CTA · Catania, Italy
Every car hire desk ranked by Counterwise Score
Eastern Sicily's main airport. Only a couple of firms have desks inside the Terminal A arrivals hall. Most rental offices are a short walk away: turn right out of arrivals towards Terminal C to reach the "Card Park" rental building and the VIP Car Park, where the big brands and dozens of local firms have their counters. Hertz and Sixt are by car park P4. Very few firms need a shuttle. Italian historic centres have camera-controlled limited-traffic zones (ZTL): fines can arrive months later, and some rental firms add a handling fee.
Based on 8,528 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work
Showing all 37 desks
Red flag: About ten recent reviews report fuel-deposit deductions they dispute, for example a part-empty tank recorded on return or fuel charged despite a refill; most of these also say emails went unanswered.
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Red flag: Several recent reviews and a recent consumer-site report describe large damage or other post-rental charges (hundreds to over a thousand euros), with disputes over documentation. Others report deposit refunds taking weeks and emails going unanswered.
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Red flag: Around 16 recent reviews report charges for damage the customer says was already on the car or was not visible at return, often despite photo or video evidence sent to the desk.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews (about 13) report charges taken after the rental: scratch or damage fees of roughly 300-500 EUR that customers dispute, fuel charges of 38-40 EUR despite a full tank, and 30-50 EUR admin fees for traffic fines. An aggregator page from 2025 also notes admin fees and pre-existing damage as recurring cautions.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews describe pressure at the counter to buy extra cover or a paid upgrade, including claims that luggage on the back seat is illegal or that a smaller car is not suitable, and alarming statements about uninsured costs.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report that when a flight was delayed or the airport closed because of Etna, the car was released as a no-show after the desk closed, despite promised grace periods or earlier contact. Refunds were typically refused, customer service was hard to reach, and some travellers had to pay far more for a replacement car.
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Red flag: Many reviews, including recent ones, report the car being refused at the counter over payment-card rules (debit cards, some digital-bank or Amex cards, cards expiring within three months, cards in another person's name), often after paying in advance and with no refund. Company terms and a 2026 guide say a credit card is required.
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Red flag: Several recent reviews report charges for scratches or underbody marks that travellers say were already on the car, typically around 150-300 euros. Review sites show similar complaints.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report strong pressure at the counter to buy the desk's own extra cover, with warnings about Sicilian traffic or claims that broker or third-party cover is not valid. Some say it was presented as compulsory and cost €150-€560.
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Red flag: About 11 recent reviews report disputed charges after return, such as scratches, mirror or lock damage said to be pre-existing or not found at handback, sometimes hundreds of euros, with slow or no response to disputes. A May 2026 Reddit thread has similar complaints, although another commenter attributes it to strict damage checking and loose damage recording at pickup.
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Red flag: Many reviews, including many in the last 12 months, report being refused the car at the counter or asked to pay a large surcharge because of card rules (debit, prepaid, digital-bank, name or initial mismatch, card not in the driver's name) or licence/ID rules (international permit, documents from different countries). Several say no refund followed. Official OK Mobility help pages say only credit cards are accepted for the deposit.
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Red flag: Roughly 22 recent reviews report fuel or security deposits not returned for weeks or months, disputed fuel-level or late-return charges of about €90-180, or unanswered refund requests.
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Red flag: Many reviews report long waits for the car, from about 1 to 3 hours, often because the car was not ready or the office was unstaffed at the booked time. Three of these are from the last 6 months, the rest from late summer 2025.
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Red flag: Long waits at the pick-up desk are reported repeatedly, often one to two hours, even with prepaid or pre-checked-in bookings and with only some counters staffed.
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Red flag: Around a dozen kept reviews, many from the last 6 months, describe charges of about 150-1000 EUR for scratches, windshield chips or missing parts that travellers say were pre-existing or not proven. Several say their own photos or videos were disregarded, especially after key-box returns outside opening hours.
