Dramatic increase in car rental rates

[hohogap]

I have been experiencing almost double prices when trying to rent a car from National and other "major" car rental companies, even on weekend rates. Has anyone else been experiencing that phenomenun and is there any explanation? ORD usually rented around $40/day at National and now it's over $85/day. Thanks for any input on this issue.

[thereuare]

Do you have specific examples/dates in mind?

[hohogap]

Yes, either September 15th-16th, or September 22nd-23rd for National at ORD. Been going in and out of ORD for a couple decades (used to live in Chicago a long time ago) and never paid more than $40 for a daily rental with my National Executive Emerald Aisle card. Now they want $87.30 + taxes and fees for those dates. Similar result for BMI on November 2nd/3rd with National (although their rate is only $68 + tax). Even worse for DEN for November 3rd-4th for the rest of my trip (daily rate at National shows $114.01 + taxes). Just shocked at how high the rates were at a major rental company and how much they seemingly have changed, and wondered if others were experiencing the same effect. I can always find cheaper "off-site" rentals, but was really surprised and how quick rates changed at National.

[thereuare]

Are the rates equally as high at the other major rental companies like Alamo, Budget, Avis, etc... or is the rate jump only at National?

[hohogap]

Avis and Hertz are just as high. Alamo is $20/day lower (go figure, owned by same company as National). No problem with not knowing why the rates jumped so much, just wondered if anyone had a similar experience, and they obviously have not since no member commented! Thanks and this closes the thread.