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It's understandable if a reserved car occasionally isn't available because it was returned late, but it seems like most car rental companies don't even attempt

It's understandable if a reserved car occasionally isn't available because it was returned late, but it seems like most car rental companies don't even attempt to limit reservations based on their inventory. It seems like standard industry practice is to accept all reservations, then hope they can somehow come up with the cars, e.g. by borrowing cars from elsewhere. The other day we were in a queue with ~20 families waiting for the cars they reserved, and it was clear none were available. Surely they didn't have that many late returns. If there are some companies that do limit their reservations appropriately, I'd like to know their names please :)

listenallyall 5y ago
You got a car though, right? Long line, waiting around, of course it sucks but this is meaningless without knowing where you were or the end result. 20 out of thousands (Orlando, Las Vegas)? Not unreasonable at all.
- dlubarov 5y ago
  LAX area but it seemed like a small agency. They were processing around 3-4 customers per hour, presumably as returns came in. We got a car after ~2h, but lots of others gave up and left. Hypothetically if nobody gave up, I expect the line would have grown and grown until they eventually closed with a huge line of reservations they couldn't meet.
  - listenallyall 5y ago
    So you admit it was a small agency, in other words, next time stick with a Hertz, Avis, National, Alamo, etc. In any case you got a car after 2 hours. I'm not denying it sucks, especially with a family, but it happens. Ever had a flight delayed for 2 hours? Happens all the time.
    - dlubarov 5y ago
      Don't all those companies follow the same practice? I've used most of them and have issues all the time (though in most cases they have some car available, just not what I reserved). Seems like it's not just me :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM&t=39s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM&t=39s Airlines also overbook but at least they have reasonable limits based on data, and offer compensation for bumps.

listenallyall 5y ago

You got a car though, right? Long line, waiting around, of course it sucks but this is meaningless without knowing where you were or the end result. 20 out of thousands (Orlando, Las Vegas)? Not unreasonable at all.

dlubarov 5y ago
LAX area but it seemed like a small agency. They were processing around 3-4 customers per hour, presumably as returns came in. We got a car after ~2h, but lots of others gave up and left. Hypothetically if nobody gave up, I expect the line would have grown and grown until they eventually closed with a huge line of reservations they couldn't meet.
- listenallyall 5y ago
  So you admit it was a small agency, in other words, next time stick with a Hertz, Avis, National, Alamo, etc. In any case you got a car after 2 hours. I'm not denying it sucks, especially with a family, but it happens. Ever had a flight delayed for 2 hours? Happens all the time.
  - dlubarov 5y ago
    Don't all those companies follow the same practice? I've used most of them and have issues all the time (though in most cases they have some car available, just not what I reserved). Seems like it's not just me :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM&t=39s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM&t=39s Airlines also overbook but at least they have reasonable limits based on data, and offer compensation for bumps.