Budget, Avis ban smoking in cars
Rental firms also launch $250 finesSeptember 14, 2009
By Wendy Koch, USA TODAYSmoking bans are spreading from planes, trains and buses to another mode of transit: rental cars.
Beginning Oct. 1, Avis and Budget will become the first major rental-car companies to ban smoking in their entire North American fleets and to impose a cleaning fee of up to $250 on customers who smoke in the cars.
"The No. 1 request we get is for a smoke-free car," says John Barrows, spokesman of the Avis Budget Group, the parent company. He says a common customer complaint is a car that smells of smoke, adding, "We're addressing both concerns."
Barrows says employees who drive the vehicles are no longer allowed to smoke and the cars will undergo a new inspection upon return. He says it costs the company more to clean a smoky car, because it often has to be taken out of service longer.
Avis is following a smoke-free travel trend that took off two decades ago. In 1988, Congress banned smoking on short domestic flights and in 1990 expanded that to flights of up to six hours. That year, it also banned smoking on interstate buses.
In 1994, Amtrak banned smoking on short and medium-distance trips and now allows it only in a designated area of the Auto Train, which runs from outside Washington, D.C., to the Orlando area.
Other car-rental companies have taken more limited steps to address smoking. Hertz allows customers to request a smoke-free car but doesn't guarantee it, says spokeswoman Paula Rivera.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental do not have an "across-the-board" smoking ban but many of their locations restrict smoking, says Laura Bryant, spokeswoman of parent company Enterprise Holdings.
Anti-smoking groups hailed Avis Budget Group's ban. "Avis is protecting the rights of all of its customers to breathe clean air," says Matt Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Secondhand smoke is significantly more concentrated in cars than it is in bars, restaurants and other public places, according to a study released last month by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest cigarette-maker, believes private business owners "should have the opportunity to make their own smoking policies," says spokesman David Sutton.
"It's disappointing but it's their private property," says Gary Nolan of the Smoker's Club, a part of the Citizens Freedom Alliance, which aims to protect private property rights. Nolan, a smoker, says he used to rent often from Budget, adding, "I won't rent from them again."
Barrows says Avis Budget Group, based on customer research, expects its smoke-free policy will help its bottom line. He says, "We think we may gain more business than we lose."
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20090914/nosmokecars14_st.art.htm
A Newsletter Reader received the following e-mail from Avis [Avis@rent.avis.com] on 9/2/09 at 3:01 PM EST. I called and registered a complaint with Avis Customer Service and asked why, with all the profit made off the traveling public (including smokers), Avis could not set aside and designate a few cars at each of the major airports for smokers. Of course no answer. Below is the e-mail without the links, frames, and pictures:
Dear ---------------,
We're constantly looking for ways to make renting from Avis a more enjoyable and satisfying experience. And beginning next month we're adding a new one: a 100% smoke-free fleet.
Our new smoke-free fleet policy will go into effect as of October 1st for our entire fleet. Every make. Every model. You'll find a sticker on every vehicle to identify it as smoke-free.
We're excited about this change because it means a fresh, clean, odor-free vehicle every time you rent from us. In fact, we've created a new inspection process and cleaning fee (up to $250 if the vehicle is returned and it smells of smoke) just to guarantee that your vehicle really is clean and smoke-free.
A smoke-free fleet. It's coming this fall. It's not only more enjoyable — it's a breath of fresh air from Avis.
Thank you for choosing Avis. We look forward to you driving with us again soon.
Sincerely,
Becky Alseth
Senior Vice President
Marketing
-----Original Message-----
From: garnetdawn@comcast.net
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 6:27 PM
To:
Subject: Smoking Policy
Department: "ConsumerAffairs"
In Regards to: Smoking Policy
To Whom It May Concern:
I have a question about your corporate rental policy. What are your smoking policies for auto rentals? Please be specific.
I live in Illinois and I rent automobiles frequently on vacation. Recently, I had an unpleasant experience with another major auto rental agency in Orlando, FL and am considering renting from you in the future.
I reserved an auto for two weeks to be picked up at the Orlando International Airport. I was not asked if I would prefer a smoking or non-smoking vehicle, and I did not specify nonsmoking. I am a smoker. I would never rent a nonsmoking car intentionally!! The rental agreement said nothing about smoking policies, but there was a large "No-Smoking" sticker placed IN the ashtray. Orlando is a busy airport, and it would have taken too long to go back, complain and wait for another car. I e-mailed the auto rental agency on return from my vacation, asking their policy on smoking. I was told that they preferred no one smoke in any of their cars and that they hoped they hadn't caused me any inconvenience.
I await your reply,
Sincerely,
Garnet Dawn
----- Original Message -----
From: bhaseley@avis.com
To: garnetdawn@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 12:08 PM
Avis Rent A Car System, Inc.
