“It is also our belief that this facility will enhance the availability of rental car service and promote competition among the rental car companies, leading to better opportunities for the rental car customer here,” airport spokesman Victor Gill said.
The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority in September approved the fee for a two-year period to help defray the cost of the proposed Regional Intermodal Transit Center. And despite squabbling from some customers, the plan received early support from transportation stakeholders, officials said.
“Rental car companies have absolutely authorized this in terms of their buy-in,” Gill said.
But even as officials contend that the project would mitigate the airport’s environmental impact on the community by promoting alternative transportation, some customers said the fee amounted to an invasive tax on their travel tabs.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Stephen Zube, 39. “You book a car for $24.99, 30 bucks, and the total comes to much, much more — already.”
The Las Vegas native who considers himself a regular in-state traveler was able to recoup the cost of his rental car through his appliance company until he was laid off in August.
Now, he’s stuck paying the sales tax, state tourism assessment fee, airport concession fee, vehicle license fee and customer facility charge on top of the cost of his economy-class rental.
Laura Bryant, spokeswoman for Enterprise Holdings, noted the difference between taxes unrelated to the rental car industry and the charge in place at Bob Hope Airport.
