Orange County SNA rental car rates seem high

[Iowa Rod]

I am flying into SNA Aug 8th for 7 days. The best price I could get on a rental car was through Enterprise. I just need a full size but the cost was less for a premium go figure. 464.99 for 7 days including all fees and taxes. I have never came close to this before. I tried priceline but was unsuccessfull. I will big again in the next few weeks. I wonder why its so expensive here.
Thanks, Rod

[DebBrown]

Check Flyertalk for discount codes. They are listed under the individual rental car forums. We rented a full size car at SNA for spring break for ~$150.

Deb

[K2Quick]

Ouch. Those are some crazy high rates. I've never done this, but I just checked and the rates at off-airport locations are substantially lower. For example, at an Avis neighborhood edition in Santa Ana, a full-size rental is $205 out the door for the week you are there (that's using the Costco discount number). If the rates don't come down, I think it would make sense to pay $15 or so to take a cab to a non-airport location. Note that you also don't pay all the airport garbage fees and taxes when you pick up the car at a non-airport site.

[LLW]

I am seeing both airfare and rental car rates going up from a month or two ago, for 2 trips that we are taking this summer and fall, and heard that rental car companies have sold hundreds of thousands of cars in the first 2 quarters of this year, therefore are asking for higher rates and think they can command them. I think in this economy they would be making people drive more long-distance trips, especially with gas prices lower than last summer. I am certainly considering that for our early October trip to California from Washington state.

[Born2Travel]

Our last rental at SNA was a compact - only when we arrived we found out that now a compact includes anything "without" power anything... windows, locks, etc. The car we were given was actually what I would consider an economy size - they said it no longer is determined by size but more by options - and we paid $100 more for a week than we usually pay for a week in SNA

[camachinist]

Here's a full size for your dates from the Fairmont Hertz HLE, which is about 3 miles from SNA by cab. The main limitation is they are only open from 8a-2p on Sat/Sun. The hotel is right next to the airport but around the other side from the terminal, hence the distance. Shuttles may be available. The rate with the same parameters is 531.00 at the airport. I did not work the rate more than what I could do in a few minutes. You can likely do better. You're welcome

Pat

P.S.- The CDP's and PC's are all on FlyerTalk. I can't give away everything

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Rate Details
Selected Vehicle
With unlimited free miles
weekly 1 week at 200.39 USD
Rate Code MCLW
Additional Items Included In Total Approximate Charge:
Taxes 18.20 USD
vehicle licensing cost recovery 3.64 USD
california tourism commission assessment 6.45 USD
Discounts:
Promotional Coupon; 20.0 USD for 132650 PROMOTIONAL COUPON HAS BEEN DEDUCTED FROM TOTAL RENTAL CHARGES applied
CDP Name TRAVEL PARTNERS CLUB
CDP Rate Your rate has been discounted by 20 %
Rate Includes
airport fee
Total Approximate Charge 212.68 USD
Rate is guaranteed. Taxes, fees and extras, if not included in the Rate, are subject to change.

[Iowa Rod]

Thanks for your help. I would have never guessed you could save so much just by leaving the terminal. Thanks again, Rod