Executive Travel : Avis Comes Out on Top in Survey of Airport Rental Car Customers

Avis Inc. received the highest marks for customer satisfaction in a survey of airport rental car customers by J.D. Power & Associates, a market research company.

About 4,000 customers nationwide were questioned about vehicle pickups and returns, prices and reservation systems at seven rental companies. Avis, followed by Ford Motor Co.’s Hertz Corp. and National Interrent, scored above the survey average, J.D. Power said.

Budget Rent-a-Car Corp. (which Ford also owns a substantial interest in), Chrysler Corp.’s Thrifty Rent-A-Car System Inc., Alamo Rent A Car Inc. and Dollar Rent A Car Systems Inc. scored below the survey average, the firm said.

Employee-owned Avis had the highest marks in all categories, which also included an assessment of rental cars and the inventory and selection process.

The study is the only independent and publicly released customer satisfaction survey of rental car companies, said J.D. Power, which is based in Agoura Hills.