AARP should review Rental Car discounts

[ddsbolinka]

I recently traveled to Seattle and needed a rental car. I shopped with the AARP discounted rates from both Budget and Avis. The rates, if they were not  discounted as claimed, and were higher than rates I could get shopping on my own through other car rental company websites.

I saved more money by using Expedia.

AARP should review the arrangements with these companies, and revoke their endorsements if the facts and promised discounts don't prove to be what is claimed.

K A Bolin

[ThomasK95676]

Yeah, they aren't much. Did $180 better on Priceline.

[SusanJ577501]

It seems as though AARP is taking advantage of older people. Using the AARP "discount"  code is twice as expensive than to go rent a car without a code at all.. I guess it seems that they can afford it so good reason to take advantage of them? NOT! It's pretty sad. 

[DelbertE103371]

Thank You for the review....I was about to rent through  my membership 

[AARPThelmaG]

Hi @SusanJ577501! We are sorry to hear that you feel that way. Rate structures are similar to airlines' supersaver rates, with a limited number of cars available at each rate; when a particular rate sells out, the next tier of rates will apply. In other words, as the demand for cars grows, the rates gradually increase. This is why companies encourages each customer to book a reservation as soon as an attractive rate is quoted. It could also be a local rate offer that was lower than the AARP rates. Prepaid rentals also tend to be more. AARP can’t guarantee that our branded products and service will have the best rates in every possible situation. We do encourage our members to shop and select the products that best suit their needs. 

[DanN673683]

Then you should stop advertising these discounts as a valued part of membership as the availability of a discount is as rare as winning small-dollar lottery prize.   I'm seeing no value to AARP. Even after turning-off all electronic and mail marketing, the products I do subscribe to for tips/health/finances are all old news and guess what- FULL OF ADS about travel discounts and auto insurance, etc.  I'll toss you a few $ a year for lobbying to protect SS/Medicare, I do support your mission and hardwork, but our current generation of newly retired people (I'm 61) are a different breed- we are technologically astute, search the web for deals; we aren't the old Saturday Evening Post/Reader's Digest/Marcus Welby, MD folks who aren't engaged in news, issues, finances.   Really need you all to re-think your model.  I know some people need spoon-feeding of information, but you are going to find with AI and the next retired generation are going to be fickle and will disengage from the current AARP methodologies.   I support your underlying mission, but I can't support the garbage dump I'm blasted with and useless discount programs- almost insulting that you think we are this dumb.

[GailL1]

@DanN673683 

While I agree with you and I am a lot older than 50’s or 60’s or even 70’s - this is part of their income stream - Royalties off their branded name of recognition.   That is hard to give up.

As to the benefits themselves having value - 1st they are designed by the AARP profit making arm of AARP Services Inc.  2nd I am not sure that value is something that is considered as paramount.  Maybe it is just so the membership brochure is full.  Seem everything has a catch nowadays  - the way something is presented in the selling is often not exactly like it is once you have taken the bait.  Like politicians - they say exactly the right thing, not too much and not too little but just enough and with the right words and slant to make it sound like they are right.  

I even get confused by their advocacy positions sometimes.

[hknelson]

That is a ridiculous explanation. We just booked a car rental directly thru Expedia and it cost $200 less. There is no AARP discount, however it appears there is an AARP user fee to book thru them. 

[LewisL643149]

I just received my AARP membership and I was curious how much I could save by renting a midsize SUV in a place like Denver where we travel often. It turned out for the same travel dates, Budget gave us the price at $826 + change. That’s already discounted on the quote. Then I searched on Southwest Airlines website that I’m a member as well, the quote for rent from Budget is $547 + change. What the hell? I do know whether the vendors are fooling older people or what? That’s ridiculously higher… almost $280 higher, are you kidding me? What kind of benefits AARP could claim in this particular case, esp. on the unsuspected elderlies? I’m waiting for an answer from their PR or representative. I have the quotes from both to verify my argument. Let me see when I’ll get a reply on that. I’m kinda annoyed… might just cancel the card for a refund. 

Lewis

[DelbertE103371]

Thank you for a Honest Review...I was considering this but I'm someone that reads reviews 

[MichelleK935705]

I also just became a member and found that 'discounted' car rental rates through AARP are more expensive (sometimes a lot more) than going through the car rental websites directly, Costco, etc. I feel very badly for anyone who is not computer and tech savvy who can't compare prices this way and who just trusts that this is the most economical way.

AARP, shame on you if you know about this, and if you do know, stop advertising it like it is an amazing deal - that smacks as fraud, and your members are in a vulnerable group ripe to be taken advantage of. 

