Hotwire Today 3/10

This morning I checked Hotwire for my rental. Boy if its true I got a great deal.
9 days fullsize car from Budget for $91.22 total with taxes for the 9 days.
I don't believe it. So i'm keeping my Alamo at $215 for the 9 days fullsize car.

What does everyone think will Budget honor this res. ???????????

Hotwire's no fly-by-night outfit. If you book through them, you definitely can expect the rental car company to honor your reservation.

That rate's a steal.

I have went through Hotwire and never have had any problems. You got on hell of a deal at $91.22 total for a full size car 9 days. I got excited and went right into Hotwire and here what it spit out. 7 days May 17/24 Economy total $200.22 and the full size was $237.21. Well I will keep trying to get something cheaper than $200.22??

Just checked hotwire for my dates and it was more expensive than Alamo. 4/27 - 5/7 Alamo was $230 and Hotwire was $269.55. I'd say you got a darn good deal.

what are the dates of your rental

March 15th thru the 24th.

It was there very early that morning.Than later it was gone.
I even called hotwire and they said it was a special and the rate was locked in.

Sure glad no one else got this deal. Got to Budget and they WOULD Not honor it.There was a man in line fighting with them also i think he got the same deal.

I called Hotwire while at the desk and they said sorry and gave me a future $20 credit.

I ended up paying over $400 for a car after running around the rental place trying to find something.
March madness and spring break.

So much for trusting hot wire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW there is a huge difference between $91.22 and +$400.00. A $20.00 credit would hardly cover it. There had to be one hell of a lot of sorry, sorry,soory and sorry again with that $20.00 future credit from Hotwire. Did Budget give you an explanation as to where and who dropped the ball? I will certainally paid attention to my Hotwiire rentals from not on. Like I said have used Hotwire several tiems and never experienced any problems.

ekim15, what did you do?

Here's what you wrote:

This never made sense to me.

You said you got found a great $91.22 rate with Budget via Hotwire, but that you "don't believe it", and so you're keeping your higher Alamo rental.

Hotwire doesn't identify the rental company until its nonrefundable booking is confirmed. So how did you know the rate was from Budget? If you booked your rate, Budget will honor it and Hotwire will have your back.

Two questions:

When you arrived at the Budget counter in Vegas, did you have a confirmed, printed reservation via Hotwire for Budget at the $91.22 rate?

If you had a backup reservation with Alamo for $215 as you claim, why did you wind up "paying over $400 for a car after running around the rental place trying to find something"?

What you've written so far makes little sense to me. Can you explain what actually happened here?

When using Hotwire you don't know what company is supplying the car until after the booking is complete. That charge has already went to the credit card company prior. This is the way it has been every time I have used Hotwire. Never came up short on any rentals. Maybe the saying holds true when they say "when something sounds to good to be true guess what". I have never cancelled any cars from any company but most have a 24 hour prior clause I would think. What is really bad is the +$400.00 charge against a $215.00 from Alamo. I want a little up tight using Hotwire the firs ttime but it went smooth and after that it was great. I joined most of the clubs Alamo, Dollar (many years) Emerald, Budget and Hertz #1 Gold Card Member. I must have been lucky because I go directly to where you pick-up the cars in most cases and never been stopped and sent back to the counter. This is even when I have used Hotwire.