Avis Customer Service
4500 South 129th East Avenue, Suite 100
P.O. Box 699000
Tulsa, OK 74169-9000
Telephone: (800) 352-7900
May 28, 2004
Dear Ms. Dawn:
Your email to Avis headquarters has been forwarded to my attention for investigation and reply. Thank you for contacting us on the Avis website regarding Avis' smoking/non-smoking policy.
Although reservations are confirmed noting a "smoking" or "non-smoking" preference, if a smoking vehicle cannot be provided for a rental, you may smoke in a "non-smoking" vehicle with no penalty. I trust this is the information you required; should you have any difficulty in this regard, please feel free to contact our department for further assistance.
We thank you again for the opportunity to assist you in this matter, and we sincerely hope to see you at an Avis counter in the near future. If you have any further questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact us again.
Sincerely,
Barbara Haseley
Senior Customer Service Agent
xRef: 1889663.0000
----- Original Message -----
From: Rates and Reservations alpha@hertz.com
To: garnetdawn@comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 8:53 AM
Subject: A44 LD
Thank you for your inquiry. We do not have a policy on smoking in the cars. We offer both smoking and non smoking vehicles. A preference can be noted on your reservation for a smoking car. If you book via phone, just advise the booking agent of your preference. If you book on-line, just e-mail us with your reservation number and your preference, and we will add it to your reservation. Usually, however, if no preference is noted, a non-smoking car will be assigned, so make sure you advise of the preference.
Kind Regards,
Linda D.
Correspondent
www.hertz.com
The Hertz Corporation
10401 N Penn
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
U.S.A
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alamo CR Internet" CRelations@goalamo.com
To: "'Garnet Dawn'" garnetdawn@comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 2:29 PM
Subject: Dawn, Garnet
Dear Mr. Dawn:
Thank you for your email inquiry. I appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.
Unfortuantly, Alamo does not permit smoking in the vehicles. Stickers are posted and on some vehicles the lighter is disconnected.
We are disappointed that this policy was a source of dissatisfaction for you. We appreciate your comments and will take them into consideration for future policy review. We can assure you that it is not our intention to aggravate or upset any of our valued customers and we appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Jo Diaz
Customer Service
----- Original Message -----
From: "Enterprise Rent A Car" onlinesupport@enterprise.com
To: garnetdawn@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 10:35 AM
Subject: What is policy regarding smoking in rental vehicles? [Incident: 040527-000963]
Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
What is policy regarding smoking in rental vehicles?
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (NR_Shannon B.) - 05/28/2004 10:35 AM
Dear Garnet Dawn,
Thank you for your email and for considering Enterpise for your upcoming rental. Smoking is not permitted in any of our vehicles.
Thank you,
Shannon Broadway
----- Original Message -----
From: "Res Web Site" reservationsna@nationalcar.com
To: garnetdawn@comcast.net
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 3:38 PM
Subject: RE: Smoking Policy
Dear Valued Customer,
Thank You for your inquiry.
Our Company policy is that the car's are non smoking car's.
IF we can be of further assistance, please feel free to e-mail us back or contact reservations at 1-800-227-7368.
Thank You,
Troy
Reservations Internet Response.
National Car Rental
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wilson, Diane" WilsonD@nationalcar.com
To: garnetdawn@comcast.net
Cc: "Highberger, Janice" HighbergerJ@nationalcar.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 1:35 PM
Subject: National Car Rental policy regarding smoking in vehicles
Reference: 3184035
Dear Mr. Scheuer:
I am in receipt of your email requesting confirmation of the validity of information provided to you by Troy. This information was regarding National Car Rental's Policy with regards to smoking in the rental vehicles.
Please allow me to apologize for the misinformation provided to you.
National does not have a policy concerning smoking in our vehicles.
However, when new vehicles arrive at the locations, no smoking stickers are placed near the ashtray, in the vehicles. We do prefer that this request is honored because of the growing number of customers who have been found to be allergic to cigarette smoke.
Since we have no way of guaranteeing that these vehicles are not smoked in, in the event that they are the stickers are to be removed and should no longer be rented as a non-smoking vehicle.
My best advise would be for you to inform the counter agent at the time of rental that you prefer a vehicle that you can smoke in.
Sincerely,
Diane J. Wilson
Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer
National Car Rental
Budget has not responded. The following is published on their webpage in "Can I rent additional accessories?" under General Questions.
"No-Smoking Vehicles Smoke-free vehicles are available at most rental locations in the US and Canada and at many other locations around the world. There is no additional charge. No-smoking vehicles should be requested at the time of reservation."
Yet, Dave Pickeral said:
From: Smokers Fighting Discrimination
Date: Tue May 25, 2004 10:06 pm
Subject: Re: [floridasmokers] Fw: Smoking Policy
I had a similar problem with Budget rent a car in 2001. When I found out as a smoker I was not welcome to drive one of their cars, I tore up the contract and threw it in their faces and stormed out.
This was in Indianapolis.
Dave Pickrell-SFD