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  • FlightCar

Overview

FlightCar has a rating of 1.35 stars from 77 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about FlightCar most frequently mention customer service, rental company, and second time problems. FlightCar ranks 47th among Airport Shuttle sites.

  • Service
    9
  • Value
    9
  • Shipping
    2
  • Returns
    3
  • Quality
    8
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What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

No positive highlights yet

Critical highlights

  • This last incident confirms my personal experience and that Flight Car is so unprofessional, I don't have words.
  • Their customer service is frustrating and totally disorganized.
How would you rate FlightCar?
Top Positive Review

“Awesome concept, iffy delivery.”

katura t.
6/7/15

My rental went out without a hitch. I got a better car than I requested because the one I asked for wasnt available. I could see all of the ways it COULD have easily gone wrong. Leave time in case something does and be prepared for things like... staff being away from the phone and not getting right back with you, or your choice of car not being available. Be prepared to be flexible and you should be fine.

Top Critical Review

“Negative stars”

Maryellen M.
12/11/15

While each person at customer service has been polite, I am afraid I have to leave a negative review. WORST WORST WORST. My car was left for me to pick up with candy wrappers, ground chocolate in the carpet, spilled dark beverage on the seat, a half a case of water bottles, a section of the front bumper missing, not washed on the outside or inside vacuumed. I have made several attempts to resolve this since 11-4-15... as of today, 12-11-15 not heard back from claims.

Reviews (77)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

flight car (15) customer service (16)
Thumbnail of user maryellenm2
1 review
4 helpful votes
December 11th, 2015

While each person at customer service has been polite, I am afraid I have to leave a negative review.

WORST WORST WORST. My car was left for me to pick up with candy wrappers, ground chocolate in the carpet, spilled dark beverage on the seat, a half a case of water bottles, a section of the front bumper missing, not washed on the outside or inside vacuumed. I have made several attempts to resolve this since 11-4-15... as of today, 12-11-15 not heard back from claims.

Thumbnail of user juanc36
1 review
0 helpful votes
August 18th, 2015

Everything was a scam, the office and the car were not at the airport, they never pick up us, I had to take a taxi, at the last minute they change the rental conditions adding $$ per mile, the type of vehicle that I reserved with a month in advance was not available, their solution was to cancel my reservation, now there is nobody to talk about my money. Horrible experience.

Thumbnail of user lip104
1 review
1 helpful vote
October 7th, 2015

Awful experience.
No paperwork to prove cars was not stolen.
Short mileage 100/day is a joke. If you go over they charge you 0.5 cents per mile!
There were shoes and things from the owner in the car.
Used it only one day due to above issues, no reimbursement for the other days even though staff said it will be reimbursed.
Now they said I had to notify them 48hrs before.
And also now I'm receiving new promotion emails and phone calls since I rented with them!
Not worthy, SCAM

Thumbnail of user taniam11
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
October 17th, 2015

My review is for lending your car to Flightcar. Their customer service is frustrating and totally disorganized. I had to email 4 times to get the fines on my car taken care of. I had to email more than 4 times about the damage done to my car and 2 months later it has still not been solved. It is not worth it, it was a really frustrating experience. I do not recommend you lend them your car and I cannot imagine renting from them will be any better or easier.

Thumbnail of user andrasb2
1 review
4 helpful votes
November 16th, 2015

Seems to me, it is a standard practice with Flightcar to cancel the reservation at the last minute, offer a rental with a different company and promising to reimburse the difference.
Of course you never see the money, just get excuses from their representatives.

Looks like the business model is to get commission from other rental companies by referring customers.

Wondering if small claim court or BBB would be an option to get them deliver their promises. What kind of recourse shall I take?

Thumbnail of user catherinea13
1 review
1 helpful vote
December 1st, 2015

I rented a car 7 months ago for a couple of weeks. Still waiting for my security deposit refund. So far, 6 months worth of emails and international calls (I live in the UK). I can't believe such an incompetent business can even stay in business! I regularly talk to a flight car kid (none of them seem fully grown up yet) a couple of times a week on this matter. They keep stringing me on... I wish I could speak to someone who actually knows what they are doing and finally get my deposit back... Is there anyone that matters that I can speak to?

