Car Hire Companies "Special Discount"?

According to this page, you get a special reduced rental from Avis:

"As well as earning miles when you rent a car from Avis, flying club members also get a specially reduced rental rate. Just quote your Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number which you'll find on the back of your pocket guide." (if you're logged into your FC account, the AWD code appears on the site).

I just booked a rental for this weekend (nice extra 1k miles ), but there was no difference between quotes with or without the AWD entered. Anyone know if this actually works?

Cheers

Michael

That's nothing Michael. Last time I used the Hertz VS CDP number the price was more expensive than without!

Actually the answer is that it does work, sometimes. But it's always worth trying (a) without and (b) with other airline discount codes.

BC

Most FF car partners offer a discount of 10% or 15% off a rack rate which is high to begin with. This is because there is a cost to the car rental company for the mileage credits in terms of administration and the cash value of the miles (may not be the case for the VS partnership with Avis and Hertz).

Normally in Car Rental a web rate will offer the best value followed by GDS then Voice. Can't speak for Avis and Hertz but with my company our FF partners still get miles on the better value rates.

So my advice would be to book a good rate over the web and then call the company to check the rate qualifys for mileage credits, then just give them your card when you pick up the car.

Andy

Recently booked a car with Avis, for 10 days from Malaga airport.

Can confirm that the 'discounted rate' was exactly the same as the normal one. I thought that it hadn't logged the FC number properly as there was an error on the quote page, but having come back home the miles have been added to my FC account.

Avis were still the cheapest quote I got, so the miles were a bonus really. Perhaps in some circumstances you do get a better rate by quoting the number.

David.

Thanks for the replies folks, I mostly book Avis through work and this was the first time I'd booked personally. I asked the girl at the AVIS counter at NCL when I picked up the car (incidentally, it was upgraded FOC from a Megane to a Zafira 2.2 ), and she said it was because I booked for a weekend - more cars are available then, so they don't need to discount (although I'd have thought if more cars are available, they should be attracting more people to hire??).

Cheers

Michael

[Bazz]

quote:Originally posted by BlackCat
That's nothing Michael. Last time I used the Hertz VS CDP number the price was more expensive than without!

Actually the answer is that it does work, sometimes. But it's always worth trying (a) without and (b) with other airline discount codes.

BC

Got to agree with BC on this one. We need a car for two weeks in September in CA, so I went to the Hertz site and keyed in the details, quote was GBP 363 for a Luxury group. Then I entered my Hertz No1 Clug Gold details and my VS CDP number and did the whole thing again, quote came back GBP 523! err, so where's the benefit? [:(!]

Anyhow I have my TA working on it too so we'll see but at the moment it's a no-brainer

Bazz,
Have a look at this site
http://www.nhad.co.uk/nhad/mlflights/carhire.asp?fa=usa

This is who I use (Alamo/National cars, but cheap) Service has always been good with them

Some experiences...

1. Try the phone as well; sometimes that's been cheaper than the net, special offers, hot deals, etc

2. Check insurances, especially if your credit card offers some as part of the package (mine gives CDW)

3. Log on as normal to the rental web site, forget to mention you're GB (usually best to leave location as US) and check the rates. It's never yet caused a problem at the desk for me

Then show your card at the desk

Happy renting[}:)]

[Nottingham Nick]

quote:Originally posted by moodyflyer
Some experiences...
3. Log on as normal to the rental web site, forget to mention you're GB (usually best to leave location as US) and check the rates. It's never yet caused a problem at the desk for me

Then show your card at the desk

I'm no expert, but I would be very careful with this one. As Brits we seems to be stung for SLI (supplementary liability insurance - I think). I am told it is a 'must have' for us, but some US citizens don't need it because their own motor insurance covers it.

As I see it, the danger of the booking not knowing you are a Brit may lead to you not having sufficient coverage.

If this is all a load of twaddle - I am sure someone will put me right, but the thought of being under insured does not bear thinking about.

Nick

[mitchja]

True....when I book car hire the VH I always book the 'fully inclusive' package which includes LDW, SLI snd UMP and Dollar have never tried pushing anything else onto me when collecting the car, where as other companies have often tried.

Saying that Dollar did once accuse me of damaging a car on it's return - after writing to Dollar complaining I got a free upgrade next time.

Regards

[Bazz]

Thanks Alan, I will have a look at that site for future reference.

I have now booked the Hertz Luxury at GBP 363.99, it includes LDW, Tax, Liability Insurance Supplement, Vehicle Licence Fee and Transaction Fee.

