The reason I have multiple "reservations" and only use one, is because it's quite honestly the only way to ensure I might have a chance at one of them having a car for me.
Literally yesterday I showed up at the airport, armed with two reservations for a mid-sized SUV. Neither company had one and both companies were the same parent. I ended up with a smaller car than I "reserved".
I would happily pay a non-refundable deposit at the time of making the "reservation" if that meant when I walked up to the counter, they would have the car I want.
I did this recently with Hertz in Los Angeles. They still didn’t have a car, and the only recourse was to talk to someone on a phone instead of fixing it at the counter. Also that trip I learned that Los Angeles has a subway, though it’s not particularly good.
Literally yesterday I showed up at the airport, armed with two reservations for a mid-sized SUV. Neither company had one and both companies were the same parent. I ended up with a smaller car than I "reserved".
I would happily pay a non-refundable deposit at the time of making the "reservation" if that meant when I walked up to the counter, they would have the car I want.