American Express Membership Rewards - Hertz & Centurion

Any idea what the benefits are for US hire? The Centurion web site just talks about #1 Gold and European locations.

Your #1 Gold works in the US (and most US locations are much better equipped to process #1 Gold more effectively).

I find when I book a European rental through #1 Gold it is very expensive and there are few stations that process it well.

In the US, you get very good rates, a great product and I would say that 75% of the time, I get an upgrade FOC.

The benefits include: 3 car class upgrade, 4 hour grace period, and a free booster/child seat.

In practice, the locations have no idea what you're supposed to get, and you almost always need to go back to the counter to let them know (when they look up the CDP it tells them).

Even though these benefits are better than the Avis President's Club benefits, I always went with Avis, because they implement them without having to go back to the counter (for the most part).

The benefits include: 3 car class upgrade, 4 hour grace period, and a free booster/child seat.

In practice, the locations have no idea what you're supposed to get, and you almost always need to go back to the counter to let them know (when they look up the CDP it tells them).

Even though these benefits are better than the Avis President's Club benefits, I always went with Avis, because they implement them without having to go back to the counter (for the most part).

Please confirm the 3 class upgrade on Hertz with Centurion. I was only aware that they gave basic Hertz gold which may or may not come with one level upgrade.

Thanks for providing more information.

The benefits include: 3 car class upgrade, 4 hour grace period, and a free booster/child seat.

In practice, the locations have no idea what you're supposed to get, and you almost always need to go back to the counter to let them know (when they look up the CDP it tells them).

Even though these benefits are better than the Avis President's Club benefits, I always went with Avis, because they implement them without having to go back to the counter (for the most part).

I was aware of the latter two, but I'm pretty sure it's only a 1 class upgrade. Calling Hertz now to enquire.

Definitely 3 class (with midsize reservation).

It is not just regular #1 Gold, and the amenities correspond to the Centurion CDP. It is not documented well.

No need to call, it's here:
https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/premium.do?page=centurion.carrentalelite#Hertz

Two things I left out:

Complimentary ski racks, courtesy pickup and delivery at FBOs

IIRC, Hertz #1 Gold is nowhere near as lucrative as the "3-car upgrade", etc which you mentioned.

It is a far inferior product to Avis Presidents Club - even Avis Preferred is better (which is not to difficult to qualify for).

Hertz #1 is either available for purchase to anyone, for $60 - or else you can have it comped by any Visa Signature product, World Mastercard, and most Amex products.

Many FFP's in several countries also comp Hertz #1 Gold membership to all elite FF's if you ask. Check their car rental benefits section.

It's not an "elite" level of recognition at all. It either means you have a credit card that gave you the card for free - or you couldn't figure out that, and opted to pay them $60 to give you a plastic card, and store your personal data on Hertz's computers so you don't need to fill out long forms everytime you rent a car...

Only problem with the Cent CDP (and maybe other AMEX CDP's such as Plat) is that they apparently don't give airline mile credit. We had a Hertz rental with the Cent CDP which was supposed to be credited to BMI, but Hertz refused to. After multiple discussions, they continued to state that since the AMEX CDP was a special contract, they do not award any miles to any program when its used.

I'd be interested to hear if others have not had the same problem.

I don't know about Centurion CDP, but my Amex plat CDP and/or BMI Hertz #1 gold CDP both post FF miles without issue.

(sorry this doesn't answer your specific question).

tn

Definitely 3 class (with midsize reservation).

It is not just regular #1 Gold, and the amenities correspond to the Centurion CDP. It is not documented well.

No need to call, it's here:
https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/premium.do?page=centurion.carrentalelite#Hertz

Two things I left out:

Complimentary ski racks, courtesy pickup and delivery at FBOs

Right...okay, so it's a max of Premium with a min rez of Midsize. Not terribly useful, but nice in theory, I guess.

No need to call, it's here:
https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/premium.do?page=centurion.carrentalelite#Hertz



My UK centurion login doesn't open that, could you quote it please?