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Red flag: About 6 of 19 recent reviews report paying noticeably more at the counter than booked (for example a credit card required but not clear at booking, prices roughly doubling, or a booking made through a comparison site refused without extra payment). A recent consumer-site page reports a similar extra charge over card acceptance.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report charges for scratches or damage that travellers say were already on the car or were trivial, often taken from the card after return with little explanation (sums of roughly €180 to €3,700). Some say the charge was later refunded after an appeal.
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Red flag: Many reviews from the past year report unexpected or unexplained charges after the rental, such as damage fees travellers say were already on the car, fuel fees and extra amounts taken from the card. Some also report deposits returned late or not at all.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews say that when the card shown was a debit, virtual or non-matching card (or flagged as such by the desk), the only way to collect the car was to pay roughly €170 to €500 extra for the desk's own cover, or the rental was refused and prepaid money lost.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews (about 14 in the last 12 months) report charges after the rental that the customer disputes, such as damage, fuel, an extra rental day or a second charge on a prepaid booking. Several say their emails to Hertz went unanswered and the money was not returned.
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Red flag: Many reviews report being refused the car at the desk because the main driver had no physical credit card in their own name (debit, virtual or other-name cards rejected), often after prepaying through a broker, and sometimes losing the prepayment or paying hundreds of euros extra for cover to use a debit card.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report charges of roughly €250 to €950 for small scratches on wheel rims or paintwork that travellers say were not theirs or were barely visible. Several of these happened after an unattended key-box return, and some travellers describe weak or no repair evidence.
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Red flag: Many reviews from the last 12 months report damage charges of roughly 250 to 500 euros (one over 1,000) for very small scratches or marks they say were already there or barely visible. Several people avoided payment only because they had their own detailed photos.
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Red flag: Very many recent reviews (about 90 in the last 8 months) report charges for small scratches or marks, often under the bumper or on wheels, that travellers say were already there or were not visible at pickup, frequently despite photo or video. Typical sums are 100 to 450 EUR. A 2026 independent review also notes a fixed 80 EUR admin fee on every damage claim and many complaints about disputed charges.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report charges after return that customers dispute: damage they say was already on the car, 25 EUR cleaning fees, and roadside-assistance or towing bills of roughly 250 to 375 EUR. Several say their photo or video evidence was ignored and that charges were taken from the card without an itemised invoice.
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Red flag: Roughly 40 recent reviews report disputed damage, cleaning or charges after return. Typical complaints are small scratches or marks billed from a few hundred to over a thousand euros, pressure to sign the check-in report, and missing itemised proof.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report card charges after return that were not explained at the desk: 25 EUR cleaning fees, fuel charges and damage claims of 50-500 EUR. Some say the return was not inspected and others say they had photo or video evidence against the claim. Trustpilot and Discover Cars feedback shows the same pattern.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews report that a short flight delay or a pick-up after the booked time led to a cancelled booking, a late fee of roughly 85 to 260 euros, or a lost prepaid car, even when the flight number was given at booking.
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Red flag: Many reviews, about 28 in the last 12 months, report charges of roughly 120-500 euros for small scratches, hubcap marks or roof/underbody marks that travellers say were already on the car or not visible; several say the damage report was incomplete and only their own photos or video protected them.
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Red flag: Many reviews, including 18 that clearly describe the pattern, say the desk refused the card used for the deposit (often online-bank or debit cards that the booking allowed) and then offered the car only with extra desk insurance costing roughly 150-650 EUR. The same cards were reportedly accepted for paying that insurance. Pre-paid broker bookings were lost or heavily inflated.
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Red flag: Many travellers, including recent ones, report that the desk only accepts a credit card for the deposit and refuses debit or prepaid cards. They say they were turned away or had to buy the desk's own cover, typically 240-350 EUR extra, to get the car. The company's own FAQ confirms the credit-card requirement, and reviewers say it was not clear when booking through intermediaries.
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Red flag: Very many reviews, about 75 in the kept set and spread over the last year, say staff pressed them to buy the desk's own insurance even when they already held third-party cover. Many add that the car was only released after paying, often 150-450 EUR.
