Corporate codes, Wizard numbers, and BGM pretty much point you to Avis.
Avis Car Rentals runs one of the small counters inside the Greater Binghamton (BGM) terminal, and for many arrivals it shares that space with Budget as effectively the only on-airport rental option. This is the spot that makes the most sense if your company has an Avis/Budget corporate ID, you earn Preferred status, or you need a one-way rental straight from a regional jet gate to I-81 or NY-17.
The desk follows the flight schedule, not 24/7 hours, and Reddit locals call out that late-night arrivals on the last flight around 10:00–11:00 p.m. are the risk window. If your flight gets pushed back, the staff may leave once the posted closing time hits, so you can’t count on walking up at midnight and finding someone waiting just because your reservation shows a late pickup.
Fleet size is tiny compared with big-city stations; FlyerTalk regulars lump BGM in with other small upstate New York airports where “you get what’s on the lot” even if you booked a full-size or premium car. That means your reserved Intermediate (group C) might turn into a compact if inventory runs short, and upgrades or swaps often depend on status in the Avis Preferred tiers more than what the website showed when you reserved.
Prices swing a lot with demand, but weekday corporate-style rentals often land in the $60–$90 per day range before taxes and airport fees, which in New York state can add 20%+ to the base rate. Because taxis from BGM into downtown Binghamton run roughly 10–15 miles and can hit $40–$50 each way, a one-day rental can pencil out quickly if you plan to drive to Johnson City, Vestal, or over to Elmira.
Step-by-step: renting from Avis at BGM
- 1. Book online with your codes. Lock in your corporate ID or Wizard number and pick BGM as the location; if you’re eyeing a one-way to Syracuse or Albany, price it both ways first.
- 2. Set pickup earlier than your actual flight time. Frequent renters suggest choosing an afternoon pickup time like 3:00 p.m. even if your scheduled arrival is 5:45 p.m., so the car is pulled while the desk is definitely open.
- 3. Call the local Avis desk 24–48 hours before arrival. r/Binghamton posters say to phone the station directly, confirm that your specific reservation is in their system, and ask what time they expect to close that night.
- 4. Flag delayed flights immediately. If your inbound from, say, Detroit or Philadelphia slides into a delay, call again before the posted closing time and ask if staff can hold the car past the last scheduled arrival.
- 5. On arrival, head straight from baggage claim to the counter. BGM is small, so it’s a sub-5-minute walk from the single baggage carousel to the rental desks; have your license, credit card, and insurance preferences ready.
- 6. Inspect the car in the lot. Before leaving the airport, walk around the vehicle, note mileage and fuel level (often set to full), and take photos of any dings since small stations sometimes have limited backup cars.
- 7. Plan your return window. Ask at pickup what the desk hours are on your return day; if you’re dropping at 5:00 a.m. before a 6:30 a.m. flight, confirm the after-hours key drop and where exactly to park (usually signed spots right by the terminal).
Practical tip: Build a backup: save a local taxi number in your phone before you fly, in case your last-flight arrival misses Avis’s staffed hours and you have to pivot to a hotel in town for the night.