renting car in Anchorage vs. Fairbanks- why such a price difference?

[utseabee]

We are considering dropping the cruisetour and touring on our own, so i went onto Expedia to compare flight and car rental prices, and was a bit suprised.

It is about $150 less to fly into Anchorage (and 6 hours shorter- flight plus layover time)

But the car rental prices are almost twice as much in Anchorage- over 5 days, the total price is $200 more to rent a car in Anchorage.

Does anyone have any clue why the higher price? and would somewhere in Anchorage besides the airport be less expensive?

[mytime53]

I just did a quick google search, and there are some independent car rental agencies--that might be cheaper. Also, a quick check on Avis for a random week in July showed a savings of about $100 for renting off-airport. Of course, reduce that savings by the price of a cab (unless you have a free way to get downtown).

 

I've noticed a couple of things in general for car rentals over the past 1 to 2 years...it seems to me that fleets have been down-sized (or more people are renting), as it's been more difficult for me to find a good price when we travel, and we hardly ever get the category we specified. We're always getting "upgrades"--you know, the kind that you don't necessarily think are upgrades. Example: request a full-size car, get a mid-size SUV; fine for some circumstances, but less gas mileage and less comfort--both important when you're driving cross-country. Finding a decent car rental has become the most difficult part of planning our trips, now.

[negc]

Supply and demand is usually the basic reason for price differences. Perhaps the demand for rental cars is measurably greater in Anchorage than in Fairbanks. A comparison of the number of passengers flying into Anchorage airport annually, as opposed to those flying into Fairbanks might give you a small measure of the possible difference in demand.

[frugaltravel]

Supply and demand, plus the fact you are booking late. Booked last fall, car rental prices for pick up in Anchorage off-airport for pretty much all summer 2010 were $100-$200/week for a small car plus taxes. Now they are MUCH more than that, as you have found out.

[Budget Queen]

It is supply, but unless you are going to fly Fairbanks/Anchorage, or not cruise a one way Fairbanks/Anchorage car is even more, and less availablity.

 

There are a couple independents, that I have used with no problem. You can also look at downtown pickups, and compare convenience.

 

If you are open to going independent, rather than a cruisetour, you probably are already ahead of the game for an Alaska visit, as you will be much more efficient and make better use of you time, which does have a significant "savings". So at this point if traveling this year, do the best you can, and perhaps, cut back some on lodging for savings.

[PennyAgain]

Renting off airport saves you the tax as well.