Hertz - Getting 5-star renewed with only 9 rentals

I'm at 9 rentals for the year. I was going to book an el-cheapo weekender rate at a local HLE for $9 total due to the holiday sale (posted on the Hertz website). So I made the res, and called the local HLE to see if I could just do it over the phone, didn't actually want the car, etc. Sort of a MR for cars :)

This confused the local office a bit, but they caught on quick. The manager suggested I contact Hertz Gold to see if they'd just comp me the rental credit. So I called Gold Customer Service (405-775-3180) and they claimed 9 rentals would be sufficient to renew my 5-Star status. I asked for clarification because the 10-rental rule is pretty explicit and was assured I'd be renewed. I thought this was odd, so I thought I'd check with others here.

Does anyone have an email address for Gold CS so I might get this "in writing" in case I run into an issue in Jan?

Does 5* status do anything? As far as I can tell, not much.

It actually is 10 rentals in a 12-month period so if you had one late last year you should be okay. I wouldn't push it to try and get something in writing though. And if you can get a $9 rental it might be worth it just because.

You get the "occasional upgrade", plus you get a free rental cert. That is worth about $50 (at least) in my book for a last minute rental of a decent car.

Does 5* status do anything? As far as I can tell, not much.

It actually is 10 rentals in a 12-month period so if you had one late last year you should be okay.

But according to the 5* T&C page under "Qualifications" (https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/emember/join/index.jsp?targetPage=clubsBenefitsView.jsp&contentPage=sumGoldbenefits.jsp#A) :

Qualification for the Five Star membership is a minimum of 10 rentals annually. Annual requalification is required. Qualification periods begin on January 1, and run through December 31, of every year. All qualified rentals within that timeframe will be tallied and new membership cards issued the following April.

So it is not just any 12-month period. It is the calendar year.

gof--

I'm not seeing the $9 HLE special (my cookies appear to keep forcing my browser to go to "Rates & Res", not Hertz' home page, and I can't find it under "Specials"). Can you give me a specific URL for the offer ... or simpler yet the PC code?

--jmd001

gof--

I'm not seeing the $9 HLE special (my cookies appear to keep forcing my browser to go to "Rates & Res", not Hertz' home page, and I can't find it under "Specials"). Can you give me a specific URL for the offer ... or simpler yet the PC code?

--jmd001

Hertz.com
Special Offers
Weekend/Weekly Vacations
then
Save up to $50 during the holidays
Valid November 14, 2006 - January 1, 2007

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/specialoffers/index.jsp?targetPage=holiday304050.jsp&Category=W

You get the "occasional upgrade", plus you get a free rental cert. That is worth about $50 (at least) in my book for a last minute rental of a decent car.

Currently, I am wondering about the stated value of "Free Weekend" certificates. This was my first experience. It was nice that they were listed a 500 points, the on sale for 250, which makes it only 200 when ordered online.

I used 2 of them this past weekend for a Taurus.
When I got my receipt, it showed

2 days @ 81.50 = 163
Certificates $139.98
Then it gave me a 20 percent AAdvantage discount on the remaining 23.02.
I don't know why I need a discount if it is supposed to be free


What I don't understand is

1. If the certificates are for free days, why is the value less than the base rental charge?

2. Why is the weekend rate $81.50? (This was SJC, not JFK)

3. Why could I not use my corporate rate to extend the rental?
When I tried to extend this online, it quoted me $66.49
The corporate rate is $43 for Full, $40 for mid and intermediate

I was comped up an extra rental or two one year when I was short. Didn't ask -- they just did it.

5* also gets some bonus ZE1 points if you collect those.

For the free day certs, you still have to pay some of the taxes and fees, which is likely what was left. I'm looking at using two of the 250pt weekend certs and the remaining bill will be ~$15 at this location.