Premium travel amenities have become more important as airlines, hotels and destinations have prioritized high-end customers in recent years. One sector primed for the luxury touch is the car rental industry.
When it comes to renting a car, traditionally, the closest most customers can come is bypassing the long lines at the counter and grabbing a key from the kiosk in the parking deck. Some elite travelers, in select markets, are offered rides to and from the airport to the rental car facility.
A new offering from Avis Budget Group, Inc. goes further. Avis First is a new, premium concierge-level car rental experience that is designed to appeal to affluent passengers.
Instead of visiting the rental car center upon landing, grabbing bags and exiting the airport, a car will be delivered curbside to customers. First, they are contacted through the Avis app. By the time they reach the airport exit, Avis says in a press release, the customer’s personal concierge will be curbside with their upmarket rental vehicle.
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The cabin will be preset to be at the customer’s ideal temperature ahead of their meeting and the concierge will help connect phones to the vehicle to run Apple CarPlay.
Dropping off the vehicle is designed to be as easy and luxurious as pickup. The car can be dropped off at departures. Avis First customers enjoy the ease of not having to fill up the gas tank prior to drop off as the company refills it for them at market price.
“When Warren Avis introduced rental cars at airports back in 1946, he redefined travel. With Avis First, we’re taking that spirit of innovation even further,” Brian Choi, chief executive officer of Avis Budget Group, said in the press release. “We’re here to set a benchmark that exceeds the expectations of today’s most demanding travelers. Avis First reflects where we’re headed as a company: innovating with purpose, delivering value where it matters most and doubling down on our legacy of trying harder for the customers we serve.”
Customers can book their Avis First rental car experience at major airports in Denver; Honolulu; Palm Beach, Florida; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Local markets, including those in Manhattan; Hoboken, New Jersey; Jersey City, New Jersey; Chicago; San Francisco; Miami; Orlando; Washington, D.C.; and Seattle also offer the program.
“Avis First introduces a new level of ease and efficiency, delivering curbside service and premium vehicles exactly when and where travelers need them,” said Andres Barry, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Americas, Avis Budget Group. “It’s designed for those who expect more, with concierge-level service, elevated comfort and complete control over the journey. It’s not just about getting from A to B faster, it’s about offering something distinct for those who value the luxury of time and service just as much as the drive itself.”