[AARPStephanieB]

Hi @LewisL643149. With Avis and Budget, AARP Members save up to 30% off base rates (for Avis & Budget), plus get an upgrade on compact through full-size car class bookings based on availability, an additional driver at no cost, and more. The AARP discount for Avis and Budget are indeed discounted as advertised above and on the AARP website. However we cannot, unfortunately, guarantee that rates in our programs will always be the lowest in every possible situation or compared to every other company. This means that while you may find a lower cost with another company, you will always get the lower cost and extra benefits included with the AARP provider program. You are strongly encouraged to evaluate and determine based upon your own needs and circumstances, whether a particular product is valuable to you. AARP’s endorsement of products or plans from a particular provider does not mean that the products or plans are the right choice for every AARP member, so we do encourage our members to shop and select the products and pricing which best suit their needs. While competitive pricing is a major concern in offering products to our members; value, service and availability are equally important in the development of our programs. I hope this helps clarify.

[DanN673683]

Then why offer it?  It's basically worthless unless you get lucky securing as you stated one of the limited (extremely!!!) number low rates?  Why advertise something that you all know is statistically unavailable as you admit above?  I completely understand that any travel firms are independent of AARP, so why advertise it when it is largely not deliverable?  The current and coming generations of 55+ are armed with phones, have been shopping Amazon, et al, managing travel and finances online for at least 20+ years.  Our generation is going to find AARP irrelevant if it doesn't change these out-of-date practices.  You are better off dropping direct deals with airlines, hotels and auto rental companies and instead, build relationships with the aggregators. I have better tools on my phone (like most of the world) than AARP.  AARP's content is so clogged with garbage advertising for things I de-selected on my profile to see on hardcopy and electronic options, but you all still pump it through on the things I did wish to see.  AARP really must revisit their practices sooner vs later- time is not on your side.  Wishing you the best on your work with SS/Medicare, but you are going to lose support big-time.   

[hknelson]

However AARP explains it, it doesn't change the fact that it always costs more to book through them.

[RobertB929453]

I do not believe the rates are discounted. I recently booked a car reservation in Las Vegas. I then went through AARP Link and all rates were same. I also registered on Avis that advertised up to 30% of base and still same rates.

[AARPAngelaC]

Hi @ddsbolinka, here to help clarify. With Avis and Budget, AARP Members save up to 30% off base rates (for Avis & Budget), plus get an upgrade on compact through full-size car class bookings based on availability, an additional driver at no cost, and more. The AARP discount for Avis and Budget are indeed discounted as advertised above and on the AARP website. However we cannot, unfortunately, guarantee that rates in our programs will always be the lowest in every possible situation or compared to every other company. This means that while you may find a lower cost with another company, you will always get the lower cost and extra benefits included with the AARP provider program. You are strongly encouraged to evaluate and determine based upon your own needs and circumstances, whether a particular product is valuable to you. AARP’s endorsement of products or plans from a particular provider does not mean that the products or plans are the right choice for every AARP member, so we do encourage our members to shop and select the products and pricing which best suit their needs. While competitive pricing is a major concern in offering products to our members; value, service and availability are equally important in the development of our programs. I hope this helps clarify.

[TinaN282362]

So glad I read all the reviews...none of them are good and you're gas lighting every person on here stating whatever you have going on isn't working.. I'll use my Amazon discount.. they give me gift cards at the end of my trio! 

[MattS339421]

I've been looking for a rental car in Las Vegas and AARP discount is at least $100 more than going through other sites (some up to $400 more) . Also a couple of the locations are permanently closed. 

[PeterM764417]

I too am looking for spring break.  Went to Expedia and the starting rates for searching on my own are about 67$ for a SUV.  When I plug in my AARP rates it goes up to 112.  Almost double.  Someone is clearly making money off of this.  

[AARPThelmaG]

Hi @PeterM764417 ! AARP members save up to 30% on base rates at Avis and Budget, 5% on rentals from Payless Car Rental, and receive discounts from other car rental companies. Rate structures are similar to airlines' supersaver rates, with a limited number of cars available at each rate; when a particular rate sells out, the next tier of rates will apply. In other words, as the demand for cars grows, the rates gradually increase. It could also be a local rate offer that was lower than the AARP rates. AARP can’t guarantee that our branded products and service will have the best rates in every possible situation which is why we do encourage our members to shop around and select the products that best suit their needs.

[JonU17615]

As all have said, applying the AARP discount code did not save one penny.

what a joke.

[AARPConsumerCare]

@JonU17615 I'm sorry you've had trouble with car rentals. What company did you rent from? We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please reach out using the Chat icon at the bottom right of the page to speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. Take care!  Jodee R. 

[hknelson]

Well then AARP must have a lot of add on bonuses that cost more than base rate. Because no matter how you slice it, AARP is more expensive. That is the bottom line.