Avis Budget Group's luxury curb-side program has moved from pilot to wider rollout, adding three U.S. airports and multiple urban locations just two weeks after launch. Travelers at Denver International, Daniel K. Inouye, and Palm Beach can now step off the plane to find a 2025-model vehicle-and a personal concierge-waiting at the terminal. Early feedback suggests the higher price buys hefty time savings and a hassle-free return.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Premium curb-side pickup eliminates shuttles, lines, and refueling stops.
- Travel impact: Service live at three airports and nine city hubs, with more planned by year-end.
- What's next: Avis hints at adding EVs once on-site charging logistics are ironed out.
- Pricing runs 20-30 percent above standard rentals, targeting time-pressed travelers.
- App-based concierge coordinates pickup, drop-off, and add-on options in real time.
Snapshot
Avis First pairs late-model premium vehicles with a dedicated concierge who meets customers at a designated curb. After a quick license scan and digital signature, the driver heads straight for the exit-no tram, no counter. Returns are equally seamless: hand the keys to the same curb-side agent and walk into departures while Avis refuels at local pump prices. The product is now bookable through the Avis app at Denver, Honolulu, and Palm Beach airports and in neighborhood zones from Manhattan to Seattle. A single link-out verifies our July 21 launch story for deeper background on pricing logic and tech stack.
Background
Car-rental "skip-the-counter" claims date back two decades, yet most travelers still queue for paperwork or ride crowded shuttles to remote lots. Avis First flips that model by treating the rental experience like a Hotel valet: premium cars, concierge hand-off, and dynamic in-app comms. The concept debuted in limited pilot markets this spring and officially launched July 21. That announcement drew heavy interest from Corporate Travel managers and families juggling gear. Early success metrics-booking lead-times under 24 hours and repeat-use intents above 60 percent-encouraged Avis to accelerate its phase-two rollout.
Latest Developments
Three-Airport Debut Cuts Transfer Time
As of August 1, Avis First is live at Denver (DEN), Honolulu (HNL), and Palm Beach (PBI). Additional city-center coverage includes Manhattan, Hoboken, Jersey City, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, Orlando, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. A company spokesperson said Fort Lauderdale remains on the near-term roadmap, pending curb-side permitting. Avis also confirmed that all First-tier vehicles are 2025 models with mileage caps below 10 000, and that fuel is billed at pump price rather than flat fees-addressing a long-standing rental-car pain point.
Analysis
Avis First arrives at the intersection of rising traveler impatience and expanding premium niches across hospitality. Airlines monetise priority lanes; hotels upsell early check-in. Ground transport was the lingering gap. By selling time as the luxury, not leather seats alone, Avis positions itself closer to airport meet-and-greet limo services than to traditional rental competitors. The model should resonate with frequent flyers, families lugging gear, and business travelers on tight turnarounds. Cost, though, remains the friction: example searches show a Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 in Denver running roughly $110 more than a standard-elite SUV for a four-day rental. Yet when that $110 replaces two 30-minute shuttle rides and a fuel stop, many will see value. Competitors-particularly Enterprise's Diamond class-are likely to respond, but Avis enjoys first-mover messaging and the backing of a robust app ecosystem. The bigger hurdle may be scaling trained concierges across airports where curb space is already scarce. Regulatory limits on curb-side commercial activity could slow expansion, especially at the nation's busiest hubs.
Final Thoughts
For travelers who treat every minute as mission-critical, Avis First delivers a rare commodity at U.S. airports: genuine convenience baked into the rental process. Watch upcoming expansions-particularly Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles-to see if the model gains nationwide traction or settles into a niche for business-class budgets. Either way, curb-side concierge service is now firmly part of the rental vernacular, thanks to Avis First.