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Red flag: Many reviews across the whole period, including recent months, say staff pressed them to buy the desk's own much pricier insurance even though they already had broker or card cover, sometimes with warnings of very large charges for any damage.
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Red flag: Dozens of kept reviews from the last 12 months say a prepaid booking was treated as expired after about an hour of lateness, even when the flight was delayed or the desk had been told. Travellers were offered a larger car at a much higher price or lost the money paid.
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Red flag: Many recent reviews say prepaid customers were refused the car at the counter because their card was judged not a valid credit card (debit, online-bank, near expiry, not embossed), then offered the car only if they bought the desk's own cover for roughly 170-830 euros.
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Ranking is by Counterwise Score only. Commission never changes the order. Read our affiliate disclosure. “Limited data” desks have fewer recent reviews, so their score leans more on the airport average. Facts marked “Not confirmed yet” have not been verified yet: we never guess them.
Ranked by Counterwise Score. Swipe sideways on a phone to see every column.
| Desk | Score | Location | Credit card | Deposit | Fuel policy | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Centauro | 7.1Mixed | Short walk | Not required | €900–€2,300 | Full to full | 07:00–23:00 daily |
| 2.Sicily by Car | 7.0Mixed | Short walk | Required | €300–€500 | Full to full | 08:00–23:29 daily |
| 3.SRC Rent Car | 6.7Mixed | Short walk | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–22:59 daily (key box until 23:29) |
| 4.Automania | 6.5Mixed | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–22:00 daily |
| 5.Sixt | 6.4Mixed | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–23:30 daily |
| 6.Goldcar | 6.1Mixed | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–21:59 daily |
| 7.GaldieriRent | 5.9Poor | Short walk | Required | up to €800 | Full to full | 08:00–18:00 daily |
| 8.Easy Car Hire | 5.8Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | 08:00–22:00 daily |
| 9.Autovia | 5.4Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | Daily 08:00–23:59 (26 Mar–31 Oct); 08:00–23:00 (rest of year) |
| 10.Enterprise | 5.3Poor | In terminal | Not required | €100–€500 | Full to full | 08:00–23:59 daily (as of 1 Nov 2026) |
| 11.Avis | 5.2Poor | Short walk | Not required | €200 | Full to full | 08:00–24:00 daily; 24h drop-off |
| 12.OK Mobility | 5.2Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–22:00 daily |
| 13.Record Go | 4.8Poor | Short walk | Not required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–21:30 daily |
| 14.HSA Rent a Car | 4.7Poor | Short walk | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | Mon–Sat 08:30–20:30; Sun closed (key box returns until 23:45) |
| 15.Europcar | 4.5Poor | Short walk | Required | €100–€500 | Full to full | 08:00–23:59 daily |
| 16.Target Rent | 4.5Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 17.Eurorentcar | 4.5Poor | Shuttle, 3 min | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–20:59 daily |
| 18.Budget | 4.4Poor | Short walk | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–24:00 daily |
| 19.Maggiore | 4.3Poor | Short walk | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–23:59 daily |
| 20.U-Save | 4.2Poor | Short walk | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–22:00 daily |
| 21.Hertz | 4.0Poor | Short walk | Not required | €200–€700 | Full to full | 08:00–24:00 daily |
| 22.Drivalia | 4.0Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–23:00 daily |
| 23.Italy Car Rent | 4.0Poor | Short walk | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–23:00 daily |
| 24.Car Motion | 3.7Poor | Short walk | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–22:00 daily (out-of-hours 07:00–07:59, 22:01–23:00) |
| 25.Noleggiare | 3.6Poor | In terminal | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–22:30 daily |