Tip for consumers:
I rented a car 7 months ago for a couple of weeks. Still waiting for my security deposit refund. So far, 6 months worth of emails and international calls (I live in the UK). I can't believe such an incompetent business can even stay in business! I regularly talk to a flight car kid (none of them seem fully grown up yet) a couple of times a week on this matter. They keep stringing me on... I wish I could speak to someone who actually knows what they are doing and finally get my deposit back....

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user justing39
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
August 6th, 2015

Terrible. Went to pick up a car and one wasn't available. They offered to pay the difference after a extended negotiation. The booked a car 26 miles away. We have an infant we weren't going to ride in a cab for that long with. Finally got one set up after 6 hours of negotiation and a miserable baby. 4 months later, 10 emails, 10+ phone calls, zero call backs and a new rep that "just started" every single time later we finally got our money back. Good idea but a terribly run company with heavy turn over. Not worth the small difference in price.

Thumbnail of user dakinf
3 reviews
8 helpful votes
December 9th, 2015

Negative stars! These guys SUCK. Do not do business with them. They cancelled my rental I booked long in advance WITHOUT TELLING ME until after I showed up in Boston after an exhausting cross-country flight with my 3 year old. Horrible customer service to boot.

Thumbnail of user michaelz27
1 review
5 helpful votes
April 22nd, 2016

Have used Flightcar several times with mixed results in LA and San Fran. Last trip to LA used Flightcar but my wallet was stolen at LAX. Had just returned my car in LA and was going to use Flightcar when I reached San Fran. They cancelled my San Fran rental because I no longer has a drivers license. (Flightcar had a copy on file but refused to honor it despite my police report identifying me and the robbery.) I had to use uber and bus system the rest of my trip at great extra cost. Spoke to their customer service rep who promised to look into it and assist me. Never heard back despite my follow up. Stay away from these guys.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user bogdana
1 review
2 helpful votes
May 5th, 2015

They have poor management and even steal your money (they require you to give that stupid security hold and after it's not working and you don't rent the car, they refuse to give your money back from the payment transaction, if it succeeded). May be ok if reserved through flight + car rental together, but renting a car on the spot will be the worst experience possible.

Thumbnail of user simons70
2 reviews
6 helpful votes
November 18th, 2015

On arrival to destination our reservation was sold to another rental company, that charged us twice as much. We called the phone on the reservation and were told that we will get the refund of the cost difference and even received e-mail about it.
We are still waiting for the refund and by now believe it is unlikely...
Do not deal with this company! They are cheaper for a reason, they will get your deposit and will not provide the car.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user marlag1
2 reviews
3 helpful votes
June 8th, 2015

Sadly this awesome concept is a huge disappointment. There is nothing "iffy" about the execution - it is downright horrible! My experience with them started out well enough. I made arrangements for them to pick up my car (a low-mileage Lexus) after I had already left town - what they call the "honeymoon" period, I guess.

I listed the car for a month with plans to pick it up 31 days later. But when my flight home got pushed up a few days, I decided to take advantage of my 4 "rent-back" days/month by picking up my car early. Unfortunately my car was not available and as promised they made another car available to me for the four days left on my rental listing. All of this was reasonable enough. That is where reasonable ended however.

The substituted vehicle was examined closely upon check-out, or at least the exterior was and pictures of the damages were sent to me. This whole process took almost 30 minutes because the FlightCar rep was alone and interrupted about six times while I waited.

By the time I left I was late and rushed and didn't notice the condition of the fabric interior which was stained and dirty, front and back. For four days I decided I could live and then I returned the car the day my car was due back. I didn't realize that the date I was to pickup my car was actually a day later than my rental agreement. So my return was 10 hours late for which I was charged $200-about five times what any other rental company charges.

Also, my small hypo-allergenic service dog was in the car for the short ride from the gas station to the FlightCar location. This was less than 1 mile. She had been crated before that as she prefers to be in her crate when in a moving vehicle. For allowing the dog in the car I was charged $500- two times the penalty documented on their website!

