TRAVELLERS hoping to rent a car at a popular airport were left stranded on the roadside after an unexpected staff “walkout”.
Dozens of weary holidaymakers had to come up with their own solutions when assistance was nowhere to be found.
GettyHertz customers were stunned to find that staff had ‘abandoned’ their posts at a popular airport[/caption]
GettyEven the visiting Colorado mayor Mike Johnston was caught up in the confusion[/caption]
Visitors to Syracuse Hancock Airport in New York back in July were baffled when they arrived at the Hertz desk, only to find it was completely unmanned.
Airport officials say that, based on CCTV footage, all the attendants leaving their posts at 7.13pm.
They then briefly returned at 8.25pm, before walking off once more 16 minutes later.
This was, according to airport bosses, around six hours before they were supposed to clock off based on the site’s agreement with Hertz.
Even government officials were caught up in the row, with Mike Johnston, mayor of Denver, CO, arriving at the empty desk with his son.
He told CBS News: “I took my son to a summer program there.
“We showed up and the rental car company was closed.
“There were probably 40 of us all stuck at the same rental car company.”
Most of the customers had pre-booked reservations, according to Mayor Johnston, so they came up with their own ingenious solution.
Since they all knew they had a Hertz car booked in their name, they figured it didn’t matter too much which one they took.
The group simply divided up the set of keys at the desk and set off on their journeys.
And if they found they had got the wrong car, they simply exchanged it at the next available (and fully staffed) Hertz outlet.
Mayor Johnston added: “We took one we thought was for us.
“There were a bunch of folks picking up cars.
“But not the right cars.
“We resolved it all, I drove it back.”
Things to keep in mind when renting a car
According to The Boston Globe, every person renting a car should take a few minutes to check some boxes before committing to a rental car.
Keep in mind that rental companies are responsible for keeping cars mechanically sound. If you’re ever in a situation where you have to wait longer than 90 minutes for a tow truck, they advise to leave the keys in the rental and demand a refund as long as other transportation options are available (such as a ride from a friend, Uber, or Lyft)
Be cautious about roadside assistance packages. Most packages cover instances like leaving keys in the car or running out of gas, but any mechanical issues are on the company.
An accident, though, is the renter’s responsibility and will be charged to your insurance, not the company’s.
Certain memberships, like AAA or AARP, may get you a discount on rentals.
Some companies offer insurance for a small fee, though you’re already covered by your personal insurance. Before declining rental insurance, it may be wise to double-check that your insurance is covering the rental.
Perform a visual inspection of the car before leaving the lot to protect yourself from damage claims from the company.
When returning the car, make sure the gas level is as close to the same level as when you first drove off to avoid a refueling charge.
Research different rental companies before committing to one. Some may have better reviews or warranties than others.
Keep all contact via email or text in case a claim needs to be made later.
If you see any scratches or dents on the vehicle, be sure to take pictures with a time and date stamp to avoid damage claims.
Source: The Boston Globe
A report from the airport stated that workers found “Hertz areas abandoned” and received no response when trying to contact rental staff via phone call and text.
Jason Mehl, its Chief Commercial Officer, emailed Hertz in the wake of the confusion and received a response offering “sincere apologies”.
Hertz area vice president Jillian Kober wrote in response: “We have taken the feedback and actioned immediately.”
SunMotors has contacted Hertz for comment.
https://www.the-sun.com/motors/12882635/car-rental-airport-abandoned-staff-walkout/