did notice that my car rental thread was in the wrong forum. How do I do a mod? Or put parts of previous replies in boxes to reference? I'm a posting newbie and too old to just "get it" like my kids.

[laurelw]

A mod might move this thread to the Car Rental section if you're looking for it.

Just trying out the quote to see how it works.

[laurelw]

Is Priceline's window "Recent Winning Rental Car Bids" by city legit? They had wins from Economy to Full-size for $24-32 and more for the higher end as of yesterday, don't know travel dates obviously.

Today Priceline has a winning bid of $22 for full-size out of LAX! Is this legit? And is it most likely for future dates?

[laurelw]

Never did win after going as high as $50 today. Will fall back on $60 backup rental. Planned trip at last minute (started bidding 7/15 for 7/21 6-day rental). I guess LAX is too busy a market. We plan to have an awesome time anyway.

[thereuare]

Thanks for the follow-up and closing this thread.

Have a great trip!