| 26.Viaggiare | 3.6Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:30–20:30 daily; closed 24–25 Dec and 31 Dec–1 Jan |
| 27.Wheego | 3.6Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–22:00 daily |
| 28.Waycar | 3.0Poor | Short walk | Required | €100–€600 | Full to full | 08:00–22:00 daily (out-of-hours 07:00–07:59, 22:01–23:59) |
| 29.Brid | 3.0Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–22:00 daily |
| 30.Felirent | 2.9Poor | Short walk | Required | from €100 | Full to full | 08:00–22:00 daily (out-of-hours 22:01–23:00) |
| 31.RentSmart24 | 2.9Poor | Walk, 10 min | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 24 hours daily (EUR 75 night surcharge for pick-ups after 23:01) |
| 32.Differental | 2.8Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | Mon–Wed 08:00–18:00; Thu–Sat 08:00–21:00; Sun 08:00–18:00 |
| 33.B-Rent | 2.6Poor | Short walk | Required | from €90 | Same to same | 08:00–22:00 daily |
| 34.Carwiz | 2.4Poor | Short walk | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–23:00 daily |
| 35.AcaRent | 2.2Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 08:00–20:00 daily |
| 36.Rental Plus | 2.1Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Same to same | 08:00–22:00 daily (DiscoverCars pick-up/drop-off hours 08:30–20:30) |
| 37.Surprice | 1.8Poor | Short walk | Required | Not confirmed yet | Full to full | 09:00–17:00 daily |
Centauro is the best-rated car rental desk at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport, with a Counterwise Score of 7.1/10 (Mixed). It is followed by Sicily by Car (7.0) and SRC Rent Car (6.7). Scores are based on 8,528 traveller reviews analysed and were last updated on 12 November 2026.
2 of the 37 desks at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport are inside the terminal: Enterprise and Noleggiare. RentSmart24, Centauro, Sicily by Car, SRC Rent Car, Automania, Sixt, Goldcar, GaldieriRent, Easy Car Hire, Autovia, Avis, OK Mobility, Record Go, HSA Rent a Car, Europcar, Target Rent, Budget, Maggiore, U-Save, Hertz, Drivalia, Italy Car Rent, Car Motion, Viaggiare, Wheego, Waycar, Brid, Felirent, Differental, B-Rent, Carwiz, AcaRent, Rental Plus and Surprice are in a nearby car park or building, about 10 minutes on foot. Eurorentcar is off-site and reached by shuttle.
Yes. 5 of the 37 desks at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport do not require a credit card: Centauro (7.1/10), Enterprise (5.3/10), Avis (5.2/10), Record Go (4.8/10) and Hertz (4.0/10). Sicily by Car, Automania, Sixt, Goldcar, GaldieriRent, Easy Car Hire, Autovia, OK Mobility, Europcar, Target Rent, Drivalia, Viaggiare, Wheego, Waycar, Brid, Felirent, RentSmart24, Differental, B-Rent, AcaRent, Rental Plus and Surprice need a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit. The card rule is not confirmed yet for SRC Rent Car, HSA Rent a Car, Eurorentcar, Budget, Maggiore, U-Save, Italy Car Rent, Car Motion, Noleggiare and Carwiz. Check the debit card conditions when you book.
B-Rent has the lowest starting deposit at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport: from €90. The highest is at Centauro, up to €2,300. Deposits are held on your card at pickup and released after the car is returned. Deposit amounts are not confirmed yet for SRC Rent Car, Automania, Sixt, Goldcar, Easy Car Hire, Autovia, OK Mobility, Record Go, HSA Rent a Car, Target Rent, Eurorentcar, Budget, Maggiore, U-Save, Drivalia, Italy Car Rent, Car Motion, Noleggiare, Viaggiare, Wheego, Brid, RentSmart24, Differental, Carwiz, AcaRent, Rental Plus and Surprice.
From the terminal at Catania Airport, the walk to the desks in nearby car parks or buildings takes about 10 minutes: RentSmart24 about 10 min. Allow extra time with luggage. Walking time not confirmed yet for Centauro, Sicily by Car, SRC Rent Car, Automania, Sixt, Goldcar, GaldieriRent, Easy Car Hire, Autovia, Avis, OK Mobility, Record Go, HSA Rent a Car, Europcar, Target Rent, Budget, Maggiore, U-Save, Hertz, Drivalia, Italy Car Rent, Car Motion, Viaggiare, Wheego, Waycar, Brid, Felirent, Differental, B-Rent, Carwiz, AcaRent, Rental Plus and Surprice.