Both of these fees were automatically charged to my credit card before I was even asked to sign a closure agreement and I was told that unless I signed, I would incur additional late fees because the rental would stay open! This experience took more than an hour and again I left in a hurry, forgetting to get my personal belongings which had been removed from the vehicle upon pickup.

I nearly ALWAYS check reviews before using a new service and I guess the FlightCar concept so impressed me that I did not do this diligence. Reading over the reviews here, I feel like an idiot. This brilliant concept is executed with the worst customer service ever. I suggest they read the book pictured below, but then again since they only care about their bottom line and not about their car owners, I doubt even that would be helpful.

Tip for consumers:
DON'T DO IT. As a renter the policies are rigid and more expensive than almost anyone. As an owner, you are not paid enough to make the inconvenience and risk even close to worthwhile.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user neves
1 review
3 helpful votes
April 29th, 2015

Reading all reviews here, I dont want to take chances. My Passat Komfort will just be better be parked home rather than taking all unnecessary risks. Flight car- No way! The call I received today doesnt even sound enticing. Sorry.

Thumbnail of user johnd421
1 review
2 helpful votes
October 5th, 2015

We had booked a car with Flight Car through booking.com, they had gave us our confirmation number for the car. We flew from MN, arrived in Seattle, WA. When we got there and called Flight car for our rental, they told us they gave our car away and redirected us to Budget car rental which was $250 more than the price we booked. They said they would pay the DIFFERENCE in price. 6 phone calls and 4 emails later, we got no answers on getting our reimbursement. We will NEVER book with this rental company again. It's a SCAM..

Thumbnail of user robb514
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
July 21st, 2015

I am pretty trustworthy and decided to try FlightCar despite negative reviews. NEVER AGAIN.
Reserved 7 passenger "Suburban or similar" for family vacation. Boston - Logan Airport, approximately 1 month in advance. Given a little 4 passenger Honda Element. Rep at desk statements deteriorated from "Not our fault, you worked through an on-line service", to "we can't control cars that we get" to "take it or leave it'. Offer to bring me back to to airport late at night July 4th Holiday time was no help as at last minute over Holiday there were no rental options. Asked for supervisor - none available. She promised to report issue and have someone call me. I am still waiting... This caused us to borrow and use other family vehicles, using more than one at a time as planned... Imagine if I had no family in area... Not even an offer of a price adjustment given the fact that we were given a vehicle that carried 1/2 of our family...

Tip for consumers:
DO NOT USE FLIGHTCAR - UNLIKE REAL RENTAL SERVICES THEY HAVE NO CONTINGENCIES FOR PROBLEMS. THEY ALSO EXHIBIT ZERO CARE AND EFFORT TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user williamr84
1 review
7 helpful votes
January 25th, 2016

One star because of follows:

1. Reimbursement promised but not delivered, and kept saying there is nothing they can do, they just don't care breaking their promises to customers

2. Transferred customers to a worse service due to their own operational failure and considered it a right thing to do, laughable

3. Stopped communication completely after being asked with challenging questions, how professional

4. My experience seemed to be that they give you a chance to provide feedback only when they think you are happy, otherwise, no chance to review. So don't trust the high ratings on their own website. That's cheating.

Use Flightcar for cheap price but try to record everything, because they may not keep their promise and they said there is nothing they can do afterwards. I hope this new business model can work out but the service quality is just not there. Very disappointing.

My experiences are below:

I was writing today to request a reimbursement of Supplemental Liability Insurance I paid additionally to Payless Car Rental, to which Flightcar transferred me to due to nonavailability of Flightcar on 11/12/2015.

I know what your policy is and I understand you don't refund any insurance purchased. But I think I still deserve the refund for the following 2 reasons:

1. I reserved a service with Flightcar and Supplemental Liability Insurance is included for free. If Flightcar failed in operation and had to switch the customer to a 3rd party, the service should be equivalent to what the customer reserved from Flightcar. If you were saying Flightcar thinks it is correct to switch customers to a worse service (without supp liab insurance) and refuses to reimburse the supplemental liability insurance, that just sounded so wrong. I find it hard to believe if you truly disagree.