I made a note of the Rate (RQ) Code VX75 which the system entered on the cheap quote, then logged on with my Hertz Gold card and entered the VS CDP number and then put in the RQ as VX75 and the price stayed at GBP 363.99 so I confirmed it.

Best offer my TA could get was upgrading the Dollar Compact (one week included as my UC ticket was a FlyDrive through VH) to a Luxury and taking an extra week that worked out at GBP 319 so I opted for Hertz to get the Gold Service.

Moodyflyer, absolutely correct, Centurion gives excellent cover so I didn't require all the "extras".

I just booked though Alamo..
Got a Full Size 4 door for £129 with all the extras and a tank of fuel


I forgot to mention that was a free upgrade from a compact! (7 days)

[Bazz]

Hi Alan,

Just logged onto that site for comparison, hate to think I may have missed a bargain and the weekly rate for a Luxury band is £195 so my £182 was a good buy! Cover seems to be identical as well.

quote:Originally posted by Bazz
Hi Alan,

Just logged onto that site for comparison, hate to think I may have missed a bargain and the weekly rate for a Luxury band is £195 so my £182 was a good buy! Cover seems to be identical as well.

Hi Bazz,
Don't they say they will price match and give you £5 off as well?
Still, you got a great price

[Bazz]

Mcuth,

I have renamed this topic as we seem to be talking more generally (my fault I think [:I]) about car hire rather than just Avis which was the subject of your original post, hope you don't mind?

[Bazz]

Alan,

Yes they do, but I had already confirmed before I read your post, and I prefer the Lincoln to the Buick Park Avenue [^].

Also the Lincoln has a much larger boot, more room for Birkins suitcases she'll kill me if she reads this

quote:Originally posted by Bazz
I have renamed this topic as we seem to be talking more generally (my fault I think [:I]) about car hire rather than just Avis which was the subject of your original post, hope you don't mind?

Nah, I don't mind at all Was actually just going to add about my experience with Alamo - getting the free upgrade from Compact (picked up a Dodge Stratus, and it drives beautifully [8D]) because they didn't have any left. I would thoroughly recommend joining their "Direct Road" scheme - got me to the separate desk immediately and avoided a long-a%^#& queue

Will update this post if there's any change in my opinion after I've handed the car back on Monday [8D]

Edited to add (13th July:)
Nope, no change in opinion - return of the car was really smooth and I was away v. quickly

Cheers

Michael

[Bazz]

We used to use Alamo a lot at LAX before I got my Hertz No. 1 Club Gold membership, the Direct Road scheme is very good. I remember one year when they were remodelling the down stairs at the LAX Alamo reception and all bookings had to be handled through a small number of upstairs positions, the line reached right out into the car park! We had Direct Road and were in and out in about 10 minutes, the line hadn't even moved.

The great thing about Herts No. 1 Club Gold is you get off the shuttle right where the Gold members cars are lined up, read your name and bay no. off the board walk a few feet to your car and drive to the gate, it is a very good service. [8D]

Not all locations offer the Gold service however. [V]

[Decker]

Would love ANY People Mover for this weekend (friend's wedding and taking several people up there) but apparently there's no availability of hire cars in London 'cos of the Grsand Prix!

[Nottingham Nick]

quote:Originally posted by mcuth
Was actually just going to add about my experience with Alamo - getting the free upgrade from Compact (picked up a Dodge Stratus, and it drives beautifully [8D]) because they didn't have any left. I would thoroughly recommend joining their "Direct Road" scheme - got me to the separate desk immediately and avoided a long-a%^#& queue

I was always under the impression that with Dollar and Alamo leisure rate rentals (ie 99% of those booked with travel agents) didn't count towards their 'frequent renter' schemes. Is this not the case with Alamo now?

I used to be Hertz Gold, but it was purely a question of economics that caused me to change.

My last half dozen rentals have been booked through my TA, who uses Dollar - booking through a company called Worldwide Cars. They have all been spot on. A lot cheaper than Hertz (but no 'nerverlost' [:(] ) and also a LOT cheaper than booking through dollar.co.uk

Still a lot of money due to high charges for LDW / SLI etc. etc. but as I have said in quite a few posts in the past(including this one), these are neccesary evils [:(!]

Nick

Nick

Nick

quote:I was always under the impression that with Dollar and Alamo leisure rate rentals (ie 99% of those booked with travel agents) didn't count towards their 'frequent renter' schemes. Is this not the case with Alamo now?

I have no idea mate, I just got the Direct Road form to fill in with the rental voucher from Thomas Cook. Filled it in and sent it back

Cheers

Michael