Executives at American Express are accompanied by "minders" during interviews with the press. What is this, North Korea?

The cost of maintaining a new car fleet is rising. But because customers are balking at paying higher prices for their rentals, the companies are gradually breaking out expenses from the rental base price.

The car rental industry is not keen to discuss this subject. But the process, known as "unbundling," was confirmed in an unusual interview with one of the foremost experts in the car rental industry, David Kilduff, the head of car rental procurement for American Express Business Travel. I was allowed to speak with him only on the condition that a member of the company's public relations staff be present. Mr. Kilduff jokingly referred to him as "the guy in Mutual of Omaha's 'Wild Kingdom,' up in the tree, waiting to take a shot."

I asked Mr. Kilduff if these unbundlings were, in effect, stealth rate increases. And just as he began to agree with me, his handler interrupted him. "You really can't say that," the publicist snapped, cutting Mr. Kilduff short.