Andy Big Bear

So, if you use rewards programs to maximize your frequent flyer miles and you have a choice in rental car companies, most of the majors, would you choose Hertz? Is the Hertz program generally pretty good versus other rental car companies? Are you having generally good experiences renting from Hertz? I have a number of choices and Hertz is the most expensive, so I really just want to know its a good company and the program is going to get me my miles and provide good service.

austin_modern

I chose hertz because my company has two options - hertz and avis. Avis doesnt really have a "miles" program for the company, so hertz was the default. All of my spend is not price sensitive, so the cost doesnt matter. I build up enough points in hertz to have a buffer if I'm taking a trip and need miles to get a car. Once I get taht buffer I swap over to airline miles. *shrug*

I find the rental car companies value of miles to be an order of magnitude different from hotel and airlines, but that might just be a perception problem that I have.

Rut Dog

Virgin Atlantic (1000+ per rental, with occasional bonuses), converts to HHonnors at 200% (5k VS = 10k HH). (Thank you eponymous_coward for your correction.) And being a foreign carrier, they are not subject to the excise tax and related surcharges.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz...ary-bonus.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz...ub-points.html

Delta runs it maximile promos every now and then. The problem, though, is that these promos require a PC. Using a miles bonus PC costs me a minimum of $35 out of my own pocket each rental, and I've yet found a bonus to make me willing to pay Hertz more.

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/points...es-per-rental/

You might find a better deal, though, with one of the many, many partners.

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/partn...on=globNav_8_1

Rut Dog

And that said, I earn Hertz points whenever they are running a triple promo, which has recently been twice a year.

Rut Dog

MRP Alert is the Mayor of Maximizing, at least in the car rental arena.

http://www.insideflyer.com/articles/sidebar.php?key=70

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...ting-cars.html

Andy Big Bear

Now that's what I was looking for, thanks.

eponymous_coward

No, VS converts at 200% (5K VS = 10K HH).

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us...bfSubmit1.x=21

astan100

I think there are a handful of key questions you have to ask yourself. Do you care about the most likely case car you will get when you rent vs the CHANCE to get something awesome.

You also have to decide if you are a multi day person or a 1 day renter. If you're a 1 day renter, I'd probably hit up National. Their average cars are MUCH nicer instead of hte stripped junk Hertz gives you.

On the flip side, National has almost no cars you really WANT to rent. They have a bunch of decent 4 door sedans, but nothing really branded. Hertz has vettes, mercs, BMWs occasionally.

So figure out what you value and go from there. I wouldn't bother with any program other than hertz and national. Presidents Circle is pretty much irrelevant, so you can probably pretty easily get 5* hertz and executive at National and then maximize based on what promos are running. Nationals 1-2 FRee promo is sick.

crabbing

wow - thank you for that information.