LAX Los Angeles Fullsize Budget

[LadyBeBop]

First, just found this site. Wish I found this site earlier...I would have saved a lot of money.

That said...I need major help with rental car. My husband, eldest daughter and I are flying into LAX for a very short period. We arrive Tuesday around 10:30 and leave that evening just before midnight.

I checked winning bids for rental cars on Priceline, and decided on a $25.00 for a full size. So I bid $25.00, and that was rejected.

I then bid on a SUV for $31.00. That too was rejected.

Right now, I'm a little confused. Do I wait 24 hours to rebid on Priceline? Or 72? Because 72 hours from now, I'll be on a plane back to Cincinnati.

I don't think we'd be able to fit into anything smaller than a full-sized. My daughter is 5'9", my husband is 6'4" and I'm nearly 6'. My husband and I went to Las Vegas back in January with my in-laws (both are about my daughter's height), and we couldn't fit into an midsized.

Do I have any more options on Priceline? Right now, I'm limited to LAX, and my arrival and departure date isn't flexible.

Also, I can't find where I can choose my price on Hotwire.

Sorry if this is a stupid post. I went through the forum as much as possible; however I'm still stumped. I'd love to get a rental for less than $45-50 after fees and taxes. But is it too late?

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

If i understand you correctly, you're flying in and out on the same day? If so, what were the exact date(s) and times you used when you submitted your bid to priceline?

[LadyBeBop]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Both arrival dates were June 19, 2007.

My pick up time was 10:30 AM

My drop off time was 11:00 PM.

[thereuare]

You can probably work a new bid by changing your return date to 6/20 12:00am since it would be viewed by the priceline system as a 'clean bid' since you have changed the return date... then just return the car 90 minutes earlier than you had intended.

If that doesn't work, HOTWIRE does have a SUV option for $60 'all-in'. (please use this HOTWIRE link if you go this route)

Let us know what you decide to do and how it goes.

[LadyBeBop]

Hotwire also had a $50.71 all inclusive option for a full size car with Budget. ($37.95 plus taxes and recovery fees). I took that.

Because of gas prices, I wanted a full size over a SUV, and SUVs were running only a couple of dollars more per day than a full size.

My next bid probably would have been about $33 or $34 for a full size, so I possibly spent an extra five dollars for peace of mind. I'm happy.

End result:

LAX

$50.71/day

Budget Rent-a-car

Full Size

Pick up: June 19, 2007 at 10:30 AM

Return: Same day at 11:00PM

Thanks a lot for everything. California, here I come!

[thereuare]

Glad you foudn something that works well for your needs and your budget.

Enjoy your stay.