Can You Top This Car Tax?

June 02, 2002

Lynn Woods' article on "Car Rental Cos. Counting on Corporate Rate Increases" (BTN, May 13) noted that "total ancillary charges for a car rental at Piedmont Triad International (the Greensboro airport) have risen to as much as 26 percent."

I just got back from IAH where the ancillary charges for my one-day rental were 29 percent, including a customer facility charge, concession recoup fee, city sports authority tax, "prop. tax Lic&Title fee," "mtr veh rnt tax" and "fftxrsu." You should have a contest to see who can top my 29 percent and in which city this occurs. However, they must list—like I did—the name of all of the taxes.

The business traveler's company is getting ripped off by the airports or cities to support "pork" projects. And this falls on the corporation, which already supports local communities through United Way, MS runs, etc.

M. John Guarneri

BP Global Travel Manager