Hi Gareth,

Use this link:
https://www.icenturion.americanexpress.com/secure/cent/uk/FrontServlet?request_type=PremiumCarHire

Then you will see a link to Hertz that will list the benefits and enrolment page.

Thanks,
Richard

Thanks Richard but that again lists only the European (& MEA) benefits:

"As an American Express Centurion member enrolled into Hertz #1 Club Gold, you can enjoy the following benefits at participating locations in Europe, Middle East and Africa:

* Complimentary upgrade to best available vehicle (excluding Hertz Prestige Collection), when you book a mid-size car or above.
* Free vehicle delivery and collection within 15 kms of the nearest Hertz location
* Fee waived child seats and ski racks (subject to availability)
....
What's more, when you rent using the special American Express Centurion CDP number XXXXX you will also drive away with the following additional benefits:

* Up to 15% off Hertz published retail rates for rentals within EMEA. Reduced rates at other Hertz participating locations worldwide.
* Guaranteed availability of a car at participating locations (excluding Hertz Prestige Collection (HPC)), when booking a minimum of two hours in advance.
* No extra charge for hiring a car from one location and leaving it at another in the same country within EMEA, although HPC vehicles must be returned to HPC locations and in France a drop off fee will apply when returning to a different location."

What I'm trying to find out. in this case, are the US benefits.

As an aide though, does it matter whether I have the #1 Gold through Centurion or another scheme? The text seems to imply that it might.

IIRC, Hertz #1 Gold is nowhere near as lucrative as the "3-car upgrade", etc which you mentioned.

It is a far inferior product to Avis Presidents Club - even Avis Preferred is better (which is not to difficult to qualify for).

Hertz #1 is either available for purchase to anyone, for $60 - or else you can have it comped by any Visa Signature product, World Mastercard, and most Amex products.

Many FFP's in several countries also comp Hertz #1 Gold membership to all elite FF's if you ask. Check their car rental benefits section.

It's not an "elite" level of recognition at all. It either means you have a credit card that gave you the card for free - or you couldn't figure out that, and opted to pay them $60 to give you a plastic card, and store your personal data on Hertz's computers so you don't need to fill out long forms everytime you rent a car...

I don't think the benefit is as much the #1 Club Gold as it is the Centurion CDP used in the reservation. As you said, #1 Club Gold is open for all for registration -- and god knows there are hundreds, if not thousands, of affiliations that offer a comped membership.

#1 Club in and of itself is merely a tool to save time...your rentals are ready when you show up and you shouldn't have to wait in line, dedicated counter if you do have to speak to a rep, etc. The real benefits either come from the CDP, or your #1 Club status (5*, Presidents Club, Platinum), or both.

The benefits include: 3 car class upgrade, 4 hour grace period, and a free booster/child seat.

In practice, the locations have no idea what you're supposed to get, and you almost always need to go back to the counter to let them know (when they look up the CDP it tells them).

Even though these benefits are better than the Avis President's Club benefits, I always went with Avis, because they implement them without having to go back to the counter (for the most part).

Hello aviators99

Sorry for bringing this up again, but are you really saying that a Centurion Card gets you a 3 car class upgrade in the US at Hertz? I'm asking this because even a 1 car class upgrade is very hard to get in Europe (most reps don't even know what a Centurion Card is). Do you have to quote a certain CDP to get the upgrade? Because just showing them the Centurion card clearly doesn't do the trick over here.

I'll be renting a car in SFO in August and would of course be happy to get a Centurion upgrade.

Thanks a lot.

100% dependant on the CDP.

I rented a car at SFO with the Centurion CDP. I only got the 4 hour grace period upon the return. No car upgrade at all (well, I got a 1 class upgrade but only after complaining that my assigned car smelled smoke).

I'm confused on this, can someone with experience renting in Europe help?

I (well, me and my father who has a Business Cent) need to rent a car in Zurich in December. We've never used Hertz in Europe and very rarely in the US with the Centurion CDP, with very poor results. I called Centurion travel to make a reservation but they were very unclear on the benefits of the Cent CDP. The agent was smart enough to conference in a Hertz agent who mentioned that we needed to sign up for Europe #1 Club Gold, which I did and is being faxed in tomorrow.