2. Before I picked up the car from Payless, I called Flightcar and asked specifically I would purchase Payless Supplemental Liability Insurance and whether it will be reimbursed. The representative told me YES, which is the reason I made the purchase. I know Flightcar recorded the phone conversations, please check the recording on 11/12/2015. I paid because I was promised a refund, but now Flightcar refused to refund me. That's just not right.

Thumbnail of user fionav1
1 review
6 helpful votes
May 27th, 2015

I left my car with them and upon return the car was not cleaned, and to top it off they had lost my registration. The manager's phone was off and he never called me back. Now 4 days later I had to contact them to even know what's going on, did not receive an email or phone call from the manager with an apology. Will NEVER use them again.

Thumbnail of user mikes368
1 review
4 helpful votes
March 15th, 2016

Messed up company with horrible experiences as both a car provider and a renter. As a renter, was told that I was late returning the car I had and was gong to be charged something like 300 per day for not returning on time. I had the car only one day into my week rental and told them that they were messed up. Eventually got the charges against my card reversed, but a big stress. Leaving my car when I was overseas on the monthly program was just as bad. I was to be gone 7 months and after two and a half months in to the time my car was with flightcar, they sent me an email that stated that they were unilaterally cancelling the monthly program and that I needed to come and get my car back from them. I told then that was impossible as I was overseas and couldn't get the car. Very poor customer service/relationship skills. Eventually had them leave the car with a friend, but they continually missed their dates to drop off the car, wasting my friend's time and the car was returned dirty. Don't know if they ever did the oil change like they were suppose to when they had the car. WORSE COMPANY EVER!

Thumbnail of user manishm1
1 review
6 helpful votes
November 15th, 2015

This is one of my worst experience in life and I think that they are highly unethical and cheat people. I gave my car on monthly rental program as I was going out of country for 3 months. After 15 days, I received an e-mail that my car is damaged and gave me options to fix my car myself or through them. Next day, I received an e-mail that they have changed their rental policy and now they will pay on per mile basis. I sent an e-mail to their mentioned representative asking about sudden policy change for cars already rented out as per old policy but he/ she only bothered to respond after two reminders and below is their reply "If you are asking about the policy change, it is something that the company executives issued, felt necessary for the success of the company and were within their rights to do so."

If I don't like/ agree to their new policy, do they expect me to come back from international trip to take my car back? How can they intermediately change their policy for cars which were given to them on old policy for certain period? Also as my car is already damaged by them, it means that they won't pay me anything for the time for which my car will be fixed at the workshop as per their new policy.

I have already spent more than what they plan to pay me now by renting out a car for taking my flight from Austin to Houston Airport. The current rate of $0.1 per mile (only as and when driven) even doesn't cover the running wear and tear of the car.

Their customer service is pathetic and they are just acting as dictators as they already have my vehicle and I am on international trip. It seems that I made worst mistake of my life by renting out my car to them.

I would recommend to stay away from flightcar as tomorrow again they may intermediately change the policy after you rent your car to them saying that they won't pay anything upto certain miles per day.

Thumbnail of user loish13
1 review
3 helpful votes
December 29th, 2015

Here it is Christmas time in San Diego with high rental prices. I'm smart because I have booked a rental with FlightCar months in advance... wrong! I arrive at the airport and am informed that I am to pick up my rental at Payless. I am confused. I find out after 3 calls that FlightCar has no car for me and has arranged with another company a rental, which I am expected to pay for. I called FlightCar once again to speak with a supervisor who informs me that his company will not honor the language of the contract to "provide me with a similar or upgraded vehicle to be provided by the supplier." The supervisor refused to pay the difference in the Payless reservation they have made. I found out all of this after landing. It took 2+ hours of messing around and I still had no car! NEVER RENT FROM FLIGHTIER! My booking company is dropping them.

Thumbnail of user urik
1 review
0 helpful votes
September 7th, 2015

Never hear from this company in my life! I went to the website, asking me for my debit card, they took my money before I got the car. They took 40minutes to pick me up. Once I got there they told me can't rent my car because I was from Washington, they told me I need to go a website to pull my record driving! Am 32 not a teenager, btw was gonna cost me $13dlrs. I told them I wasn't gonna do it, I need my money back, they refused give me my $73.00 dlrs back! Not only terrible service but also thief!