The shuttle ride to the off-site desks at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport takes about 3 minutes, plus waiting time: Eurorentcar about 3 min.
Opening hours at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport: Centauro, 07:00–23:00 daily; Sicily by Car, 08:00–23:29 daily; SRC Rent Car, 08:00–22:59 daily (key box until 23:29); Automania, 08:00–22:00 daily; Sixt, 08:00–23:30 daily; Goldcar, 08:00–21:59 daily; GaldieriRent, 08:00–18:00 daily; Easy Car Hire, 08:00–22:00 daily; Autovia, Daily 08:00–23:59 (26 Mar–31 Oct); 08:00–23:00 (rest of year); Enterprise, 08:00–23:59 daily (as of 1 Nov 2026); Avis, 08:00–24:00 daily; 24h drop-off; OK Mobility, 08:00–22:00 daily; Record Go, 08:00–21:30 daily; HSA Rent a Car, Mon–Sat 08:30–20:30; Sun closed (key box returns until 23:45); Europcar, 08:00–23:59 daily; Target Rent, 08:00–20:00 daily; Eurorentcar, 08:00–20:59 daily; Budget, 08:00–24:00 daily; Maggiore, 08:00–23:59 daily; U-Save, 08:00–22:00 daily; Hertz, 08:00–24:00 daily; Drivalia, 08:00–23:00 daily; Italy Car Rent, 08:00–23:00 daily; Car Motion, 08:00–22:00 daily (out-of-hours 07:00–07:59, 22:01–23:00); Noleggiare, 08:00–22:30 daily; Viaggiare, 08:30–20:30 daily; closed 24–25 Dec and 31 Dec–1 Jan; Wheego, 08:00–22:00 daily; Waycar, 08:00–22:00 daily (out-of-hours 07:00–07:59, 22:01–23:59); Brid, 08:00–22:00 daily; Felirent, 08:00–22:00 daily (out-of-hours 22:01–23:00); RentSmart24, 24 hours daily (EUR 75 night surcharge for pick-ups after 23:01); Differental, Mon–Wed 08:00–18:00; Thu–Sat 08:00–21:00; Sun 08:00–18:00; B-Rent, 08:00–22:00 daily; Carwiz, 08:00–23:00 daily; AcaRent, 08:00–20:00 daily; Rental Plus, 08:00–22:00 daily (DiscoverCars pick-up/drop-off hours 08:30–20:30); Surprice, 09:00–17:00 daily. If your flight lands late, check the hours before you book.
Most desks at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport use full to full (pick up full, return full). Exceptions: Autovia (same to same), Target Rent (same to same), Eurorentcar (same to same), U-Save (same to same), Italy Car Rent (same to same), Noleggiare (same to same), Viaggiare (same to same), Wheego (same to same), RentSmart24 (same to same), Differental (same to same), B-Rent (same to same) and Rental Plus (same to same). The fuel policy is not confirmed yet for Easy Car Hire.
Surprice has the lowest Counterwise Score at Catania-Fontanarossa "Vincenzo Bellini" Airport: 1.8/10 (Poor). Main red flag from travellers: Many recent reviews say prepaid customers were refused the car at the counter because their card was judged not a valid credit card (debit, online-bank, near expiry, not embossed), then offered the car only if they bought the desk's own cover for roughly 170-830 euros..
The Counterwise Score (0 to 10) blends two things. 70% is an AI analysis of recent traveller reviews of that specific desk and of web reports, scored on five weighted sub-scores: deposit & damage disputes (30%), counter upselling (20%), booking honoured (20%), queue time (15%) and car condition (15%). 30% is the desk's star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate. Recent reviews count more than old ones, and desks with few reviews are pulled toward the average of their airport or station. Rankings are independent: affiliate commissions never change a score or a position.