Hertz car rental at PHX

Question

I have had some great feed back previously about getting a shuttle from PHX to our hotel but would also like to hear from anyone who has rented with Hertz from PHX lately. We land at 5.15pm on a Wednesday in September from the UK so if we go this route hiring from PHX, would possibly arrive at rental centre around 6.30ish all being well. We have a Hertz gold card so would go straight to the parking garage downstairs as we have done before. This will be our first trip back after a couple of years due to Covid. Has anyone had any problems, re car available straight away or having to wait until one available? In fact any problems with car availability at all?

We have had great advice from dbmove about taking shuttle/taxi mileage into consideration and as car rental prices are gradually slowly coming down - surprise! - it would be great to have a back up plan if needed.

Thanks for any info as would love to keep our options open as to what would suit us best, renting on airport or off site the next day.

Answer

Renting a car from Hertz at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) is generally straightforward, especially with a Hertz Gold Card, which allows for expedited service and often direct access to the parking garage where your reserved vehicle is located.

For your scenario—arriving at PHX at 5:15 pm on a Wednesday in September—here are some detailed points and advice based on recent experiences:

Gold Card Benefits: Using your Hertz Gold Card usually allows you to bypass the counter entirely and go straight to the garage. Vehicles are typically pre-assigned, making it possible to pick up your car immediately. This is especially convenient after international flights.
Peak Times: Mid-evening arrivals can sometimes coincide with other international and domestic flights, so a short wait (10-15 minutes) is possible, but generally car availability is not a major issue if you’ve pre-booked.
Car Availability: Hertz PHX has a large fleet, and as long as your reservation is confirmed, the type of car you requested is almost always available. Problems tend to occur only if there’s a last-minute surge in demand or if you’ve booked a very specific or luxury model.
Backup Plan: If you want to be extra cautious, you could consider:

Booking a backup reservation with another rental company for the next day, in case your preferred vehicle is unexpectedly unavailable.
Using the off-airport rental counters nearby via shuttle if you want potentially lower rates or more selection. However, this adds extra travel time to reach your hotel.
Arranging a taxi or rideshare to your hotel as a contingency while waiting for your rental car.

Other tips:

Check your Hertz reservation online 24 hours before your flight to ensure your vehicle is confirmed and ready.
Have your flight details ready with the Hertz app or confirmation number; sometimes slight delays in international arrivals can affect the estimated pickup time.
If you encounter any wait in the garage, it’s usually brief as staff prioritize Gold Card holders and pre-reserved vehicles.

In summary, your plan to pick up directly at PHX using your Hertz Gold Card should work smoothly, with car availability rarely being an issue. Having a backup plan for the next day or considering off-airport options is wise if you prefer maximum flexibility, but for most travelers, the airport pickup works without problems.

Hertz car rental at PHX

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