Thumbnail of user syf1
1 review
5 helpful votes
October 16th, 2015

Here's a problem with the sharing economy that doesn't involve lobbying groups and law suits over labor and fee dodging: Flightcar is pissing off it's customers who were big proponents. My Acura TL was totaled while it was being rented to Flightcar on 9/2, I returned from my trip on 9/9 to pick up my car and was given no notice. That's 1 week since the week. In fact, they even tried to lie about what happened to my car saying they accidentally extended the rental. After pressing them for info, they admitted it was in a tow yard but insisted they had no other information. I found out after receiving a letter from the police department that it was involved in a hit and run. Since then, I've gotten the run around, getting pushed to different people, and received not a single cent of reimbursement for my car nor rental car I've needed since my car was totaled. It's now over 6 weeks and counting. People I've dealt with suddenly gets fired, and I can't get anyone to call me back. This is the type of company Flightcar is if anything goes wrong. Completely not worth the risk! Maybe this startup should focus on taking care not to turn their advocates into their critics, and maybe the investors should pay some attention to how the company is being run.

Thumbnail of user pauloe1
1 review
0 helpful votes
May 8th, 2015

This was the worst renting experience I had in my whole life. (I rented cars all over the world, at least more than 100 times).
The problem was that they charged me a extra insurance that was never mentioned before on any contract that I saw in internet. As I have a MasterCard Black Insurance, I asked that since the first contact, not to have any insurance. In all e-mail that I received and I all contacts I had with their staff, the insurance was ZERO.
After returning the car, they charged me 50% MORE in insurance that has never been agreed. I sent them more than 6 e-mails complaining but they are saying NOW that ALL foreigners need to pay it. (something never said before). They have even asked for my local track-record of driving! I send it and they approved it without saying I would have to pay more!
If you rent you them, be aware that you may pay much more than the initial price.

Thumbnail of user chrisc194
1 review
3 helpful votes
October 14th, 2015

I made reservation with FlightCar! Rental car through EconomyBookings.com. Upon arrival on Aug 02,2015 I was redirected from FlightCar! To Fox rental car company because FlightCar! Was out of rental cars. The conformation number is: LS@014@079. FlightCar! Promise to reimburse us for the difference in the price.
First e-mail they ask for the receipt. 14 Days later I informed them that I didn't get the reimbursement. They apologized and told me that one of my paper was not submitted correctly by one of their members. And again they Promise to pay the different amount back. 20 days after I e-mail FlightCar! To let them know I still didn't get anything in the mail.
Their answer: "Right now our finance team is backed up. I have sent them an email asking them when will this be sent out. Once i hear from them I will reach out to you" Chris Thomas. 10 Days after I e-mail them again because nobody reach me. Their new answer:
Hello Chris-
Thanks for your email. I apologize for the inconvenience with this reimbursement request; however you will need to contact Booking Group directly concerning this issue since that is the company through which you made the reservation. We have received information from Booking Group that they will refund customers for their reservations.
Booking Group may be reached at *******938.
Thank you,

Brian

It is all FlightCar! Fault.
It's been two long months. Still waiting and fighting. Never give up…….

Stay away from FlightCar! And EconomyBookings.com

Thumbnail of user janetp30
1 review
2 helpful votes
December 27th, 2015

First of all, not at Philly airport! Drive done other company's van to a locked gate. No one there? Finally get a lazy woman to open. I had no idea I was renting people's personal cars! Mine broke down. Frightening ride on 95. Stuck at hotel until they brought another car. When no arrived back with car, with car in pristine condition, tried to put something under my nose to sign indicating if anything found, IN NEXT SIX MONTHS, it was my responsibility! I refused to sign such nonsense and upon return home, left entire story with CC company in case these crooks (or owner ofvehicle) tried to pull something. Don't bid with Autorentals.com OR ever, ever book with Flightcar! Terrible Company. Surprised they are able to operate.

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From the business

Travel Made Convenient: Rent unique cars from local owners at airports nationwide. Currently operating at 12 airport locations.

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user margauxw
Margaux W.

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