In any case, how can I confirm the benefits that go along with the Cent CDP? Both the AMEX agent and the two Hertz people I spoke to said it only gets the regular #1 Club Gold benefits - no special upgrades, complimentary ski rack, etc. In fact, the Hertz rep specifically said that Switzerland wouldn't get the ski rack. Uhh, Switzerland is in Europe, right?

I went on the AMEX website and saw the following, which is pretty unclear in terms of the CDP-specific, 3 class upgrades discussed elsewhere on this thread:

As a Hertz #1 Club Gold member, you are entitled to:
• Upgrade to the best available car - up to Premium/Class G with a Mid-Size or higher class of car reservation in the U.S.
• In Europe: an upgrade at time of rental to the best available car with a Mid-Size or larger reservation.
• Courtesy pickup and delivery of your rental car at private plane terminals located at U.S. airports served by Hertz. Advance reservations are required.
• Complimentary child seats and ski racks in the U.S. and Europe (subject to availability).

In addition to fee-waived enrollment in Hertz #1 Club Gold, you will receive the following benefits as a Business Centurion member when using CDP#XXXXXXX
• Special rates and guaranteed availability of a car at corporate locations worldwide
• In the U.S.: a four-hour grace period for return at no charge before an extra day is applied
• Access to a dedicated Business Centurion member Customer Service number: 1-800-XXX-XXXX
• In the U.S., extended weekend rates begin at 7 a.m. Thursdays
• In addition, you will receive 5% OPEN Savings from Hertz.

Appreciate any guidance you guys can give.

I'm confused on this, can someone with experience renting in Europe help?
I went on the AMEX website and saw the following, which is pretty unclear in terms of the CDP-specific, 3 class upgrades discussed elsewhere on this thread:



As a Hertz #1 Club Gold member, you are entitled to:
• Upgrade to the best available car - up to Premium/Class G with a Mid-Size or higher class of car reservation in the U.S.
• In Europe: an upgrade at time of rental to the best available car with a Mid-Size or larger reservation.


It is supposed to be exactly what you quoted. Just book a Mid-Size, and get the best available car (when you are in Europe).

It is supposed to be exactly what you quoted. Just book a Mid-Size, and get the best available car (when you are in Europe).

Best available up to what class exactly? And is this a function of #1 Club Gold or the CDP? The way it reads is that this is just the normal #1 Club Gold benefit, which in that place, I will not pay any extra to use the Centurion CDP.

Thanks for the response, much appreciated.

On a side note - does anyone know how to get a copy of all benefits associated with a CDP - will Hertz give it to you?

Best available up to what class exactly? And is this a function of #1 Club Gold or the CDP? The way it reads is that this is just the normal #1 Club Gold benefit, which in that place, I will not pay any extra to use the Centurion CDP.

Thanks for the response, much appreciated.

On a side note - does anyone know how to get a copy of all benefits associated with a CDP - will Hertz give it to you?

It's all benefit of the CDP, and is over and above the benefits of #1 Club Gold. I can only speak for the US, where they limit it to Premium (and I've found a lot of agents who don't believe me and have to look it up). So I don't know how far up they will go in Europe. I would assume *at least* Premium.

The benefits are all of the ones you listed, plus a discount.

It's all benefit of the CDP, and is over and above the benefits of #1 Club Gold. I can only speak for the US, where they limit it to Premium (and I've found a lot of agents who don't believe me and have to look it up). So I don't know how far up they will go in Europe. I would assume *at least* Premium.

The benefits are all of the ones you listed, plus a discount.

Let's not forget that in the US an "upgrade" to premium means a Mercury Grand Marquis. You can try and haggle for something better, but the standard "upgrade" is a freaking joke (unless you're in dire need of a 7-body trunk...). I would 100% rather stick with the full-size I normally reserve. At least with that, I have a chance of getting a nice Camry