When Paul Lewis, station manager at Avis Heathrow, wrote “Help us at Heathrow”, one of our regular customers at this location, Robert, asked how we were going to service customers at the new Terminal 5.
If you’ve reserved your car, the process is pretty much the same as it currently is. Simply proceed to the bus stop (at Terminal 5, it is bus stops 24 and 25) where the Avis courtesy bus will transfer you to the Avis car hire centre to collect your car as normal. For more information on Avis Heathrow, check out Stephen’s blog post “Making car hire easy at Heathrow”.
If you have not pre-reserved a car, the process is a little different to how things have traditionally worked in an airport. Gone are the Car Rental desks to be replaced by an unmanned Car Rental Information Zone. So, instead of speaking to individual car hire companies to try and figure out which one offers the best value, you can utilise the touch screen car rental information facility and use the direct telephone line to call for a quote and to make your booking. However, for the fastest way pick up a car, proceed straight to the bus stop for the Avis car hire centre as we guarantee we will have a car available.
Little has changed to returning your car as our hire cars should be returned to the existing Avis car rental centre as normal. Again, full information is on the blog post “Making car hire easy at Heathrow”. However, as with transfers to all the other terminals, please ensure you allow 30 minutes for returning the car and transferring to the terminal.
In the near future, we are looking to introduce kerbside pick-up and return exclusive to those British Airways Executive Club members who are also members of Avis Preferred. In the meantime, I would love to hear your feedback? What do you think of the new Car Rental Information Zone? Do you have any thoughts, ideas and feedback on how we service car rental at the new Terminal 5?
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Hi Xavier,
Thanks for this update, very useful.
I think the kiosk idea, though may put off some people (due to the lack of human contact) could work well as long as it does work.
I guess if that’s the way it will work, and no hire car companies will have a manned desk there people won’t really have much of a choice.
I think it’s great you’re looking at the option of introducing a curbside pick-up.
I think this would be much appreciated by frequent travelers who hire from you often as it would save a good 20 minutes or more bearing in mind the distance of Avis from T5.
I will make sure to get back to you guys with some feedback once I try for myself, although thinking about it, I always pre book, so not sure I will get to use the terminals…
Maybe I will use them just to see how they work
Regards,
Robert
Xavier/Rob,
Sorry, couldn’t find your email addresses since my PC crash. I’ve written a post about car hire tips, would appreciate if one (or both) of you could pop by and leave your tips and expert opinion.
http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/04/03/dont-get-ripped-off-by-your-holiday-car-hire-company/
Many thanks
Darren
Thanks for the heads up Darren. I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to read your blog recently. It’s all been a bit manic. Myself or Xavier will definitely be posting on there though!
You’ll hear from me soon!
How serious are you about kerbside pick-up / drop-off? Could save me hours every year!
We are very serious about this Garry and it is something we are currently in talks with the BAA. I’ll post an update as soon as I have any further detail on this.
Rob